Rubio to Wolves, Time to Strike?

[Snidely FC]

With Rubio committing to the Wolves, I wonder, would they look at a Stephen Jackson + 9 for #2 & Martell Webster? Or is Derek Williams too valuable to them to make that trade? I could see Jax being the veteran guy who really takes them far with Rubio, Love, Beasley, Milicic, Pekovic, Johnson.

[ohara]

If that was their best offer, they wuold probably do it. But I fear they may get a better offer. Remember that the Cavs want #2, and they can dangle #4 and a player where we can dangle only #9 and a player. And I dont know that Jax is enough to make up the difference.

[Bassman]

With Rubio committing to the Wolves, I wonder, would they look at a Stephen Jackson + 9 for #2 & Martell Webster? Or is Derek Williams too valuable to them to make that trade? I could see Jax being the veteran guy who really takes them far with Rubio, Love, Beasley, Milicic, Pekovic, Johnson.

I hope that the front office gives that a try, since the Wolves were reportedly looking for a deal for Rudy Gay earlier with that pick. The trade you suggested doesn't work as the salaries are too far apart. But, I think that trade helps them fill a need, and they could still grab a solid player at 9. Still, I wouldn't do it if I were them. Jax is pretty good but not great. Not sure how he helps them take a quantum leap forward this season (if there is a season). Rubio isn't exactly tearing it up in Euroleague so I'm not convinced he becomes the dynamo they think he will be. Williams has a chance to be a very good player and I'd like to explore any reasonable means we could engineer to get him.

[doc.end]

I don't see any reason why they should do that.

[Snidely FC]

The trade you suggested doesn't work as the salaries are too far apart.

Works with Webster's contract as per trade machine http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=42exzeq
maybe because MIN under cap

I don't see any reason why they should do that.

I'm sure you're right, wishful thinking on my part

[BobsBuddy]

Not enough plus Cleveland may trade for 2 from 4. I see our best bet of trading Jax to Chicago on draft day for Brewer 28 or 30th picks allowing us free up more Cap space for signing CP3... Then let Brewer,Cunningham and Morris we select at 9 fight it out in camp for the 3 spot starter. Trade DJ,Carroll, and Diaw and 2013 1st protected to Hornets for CP3. This gives us 9,19 and 28 in the first round to draft SF, Center and wing. Then resign Kuwamee and draft Sheldon Mack in second round?
Young players built around CP3 and TTand Kuwamee

[ohara]

I could see Minny taking Jax for #20. Question is, would the Cats do it? Even in a not so great draft, you can do a lot with #9, #19, #20 and #39.

[doc.end]

The trade you suggested doesn't work as the salaries are too far apart.

Works with Webster's contract as per trade machine http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=42exzeq
maybe because MIN under cap

I don't see any reason why they should do that.

I'm sure you're right, wishful thinking on my part

To be clear, I'm not convinced we should do that as well.

[Jaruff]

Webster is only 24 and has shown signs of being good when he receives playing time. I think that would be an absolute steal to net him and the second pick for Jackson and the ninth pick.

[Kembastockton]

Webster is only 24 and has shown signs of being good when he receives playing time. I think that would be an absolute steal to net him and the second pick for Jackson and the ninth pick.

Exactly why it won't happen. Nobody building a young team is going to trade for an expensive 31 year old player who has already shown the signs of decline. I like the Chicago idea pretty well. Chicago could really use an experienced two like Jack, and really has no use for two late 1st rounders. Maybe bring in a third team to take the two Chicago picks and give us a late teen pick?

[dmutombo321]

I could see Minny taking Jax for #20. Question is, would the Cats do it? Even in a not so great draft, you can do a lot with #9, #19, #20 and #39.

I've thought about this also.

Kahn has publicly stated that Minny is finally looking to add some impact veterans to their stock of youth in an effort to make a jump next year. Jackson is the type of player that would really help them make that jump. And considering he's dropped 20 lbs and is in the best shape he's been in years, he can probably go back to playing the SG, which is presently the most glaring hole in Minny's line-up.

Having said this, they're still not going to trade the #2 pick for Jackson and our #9; while Jackson can still play and produce 18-20 ppg while playing physical defense, the guy is 32 years old and Minny would be acquiring him with an eye for getting two productive years + veteran leadership to make a playoff push.

I do think they would part with the #20. Minny is presently under the cap for next year and could absorb Jackson's contract outright. However, they're going to be adding the #2 pick plus Rubio to their books, so they'll need to send back some salary to make a deal work.

One deal that may suit both teams could be

Jackson and Carroll
for
#20, Darko, Webster and Tolliver

Why for Minny?
They can now draft Kanter at the 2 to slide in at their starting center (since they have no need for Derrick Williams with Love / Beas / Randolph already at the forwards). They would be:

Rubio / Ridenour / Flynn
Jax /Ellington / Carroll
Beasley / Randolph
Love / Randolph
Kanter / pekovic

They'd have offensive threats at multiple positions (between the 2-3-4 spots you have guys capable of dropping 30 on a given night) plus be solid defensively.

Why for Charlotte?
We unload Jackson's $19.2 million and Carrolls $7.4 million contract balances. Webster and Tolliver are throw ins who come off the books after the season. Even paying Darko, the deal still frees up an additional 8 million for us next offseason. Couple this with Diaw being scheduled to drop off anyway and we could be real players in FA.

Darko finally showed some glimpses of his talent last year. No, he will never live up to being the #2 selection but the guy was a solid center when given the minutes. He was top 5 in the league in blocked shots and at 7'0 275, a physical and imposing defender. When given touches in the post, he produced some huge games including a 23 point, 16 rebound, 5 assist, 6 block outing against the Lakers. His season averages are skewed because he averaged less than 25 mpg due to Minny periodically sliding love and beasley to the 4-5.

Bottom line, he's still only 25 years old and has three years on his deal at a reasonable $5mil per year avg. And he'd be better than any center we could draft or afford to sign. If given 35 mins per night, and touches in the post, he is perfectly capable of providing 13-14ppg, 8-9 rebs and 2 blocks.

NBAdraft.net currently has Marcus Morris, Marshon Brooks and Jordan Hamilton going at the 9,19 and 20 respectively. If we give our second round pick away to anyone willing to take Najara's final 2 million off our hands (or just buy him out along with tolliver and trade our second round pick for a future second) to free up the necessary roster spots,

This would make us.

DJ / Livingston / Temple
Brooks / Temple / Hendo (injured)
Morris / Hamilton / Webster
Tyrus / Diaw / White
Darko / Kwame (resigned) / Diop (injured)

This squad would be respectable next year and possibly good enough to even make a return to the playoffs. With the money coming off the books next offseason, they could then make another run at Paul possibly using DJ/Hendo as bait in a sign and trade.

[Marvel]

I can't see Minny trading for Jack, when they have Beas, Johnson, Ellington and that other Euro guy on the wings.

[Bassman]

LUV IT DMUTUMBO!

[ohara]

LUV IT DMUTUMBO!

Great analysis!

[shrink]

Pretty good post, DMutumbo. As a wolves fan, let me add a little more.

I think a deal for SJax is possible. Kahn needs to win more games, and do it quickly, or he'll be out. He has talked about bringing in some vets, and Jackson fits his "don't overpay" mantra (so the 2 pick is unlikely).

One of the biggest hurdles though is salary. In 2012, MIN may need to give shiny new contracts to Love, Beasley and Anthony Randolph, and the $10 mil Jackson is owed in 2012-13 is a pretty big deal for the Wolves. Some people say Darko could be included, but with his fragile psyche, I think it would be a bad move for any team receiving him - he might just want to go to Europe. Maybe Pekovic would make sense to reduce the hit for 2012.

Kahn loves Webster (he even bought tickets at the gate to try to secretly watch him in POR) and still hopes he will make good on the talent that got him drafted #5. Financially, at worst, Webster is basically an expiring, since he only has $0.6 mil guaranteed in 2012. In fact, since he has guaranteed money in 2012, he could be a tactical trade asset if the Wolves wanted to deal him after the 2011 season closed.

When I saw the thread, I thought there would be some talk of Flynn. He had his moments his rookie year (13.5 PPG), but an injury last summer made his last season tragic. Still, in a weak draft, he probably has a better chance of making good than most of the non-lottery players. MIN might look to exchange him for different tradable assets though, since many teams are set at PG and back-up, and wouldn't have the minutes for him.

It seems like there are enough, "worth more to you than us" assets between the teams that a deal could probably be found.

[Eoghan]

When I saw the thread, I thought there would be some talk of Flynn. He had his moments his rookie year (13.5 PPG), but an injury last summer made his last season tragic. Still, in a weak draft, he probably has a better chance of making good than most of the non-lottery players. MIN might look to exchange him for different tradable assets though, since many teams are set at PG and back-up, and wouldn't have the minutes for him.

It seems like there are enough, "worth more to you than us" assets between the teams that a deal could probably be found.

Sorry, everyone here seems to be unabashed Flynn haters but me.

[Jaruff]

When I saw the thread, I thought there would be some talk of Flynn. He had his moments his rookie year (13.5 PPG), but an injury last summer made his last season tragic. Still, in a weak draft, he probably has a better chance of making good than most of the non-lottery players. MIN might look to exchange him for different tradable assets though, since many teams are set at PG and back-up, and wouldn't have the minutes for him.

It seems like there are enough, "worth more to you than us" assets between the teams that a deal could probably be found.

Sorry, everyone here seems to be unabashed Flynn haters but me.

I would give the 19th for Flynn. Hell, I would give the 9th, Livingston, and Diop for Flynn, Webster, and the 20th.

Grab two useful players and move down in the draft to grab a big man and reach on Jenkins/Brooks.

[Eoghan]

^Now we're talkin!

[iansportsdude7]

Coming from a Wolves fan...

How high are all of you Bobcats fans on Gerald Henderson? He's a guy that would be enticing to Minnesota because he's a defensive-minded SG which the Wolves currently don't have right now. With Beasley currently guarding 3's, a guy like Henderson would be a good addition to the roster.

But I know he sort of broke out towards the end of last year, so I'm not sure how willing Bobcats management would be to let him go.

[BigSlam]

You could have Hendo for SCB.