From ESPN Insider

[Monster]

My point about KG "old school" wasn't stated well. What I meant was KG has never been an UFA. He wasn't looking for a buyout to chase a title with the Clippers. He has never asked for a trade to my knowledge. The fact that the Wolves traded for him is significant in his mind. That's what I meant.

Also I agree if KG makes too much money in the 2 year extension then yeah that's bad news but we don't have that number yet but I doubt it's going to be the vet min and I can't blame KG for not doing that. I might do that but I'd play every season for the vet min. Lol

The extra 1 million or whatever that KG will make the rest of the season compared to young could even out with more ticket sales and might be worthwhile just to get more people showing up to games. But whatever I'm not all that upset about the article.

[Monster]

Long, whats the difference if they were able to get Thad's contract off the books this year as opposed to the season after? They aren't in any position to sign anybody this offseason that would make a difference, so why the rush to get Thad's money off the books?

Maybe to be able to sign guys from Europe?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Nobody's misinterpreting the trade other than you, LST and others who support this trade. We gave up a 26-year old forward who can score the basketball for a 38-year old forward who we could have signed in the off-season. That's not fair value by any means, and certainly not winning this trade by any measure.

PS: That 1st round pick from Miami is going to be late in the round even with Bosh going down. That's how big of an impact I think Dragic will have. I'd still take Thad over a pick in the 20s because most of those players aren't going to be as good of a player as Thad. And we keep pissing away the fact that Thad's 26 years old. He still has a lot of basketball left.

But even if Flip didn't want him here to be a part of the core, you deal him for another 1st or a prospect. So many assets were flying around and all we got was a guy to play daddy to the young guys. It's just a non-creative, super basic, old-school move from Flip and our FO.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Long, whats the difference if they were able to get Thad's contract off the books this year as opposed to the season after? They aren't in any position to sign anybody this offseason that would make a difference, so why the rush to get Thad's money off the books?

Alex, I think Flip thinks they are a better overall team with Payne and KG replacing Thad's minutes at PF, and that they can get both of them for less than Thad would command next year. While Flip likely appreciated Thad's creative offensive game, he must have finally come to the conclusion that his ability to give us 14-15 points didn't offset his terrible rebounding and substandard team defense, and that $10 million for the total package was not good value.

I don't know for sure that is what Flip was thinking, but it sure sounded like it from his press conference. At any rate, it's what I think.

[Coolbreeze44]

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?

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

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 100%. The good news in all of this is that there is finally no more members of the band left the Taylor/Flip combo could possibly bring back anymore, the well is all dried up

[A Friendly Flatulence [enjin:8907904]]

We gave up a 1st rounder to try & compete this year. We gambled & lost because of the injuries we suffered which no one can predict. Now because we trade Thad away does not mean we are giving away a first round pick, it doesn't work like that. And I have a feeling Taylor will make up some of the "extra salary" of KG with a bump in attendance/PR/merchandise, hell I would go to a game if I were in driving distance just for ole times sake (not to mention I am really hoping they do some throwback gear on the website so I can get a oldschool KG shirt/jersey). Thad wasn't going to put us over the top next year anyway, I don't see why some people are so bent out of shape about the trade

[TheGrey08]

What idiot wrote that?

1) The salary this year is irrelevant.

2) KG can't get an extension b/c when the team can negotiate with him come July 1, he'll have no existing contract. (maybe semantics, but w/e)

3) The point in having him now is to benefit the young guys for the rest of the way this season to help gauge what we have.

4) I think people overestimated the market for Thad & Martin a little.

So you agree with none of what he is saying?

I can't speak for Grey, but I agree with only one thing that the writer said...that the worst part of this whole thing is that Flip gave up a first rounder for Thad less than a year ago. He is correct in that indictment of Flip. The rest of the article is flawed.

Agreed. I wasn't a big fan of giving up the 1st then either. The Sixers were supposedly really shopping him too. That said the ONLY reason I miss not getting an extra 1st this coming draft is for extra ammo to move up if we get screwed for the millionth time.

[Monster]

I'll clarify here that I'm on the fence with this trade. I get the merits of it but I would have liked to see us get something more for Thad even if that was just a non protected 2nd rounder. Hopefully KG can be the vet presence this team has needed basically since he left. We will see.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Nobody's misinterpreting the trade other than you, LST and others who support this trade. We gave up a 26-year old forward who can score the basketball for a 38-year old forward who we could have signed in the off-season. That's not fair value by any means, and certainly not winning this trade by any measure.

PS: That 1st round pick from Miami is going to be late in the round even with Bosh going down. That's how big of an impact I think Dragic will have. I'd still take Thad over a pick in the 20s because most of those players aren't going to be as good of a player as Thad. And we keep pissing away the fact that Thad's 26 years old. He still has a lot of basketball left.

But even if Flip didn't want him here to be a part of the core, you deal him for another 1st or a prospect. So many assets were flying around and all we got was a guy to play daddy to the young guys. It's just a non-creative, super basic, old-school move from Flip and our FO.

I agree that Thad can score the basketball, cam, but not very efficiently, and actually not significantly better than KG on a per 36 basis. Here's the Young/Garnett comparison for this year:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&y1=2015&p1=youngth01&y2=2015&p2=garneke01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

Nobody suggests that KG is an efficient scorer at this stage of his career, but his FG% and TS% are nearly identical to Thad's. And Thad only scores 3 points more per 36 minutes. Not a very big difference on the offensive side of the ball, which is the one area Thad is presumed to be superior to KG.

Now take a look at the rebounding and defensive numbers. This is where KG really begins to differentiate himself from Thad, and it happens to be in two areas that I think most directly influence success on the court. But Flip believes, and the proponents of this trade concur, that KG's defensive intelligence. relentlessness and refusal to let teammates take plays off instantly makes the Wolves a better defensive team. By the way, one of the reasons I talked myself into getting comfortable with the Thad Young pickup last summer was the way Philly fans raved about his work ethic. I thought it might have a ripple effect on our young team, But for whatever reason...be it his mother's death, Rubio's injury, etc...Thad never exhibited the type of leadership by example that I was hoping to see from him. On the other hand, KG demands effort teamwork and excellence from his teammates, and I have seen the impact that can have on them. I believe Flip is convinced that KG will impact this team in positive ways in a manner Thad was not able to do, at a much lower price tag next year (hopefully). And I agree with that thinking.