Potential Offseason Moves

[VCfor3]

From the Nets board,

Russell's merchandise are officially 50% off.

You are the resident sideline reporter on the scene.

I retired at 30 & realized my friends are still working. Currently I'm doing home renovations myself & posting in between breaks.

I'm trade/player tracking. For Minnesota to dump salary/Wiggins, they need Russel to become a FA. Behind the scenes I bet teams like Minnesota knew that was the outcome before the draft when they traded up & passed on a PG for a SG, when they have Okogie & a need at PG.

With that large Memphis TE, the worse the contract the better the assets, this is why I've targeted Minnesota & Wiggins who also need to dump salary for their interest in signing Russell. Their need is 2 fold, they're not just trying to dump a bad contract, they have intent with the space saved. With Ja & Jaren probably having a 2-3yr development window, it takes up most of Wiggins hit against the cap before Memphis would need to consider cap space for FA targets.

I didn't realize Wiggins can't fit into the Memphis TPE but still found a way to help Minnesota move him for 30m savings for Russell, Heat to trade Whiteside & get 30m savings either to avoid the Lux or target Butler as rumored, Charlotte to get some decent pieces to entice Walker to stay & Memphis assets for taking on that 30m ..

Minnesota trade - (Wiggins 27m, Dieng 16m, Culver 5m, 2022 FRP) for (J. Johnson 15m, Korver 7.5m/3m guarantee) = 30m shed

Heat trade - (Whiteside 27m, J. Johnson 15.4m, J. Rich 10m, FRP) for (Parsons 25m) = 30m shed

Charlotte trade - (Batum 25.5m, Bizz 17m, Bridges 3m) 45m out for (Whiteside 27m, J. Rich 10m, Crowder 7m) 44m in

Memphis trade - (25.5m TPE) for (Batum 25.5m) = 25.5m into cap space
Memphis trade - (Parsons 25.1m, Crowder 7m, Korver 7.5m) for (Wiggins 27.5m, Culver 5m, Bridges 3, 2020 FRP, 2022 FRP)

Memphis fit Batum's 25m into the trade exception, trade a non guaranteed contract for 30m cap space & take Wiggins back in matching salaries for Parsons.

I feel like quite a few of your trades are way to good for Memphis and really bad for the other teams. For instance, I can't see anyone outside of Charlotte and Memphis agreeing to the above deal. Miami won't use one of their young core to dump salary. I think you are much more likely to get a decently protected future 1st. Minnesota had said it sees Culver as a part of their core moving forward. I can't see them using him plus a super valuable unprotected 2022 1st to get off Wiggins especially when there is a much cheaper alternative route with dumping Teague and Dieng for cap space.

[Whole Truth]

I feel like quite a few of your trades are way to good for Memphis and really bad for the other teams. For instance, I can't see anyone outside of Charlotte and Memphis agreeing to the above deal. Miami won't use one of their young core to dump salary. I think you are much more likely to get a decently protected future 1st. Minnesota had said it sees Culver as a part of their core moving forward. I can't see them using him plus a super valuable unprotected 2022 1st to get off Wiggins especially when there is a much cheaper alternative route with dumping Teague and Dieng for cap space.

Perception is a hell of a thing. You think Charlotte would take this deal & they were the team I was unsure of. Which is why I sent them J. Rich instead of Winslow to net Bridges. Charlotte trade Batum into Memphis trade exception creating the added cap space to take 25m in from the Heat which is how I saved 30m for both Minnesota & Heat. Trading Batum becomes a wash in terms of salary because they take Whiteside into his cap space. If You're charlotte, would upgrading Batum to Whiteside, Crowder expiring & Winslow instead of J. Rich be worth giving one of their few good young players in Bridges?. They're not saving any money in this deal. Their incentive here is putting a team on the floor to entice Walker to stay.


Minnesota has -7m in practical cap space. They still have to trade Culver's 5m cap hold with Teague & Dieng's 35m to create the 30m cap space needed to sign Russell to outbid the Suns. Culver is a must inclusion financially either way. So Minnesota have a choice of using Culver to dump an expiring Teague & a shorter smaller contract in Dieng or use an additional FRP to move Wiggins 110m 4yr contract to reduce the financial risk of signing Russell who's unlikely to be worth the overpayment other than appeasing Kat in his acquisition ..


Where Heat are concerned I toyed with trading Winslow over J. Rich, it would be a haggling point if I could be apart of negotiations. Heat are over the Luxury tax by 4m. They're shedding 30m roughly, saving something like 70m total in dumping 2 bad contracts for 1. Whiteside is expected to demand trade to his hometown Charlotte where they would have to take back more unwanted salary maybe even a small, longer one that they most likely don't want especially if they have interest in free agency in a couple yrs as rumored. Winslow & a protected 1st, is not a high price for 30m cap space, roughly 70m savings which gets them under the luxury tax & or affords them opportunity to target Butler as a FA. Heat recently met with Butler to express mutual interest. With Rockets also trying to S&T for Butler, Heat will have cleared the cap to outright sign him.

[Whole Truth]

Vic 8 months ago when Heat were trying to trade for an expiring Butler. This is what they were rumored to offer -

According to a report by NBA insider Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Heat were set to complete a deal for Butler over the weekend that included Josh Richardson and a protected 1st round pick, but Wolves owner Glen Taylor stepped in and nixed it.

In my trade suggestion I used J. Rich & a 1st to shed 30m which could help the Heat outright sign Butler in their continued mutual interest, instead of having to outbid the Rockets for him in a S&T.

Watch it as (Whiteside, Johnson, J. Rich, FRP) for (30m cap space/Butler)

[VCfor3]

Vic 8 months ago when Heat were trying to trade for an expiring Butler. This is what they were rumored to offer -

According to a report by NBA insider Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Heat were set to complete a deal for Butler over the weekend that included Josh Richardson and a protected 1st round pick, but Wolves owner Glen Taylor stepped in and nixed it.

In my trade suggestion I used J. Rich & a 1st to shed 30m which could help the Heat outright sign Butler in their continued mutual interest, instead of having to outbid the Rockets for him in a S&T.

Watch it as (Whiteside, Johnson, J. Rich, FRP) for (30m cap space/Butler)

That isn't enough cap space to get Butler though. They'd have to do a sign and trade in your scenario which means Philly would need value going back to them in order to incentivize them to complete the deal. Even if Parsons wasn't sent back, they'd not have enough room to sign Butler outright to his max. As for the pick itself, Miami can't trade a pick until 2023. There is no telling how good that team will be at that time so Miami isn't going to send out an unprotected (or even lightly protected) 1st.

Another thing to consider is that the J Rick plus protected pick offer included MIN eating three years of bad salary. We also don't know what the protections were on the pick, but if the pick didn't convey in 2019 then it would have immediately turned into a 2nd or two. It couldn't have rolled over.

As for Charlotte doing the deal, it is because J Rich is still a very good player even though he underperformed a bit last year. Crowder is better and cheaper than Biyombo. Whiteside is an expiring so gets them out of Batum's second year. The only real issue is that Charlotte doesn't save money which means resigning Kemba will need to come at less than the supermax to avoid the tax or they will have to do a followup move.

As for MIN in your above deal, they don't get enough room to sign DLo and would probably prefer Dieng to Johnson.

[Whole Truth]

Vic 8 months ago when Heat were trying to trade for an expiring Butler. This is what they were rumored to offer -

According to a report by NBA insider Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Heat were set to complete a deal for Butler over the weekend that included Josh Richardson and a protected 1st round pick, but Wolves owner Glen Taylor stepped in and nixed it.

In my trade suggestion I used J. Rich & a 1st to shed 30m which could help the Heat outright sign Butler in their continued mutual interest, instead of having to outbid the Rockets for him in a S&T.

Watch it as (Whiteside, Johnson, J. Rich, FRP) for (30m cap space/Butler)

That isn't enough cap space to get Butler though. They'd have to do a sign and trade in your scenario which means Philly would need value going back to them in order to incentivize them to complete the deal. Even if Parsons wasn't sent back, they'd not have enough room to sign Butler outright to his max. As for the pick itself, Miami can't trade a pick until 2023. There is no telling how good that team will be at that time so Miami isn't going to send out an unprotected (or even lightly protected) 1st.

Another thing to consider is that the J Rick plus protected pick offer included MIN eating three years of bad salary. We also don't know what the protections were on the pick, but if the pick didn't convey in 2019 then it would have immediately turned into a 2nd or two. It couldn't have rolled over.

As for Charlotte doing the deal, it is because J Rich is still a very good player even though he underperformed a bit last year. Crowder is better and cheaper than Biyombo. Whiteside is an expiring so gets them out of Batum's second year. The only real issue is that Charlotte doesn't save money which means resigning Kemba will need to come at less than the supermax to avoid the tax or they will have to do a followup move.

As for MIN in your above deal, they don't get enough room to sign DLo and would probably prefer Dieng to Johnson.

Heat currently have -35m practical cap space.

- They plan on buying out R. Anderson's 20m = -15m
- They have 16m in cap hold, Denounce everyone besides Hero's 3.5m ? = -2m
- My trade sheds roughly 30m = roughly 28m practical cap space
- Stetch provision? or another small saving trade? (JR/Smith 11m savings)?

I didn't specify the protection on the Heat pick. I based the trade off a Memphis board rumor of Parsons for Whiteside with a strongly protected pick, which only saves them 2m, where the Rumor had them shedding 7m (I assumed a Johnson for Crowder/Korver swap was part of the trade as a result of the amount said to be shed.) I tried to expand on that rumor using Charlotte's cap space by absorbing Batum into Memphis' TPE to also take on Wiggins contract. As I recently found out his pay raise takes him out of the Memphis trade exception.

If Charlotte does the deal, the trade could help Miami create a max slot, unless I'm wrong with what I wrote above, I'm no capologist? ..

[VCfor3]

Vic 8 months ago when Heat were trying to trade for an expiring Butler. This is what they were rumored to offer -

According to a report by NBA insider Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Heat were set to complete a deal for Butler over the weekend that included Josh Richardson and a protected 1st round pick, but Wolves owner Glen Taylor stepped in and nixed it.

In my trade suggestion I used J. Rich & a 1st to shed 30m which could help the Heat outright sign Butler in their continued mutual interest, instead of having to outbid the Rockets for him in a S&T.

Watch it as (Whiteside, Johnson, J. Rich, FRP) for (30m cap space/Butler)

That isn't enough cap space to get Butler though. They'd have to do a sign and trade in your scenario which means Philly would need value going back to them in order to incentivize them to complete the deal. Even if Parsons wasn't sent back, they'd not have enough room to sign Butler outright to his max. As for the pick itself, Miami can't trade a pick until 2023. There is no telling how good that team will be at that time so Miami isn't going to send out an unprotected (or even lightly protected) 1st.

Another thing to consider is that the J Rick plus protected pick offer included MIN eating three years of bad salary. We also don't know what the protections were on the pick, but if the pick didn't convey in 2019 then it would have immediately turned into a 2nd or two. It couldn't have rolled over.

As for Charlotte doing the deal, it is because J Rich is still a very good player even though he underperformed a bit last year. Crowder is better and cheaper than Biyombo. Whiteside is an expiring so gets them out of Batum's second year. The only real issue is that Charlotte doesn't save money which means resigning Kemba will need to come at less than the supermax to avoid the tax or they will have to do a followup move.

As for MIN in your above deal, they don't get enough room to sign DLo and would probably prefer Dieng to Johnson.

Heat currently have -35m practical cap space.

- They plan on buying out R. Anderson's 20m = -15m
- They have 16m in cap hold, Denounce everyone besides Hero's 3.5m ? = -2m
- My trade sheds roughly 30m = roughly 28m practical cap space
- Stetch provision? or another small saving trade? (JR/Smith 11m savings)?

I didn't specify the protection on the Heat pick. I based the trade off a Memphis board rumor of Parsons for Whiteside with a strongly protected pick, which only saves them 2m, where the Rumor had them shedding 7m (I assumed a Johnson for Crowder/Korver swap was part of the trade as a result of the amount said to be shed.) I tried to expand on that rumor using Charlotte's cap space by absorbing Batum into Memphis' TPE to also take on Wiggins contract. As I recently found out his pay raise takes him out of the Memphis trade exception.

If Charlotte does the deal, the trade could help Miami create a max slot, unless I'm wrong with what I wrote above, I'm no capologist? ..

Buying Ryan Anderson out doesn't clear his 20m. It only clears about 5m since he has 15m guaranteed and he isn't walking away from that. And I'm not sure about the 16m in cap holds. Looking at ShamSports Capulator as well as Miami's salary sheet on Spotrac (https://www.spotrac.com/nba/miami-heat/yearly/cap/), they can waive Anderson, cap holds, and UNG contracts other than D Jones Jr and be roughly 27m over the cap. Your trade clearing 30m opens up 3m in space. If Parsons is magically eliminated then they have 28m which is a good bit less than Butler's max.

You misread the rumor like quite a few other people. There was no pick included in the Parsons for Whiteside swap. Miami was shopping a heavily protected 2023 1st in order to facilitate a pure salary dump. It wasn't a part of the Whiteside offer. If you look at the tweet, there is space between those two rumors but everyone seemed to think they were combined.

[Whole Truth]

Wolves fans trying to convince themselves they can S&T for Russell when Nets plan is to sign Irving in order to attract Durant. Any S&T with Russell will put them in the Luxury tax. What assets do you think Nets would ask in return for that kind of financial responsibility?.

They're exploring the S&T option because they know other than trading Wiggins, moving an expiring & soon to be expiring contract on top of handing out another potentially bloated contract, they will move into luxury tax sooner than later. If Russell doesn't pan out, which is likely he'll be overpaid ... They'll have 2 potentially large dead contracts on their hands upwards of 60m tied into 2 under producing players.

If they want to sign Russell to keep Kat happy, their best logical financial path to that is dumping Wiggins for unknown assets. Teague expires next year to drop 19m in a addition to moving Wiggins 30m. That would leave one year on Dieng's contract at 15m, where removing Wiggins, would drop an additional 3yrs/30-33m.

Fans don't want to trade the shinny new pick but the 6th pick in a weak draft & a FRP, both unknown value, is not high price for 30m cap space, 120m savings & their intent to sign Russell to appease Kat. By dropping Wiggins, when Teague expires they will be able to use cap space on quality depth & not find themselves against or in the luxury tax.

[Whole Truth]

That isn't enough cap space to get Butler though. They'd have to do a sign and trade in your scenario which means Philly would need value going back to them in order to incentivize them to complete the deal. Even if Parsons wasn't sent back, they'd not have enough room to sign Butler outright to his max. As for the pick itself, Miami can't trade a pick until 2023. There is no telling how good that team will be at that time so Miami isn't going to send out an unprotected (or even lightly protected) 1st.

Another thing to consider is that the J Rick plus protected pick offer included MIN eating three years of bad salary. We also don't know what the protections were on the pick, but if the pick didn't convey in 2019 then it would have immediately turned into a 2nd or two. It couldn't have rolled over.

As for Charlotte doing the deal, it is because J Rich is still a very good player even though he underperformed a bit last year. Crowder is better and cheaper than Biyombo. Whiteside is an expiring so gets them out of Batum's second year. The only real issue is that Charlotte doesn't save money which means resigning Kemba will need to come at less than the supermax to avoid the tax or they will have to do a followup move.

As for MIN in your above deal, they don't get enough room to sign DLo and would probably prefer Dieng to Johnson.

Heat currently have -35m practical cap space.

- They plan on buying out R. Anderson's 20m = -15m
- They have 16m in cap hold, Denounce everyone besides Hero's 3.5m ? = -2m
- My trade sheds roughly 30m = roughly 28m practical cap space
- Stetch provision? or another small saving trade? (JR/Smith 11m savings)?

I didn't specify the protection on the Heat pick. I based the trade off a Memphis board rumor of Parsons for Whiteside with a strongly protected pick, which only saves them 2m, where the Rumor had them shedding 7m (I assumed a Johnson for Crowder/Korver swap was part of the trade as a result of the amount said to be shed.) I tried to expand on that rumor using Charlotte's cap space by absorbing Batum into Memphis' TPE to also take on Wiggins contract. As I recently found out his pay raise takes him out of the Memphis trade exception.

If Charlotte does the deal, the trade could help Miami create a max slot, unless I'm wrong with what I wrote above, I'm no capologist? ..

Buying Ryan Anderson out doesn't clear his 20m. It only clears about 5m since he has 15m guaranteed and he isn't walking away from that. And I'm not sure about the 16m in cap holds. Looking at ShamSports Capulator as well as Miami's salary sheet on Spotrac (https://www.spotrac.com/nba/miami-heat/yearly/cap/), they can waive Anderson, cap holds, and UNG contracts other than D Jones Jr and be roughly 27m over the cap. Your trade clearing 30m opens up 3m in space. If Parsons is magically eliminated then they have 28m which is a good bit less than Butler's max.

You misread the rumor like quite a few other people. There was no pick included in the Parsons for Whiteside swap. Miami was shopping a heavily protected 2023 1st in order to facilitate a pure salary dump. It wasn't a part of the Whiteside offer. If you look at the tweet, there is space between those two rumors but everyone seemed to think they were combined.

I made the trade under the understanding they could drop Anderson, didn't check to see how much he was guaranteed. I'd have to alter the deal accordingly.

The Whiteside, Parsons trade talk, I got the information off the Memphis board, didn't see the original rumor.

[Whole Truth]

Heat trade - (Whiteside, J.Johnson) for (Parsons, Miles, Korver) - saves roughly 6m, JJ's 2yrs swapped for an expiring.

Minnesota trade - (Wiggins, Teague, Culver, FRP) for (J. Johnson, K.Anderson) - saves roughly 30m

Charlotte trade - (Batum, Bizz, FRP) for (Whiteside, Teague)

Memphis trade - (25m TPE) for (Batum)
Memphis trade - (Parsons, Miles, Korver, K.Anderson) for (Wiggins, Bizz, Culver, 2 FRP's)

Bizz adds an expiring backup C. One SF/PF in, 3 out clears a log jam at the position. 4 players out, 3 in opens a roster spot. Buyout Bradley.

[Whole Truth]

Here we go.

Minnesota is reportedly trying the basketball equivalent of killing two birds with one stone.

According to Darren Wolfson of KSTP and SKOR North, the Timberwolves have tried to engage the Nets in a sign-and-trade of Wiggins for Russell.

Wiggins’ salary would need to be re-routed to a third team in any potential sign-and-trade.

https://clutchpoints.com/timberwolves-rumors-minnesota-has-tried-to-engage-nets-on-sign-and-trade-of-dangelo-russell-for-andrew-wiggins/

What's in it for Brooklyn? any team taking Wiggins 4yr/122m in this trade needs to be compensated.

[Whole Truth]

Adrian Wojnarowski
✔
@wojespn

Reporting w/ @ZachLowe: Houston’s offering Clint Capela, Eric Gordon and PJ Tucker individually to teams w/ space to absorb salary. Rockets trying for best available first-rounder for any of those three, hoping to redirect pick to Philly in pursuit of Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade.

Houston trade - (Capela 14.8m) for (cap space, Charlotte FRP)

Charlotte trade - (Batum 25.5m) for (25.5m Memphis TPE)
Charlotte trade - (Bizz 17m, Bridges 3.7m, FRP) for (Capela 14.8m, Teague 19m, K. Anderson 9m)

Minnesota trade - (Wiggins 27.5m, Teague 19m, Culver 5m, FRP) for (Crowder 7.8m, Allen 2.5m, Korver 7.6m/3m Guarantee) - shed 40m

Memphis trade - (25m TPE) for (Batum 25.5m)
Memphis trade - (Crowder 7.8m, Anderson 9m, Korver 7.6m, Allen 2.5m) for (Wiggins 27.5m, Culver, Bridges, Minnesota FRP)

Same concept of swapping Batum for the TPE gives Charlotte the cap space to take on 25m in salary. They absorb Teague & Capela.

Minnesota create 40m in cap, 122m total savings, for Culver & FRP.

For taking on (Batum & Wiggins), Memphis net, Bridges, Culver, Minnesota 2022 FRP, buyout Bradley.

[Whole Truth]

Basketball Rehab
@BasketballRehab

The Phoenix Suns plan to offer D'Angelo Russell a maximum contract. The Nets have not decided on whether they will match.

32
9:36 PM - May 26, 2019

[Whole Truth]

Matt George
@MattGeorgeKHTK

I've been told by a source in Houston that the Boston Celtics have significant interest in being the third team in a Rockets/76ers sign & trade.

Speculation: Boston, who has now emerged as the front runner to land Kemba Walker, will try and move in and acquire Clint Capela.

103
11:08 AM - Jun 27, 2019

Who and what the Celtics would send out in the deal — and where — remains a mystery, and a rather complicated one at that. If the Celtics sign Walker to a max deal, they would only have the Room Exception ($4.8 million for two years) and league minimum contracts, so they’d have to trade away someone to fit Capela’s $16 million salary.

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/06/27/celtics-rumors-third-team-rockets-76ers-trade-nba-free-agency-clint-capela/

Steve Kyler
✔
@stevekylerNBA

What's being talked about of Horford opts out and signs a way more team friendly deal that gets him two more guaranteed years... Marcus Smart gets a Capella deal done all by himself -- fans may not like that, but it works under the cap.
https://
twitter.com/7THRINGFORPATS
/status/1140650050667851776
…

[Whole Truth]

The Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans are also expected to pursue Harris.
The Philadelphia 76ers are also making re-signing Harris a priority.
Harris is expected to command a max contract.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Not wise to jump the gun on fit before knowing what they have exactly in Ja & Jaren. Maybe they have a plan to flip Harris using the trade exception?.

Rather use that 30m on Wiggins to net Culver & a FRP. Maximizes the monetary risk for a rebuilding team.

If they are adamant about a FA acquisition, I rather target Terrance Ross. Teams have to respect & run Ross off the 3pt line, he's a plus defender, athletic & good in transition.

[Whole Truth]

The Athletic’s Sam Amick. “Houston is clearly serious about finding a way to land Butler, who grew up in nearby Tomball, Texas and who is at the top of the Rockets’ offseason wish list,” Amick wrote. “As for the key question of whether the Sixers would be willing to cooperate in a possible sign-and-trade, a source with knowledge of their situation said it’s looking likely. There is, it seems, a strong desire to avoid losing him for nothing if Butler decides to head elsewhere.”

Read more at: https://nesn.com/2019/06/nba-rumors-76ers-willing-to-cooperate-in-jimmy-butler-sign-and-trade/

[Whole Truth]

Boston sends Smart to Philly, for Capela

Houston sends Capela to Boston, FRP? to Philly.

Philly get a PG Smart, 18m TPE + assets? for Butler

[VCfor3]

Read on Twitter

[SD2042]

Read on Twitter

At this juncture, who's the likely team suspects?

Charlotte with Batum (maybe)
Cleveland with Love(don't see that happening)


Also think the Wolves are talking out the side of their necks here. To get off a contract like Wiggins, they will have to attach a pick or two here to get the deal a good start.

[Whole Truth]

Read on Twitter

Lowe added that in order to create space for a top-tier player this summer, the Timberwolves will have to find a deal for Andrew Wiggins. The NBA analyst said that one person he talked to strongly believes that Minnesota will find a win-win trade involving Wiggins.The quote above makes it appear that Minnesota could win the trade but Clutch sports later posted Lowe added, a "win/win" scenario. Not a win or payment for Minnesota stated in that quote. No team is going to pay to take on one of the leagues worse negative contracts. Minnesota have a need to dump that contract other than to just rid themselves of it financially, they have a FA target in mind, that's leverage. Especially considering Suns have extreme interest in the same target & already have 21m in cap space to their -7m.

I doubt it's a team looking to contend or close to contention. It has to be a base rebuilding team that has no need for cap space other than building assets, if they have it for the foreseeable future. Outside of Memphis, who could potentially have that type interest?.

Suns, Dallas, Kings, Cavs, Bulls, Hawks are trying to make the leap into contention, to tie up that much wasted money.
Knicks drafted SF RJ, I doubt they would block his development.
Charlotte, it would put them in the luxury tax having let Walker go in FA, who at a similar price would hold more value.

That leaves basically Memphis who likes Culver & traded Conley for cap space in order to net assets. Where simultaneously that Conley pre draft trade saw Minnesota trade up to pass on White which would have been insurance in the case they missed out on Russell to draft a SG in Culver (who Memphis liked) when they have a promising young SG in Okogie & a need to Dump up to 30m in cap space ..

Brooklyn paid 2 mid to late firsts for 18m cap space & 33m savings. Taking Wiggins into space, is 30m cap space, 120m savings & would lock a team down for at least 3yrs.

With Suns also looking to also do a S&T with reported extreme interest in Russell, Minnesota have no leverage in their need to dump salary. They fail to do that, Suns will win out on Russell.

If I'm right & it is Memphis with interest, I hope it's no less than - (Wiggins, Culver & a protected FRP).

[Whole Truth]

At this juncture, who's the likely team suspects?

Charlotte with Batum (maybe)
Cleveland with Love(don't see that happening)


Also think the Wolves are talking out the side of their necks here. To get off a contract like Wiggins, they will have to attach a pick or two here to get the deal a good start.

Cavs like several other bottom teams want to make a leap into contention. A move like taking on Wiggins contract could kill any hopes of building a winning team for teams at that stage of their rebuild. IMO It has to be a start rebuild looking to build assets, where dead money is less of an issue. Other than Memphis hitting the reset button, Charlotte & Knicks come to mind as basement teams that need talent.

Knicks drafted RJ & will not want to block his development.

Batum is a year away from being an expiring. Can't see MJ taking on Wiggins 30m/4yr contract having passed on signing Walker. Walker at a max contract holds more value than Wiggins on & off the court if they were going to tie that kind of money up. So the idea of value building through taking on large salary is out because Walker in a S&T would be worth more. Charlotte could lock up Walker & trade him to Boston for something like Hayward & Brown, pick ..

I think it's going to be a multi team deal involving one of the teams vying to S&T for Butler. Houston or Miami .. & a rebuilding team with cap space/TPE/non guaranteed contracts ..