Chuck's Challenge: Wolves, a Slow Burn

[Texas Chuck]

So been seeing a pretty consistent theme from some of our most respected Wolves posters in regards to the approach they believe the team both should and will take. They want to have steady sustainable growth that has them ready to be at worst a solid playoff team before Towns free agency. They do not want to make another Butler like move that gets them back into the playoffs only to have to start over again in a year or 2.

So my challenge is this--make Minnesota a team ready to be a serious playoff contender by 21-22 and a team that could fight for HCA the following year.

Untouchables: Towns and Russell (Russell should not be untouchable obviously, but the team brought him in specifically to appease Towns so trading him is off the table here.)

Make sure you consider not only any roster moves you would make, including the draft, free agency, and potentially trades, but also are you keeping Saunders.

[aguiar95]

Keep Saunders and give him a 3-Pt shooting galore.

Trade 1:

MIN in: Gordon, Ross, 2020 ORL 1st (#15).
MIN out: Layman, Johnson, MIN 2020 1st (#1), 2020 MIN 2nd (#33)

ORL in: Layman, Johnson, MIN 2020 1st (#1), 2020 MIN 2nd (#33)
ORL out: Gordon, Ross, 2020 ORL 1st (#15)

Wolves get good role players in value contracts to contend now, whle ORL rebuilds/tanks in '21 waiting for Isaac's recovery.

Trade 2:

MIN in: Rose, Kennard, 2020 DET 1st (#7)
MIN out: Culver, Okogie, 2020 ORL 1st (#15), 2020 BRO 1st (#17)

DET in: Culver, Okogie, 2020 ORL 1st (#15), 2020 BRO 1st (#17)
DET out: Rose, Kennard, 2020 DET 1st (#7)

Good players and a higher pick to MIN, DET gets more picks and a prospect.

Russell/Beasley/Vassell (#7)/Gordon/Towns
Rose/Kennard/Ross/Hernangomez/Reid

Maybe I'm stretching, tell me if any trade is unrealistic.

[Crives]

I would start with a couple of moves to add shooting and defense.

1.
I would first try to trade down and pick up a couple of 3 & D wings, Vassel and Bey. (wolves current wings can’t shoot). Don’t have a specific deal in mind, #1 probably isn’t enough, likely needs to be a three team deal with Culver + #1 going out and Vassel + Saddiq Bey coming back.

2. Resign Beasley
3. Target Justin Holiday (is full MLE available?)

Lots of gaps left to fill , Wolves have tough task ahead.

PG - Dlo
SG - Beasley/Bey
SF - Justin Holiday/Bey
PF - Devin Vassel
C - Towns

[Texas Chuck]

Keep Saunders and give him a 3-Pt shooting galore.

Trade 1:

MIN in: Gordon, Ross, 2020 ORL 1st (#15).
MIN out: Layman, Johnson, MIN 2020 1st (#1), 2020 MIN 2nd (#33)

ORL in: Layman, Johnson, MIN 2020 1st (#1), 2020 MIN 2nd (#33)
ORL out: Gordon, Ross, 2020 ORL 1st (#15)



Maybe I'm stretching, tell me if any trade is unrealistic.

This one feels pretty unrealistic. I just can't see the Wolves trading the first overall pick and the best piece they get back is arguably pick #15. I wouldn't think you'd have to add much to 17 and 33 to get Gordon and Ross(in terms of value, I understand Orlando likes to play for 8th seeds and might not be willing to move them).

[shrink]

I would start with a couple of moves to add shooting and defense.

1.
I would first try to trade down and pick up a couple of 3 & D wings, Vassel and Bey. (wolves current wings can’t shoot). Don’t have a specific deal in mind, #1 probably isn’t enough, likely needs to be a three team deal with Culver + #1 going out and Vassel + Saddiq Bey coming back.

2. Resign Beasley
3. Target Justin Holiday (is full MLE available?)

Lots of gaps left to fill , Wolves have tough task ahead.

PG - Dlo
SG - Beasley/Bey
SF - Justin Holiday/Bey
PF - Devin Vassel
C - Towns

I just wanted to give you Kudos on the Justin Holiday call. I doubt many people outside of Minnesota that the Wolves pursued him pretty hard last year.

[shrink]

Keep Saunders and give him a 3-Pt shooting galore.

Trade 1:

MIN in: Gordon, Ross, 2020 ORL 1st (#15).
MIN out: Layman, Johnson, MIN 2020 1st (#1), 2020 MIN 2nd (#33)

ORL in: Layman, Johnson, MIN 2020 1st (#1), 2020 MIN 2nd (#33)
ORL out: Gordon, Ross, 2020 ORL 1st (#15)



Maybe I'm stretching, tell me if any trade is unrealistic.

This one feels pretty unrealistic. I just can't see the Wolves trading the first overall pick and the best piece they get back is arguably pick #15. I wouldn't think you'd have to add much to 17 and 33 to get Gordon and Ross(in terms of value, I understand Orlando likes to play for 8th seeds and might not be willing to move them).

I agree, and in this scenario, I think Jonathan Isaacs becomes more likely than Aaron Gordon. ORL won’t have a roster crunch at PF with Isaacs out for a season, and the Magic will probably put Gordon back out there and try for a seven seed again. I find it frustrating as I would like to see ORL succeed, but maybe if Gordon gets to play big minutes at his natural position, he could raise his trade value with better shooting and improved play.

Neither though is worth giving up the #1. Gordon just isn’t good enough and offensively doesn’t provide a threat to force defenders to guard him at the three point line. That takes away Towns greatest advantage for the team .. stretching the floor. And Isaac has injury risk, and salary risk, with a big question on what contract you offer him in 2021.

[loserX]

If they want to build up, they have to start cashing in some of their ceilings for floor. #1, #17, Culver, Okogie...they obviously shouldn't get rid of *all* of it, but there are a lot of ways that could blow up and the team needs a little reliability.

Keep #1 and take Edwards. There is bust/disappointment potential but he could also take them to the next level if he pans out.

I'm still on the hill of Aaron Gordon to Minnesota, for James Johnson + 17 + Okogie? Something like that. See if Ennis will pick up his option and get him included too.

Minnesota needs an athletic defensive forward next to Towns or they are not getting anywhere. Finding someone in the right age range is too perfect.

Talk S&T with the Kings in the new contract year. Culver + Layman + Evans for Bogdan Bogdanovic S&T. There's a guy who can help with ball-handling and shooting off the wing; rather than paying another vet big money, Kings take a flyer on Culver.

Go after Justin Holiday with the MLE. Could use a wily veteran PG for the minimum for a year...

Towns/Reid/Spellman
Gordon/Hernangomez
Bogdanovic/Holiday/Ennis
Beasley/Edwards
Russell/Barea

The bench still needs work. But we've surrounded the kids-core with good-fitting pieces, so the rest is a 2021 problem.

[shrink]

Keep ‘me coming guys! I love this!

[shrink]

Before I give any ideas, I want to mention another concept here.

For me, I think the hardest part of being a true contender in most markets is finding that #1 superstar In the draft. Teams rarely trade superstars, and teams like MIN aren’t getting them in free agency. The Wolves have that - which is a big headstart over most franchises. Towns still needs to improve defensively, especially as a center, but his offense makes other teams form entire game plans around him.

After that .. yuck.

————————————————————————————-

For MIN to be truly compete for a championship, they need to greatly improve the talent level and trade value on their team. They should act like a value investor, snapping up depressed assets at lowered prices, hoping they can bloom. They need to find opportunities. If people recall, I was a constant naysayer to all those “Covington + -for-Russell” trades, not just because of my distaste for “All Star” DeAngelo Russell [another PG with the ball in his hands who had opportunity (two better players got injured, played in the East, and an All Star got hurt], but because of the huge opportunity costs. If you lock into three max deals of Towns, Wiggins, and Russell, you don’t have enough available salary to really improve the team. And not to pat myself on the back, but the deal of Wiggins + for Russell” did occur, and Rosas continues to use that salary slot hoping for players that will improve.

I believe Rosas will always be star hunting, but he will primarily be making deals on the edges to try to improve the overall talent level on the team, regardless of fit or wins for 2020. There is no single move that would make MIN a contender. He needs many of the following:

1. Towns and Russell to improve defensively.
2. Get real value from the pick, whether it’s finding the player who’s upside makes him a star, or trading down or out of the draft.
3. Culver’s shot needs to improve (it looks much better in videos, fwiw)
4. Find mobile young players who have upside, but haven’t hit it big yet (I will mention specific names in a future post).
5. Beasley needs to be signed in Covid-economy to a net positive deal, and he needs to continue to get minutes to develop.
6. Find more low cost talent like Naz Reed, and lock it up in a multi-year Gupta special.
7. Develop young talent for players he can use or trade.

Like I said, he needs many of these to happen .. #1 is crucial. Overall, this team simply needs to find more value on the roster after KAT.

[Trader_Joe]

I think one of Brogdon or Oladipo would make a nice fit next to Russell and add much needed D.
Not sure the price for either, especially because I don't know if Indy wants to deal, but if they do, I'd call on both. If not, maybe Bledsoe is expendable in Milwaukee. Another defender they could use.

Or if they want to trade in a different position of need, I also like Aaron Gordon for them.

In free agency, keep looking at defenders.
Roberson comes to mind as does Crowder for a bigger perimeter defender.

[Stillwater]

they cannot trade the number 1 pick imo unless it gets them a 2021 1st with very light protection like top 4 or something and good luck with that so I can be pretty certain they are going to just draft the best player at 1 in 2020 not the best fit and deal with it even if it means moving one of Dlo or Kat down the road.
But if it is Edwards just maybe they get both fit and bpa idk.
they could maybe get some closer to their prime role players in exchange for recent picks like Culver Reid Nowell Vanderbilt etc.
esp if they attached the 17th or RFA Beasley. But who ?
I think they need 1 more full season to see what they have in 2nd year players like Culver and do everything they can to lock up Beasley and Juancho if Culver is a bust.
not having their 21 1st is a huge loss for their progression if they fail to hit on this drafts picks

[HornetJail]

#17+Johnson for Gordon, and then filling out the bench in free agency with the MLE, etc

Russell/Beasley/Edwards/Gordon/Towns is not a good defensive team at all, but should be potent enough offensively to get it done and make the playoffs as soon as next season if they catch the right breaks. I don't think this team is bad, but the bench has to improve.

[Jordan Syndrome]

Spoiler:

Keep Saunders and give him a 3-Pt shooting galore.

Trade 1:

MIN in: Gordon, Ross, 2020 ORL 1st (#15).
MIN out: Layman, Johnson, MIN 2020 1st (#1), MIN 2020 2nd (#33)

ORL in: Layman, Johnson, MIN 2020 1st (#1), MIN 2020 2nd (#33)
ORL out: Gordon, Ross, 2020 ORL 1st (#15)

Wolves get good role players in value contracts to contend now, whle ORL rebuilds/tanks in '21 waiting for Isaac's recovery.

Trade 2:

MIN in: Rose, Kennard, 2020 DET 1st (#7)
MIN out: Culver, Okogie, 2020 ORL 1st (#15), 2020 BRO 1st (#17)

DET in: Culver, Okogie, 2020 ORL 1st (#15), 2020 BRO 1st (#17)
DET out: Rose, Kennard, 2020 DET 1st (#7)

Good players and a higher pick to MIN, DET gets more picks and a prospect.

Russell/Beasley/Vassell (#7)/Gordon/Towns
Rose/Kennard/Ross/Hernangomez/Reid

Maybe I'm stretching, tell me if any trade is unrealistic.

I really like the idea of Kennard but I don't like the first deal.

My plan is to keep Saunders. He has yet to have any semblance of talent around him and he is young and moldable. I have enjoyed some of his sets, I like how he talks to and can relate to the players, a trait passed down from his dad.

Trades

Trade #1

Detroit out: #7, Luke Kennard
Minnesota out: #1, Jarrett Culver

Rumors are Detroit was shopping Kennard last season. While I don't agree with these rumors and I personally believe the Pistons should keep Kennard, I see a realistic scenario where they don't want to pay Kennard. Moving up in the draft has value as you get your player while Jarrett Culver fits nicely next to Sekou and Wood and the time line.

Bottom line: Detroit moves up to get their player and get's a player whose rookie deal fits the timeline better while having far greater defensive potential at the wing. Minnesota get's a better win now player and still gets a top 10 pick.

Trade #2

Dallas out: Maxi Kleber, Delon Wright, #18
Minnesota out: James Johnson, Jake Layman, #33

Dallas wants to clear out cap space for 2021 and this deal results in that and, in my opinion, not a great loss of talent. James Johnson proved useful for Minnesota once arriving as an enforcer, leader and great locker room guy. Johnson can fill a hole on a young Dallas team next season while Jake Layman is a "poor man's" Kleber who, if healthy, provides more athleticism on the wing.

Bottom line: Dallas ends up moving down 15 spots in this years draft while clearing 13.336 Million in cap and getting two "useful" players. Minnesota get's a great fit next to Russell and Towns in Maxi Kleber, a back-up point guard in Delon Wright and moves down in the draft.

Trade #3

Phoenix out: #10, Ty Jerome
Minnesota out: #17, Omari Spellman

Phoenix get's a solid prospect who can contribute right away in Omari Spellman who is a great fit next to Ayton. Minnesota picks up a potential back-up PG of the Future in Ty Jerome and moves up in the 1st.

Bottom Line: Minnesota increases the odds of hitting with picks all over the 1st round at #7, #10 and #18. Phoenix gets a significant upgrade on a cheap deal while moving outside the lottery.

Free Agency

Minnesota offers Malik Beasley 3 years, $41,000,000.
Minnesota offers Juancho Hermangomez 2 years, $9,000,000 with a Team Option on year 2.

Roster and Rotation
DeAngelo Russell/Delon Wright/Ty Jerome/Tyrell Tyler(#18)
Malik Beasley/Josh Okogie/Jacob Evans
Luke Kennard/Juancho Hermengomez/Isaac Okoro (#10)
Maxi Kleber/Obi Toppin (#7)/Jarred Vanderbilt
Karl-Anthony Towns/Naz Reid

[Wolveswin]

I love the idea of Rosas convincing teams in the West, who present as equal competition for the same 8th seed he is fighting for, to trade with him. Teams like Suns, Memphis, Spurs, Kings are all candidates. He can improve his team and weaken an opponent in one trade.

Spurs Give: Murray + #11
Spurs Get: #1 + Johnson

Grizzlies Give: Clarke + Winslow
Grizzlies Get: Culver + Spellman + #11

Wolves Give: #1 + Johnson + Culver + Spellman
Wolves Get: Murray + Winslow + Clarke

Towns | Reid
Clarke | Winslow | Hernangomez | Vanderbilt
Winslow | Okogie | Layman
Russell | Beasley | Okogie | Evans
Murray | Russell | McJordan

Saunders stays and plays a guard trio of Russell | Murray | Beasley (as scoring 6th man). Anyone of them can get time at SF.

Towns | Clarke | Winslow, make up the big man trio.

If Okogie and/or Hernangomez and/or Layman and/or Reid and/or #17 and/or Vanderbilt and/or exception free agent can become 7, 8, 9 rotational contributors, Wolves team is set for the now and the future.

[MoneyTalks41890]

If they want to build up, they have to start cashing in some of their ceilings for floor. #1, #17, Culver, Okogie...they obviously shouldn't get rid of *all* of it, but there are a lot of ways that could blow up and the team needs a little reliability.

Keep #1 and take Edwards. There is bust/disappointment potential but he could also take them to the next level if he pans out.

I'm still on the hill of Aaron Gordon to Minnesota, for James Johnson + 17 + Okogie? Something like that. See if Ennis will pick up his option and get him included too.

Minnesota needs an athletic defensive forward next to Towns or they are not getting anywhere. Finding someone in the right age range is too perfect.

Talk S&T with the Kings in the new contract year. Culver + Layman + Evans for Bogdan Bogdanovic S&T. There's a guy who can help with ball-handling and shooting off the wing; rather than paying another vet big money, Kings take a flyer on Culver.

Go after Justin Holiday with the MLE. Could use a wily veteran PG for the minimum for a year...

Towns/Reid/Spellman
Gordon/Hernangomez
Bogdanovic/Holiday/Ennis
Beasley/Edwards
Russell/Barea

The bench still needs work. But we've surrounded the kids-core with good-fitting pieces, so the rest is a 2021 problem.

I agree with this. Take Edwards. He's got a high ceiling and generally fits age/contract wise.

Then I think AG is also an obvious pickup and the deal you laid out is right.

Also agree with going for a veteran (ish) to fill the 3 spot. Someone that can shoot. Bogdan is a good match there. I could also see Gallo in FA (AG has positional flex on D), Joe Harris in FA, or Ingram with lots of value in a SnT.

[Godaddycurse]

I love the idea of Rosas convincing teams in the West, who present as equal competition for the same 8th seed he is fighting for, to trade with him. Teams like Suns, Memphis, Spurs, Kings are all candidates. He can improve his team and weaken an opponent in one trade.

Spurs Give: Murray + #11
Spurs Get: #1 + Johnson

Grizzlies Give: Clarke + Winslow
Grizzlies Get: Culver + Spellman + #11

Wolves Give: #1 + Johnson + Culver + Spellman
Wolves Get: Murray + Winslow + Clarke

Towns | Reid
Clarke | Winslow | Hernangomez | Vanderbilt
Winslow | Okogie | Layman
Russell | Beasley | Okogie | Evans
Murray | Russell | McJordan

Saunders stays and plays a guard trio of Russell | Murray | Beasley (as scoring 6th man). Anyone of them can get time at SF.

Towns | Clarke | Winslow, make up the big man trio.

If Okogie and/or Hernangomez and/or Layman and/or Reid and/or #17 and/or Vanderbilt and/or exception free agent can become 7, 8, 9 rotational contributors, Wolves team is set for the now and the future.

grizzlies say no to clarke for 11. I have wolves saying no to trading down w/ spurs as well.

[Texas Chuck]

I'm boring. I'm staying at #1 and taking Edwards. I'm staying at #17 and taking Bey, Naismith, or Bane. Trading 33 to Houston who needs cheap talent for 2021 HOU and 20204 GSW 2nd's to keep recycling assets.

Offering Jae Crowder 4 years at the full MLE. Yes I'm pretty nervous about that last year but I really want him for this team and giving him the most gtd money he's likely to receive is my attempt. If this fails, I'm doing a one year deal for a Bazemore or Harkless or Ariza and being really disappointed.

Trading Johnson for Khem Birch and Aminu. Magic move their 3rd center and clear the last year of Aminu.

Re-signing Beasley unless someone makes a stupid offer, but I'm not expecting that. Juancho can walk.

Vets Exception on a backup PG -- let's call it DJ Augustin

Towns/Birch/Spellman
Crowder/Aminu
Beasley/Culver/#17 wing
Edwards/Okogie
Russell/Augustin

Obviously some other guys are on the roster but this is the gist of it. Defense is still a real problem in the starting lineup, but the hope is that by the following year one of Culver/Okogie/draft pick is ready to start and Beasley becomes my instant offense 6th man. Also the following year will be targeting a better backup PG that can allow Russell to play off-ball more, but slow and steady was the challenge.

[babyjax13]

I agree with the Gordon deal but I'm going to try something different just because it has been done.

Need: Young, defensive power forward
Other than Gordon a few names stick out: Jerami Grant, Brandon Clarke, and Darius Bazley. Of them, Bazley is probably the youngest and costs the least.

Wolves trade: 2020 BYK 1st (17), 2020 MIN 2nd (33)
Thunder trade: Darius Bazley, 2020 OKC 2nd (53)
Minnesota gets a 19 year old 3+D power forward who has already demonstrated that he's a good defender, and can hit open threes. I think there is a lot of potential there. OKC gets two shots in this draft, and I think for a rebuilding team, you may prefer that to a player whose ceiling is an elite role player.

Draft
I'd explore moving down to see if I could get both Isaac Okoro and Devin Vassell, but I'm assuming Minnsota like Ant enough not to (and he seems like a good hypothetical fit if he really commits to defense and improving his decision making).
1. Anthony Edwards
53. Sam Merrill (shooter, might translate, might not)

Free Agency
I'd actually be looking at moving Beasley and Hernangomez in sign and trades. I think they are both nice players, but keeping them would get rid of Minnesota's ability to sign a max level free agent in 2021, and I think for keeping KAT, that may actually be an important sell.

New York trades: 2021 DAL 1st, Frank Ntilinka, Dennis Smith
Minnesota trades: Malik Beasley
New York adds a player that can average 16-20ppg, Minnesota gets a very good perimeter defender, a shot at a player they were rumored to be connected to, and a first.

Minnesota trades: Juan Hernangomez
Utah trades: Ed Davis, 2021 GSW 2nd, 2024 CLE 2nd, cash
Minnesota moves Hernangomez for some second rounders down the line. Utah gets a backup stretch 4 who can rebound. [someone else could offer similar, but I needed a Utah deal in here ; ]. Davis is bought out.

Depth chart so far:
Karl Anthony Towns/Naz Reid/Omari Spellman
James Johnson/Darius Bazley/Jarred Vanderbilt
Jarrett Culver/Josh Okogie
Anthony Edwards/Frank Ntilinka/Jaylen Nowell/Sam Merrill
D'Angelo Russel/Jordan McLaughlin/Dennis Smith Jr.

I think this team is balanced out with a ton of defense, and all they need is a scoring 6th man.

[Trader_Joe]

How is Edwards projected defensively?
And doesn't Ball have good defensive potential with his size?
I almost think Ball would be a good fit next to Russell. He can help take the tougher assignment in the back court, take some PG load off of Russell (and as back-up PG) and allows Russell off-ball more.

I wonder if they can trade down, even is slightly to get Ball and pick up an asset in the process?

Then maybe make a deal for Gordon and Ross with JJ, Culver, Okogie, Layman, #17 if needed. I think T.Ross is a very underrated player, even if the main target is AG here.

Sign Napier for the min for PG depth (played Russell before)
D.Carroll for the min as well as they need a guy like him, and he's played with Russell before as well and was a fan.

Resign Beasley and Jauncho assuming there won't be much cap and not much of a market for them, and thus reasonable deals.
MLE on Crowder and confuse opposing teams by putting Crowder and DMC out together.

D.Russell / Napier
L.Ball / Beasley
T.Ross / Crowder / DMC
A.Gordon / Hernangomez / Vanderbilt
K.Towns / Reid / Spellman
+
#17 (if they don't use in the AG trade)
Any value they get from trading down to L.Ball

[pacers33granger]

I think one of Brogdon or Oladipo would make a nice fit next to Russell and add much needed D.
Not sure the price for either, especially because I don't know if Indy wants to deal, but if they do, I'd call on both.

It's doubtful Indy would be interested in anything Minny would offer, nor would they want to deal either. Brogdon isn't a great defender though. He's strong and smart. But that doesn't work on a lot of guards in the league. I don't love his fit with Dlo, plus he clearly wanted to play PG and handle the ball so he may not be too pleased playing off ball again.