Mo On the Move for Gary Neal

[kekgeek]

Zogada is reporting the wolves have acquired Adrian Payen

[fiddlestyx [enjin:12735839]]

Rumblings the Wolves might be looking to move Neal

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2015/02/wolves-explore-neal.html

[Volans19]

From Kevin Pelton (Insider Article)

Let's take a look at how the Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets did in their trade on Tuesday. Here's a breakdown of the deal:

Hornets get: Guards Troy Daniels and Mo Williams

Timberwolves get: Guard Gary Neal and a 2019 second-round pick

Charlotte Hornets: B-

At 22-29, the Hornets are tied with the Miami Heat for seventh in the Eastern Conference. (Try not to think about this too long, fans of the New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns.) Charlotte has been playing decent basketball since a dreadful 6-19 start and is most likely going to make the playoffs (the latest Hollinger Playoff Odds have them making it 57 percent of the time). With four teams within three games in the standings, that's no sure thing, especially in the absence of starting point guard Kemba Walker. Walker, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last month, is expected to miss another five weeks.

Since Walker went down, the Hornets have actually been quite good with Brian Roberts at the point, outscoring opponents by 7.3 points per 100 possessions according to NBA.com/Stats. When Roberts sits, however, they've been outscored by 8.5 points per 100 possessions. The combination of Neal and Lance Stephenson, neither of them really point guards, has ground the offense to a halt.

Adding Williams should help. While his reputation for providing instant offense off the bench is overstated because of his inefficiency (Williams sports a middling .511 true shooting percentage this season), he's a real point guard, and he handed out a career-high 8.2 assists per 36 minutes in Minnesota. And even as a scorer, Williams is an upgrade over Neal, who's made just 35.9 percent of his 2s and 29.3 percent of his 3s during a dreadful season.

Charlotte will have a crowd of small guards when Walker returns, and either Roberts or Williams will probably fall out of the rotation. The Hornets also take on a tiny bit of 2015-16 salary with Daniels, whose minimum salary is guaranteed. The sharpshooting Daniels hasn't been able to get going in limited minutes this year, making just 31.7 percent of his 3s after last year's playoff heroics.

Still, even if this trade only helps Charlotte over the next five weeks, it could be enough to secure a playoff spot. And that's probably worth the second-round pick.

Minnesota Timberwolves: A

So long as Ricky Rubio avoids another serious injury the rest of the season, this looks like a nice piece of business for the Timberwolves. They signed Williams as a free agent to be part of a roster they hoped would contend for a playoff spot in the West even without Kevin Love. Injuries to Rubio, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic ruined that dream, but Williams was a solid stopgap during Rubio's extended absence. With Rubio back in the lineup and Minnesota resigned to the lottery, Williams was no longer a necessary piece. And getting any draft value for a player signed as a free agent is a positive.

Dealing Williams additionally allows Zach LaVine to continue getting regular minutes behind Rubio. LaVine has been one of the league's worst players this season (he's last in the NBA in ESPN's real plus-minus), struggling badly with turnovers and his outside shot. He also won't turn 20 until next month, so experience is useful so long as LaVine is not overwhelmed -- a scenario that would only really be a concern were Rubio injured. And frankly, the downgrade from Williams to LaVine behind Rubio only helps the Timberwolves in terms of the lottery.

Minnesota further saves a tiny bit of salary the rest of the season with this trade, and possibly a bit more if Neal agrees to a buyout to try to make his way to a contender for the stretch run. A buyout would also allow the Timberwolves to free up two roster spots the rest of the season.

[Lipoli390]

Not sure I get the deal. We traded one 30+ year old perimeter-shooting, expiring contract for another. The 2nd round pick is meaningless. This deal doesn't hurt, but I don't see that it helps. I guess on balance, this is better than keeping Mo.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Mehh. This deal was made for two reasons.

1. A favor to Mo Williams. All-Star break is here. Mo can try to make the playoffs with Charlotte instead of suffer another half season in Minnesota.

2. Clear a roster spot to acquire Payne.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Lip, a couple of things:

1. I happen to think the 18-19 Heat could be horrible. Maybe Whiteside is still there, maybe someone outbids them in two summers. Wade is not worth his salary now, and will be 37 at that point. Bosh will be 35. Maybe you think Pat Riley is a genius, maybe you think Riley had Darko #2 on his board and only drafted Wade because Darko was gone (He did draft Beasley at #2). Either way, he'll be 73. And they don't have a ton of picks. Don't get me wrong: They could trip their way into the next Lebron. But things aren't shaping up well for them.

2. I thought long and hard about how to phrase this next sentence differently, because I have respect for you, but I couldn't come up with anything, and you have said it yourself: This is a franchise that has had exactly ONE 30+ win season without Garnett, and has won two playoff series in 26 years. Are their fans really in a position to be snobs? Remember, this is the team that sold a 2nd rounder to HOU that they promptly used on Chandler Parsons, and this is the team that drafted Johnny Flynn 49 picks ahead of Patty Mills, as well as having opportunities at Nick Calathes, and both are having better careers than Anthony Bennett (and Flynn obviously). Don't get me wrong: Maybe 26 years from now, the Wolves will have spent the last 25 years turning the basketball world on its' ear, resulting in them playing their home games at the Vikings stadium due to ticket demand and the Wild moving to Hamilton, Ontario because they became an afterthought in hockeytown. But for now, let's let up on the gas, shall we?

My number one frustration with the Wolves over the years is not the incompetence, it's the arrogance. Their fans think so little of everything because their front office has projected that image. I get it with McHale. When you are 15 and dominate a bunch of 18-year-olds who couldn't make the hockey team, it tends to change you, but what has Flip (And Kahn) ever TRULY accomplished that would give someone such a large egos? And as fans, shouldn't we be hitting their snout with a newspaper and reminding them of that?

Unless you're Mitt Romney, life is taking lemons and making lemonade. Maybe that pick is #31 and they get an instant contributor. Maybe it's #60, and they package it with something else and get a contributor. Maybe they get the next Jeremy Lin. But instead of scoffing, let's DEMAND that this franchise start ACCOMPLISHING something.

And they don't have to pay Troy Daniels next year.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Not too sure where to put this, but like some of us have said, Martin is going no where.

AP: "Flip reiterated his desire to keep Kevin Martin. Says he's too valuable to the Wolves to move at this point."

[Coolbreeze44]

Not too sure where to put this, but like some of us have said, Martin is going no where.

AP: "Flip reiterated his desire to keep Kevin Martin. Says he's too valuable to the Wolves to move at this point."

Sounds like the kiss of death to me.

[Carlos Danger]

Not too sure where to put this, but like some of us have said, Martin is going no where.

AP: "Flip reiterated his desire to keep Kevin Martin. Says he's too valuable to the Wolves to move at this point."

Sounds like the kiss of death to me.

LOL! - Exactly. I remember hearing similar quote from Flip about Brewer before he was traded.

[Coolbreeze44]

Not too sure where to put this, but like some of us have said, Martin is going no where.

AP: "Flip reiterated his desire to keep Kevin Martin. Says he's too valuable to the Wolves to move at this point."

Sounds like the kiss of death to me.

LOL! - Exactly. I remember hearing similar quote from Flip about Brewer before he was traded.

It means, "hey fellow GM's, come strong or don't come at all"