" (Lowe) Minnesota has communicated to the league at large that they believe they have a pathway to

[BloopOracle]

Zach Lowe's full quote on his podcast today:

"Minnesota's up to something. Minnesota is up to something. They made a move which everyone seems to like, this Culver kid will fit well with them. They have all these wings now, obviously they'd love to get off Wiggins. There's been a lot of Minnesota-D'Angelo Russell noise, and it's not all Karl Towns commenting on Instagram because they're friends. Minnesota has communicated to the league, not the NBA League, but the league at large that they believe they have a pathway to get D'Angelo Russell. I can't see what it is because they are capped out and have all these contracts that nobody wants, but they've communicated that, so TBD."

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

But Lip and Cool and a few others said this was bad. I'm not sure who to listen to...

(I kid..I kid)

[Lipoli390]

But Lip and Cool and a few others said this was bad. I'm not sure who to listen to...

(I kid..I kid)

Lol. Well, don't listen to me. Listen to Cool.

I have concerns about giving up lots of assets and giving a big contract to get Russell. But getting Russell would be a bold potentially needle-moving step that I'd probably be happy with. He's an elite talent at the right age to pair well wit KAT. That's a risk worth taking.

I've criticized Rosas, but drafting Culver could have been part of a larger plan to get Russell or some other needle-moving player. And I'm not convinced that Darius Garland will stay in Cleveland. So Rosas could end up looming like a genius.

[Monster]

But Lip and Cool and a few others said this was bad. I'm not sure who to listen to...

(I kid..I kid)

Lol. Well, don't listen to me. Listen to Cool.

I have concerns about giving up lots of assets and giving a big contract to get Russell. But getting Russell would be a bold potentially needle-moving step that I'd probably be happy with. He's an elite talent at the right age to pair well wit KAT. That's a risk worth taking.

I've criticized Rosas, but drafting Culver could have been part of a larger plan to get Russell or some other needle-moving player. And I'm not convinced that Darius Garland will stay in Cleveland. So Rosas could end up looming like a genius.

"looming" is waaaaay cooler than underwater basket weaving! It's an AWESOME skill for an NBA executive! Lip you have the best insider info. ;)





Sorry that was a weird joke.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'm all in on Rosas if he pulls this off.

[worldK]

The path to russell is covingtons value paired with teague or dieng. There are lots of teams with cap space that can absorb those contracts.

Covington is an easy guy to fit in your team given his skillset and contract. Sign and trade as a 3rd team is also an option.

Here are some scenarios for us to clear cap or be part of a sign and trade to get dlo..

1. Boston/brooklyn
Sign and trade
Brooklyn get irving
Boston get covington/teague
Wolves get dlo

2. Golden state and nets/knicks
Sign and trade
Nets/knicks get durant
Golden state gets covington teague/dieng
Wolves get dlo(nets) cap space to sign dlo(knicks)

3. Salary dump to a team
Example kings and pacers
Kings or lacers get Covington and teague/dieng.

The teams I listed are teams that covington would fit in very well with. Trague is an expiring and stop gap option for some teams. We might have to part with a first and couple if 2nd round picks to really get this done but it is wokable.

[Lipoli390]

But Lip and Cool and a few others said this was bad. I'm not sure who to listen to...

(I kid..I kid)

Lol. Well, don't listen to me. Listen to Cool.

I have concerns about giving up lots of assets and giving a big contract to get Russell. But getting Russell would be a bold potentially needle-moving step that I'd probably be happy with. He's an elite talent at the right age to pair well wit KAT. That's a risk worth taking.

I've criticized Rosas, but drafting Culver could have been part of a larger plan to get Russell or some other needle-moving player. And I'm not convinced that Darius Garland will stay in Cleveland. So Rosas could end up looming like a genius.

"looming" is waaaaay cooler than underwater basket weaving! It's an AWESOME skill for an NBA executive! Lip you have the best insider info. ;)





Sorry that was a weird joke.

That was weird indeed. I should point out that I have the best outsider information. Here's my question to you: Would you rather look like a genius or loom like one?

[Lipoli390]

The path to russell is covingtons value paired with teague or dieng. There are lots of teams with cap space that can absorb those contracts.

Covington is an easy guy to fit in your team given his skillset and contract. Sign and trade as a 3rd team is also an option.

Here are some scenarios for us to clear cap or be part of a sign and trade to get dlo..

1. Boston/brooklyn
Sign and trade
Brooklyn get irving
Boston get covington/teague
Wolves get dlo

2. Golden state and nets/knicks
Sign and trade
Nets/knicks get durant
Golden state gets covington teague/dieng
Wolves get dlo(nets) cap space to sign dlo(knicks)

3. Salary dump to a team
Example kings and pacers
Kings or lacers get Covington and teague/dieng.

The teams I listed are teams that covington would fit in very well with. Trague is an expiring and stop gap option for some teams. We might have to part with a first and couple if 2nd round picks to really get this done but it is wokable.

World -

Nice work coming up with some impressive, creative options. I think your first one (Boston/Brooklyn) is the most realistic of the sign-and-trades. Boston will need a PG next season with Irving's departure and Covington would be a great fit for them as a 3 &D guy on a very team-friendly contract. Brooklyn would get the PG they fully expect to sign anyway while preserving cap room for another elite max player. However, the one glitch in this is that I don't see the incentive for Brooklyn to do this deal. They can and already expect to sign Kyrie as a FA with enough space left to sign another max player. So why would Brooklyn help a conference rival like Boston by agreeing to this deal? The answer is that they wouldn't unless Minnesota or Boston offered a sweetener to Brooklyn. That sweetener would have to be future draft picks because a player or current pick would cut into Brooklyn's precious cap space and possibly render them unable to sign another max free agent. Boston has a number of future 1st round picks. Why would Boston give up a future 1st to make this deal happen? Because this deal would help Boston position themselves as a contender next season by getting them two high caliber vets the likes of which they couldn't get through free agency as a capped out team.

Your analysis of the Pacers as a possible partner in a cap-clearing move by the Wolves is also interesting and insightful. I see your Indiana scenario as a feasible one as well.

All of your potential deals involve the Wolves giving up Covington and either Teague or Gorgui. I don't think Gorgui works in any deal because he wouldn't provide any positive value given what his abilities and the remaining length of his contract. In contrast, Teague is a starting-caliber PG on an expiring contract. And Covington, of course, is a very good player in his prime and on a reasonable contract. So my sense is that any realistic deal for Russell will involve Teague. But I'm not sure it has to include Covington from a financial perspective. Trading Teague and Culver would would probably provide the necessary cap space for Russell, although the Wolves might also have to release Reynolds. My question for you and others is this: If your choice was to give up Covington or Culver to get Russell in a sign-and-trade or cap-clearing move, which would you choose?

[Monster]

But Lip and Cool and a few others said this was bad. I'm not sure who to listen to...

(I kid..I kid)

Lol. Well, don't listen to me. Listen to Cool.

I have concerns about giving up lots of assets and giving a big contract to get Russell. But getting Russell would be a bold potentially needle-moving step that I'd probably be happy with. He's an elite talent at the right age to pair well wit KAT. That's a risk worth taking.

I've criticized Rosas, but drafting Culver could have been part of a larger plan to get Russell or some other needle-moving player. And I'm not convinced that Darius Garland will stay in Cleveland. So Rosas could end up looming like a genius.

"looming" is waaaaay cooler than underwater basket weaving! It's an AWESOME skill for an NBA executive! Lip you have the best insider info. ;)





Sorry that was a weird joke.

That was weird indeed. I should point out that I have the best outsider information. Here's my question to you: Would you rather look like a genius or loom like one?

You almost got me here with this trick question. I say both loom like a genius I will look like one because I will be a genius! So really you can have it all! :)

[worldK]

The path to russell is covingtons value paired with teague or dieng. There are lots of teams with cap space that can absorb those contracts.

Covington is an easy guy to fit in your team given his skillset and contract. Sign and trade as a 3rd team is also an option.

Here are some scenarios for us to clear cap or be part of a sign and trade to get dlo..

1. Boston/brooklyn
Sign and trade
Brooklyn get irving
Boston get covington/teague
Wolves get dlo

2. Golden state and nets/knicks
Sign and trade
Nets/knicks get durant
Golden state gets covington teague/dieng
Wolves get dlo(nets) cap space to sign dlo(knicks)

3. Salary dump to a team
Example kings and pacers
Kings or lacers get Covington and teague/dieng.

The teams I listed are teams that covington would fit in very well with. Trague is an expiring and stop gap option for some teams. We might have to part with a first and couple if 2nd round picks to really get this done but it is wokable.

World -

Nice work coming up with some impressive, creative options. I think your first one (Boston/Brooklyn) is the most realistic of the sign-and-trades. Boston will need a PG next season with Irving's departure and Covington would be a great fit for them as a 3 &D guy on a very team-friendly contract. Brooklyn would get the PG they fully expect to sign anyway while preserving cap room for another elite max player. However, the one glitch in this is that I don't see the incentive for Brooklyn to do this deal. They can and already expect to sign Kyrie as a FA with enough space left to sign another max player. So why would Brooklyn help a conference rival like Boston by agreeing to this deal? The answer is that they wouldn't unless Minnesota or Boston offered a sweetener to Brooklyn. That sweetener would have to be future draft picks because a player or current pick would cut into Brooklyn's precious cap space and possibly render them unable to sign another max free agent. Boston has a number of future 1st round picks. Why would Boston give up a future 1st to make this deal happen? Because this deal would help Boston position themselves as a contender next season by getting them two high caliber vets the likes of which they couldn't get through free agency as a capped out team.

Your analysis of the Pacers as a possible partner in a cap-clearing move by the Wolves is also interesting and insightful. I see your Indiana scenario as a feasible one as well.

All of your potential deals involve the Wolves giving up Covington and either Teague or Gorgui. I don't think Gorgui works in any deal because he wouldn't provide any positive value given what his abilities and the remaining length of his contract. In contrast, Teague is a starting-caliber PG on an expiring contract. And Covington, of course, is a very good player in his prime and on a reasonable contract. So my sense is that any realistic deal for Russell will involve Teague. But I'm not sure it has to include Covington from a financial perspective. Trading Teague and Culver would would probably provide the necessary cap space for Russell, although the Wolves might also have to release Reynolds. My question for you and others is this: If your choice was to give up Covington or Culver to get Russell in a sign-and-trade or cap-clearing move, which would you choose?

Thanks lip.

As far as your question, Im leaning towards giving up covington rather than culver.

First, i dont think clearing teague's salary would be enough to sign dlo.

Secondly, Im in the other half on this board that sees good to great things from culver. He is ideally a great fit next to dlo at the backcourt. Think of dlo and lavert backcourt in brooklyn. They compliment each other very well and i think lavert is a good comp to culver.

Of the deals i mentioned, your point of brooklyn might not agree with the kyrie sign and trade deal is a valid one. I guess if kyrie wanted more money then a sign and trade should be an option.

That is why the durant deal is one that i think is a good one.

First of all, durant seems to be willing to engage in sign and trade discussion with the warriors so that is a start.

Also, i can see the warriors pushing for a sign and trade so they can get something in return as they are max out with no cap space.
Klay would likely resign with them for the max and the warriors are still contenders. Covington and his contract is exactly the type that a championship team covets and he helps them out next season. Teague gives them a creator they need for next season and is an expiring.