Deals for #5/6 pick.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

No. No, no, no, no, no. How many more people need to post "The Wolves shouldn't trade that pick" before you finally get that maybe MIN shouldn't trade that pick?

Listen, if OKC breaks it up, their attendance is going to be cut in half and their merchandising is going to evaporate. Their ownership group is a bunch of money-grubbing jerks (if you don't believe me, lease your land to them for a Frac and then try to get your money). I am not the first to say this: When this core is gone, OKC will be the LEAST desirable destination in the NBA and will be in REAL financial trouble.

So if you want Ibaka, you make the same offer you make BKN for Lopez: Payne/2018 #4 through whatever number ATL gets the pick or extinguishes/2020 Top 3 protected or extinguishes.

Look, I know you all are bored. The Vikings don't report for 10 weeks, the Twins are playing poorly, and (shocking) the Mild are also done. But GIVING AWAY THE FIFTH PICK BECAUSE YOU ARE BORED is not the answer. My concern is some idiot with the Wolves will read this and think "Well, if this is what the fans want."

[AbeVigodaLive]

Pick + LaVine (+ Muhammad?) for Jimmy Butler.

Not necessarily what YOU want... which team says no?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Pick + LaVine (+ Muhammad?) for Jimmy Butler.

Not necessarily what YOU want... which team says no?

I have to think Thibs and co. says no even though Butler's his boy. That's just a lot to give up on our side.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Pick + LaVine (+ Muhammad?) for Jimmy Butler.

Not necessarily what YOU want... which team says no?

I have to think Thibs and co. says no even though Butler's his boy. That's just a lot to give up on our side.

I can see that side of it. That's a lot of potential (at least in the pick and LaVine)... the flip side is that it's actually highly unlikely that anybody from the Wolves side will reach Butler's level. And he would provide a much-needed legit veteran presence to a very young team. (the attitude/leadership issues/rumors notwithstanding)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Pick + LaVine (+ Muhammad?) for Jimmy Butler.

Not necessarily what YOU want... which team says no?

I have to think Thibs and co. says no even though Butler's his boy. That's just a lot to give up on our side.

Yeah, I just have a problem seeing Butler and Wiggins meshing for a variety of reasons, but the main one being ego. I get that everyone wants to win, blah, blah blah, but bringing in a Durant or even a Butler seriously compromises Wiggins as the co-alpha-dog scorer of this team along with KAT. And as someone that has spent his first two seasons on his rookie contract establishing himself as a go-to guy to suddenly be happy taking a back seat to Towns AND Butler....I just don't see it working. Letting go of LaVine in the process may relieve some pressure since he is another guy competing for shots. And certainly Butler is less prolific than Durant, yet I'm sure - no, I know - he is at a stage in his career when he wants to be THE guy.

Now on paper, that is a yummy combination, especially defensively where those two can just switch on wings and guards of all shapes and sizes.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Pick + LaVine (+ Muhammad?) for Jimmy Butler.

Not necessarily what YOU want... which team says no?

I have to think Thibs and co. says no even though Butler's his boy. That's just a lot to give up on our side.

Yeah, I just have a problem seeing Butler and Wiggins meshing for a variety of reasons, but the main one being ego. I get that everyone wants to win, blah, blah blah, but bringing in a Durant or even a Butler seriously compromises Wiggins as the co-alpha-dog scorer of this team along with KAT. And as someone that has spent his first two seasons on his rookie contract establishing himself as a go-to guy to suddenly be happy taking a back seat to Towns AND Butler....I just don't see it working. Letting go of LaVine in the process may relieve some pressure since he is another guy competing for shots. And certainly Butler is less prolific than Durant, yet I'm sure - no, I know - he is at a stage in his career when he wants to be THE guy.

Now on paper, that is a yummy combination, especially defensively where those two can just switch on wings and guards of all shapes and sizes.

Maybe most importantly, LaVine's our best three-point shooter and it's not even close. He was damn near 40% from 3P on decent volume last year for the season, and he was a sizzling 44.4% from 3P as a starter (33 games). That's not easily replaced, and considering the other personnel we have, his floor spacing is essential.

Less important, but still needs to be considered, LaVine's a great personality fit next to Towns and Wiggins, especially Wiggins. I feel like those two are good buddies already and he brings out Andrew's personality more than others. I just like that threesome's chemistry on and off the court. I'm not trying to mess with it right now.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

True, we have a pretty good thing going with our current roster, and although Abe, myself, and others may poke fun at ourselves collectively for getting ahead of our skis with this team, there is a reason why we were the #1 target for Thibs. He obviously sees a ton of upside to what is already here.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

All I'll say is chemistry matters.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

No. No, no, no, no, no. How many more people need to post "The Wolves shouldn't trade that pick" before you finally get that maybe MIN shouldn't trade that pick?

Listen, if OKC breaks it up, their attendance is going to be cut in half and their merchandising is going to evaporate. Their ownership group is a bunch of money-grubbing jerks (if you don't believe me, lease your land to them for a Frac and then try to get your money). I am not the first to say this: When this core is gone, OKC will be the LEAST desirable destination in the NBA and will be in REAL financial trouble.

So if you want Ibaka, you make the same offer you make BKN for Lopez: Payne/2018 #4 through whatever number ATL gets the pick or extinguishes/2020 Top 3 protected or extinguishes.

Look, I know you all are bored. The Vikings don't report for 10 weeks, the Twins are playing poorly, and (shocking) the Mild are also done. But GIVING AWAY THE FIFTH PICK BECAUSE YOU ARE BORED is not the answer. My concern is some idiot with the Wolves will read this and think "Well, if this is what the fans want."

While I lean toward being in favor of keeping the pick, I'm not on board with a definitive "Wolves shouldn't trade that pick" approach. Some of the deals suggested here actually look kind of good to me, and you never know what kind of offer some crazy GM might throw at Thibodeau if he falls in love with a prospect...I hope he keeps an open mind. One thing I know is this: The "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" phenomenon causes fans and GMs alike to overvalue high draft picks. They see a college player dominating at that level, and project a similar performance from him at the pro level...generally doesn't work that way. If a GM offers Thibs a solid vet who fills an important need, I hope he listens to the offer.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

No. No, no, no, no, no. How many more people need to post "The Wolves shouldn't trade that pick" before you finally get that maybe MIN shouldn't trade that pick?

Listen, if OKC breaks it up, their attendance is going to be cut in half and their merchandising is going to evaporate. Their ownership group is a bunch of money-grubbing jerks (if you don't believe me, lease your land to them for a Frac and then try to get your money). I am not the first to say this: When this core is gone, OKC will be the LEAST desirable destination in the NBA and will be in REAL financial trouble.

So if you want Ibaka, you make the same offer you make BKN for Lopez: Payne/2018 #4 through whatever number ATL gets the pick or extinguishes/2020 Top 3 protected or extinguishes.

Look, I know you all are bored. The Vikings don't report for 10 weeks, the Twins are playing poorly, and (shocking) the Mild are also done. But GIVING AWAY THE FIFTH PICK BECAUSE YOU ARE BORED is not the answer. My concern is some idiot with the Wolves will read this and think "Well, if this is what the fans want."

While I lean toward being in favor of keeping the pick, I'm not on board with a definitive "Wolves shouldn't trade that pick" approach. Some of the deals suggested here actually look kind of good to me, and you never know what kind of offer some crazy GM might throw at Thibodeau if he falls in love with a prospect...I hope he keeps an open mind. One thing I know is this: The "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" phenomenon causes fans and GMs alike to overvalue high draft picks. They see a college player dominating at that level, and project a similar performance from him at the pro level...generally doesn't work that way. If a GM offers Thibs a solid vet who fills an important need, I hope he listens to the offer.

Maybe you're right, but there is two things to remember:
1. The Wolves have no cap/lux issues. To trade the #5 pick as a way to grease the wheels on a salary dump, for a player who may be healthy and productive on Halloween anyway, defies imagination.

2. When trading a pick for a player, I ask myself, as these teams should, "If that player, based on his most recent production and current contract, would be put into the draft with those same parameters, would he be {that number} pick?". Ibaka is not the #5 pick. His "4" minutes were average, his "5" minutes were horrible, and he can leave after one (highly-paid) year. If you go back and look at the careers of guys taken in the 2010 after #17 (the pick MIN gave POR for Webster), you'll see what I mean. I have no interest in Lance Stephenson at $10m, but three years at $500K?.....and many more.

Jimmy Butler is a discussion worth having. He is signed for three more years (player option for a 4th) and he was very productive at two different positions. Here is the problem with Butler: Bright people run the Bulls, and they aren't hurting for money, so it will be very hard to get a fair trade.

Long story short: There aren't 100 guys who are available AND worth the #5 pick. I get a little testy because I have read on more than one occasion that Kahn based his decisions on "taking the temperature" of the message boards. Some might say that based on the results he got that it makes perfect sense. None of the current mgmt. has said anything similar, but if they are, there's some responsibility there that goes beyond "Hey, I'm a bored lonely shut-in, let me go flex my internet muscles against Pek and for Ibaka".