Please don't rush to trade Jefferson

[Calinks]

Timberwolves' David Kahn refutes trade reports involving Al Jefferson
By Ray Richardson
rrichardson@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 06/23/2010 05:14:04 PM CDT

A day before the NBA draft, more trade reports are surfacing about Minnesota Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson, but Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn denied that a trade involving the team's leading scorer is imminent.

Kahn refuted a report today that the Wolves have offered Jefferson in three separate deals — to Indiana for forward Troy Murphy, to Memphis for forward Zach Randolph and to Detroit for swingman Tayshaun Prince.

Jefferson, who led the Wolves in scoring last season with 17.1 points per game, has been the subject of trade rumors leading up to Thursday night's draft.

"Memphis asked us about Zach and we said no," Kahn said this afternoon in a text message to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "And I have not spoken with Detroit."

Kahn had a more emphatic response about the alleged Murphy deal.

"Murphy is yet another in a long line of desperation Hail Mary's put out by Indiana on all our players," Kahn said.

On Tuesday, Kahn moved quickly to dispel rumors that he was considering trading Wolves point guard Jonny Flynn to Indiana in exchange for the Pacers' first-round pick, No. 10 overall, in Thursday night's draft. Kahn said the Pacers made the offer last week but he turned it down.

LOL sounds like that post you made was true!

[revprodeji]

Kahn bold face lies, just a warning. Remember a couple days ago when he said he has not spoke to philly? "My friend" saw him speaking with Ed.

[Calinks]

Dammit!

[mandurugo]

Kahn bold face lies, just a warning. Remember a couple days ago when he said he has not spoke to philly? "My friend" saw him speaking with Ed.

Yeah, but didn't you also warn us that your friend might lie to you? Ah, it's a tangled web we weave...

[Mcfale313]

Please don't trade Jefferson!!!!!!!!11

first of all he will be healthy and be beast-like next season!

secondly I have already bought his Jersey!!!!

[JMillott]

I know it'll be a shame if they trade Al Jefferson before getting to see him healthy and playing with at least one quality starting wing player. This is coming from a Celtics fan who got to see only about 25 games of him after he broke out with Pierce before we had to shut them both down to avoid losing ping pong balls.

As questionable as the rest of that team was (and you guys got half of that useless bunch in the trade so you know what i'm talking about) we were actually like 16-17 when both of them started. That was basically with just Pierce and Jefferson getting support from Perk, Delonte (plauged by injuries that year), Rondo (rookie version not even close to today's version) and Gomes. The rest of that team was absolutely awful minus the injured Tony Allen and Wally.

If Big Al and Pierce (playing hurt) with little help were a %.500 team then Jefferson can be a legit piece when he has help assuming his knee is back to normal. I think you guys saw it too when for one month Foye played like a legit piece and they went 10-4 again with little help around.

Darko is better then Perk was at the time and is a much better fit next to him offensively as the default defensive center Jefferson requires to avoid playing more then 10-20 minutes at center.

Flynn and Sessions are a young but promising enough PG rotation that should be improved enough in their second years here to give a decent PG rotation.

Brewer and Ellington again should be improved enough to give more then they did a year ago and more importantly should be giving it in support of Wes Johnson at SF instead of Ryan Gomes and Damien Wilkins.

With Love settled in as the 3rd big playing a more consistent role with Jefferson and Darko instead of Jefferson and Hollins things would figure to be much better. I mean obviously Wes Johnson isn't going to be Pierce good but i'd also say the rest of that cast trumps what we had around Jefferson in Boston too by a wide margin.

Throw in some decent rotation free agent or two and they might push .500 before even adding Rubio in a year.

[shangrila]

Kahn bold face lies, just a warning. Remember a couple days ago when he said he has not spoke to philly? "My friend" saw him speaking with Ed.

I don't see the significance. I'm sure he talks with a lot of different people. Hell, a few of the GMs admitted one of the perks of the combine was catching up with your friends that you don't get to see as often you'd like.

[Tirion]

Please rush to trade Al, while he still has some value left.
Should've traded him last season, but injury screwed with that. Oh, well.

[Diggler]

Age: Love (21) > Jefferson (25)
Career Track: 2nd year Love (14 & 11) > 2nd year Jefferson (8 & 5)
Injuries: Love (hand fracture) > Jefferson (knee problems)
Salary: Love (3.6 mil in 2010/11) > Jefferson (13 mil in 2010/11)

It's pretty crazy to me that so many people have already made up their minds about Love. He's 21. For some perspective, that's younger than Evan Turner and Wes Johnson. If people had made up their minds about Al Jeff the same way, he'd have been dismissed as a completely irrelevant player after his 2nd year.

[revprodeji]

Kahn bold face lies, just a warning. Remember a couple days ago when he said he has not spoke to philly? "My friend" saw him speaking with Ed.

Yeah, but didn't you also warn us that your friend might lie to you? Ah, it's a tangled web we weave...

Different person, if I remember the context.

Kahn bold face lies, just a warning. Remember a couple days ago when he said he has not spoke to philly? "My friend" saw him speaking with Ed.

I don't see the significance. I'm sure he talks with a lot of different people. Hell, a few of the GMs admitted one of the perks of the combine was catching up with your friends that you don't get to see as often you'd like.

He told people in one of those "sit and meet" things that he has not spoke to philly, but the previous day he was talking with mr. Ed. Kahn postures.

[Steve_Holiday]

He told people in one of those "sit and meet" things that he has not spoke to philly, but the previous day he was talking with mr. Ed. Kahn postures.

I believe that Kahn isn't telling the truth. But I can't imagine why I'd value a "trusted front office source" any more than a known liar at this point. These "sources" are making the media look like fools.

Prince, Troy Murphy or ZBo for Jefferson straight up? Jonny plus two first rounders for 10? 16 for 25 and 28?

I can't think of a single reason for me to think there's a shred of truth to any of the rumors we've seen...from any side.

[IAmTheTruth]

You'd think Al Jefferson was a dead man in some peoples minds. I would not dump his salary. Get better than that. His value isn't getting lower, clearly. Hold him until the next deadline at least if this is all you're getting. Favors can back up Center until then.

[Swimmer]

He told people in one of those "sit and meet" things that he has not spoke to philly, but the previous day he was talking with mr. Ed. Kahn postures.

I believe that Kahn isn't telling the truth. But I can't imagine why I'd value a "trusted front office source" any more than a known liar at this point. These "sources" are making the media look like fools.

Prince, Troy Murphy or ZBo for Jefferson straight up? Jonny plus two first rounders for 10? 16 for 25 and 28?

I can't think of a single reason for me to think there's a shred of truth to any of the rumors we've seen...from any side.

Maybe so, but it is disconcerting that every one of these trades goes against us, and have *roughly* consistent value -- essentially Jefferson for expirings + slight pick upgrade.

[Darko Miliminutes]

I haven't been around long enough to have any kind of serious opinion of Al here in Minny. But i love the guy. Especially with a 5 like Darko next to him. Al and Darko could make a heck of a pair. They should get a chance together. Al's value can't go lower too much. Why not give them a shot?

[Child of Wonder]

I haven't been around long enough to have any kind of serious opinion of Al here in Minny. But i love the guy. Especially with a 5 like Darko next to him. Al and Darko could make a heck of a pair. They should get a chance together. Al's value can't go lower too much. Why not give them a shot?

I agree. Unless a trade comes along that is a no brainer for Al, we hold onto him.

1 of 2 things will happen.

Al plays about the same or a little worse than he did last season. His value is the same.
Al plays better. His value goes up.

Imagine the trade offers we'll get if 20 games into the season Al's putting up 22 pgg and 11 rpg.

You also have to bear in mind there appears to be a lot of animosity towards Kahn by some GMs and members of the media so I'll bet most of these rumors we hear are total bunk.