From ESPN Insider

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Just watched the press conference. Man, I hope our two big guys in the FO (Flip and Milt) aren't as dumb as they come across. Milt talked about how Thad's camp made it known that he was going to opt out and Milt talked about how you don't want an asset to leave without getting something for it beforehand. They're talking about Thad like he's an expiring... Well, guys, KG's an expiring too. Their explanation is tomfoolery.

I wish Flip would just say, "I never stopped loving Kevin Garnett and I wanted him here no matter what. I tried to get him from Brooklyn as part of the Minnesota/Cleveland/Kevin Love trade, but they weren't having it so I had to go to my second plan to get Thad Young. I can't get enough KG! He's like the son I always wanted. Ryan, go get me some coffee."

[TheGrey08]

Guys, isn't there an opportunity cost here? I mean even if Flip was more worried about Thad opting in (which is believable), wasn't there still an opportunity to get more value for him? I think that's part of the authors sentiment and a few posters as well.

I still seem to be the only guy who saw a major lost opportunity yesterday, and I mean outside of the Young-KG trade. While Flip was basking in the glow of his "major" victory yesterday, high draft picks and young players were moved with the frequency of a ham radio operation. It was as if Flip sat at his desk with his feet up singing "na na na na na nah" I got KG and you didn't. Meanwhile a major chance to enhance our rebuild sailed right past his office window. It was such a downer for me. I can't be the only one can I?

I agree about being disappointed nothing else happened, but lets remember it's 100% speculation. We don't KNOW what the market was for Thad or Martin. For all we know teams wanted to give back a shit contract or weren't even offering a 1st. Sure Afflalo got DEN a 1st, but he's also probably a better overall player who is 3 years younger too. I do tend to agree with others about his future value too. I think he'll be just as valuable this summer or next trade deadline as long as he's healthy.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Interesting that Thad and KG have the same WS this year, but you think KG is going to have such a bigger impact than him.

I also hate when people take a starter and compare his per36 to a bench player's per36. You've done that with Bennett against Young too. It's misleading because that's more of a projection/estimate than a player actually doing those numbers.

[GymRat [enjin:6592663]]

Cool, that may be the case, but I think it all comes down to what Flip felt was best and most necessary for this team in order to enhance/expedite development. He appears to truly believe that KG offers more than what we could have gotten elsewhere, and it was a slew of things that couldn't be provided by another young guy collecting rust on the roster.

I am in favor of the trade for a number of reasons, but I do see your point of opportunity cost and understand why it feels like this can be construed as a mistake, especially in light of what we gave up to get Thad to begin with.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

"The impact that KG will have will have more of an impact than what that pick will have over the years."

Flip breaking it down for you... My god.

[GymRat [enjin:6592663]]

I can't post this whole article, but maybe it helps paint a more clear picture of what we could have expected from that Miami pick.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10758663/examining-expected-production-every-slot-nba-draft

This was referenced in Pelton's chat wrap today.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Guys, isn't there an opportunity cost here? I mean even if Flip was more worried about Thad opting in (which is believable), wasn't there still an opportunity to get more value for him? I think that's part of the authors sentiment and a few posters as well.

I still seem to be the only guy who saw a major lost opportunity yesterday, and I mean outside of the Young-KG trade. While Flip was basking in the glow of his "major" victory yesterday, high draft picks and young players were moved with the frequency of a ham radio operation. It was as if Flip sat at his desk with his feet up singing "na na na na na nah" I got KG and you didn't. Meanwhile a major chance to enhance our rebuild sailed right past his office window. It was such a downer for me. I can't be the only one can I?

We'll never know, cool, but when I first heard that Flip was shopping Thad, I didn't set my sights very high for what we would get in return. Thad is a high-character guy and good teammate, to be sure, but the rest of his game doesn't add up to $10 million of value. He scores, but not very efficiently. He has never had a decent rebounding year, even in college. And while he does garner a lot of steals for a PF, many of us have pointed out that he does so in a Corey Brewer like fashion...gambling, rather than playing smart, team-oriented defense. Combine those factors with a guy who either was going to test the market at the end of the year, or exercise his option to play for $10 million for one more year, and I figured only a dumb GM would give us much in return for that package. And the Nets have certainly looked dumb recently, and have the results to show for it. I share your distaste for KG as an individual, but in terms of the value he can provide the Wolves, he is at the high end of where my expectation were for a Young deal. I don't know...maybe I'm wrong, because others value Thad a lot more than I do. But that's how I see it.

[TheGrey08]

Just watched the press conference. Man, I hope our two big guys in the FO (Flip and Milt) aren't as dumb as they come across. Milt talked about how Thad's camp made it known that he was going to opt out and Milt talked about how you don't want an asset to leave without getting something for it beforehand. They're talking about Thad like he's an expiring... Well, guys, KG's an expiring too. Their explanation is tomfoolery.

I wish Flip would just say, "I never stopped loving Kevin Garnett and I wanted him here no matter what. I tried to get him from Brooklyn as part of the Minnesota/Cleveland/Kevin Love trade, but they weren't having it so I had to go to my second plan to get Thad Young. I can't get enough KG! He's like the son I always wanted. Ryan, go get me some coffee."

For KG to waive his no trade, he was signaling that he is coming back here to finish his career. There's no other point or reason to come back.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Here's the thing, guys. If this 38-year old had a name that was anything other than Kevin Garnett, but all things were the same, all of you would be upset with this trade.

But whatever. The hometown hero returns and the fans and media will eat it up. Flip keeps losing trades and giving away assets. All I can hope for is a top-three pick now.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Guys it's super simple to break down why there's a huge problem with the trade. If you took away the name KG and just saw the guy is a 38 year old PF in his 19th season putting up 7 and 7 making 12 million dollars, there is no way anyone on the planet would want to trade for the guy considering where the Wolves are at in the rebuilding process.

So the only conclusion was that it was a trade just for the name KG. The nostalgia and fanservice does not help this team at all going forward, so Flip is making trades to make people happy, and not what it in the best interest of the trade. You could even use the same logic when we traded for Thad.

It is NEVER a good thing when a GM makes moves just to make the fanbase happy.