Thoughts in General, Rumors, etc 5.0

[shrink]

That account is the one that recently posted something about "Josh Smith says LeBron couldn't have competed in his era" and FoxSports ran with it before realizing it was fake. It is not to be taken seriously.

It would be funnier to attribute the line to Josh Giddey.

[HartfordWhalers]

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Yeah, I don't know how to bridge the value gap but Smart as the Beverly going forward while also negating the cap hit of Beasley seems perfect. Top 16 protected pick? Going 16 / 14/ 14 / 14 / 14 2nds? Relies on Boston actually wanting Beasley so I think should be a three teamer still.

[Texas Chuck]

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[shrink]

If you’re interested in a wall of text, here’s some local context for the MIN - BOS talk.

1. It’s hard to get reliable inside information leaks from MIN now. Gone are the days when Flip and Glen would talk to anybody, often saying too much. When Thibs took over, he treated the media like the opposition, and later, Rosas didn’t spill the beans. Then, with Covid, local media was never able to generate new inside sources. MIN fans often learn more about their team from leaks from other teams, about the deals MIN is interested in.

2. The gold standard here (well, at this point, probably the bronze standard), is Jon Krawcinski who covers the Wolves for the Athletic. Wolfson is fine, but you have to listen carefully, because he often gives a minute of his opinion after ten seconds of actual info. Here is what Jon Krawcinski had to say:

* Jaden McDaniels would require 'a massive return
* Both Minnesota and Pat Bev are interested in a contract extension - likely he stays
* Confirms the Wolves turned down Malik Beasley for Josh Richardson + Nesmith but he is available

3. I think the interest in Smart is real, but he certainly sounds more like a replacement for Beverley, not someone you add to Beverley. The only thing we’ve heard from Gupta is that he wants to make deals that can help the team compete for an actual championship in 3-4 years, around Towns and Edwards. Smart could fill that role - Beverley (33) is getting a little old for that.

4. Also, remember Gupta is trying to keep his job. If he can’t (or shouldn’t) offer a lot of future assets to make a big deal that alters Rosas’ team, then the only thing he can show ARod and Lore is that he worked out a great extension. Is the Smart talk leverage? Make no mistake - the CHI kid Beverley loves Minnesota. Earlier this year, when no one knew how good MIN could be, I heard Beverley do an interview where he was desperate to get back from NYK games, and he went on for two full minutes about how he loves Minnesota. He also loves that Chris Finch allows him to be more than be a catch-and-shoot option, like he had been for many years on the talented teams that preceded being here. And the team has thrived with Beverley, on the floor and off, particular improving everyone’s defense, effort and accountability. Gupta could be leveraging a Smart replacement to get a cheaper, or shorter, less risky extension,

5. Finally, if we trust Krawcinski, that MIN declined BOS offer of Richardson + Nesmith for Beasley, then this new rumor means they must either highly value Smart, or look at Richardson + Nesmith as negative salary. People continue to scoff at all the Wolves statements about how they value Jaden McDaniels, but note that even Krawcinski talked about him just after Ant and KAT, before discussing Vanderbilt and Russell. I would highly doubt McDaniels would be included in a deal to get Smart.

[Texas Chuck]

People continue to scoff at all the Wolves statements about how they value Jaden McDaniels, but note that even Krawcinski talked about him just after Ant and KAT, before discussing Vanderbilt and Russell. I would highly doubt McDaniels would be included in a deal to get Smart.

Just to be clear speaking for me, I don't scoff that they value him highly. Lots of teams value young players highly who haven't really justified that yet. I do scoff that his value around the league approaches anything close to what Jon says they would need to move him though. Which is fine and leads me to the same conclusion as you. He makes no sense in a trade because the Wolves see his addition as far bigger than the team receiving him would. So other incentive should be used if they make an addition.

[MoneyTalks41890]

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I hadn't heard of this before: https://fanspo.com/nba/trade-machine

I like the old fashioned calculator method, but nice to know there's a better trade machine out there. Everything else in the article feels like that guy has spent a lot of time on the forum, because he pretty much nails it.

[shrink]

I hadn't heard of this before: https://fanspo.com/nba/trade-machine

I like the old fashioned calculator method, but nice to know there's a better trade machine out there. Everything else in the article feels like that guy has spent a lot of time on the forum, because he pretty much nails it.

I listen to Smitty’s Front Office podcast, and a couple weeks ago, he gave a shout out to our little Trade Board! He said that his mailbox gets filled this time of year with fans who come up with bad fake trades. He said that at the RealGM trade board, we have a rule that you have to provide a reason both teams will do a deal. If his mailbox had that rule, he wouldn’t see the majority of these trades!

[cgf]

Does a Randle, Sabonis, & Fox based 3-way make sense at some point?

[Texas Chuck]

Does a Randle, Sabonis, & Fox based 3-way make sense at some point?

to the team getting Sabonis absolutely. To Indiana? Nope.

[HornetJail]

Does a Randle, Sabonis, & Fox based 3-way make sense at some point?

Sabonis to SAC, Fox to NY, and Randle to Indy?

That depends on how many 1sts NY is giving Indiana. If it's less than 3 I'm not seeing it.

[Patsfan1081]

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I understand every team is high on their own young players but there seems to be a considerable difference between a first an McDaniels and I don’t see Boston being hung up on Jaden, who just hasn’t looked too hot since entering the league.

[cgf]

Does a Randle, Sabonis, & Fox based 3-way make sense at some point?

Sabonis to SAC, Fox to NY, and Randle to Indy?

That depends on how many 1sts NY is giving Indiana. If it's less than 3 I'm not seeing it.

Yeah I have no clue what the gaps are; as I think Fox & Randle are both better than Sabonis when on form, but since both are struggling this season I probably lean towards Indy being the team that should get the sweeteners, as well...which is why I was wondering what you guys thought.

My general thinking was that each team would be trading from a position of strength for a guy who should be a better fit, if that player bounces back / brings their top form. So the question was how tolerable those sweeteners needed to be.

Would a pick from us (or kid like Quickley), and a pick from SAC feel reasonable? Or does Julius need to finish the season on an absolute tear to make that at all realistic?

[Troubadour]

Marc Stein reported that the Spurs are weighing whether to trade Jakob Poeltl and one of the factors is Pop's pursuit of the all-time wins record for a coach.

Personally, that rings hollow to me because Jakob Poeltl is good, but losing him wouldn't prevent the Spurs from winning less than 7 games out of ~30 remaining.

[Asif16]

Whats the deal with TJ Warren? Is he coming back this season and if he is....whats Indiana's plan with him?

[kalenclayton]

Marc Stein reported that the Spurs are weighing whether to trade Jakob Poeltl and one of the factors is Pop's pursuit of the all-time wins record for a coach.

Personally, that rings hollow to me because Jakob Poeltl is good, but losing him wouldn't prevent the Spurs from winning less than 7 games out of ~30 remaining.

Is this Stein saying that the Spurs think Pop is in his final season? (Did I miss the announcement of this intentions?)

[Devilanche]

If you’re interested in a wall of text, here’s some local context for the MIN - BOS talk.

Nice write up.

I’m fine with player having more value to one team rather than the other though of course if that player is the value gap, a team can just send out a first rounder instead to bridge the gap instead and at most maybe another late second elsewhere . Seems like a decent way to bridge the value gap.

What is annoying instead would be if one claims so and so is so valuable and we really want to keep him but to bridge the value gap when we remove him… we will throw in a late second or cash. If he’s that valuable and the trade is not a scrap for scrap, surely the difference for taking said player out is a protected first at least ?

[BullyKing]

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Well this seems noteworthy

[Domejandro]

It was pretty obvious that Harden was Morey’s target, hopefully this gets done so everything else can fall into place. Could be a VERY explosive Trade Deadline.

[eminence]

Really feels like it gets done now if they’re willing to announce it like that.

[shangrila]

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Yeah, I don't know how to bridge the value gap but Smart as the Beverly going forward while also negating the cap hit of Beasley seems perfect. Top 16 protected pick? Going 16 / 14/ 14 / 14 / 14 2nds? Relies on Boston actually wanting Beasley so I think should be a three teamer still.

I'd do a pick easily. I'd even make it top 10 this year just to all but guarantee it.

For me this accomplishes 2 things; getting a long term replacement for Beverley (crucial if we're sticking with DLo) and getting off of Beasley's money.

For the record, I don't hate Beasley and I do buy his current %s are more a slump than his actual ability. But I think he's a rhythm guy, meaning he needs minutes to get comfortable and produce. He's not someone you can sub in just for a burst of offence before taking him out again, which obviously doesn't work with our team composition.