Let’s Make a Deal — NBA Trade Edition

[Q-is-here]

Eric Gordon's shot has been on fire this year, but if you look at his prior 4 or 5 years it's......eh, OK-ish. That would worry the hell out of me because it could be he's just having a fluke year. He can get in slumps just like Beasley - it just hasn't happened yet this season.

But yeah, his contract is too much to swallow IMO for not giving us much more than what we'd get from Beasley if Malik can somehow get himself on track here.

[Q-is-here]

San Antonio is seeking a first-round pick and a quality player for Poeltl, according to Marc Stein. Poeltl is averaging career-highs in points (13.3), rebounds (9.0), and assists (2.8) this season.

Indiana is seeking two first-round picks or a promising young player and a first-round pick in exchange for Turner, as I previously reported on HoopsHype. or a promising young player and a first-round pick in exchange for Turner, as I previously reported on HoopsHype.

OK. Any thoughts on possible Wolves trades for Poeltl or Turner based on the reported asking price?

Poeltl is interesting...on a contract that pays < $10M over the next couple of seasons. A legit 7+-footer that can play drop coverage, thus giving our defense a different look at times.

Again though, he'd be a part time player with us....may be 20MPG at most? Yes, you can pair him with KAT at times, but that is going to be fairly situational and it won't be in every game. He's also not a great defensive rebounder, despite his size. That's one area we could really shore up, but he wouldn't help much there.

I think the Turner ship has sailed at this point. The rise of Vando has really reduced our need to go get a high-priced starting caliber Center.

[Lipoli390]

San Antonio is seeking a first-round pick and a quality player for Poeltl, according to Marc Stein. Poeltl is averaging career-highs in points (13.3), rebounds (9.0), and assists (2.8) this season.

Indiana is seeking two first-round picks or a promising young player and a first-round pick in exchange for Turner, as I previously reported on HoopsHype. or a promising young player and a first-round pick in exchange for Turner, as I previously reported on HoopsHype.

OK. Any thoughts on possible Wolves trades for Poeltl or Turner based on the reported asking price?

Poeltl is interesting...on a contract that pays < $10M over the next couple of seasons. A legit 7+-footer that can play drop coverage, thus giving our defense a different look at times.

Again though, he'd be a part time player with us....may be 20MPG at most? Yes, you can pair him with KAT at times, but that is going to be fairly situational and it won't be in every game. He's also not a great defensive rebounder, despite his size. That's one area we could really shore up, but he wouldn't help much there.

I think the Turner ship has sailed at this point. The rise of Vando has really reduced our need to go get a high-priced starting caliber Center.

That's a good breakdown, Q. I didn't know Poeltl was a poor defensive rebounder. That fact alone extinguishes any interest I might otherwise have in pursuing him. As an early season proponent of pursuing Turner, I agree that pursuing a high-priced center no longer makes sense with the emergence of Vando. And Turner was always an iffy target given his injury propensity. In fact, I believe he's out now with a wrist injury. It's always something with him.

I'd like to see the Wolves swap Layman and perhaps a 2nd-round pick for a solid rebounding backup center or PF. Alex Len and Robin Lopez come to mind, but I haven't closely examined their rebounding stats. I think Len is the better rebounder. Or maybe swap Layman and 2nd-round picks for salary space to sign Monroe. Those are the types of trade-deadline moves that make sense to me.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Doogie reported that, in his words, "the Wolves are definitely pursuing Marcus Smart." But apparently the hold up is the the Wolves are only willing to part with Beasley while Boston is insisting on also getting a future 1st or McDaniels. While I'm pleased Gupta has thus far refused to include a future first or McDaniels, he should still be fired at the end of this season for even considering the idea of swapping Beasley for Smart. Why on earth does Gupta want to trade our one three-point marksman for a 38% FG shooter. Beasley's career three-point percentage is higher that Smart's career FG percentage? Trading Beasley could make sense, but not for Marcus Smart. And why pay a premium salary for a slightly better version of Okogie? Mind-boggling.

While I would question a trade for Smart for a couple of reasons... calling him a "slightly" better version of Okogie seems like a bad take or irrational hyperbole. I can't think of a single thing Okogie does better than Smart, including many of the subtle unseen things that don't appear on the stat sheet that makes coaches and league insiders gush.

Marcus Smart has been a plus player every season in his career... on perennial playoff teams, including three conference final participants. In fact, the Celtics historically give him MORE minutes once the playoffs come around.

[Coolbreeze44]

I'll say one thing about Smart, if you have him along with Beverly and Vando, we would have an element of toughness nearly unmatched in the league. It would be an interesting team in many ways.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Eric Gordon's shot has been on fire this year, but if you look at his prior 4 or 5 years it's......eh, OK-ish. That would worry the hell out of me because it could be he's just having a fluke year. He can get in slumps just like Beasley - it just hasn't happened yet this season.

But yeah, his contract is too much to swallow IMO for not giving us much more than what we'd get from Beasley if Malik can somehow get himself on track here.

I think Eric Gordon is infinitely better at most things on the basketball court than Malik Beasley is. He's so much smarter and more mature that it's almost incalculable.

But...

- He's 33. Beasley is only 25. And Gordon is owed nearly $10M more than Beasley over the next two years.
- Beasley is probably* the better spot up three point shooter.


* Q is right. Gordon only shot 31.7% and 32.9% on three pointers the past two seasons. Yikes. But then I noticed that he only played in 63 of a possible 144 games. So, it can be argued that he simply struggled with his shot in goofy, Covid seasons on a team in complete disarray. BUT... it brings up another point. Gordon isn't really much of an iron man, is he? He's only played in 70+ games once since his rookie season back in 2009.

[Q-is-here]

Eric Gordon's shot has been on fire this year, but if you look at his prior 4 or 5 years it's......eh, OK-ish. That would worry the hell out of me because it could be he's just having a fluke year. He can get in slumps just like Beasley - it just hasn't happened yet this season.

But yeah, his contract is too much to swallow IMO for not giving us much more than what we'd get from Beasley if Malik can somehow get himself on track here.

I think Eric Gordon is infinitely better at most things on the basketball court than Malik Beasley is. He's so much smarter and more mature that it's almost incalculable.

But...

- He's 33. Beasley is only 25. And Gordon is owed nearly $10M more than Beasley over the next two years.
- Beasley is probably* the better spot up three point shooter.


* Q is right. Gordon only shot 31.7% and 32.9% on three pointers the past two seasons. Yikes. But then I noticed that he only played in 63 of a possible 144 games. So, it can be argued that he simply struggled with his shot in goofy, Covid seasons on a team in complete disarray. BUT... it brings up another point. Gordon isn't really much of an iron man, is he? He's only played in 70+ games once since his rookie season back in 2009.

Abe, even in the two seasons before the wonky Covid years, Gordon was ~ 36% from 3. That's not bad given the volume he shot, but it certainly isn't elite. It isn't unrealistic to expect Beasley to be in that neighborhood - or even better given how he shot the ball the last couple seasons before this year's epic cold streak.

I'm really hoping the Beasley we've seen these last three games is the one we see more frequently the rest of the season. A lot of great teams over the years have had a defensively-limited sniper come off the bench and be an important puzzle piece. The problem unique to us is guys going on 40-effing-game cold streaks to start the year! Does anyone for the Wolves ever start the year hot? Doesn't seem like it.....

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

This is a general thought not aimed at anyone on the board in particular. If you're willing to spend both assets and long-term money on Marcus Smart, which it appears the front office might be willing to do, then why wouldn't you spend a bit more to get a significantly better player in Derrick White? That's what doesn't make sense to me. And perhaps the Wolves have had those conversations and we're just unaware. That could definitely be true. We've just heard quite a bit about Smart being linked to Minnesota in trade talks that it has me a little worried.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rumors-james-harden-ben-simmons-caris-levert-collin-sexton-malik-beasley-thaddeus-young/Michael Scotto:

According to several rival executives who spoke with HoopsHype, there's a belief that including a first-round pick in a trade offer could pry Malik Beasley from Minnesota.

Beasley's name was mentioned as part of a potential package for Celtics guard Marcus Smart, and his salary makes him a prime trade candidate for salary matching purposes.

...

The Timberwolves and Spurs had exploratory talks on a trade involving Taurean Prince and a second-round pick for [Thaddeus] Young, league sources told HoopsHype.

Prince suffered a left ankle sprain on Sunday. Before his injury, Prince averaged 17.5 points on a blistering 68.2 percent from three-point range with 6.8 rebounds in his last four games.

My Thoughts:

If Minnesota's able to recoup value for Malik Beasley in the form of a first-round pick, then I will be elated. However, you cannot trade Beasley and not get a winning piece for this year as well. For instance, if you deal Beasley you had better get back a capable wing either in the same trade or in another. I wonder if the Wolves are trying to pry Josh Richardson and a first-round pick out of the Celtics.

Months ago, I would have been all over that trade for Thaddeus Young. Things have changed, however. Taurean Prince finally got into a rhythm-- he's been a flamethrower as of late. His three-point shooting prowess and ability to defend the wing makes him a better player for this team than Young. How badly is Prince injured? Hypothetically speaking, if he was going to miss a month or more, then yeah let's bring in the healthier Young. Otherwise, I think you hold on to Prince.

[Monster]

This is a general thought not aimed at anyone on the board in particular. If you're willing to spend both assets and long-term money on Marcus Smart, which it appears the front office might be willing to do, then why wouldn't you spend a bit more to get a significantly better player in Derrick White? That's what doesn't make sense to me. And perhaps the Wolves have had those conversations and we're just unaware. That could definitely be true. We've just heard quite a bit about Smart being linked to Minnesota in trade talks that it has me a little worried.

I was interested if it was basically Beasley for Smart. If the report you posted below that Beasley might be worth a 1st by himself...then I would look to move him and get value back instead of locking myself into that Smart contract.

For me I simply haven't seen enough of Derrick white to say for myself how I value him compared to Smart or overall in general. I do trust what you are saying in his value but I do also feel like I would like to have seen I'm play once in the past like 2 years (I think he was coincidentally hurt in every game I have watched the Spurs for a while) before I supported giving up the assets it will likely take to get him. That's my perspective and it's admittedly limited.