ESPN Trade Fits

[bleedspeed]

Minnesota Timberwolves

Need: 3-point shooting
Possible targets: Jordan Crawford, Courtney Lee, Ben Gordon, C.J. Miles, Gary Neal, O.J. Mayo, Arron Afflalo, Jameer Nelson, Jimmer Fredette, Richard Jefferson, Marvin Williams
Best scenario: Trade Alexey Shved to Milwaukee for Neal.

Contenders? Well, the Timberwolves have the point differential of an eventual 52-win team, and that puts them in the contending group. Minnesota ranks in the league's top 10 in schedule-adjusted efficiency on both ends of the floor, so this is a pretty complete team. However, its 3-point shooting is a glaring weakness. Just two teams have attempted more 3s than the Timberwolves, but they rank just 24th in percentage. Chase Budinger's eventual return will help, so they don't need to go overboard in pursuit of shooting.

Neal is a career 40 percent 3-point shooter, and is hitting 47.5 percent this season for the struggling Bucks. His contract is a near doppelganger for Shved's, and the second-year Russian would give rebuilding Milwaukee another much-needed upside talent. Shved has been the subject of trade rumors, but the Timberwolves might be loath to move the promising combo guard. However, with Kevin Love able to opt out of his deal after next season, they have to think short term. Neal is a fit not just for his skill set, but also because of his extensive postseason experience with Milwaukee.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

You mean Richard Jefferson is available?

In all seriousness, what you just did is tons of fun. Anyone who has used Tony Robbins' materials, or one of his competitors, is familiar with the "free thinking" portion of the program. And the authors always express that it is the most enjoyable portion of the program.

When you trade with another team, you have to give them a reason, because THEY are not bored. In pro sports, its basically three reasons: Get better because you are contending, bottom out because you're not, or shed salary because your fans stopped showing up (or never did) or you're up against a hard cap/luxury tax (like when the Mild gave away Clutterbuck and Setoguchi). I don't see MIL's motivation here. Maybe they do it for picks. MIN has NOP's and LAL's 2nds this year (I think their own is going to POR to complete the Martell deal). Would MIL take one? Is Neal worth both? Would MIN trade a pick or picks?

That's why the Wolves really screwed the pooch on the SAC deal. MIN had something SAC wanted (DWill) and really didn't take full advantage. There's no way SAC would have parted with Cousins (and there's issues there anyway) or Isiah Thomas, but you would have a tough time convincing me that anyone else on that roster was/is untouchable.

[Leado01]

Mike Miller -

[bleedspeed]

Note - These are not my ideas. It is off an ESPN insider article.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Really? And people pay for that?

My apologies for assigning, um, credit to you.

[markkbu [enjin:6588958]]

Note - These are not my ideas. It is off an ESPN insider article.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Too funny. Thanks for posting.

[bleedspeed]

My idea on a roster is having 9-10 players tops that are making over the league minimum. Then fill your roster out with cheap players. I am not sure why we didn't take flyers on guys like James Anderson, Xavier Henry, Anthony Morrow, etc

[AbeVigodaLive]

It's kind of comforting to know SOMEBODY still believes Shved has "upside talent"... or was the article penned in 2012?

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

ESPN won't be satisfied until the best players are in the top 5 TV markets. I'm sure the Love questions will start up again soon-even if they're hovering around the 7-8 seed spots.

[worldK]

Marvin Williams is a guy i was really hoping we could trade Dw for. Marvin is currently playing the 4 for the jazz in a small ball lineup to stretch the floor for them. Been shooting the 3 ball well. He is an expiring as well. Dont know if the jazz would have interest in dw but they are a rebuilding team so a young guy with 2 more years could have interest them.

Im not complaining that we ended up with mbah a moute but there are others that i would have prefered.