Grading the 3-Team Deal

[Coolbreeze44]

I liked the Boston deal because they have so many 1st round picks coming. I thought we would be able to rebuild quickly with a couple first round picks every year. But I am happy the way it went. Can't imagine getting a better return than we have. Our foundation is basically in place. Next off season will be crucial to add a high profile free agent and one more high draft pick to complete the rebuild. The one thing I was saying that is true, you don't have to go on a 5 year plan to rebuild. A smart GM can make it happen much quicker.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Alex, giving both the Wolves and Cavs A+ on the deal is an extraordinary win/win...doesn't happen very often with trades, but it looks like it might have this time.

You make a good point about the Boston deal not looking too good right now. Again, kudos to Flip for steering clear of that one. I think I was almost on board at one point in time with a Boston deal.

Back in May, the Cavs and Wolves were probably the two worst situations in the NBA behind the 76ers and maybe Bucks. Now ones a title contender, the other with as much potential as anyone in the NBA. Crazy stuff

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Alex, giving both the Wolves and Cavs A+ on the deal is an extraordinary win/win...doesn't happen very often with trades, but it looks like it might have this time.

You make a good point about the Boston deal not looking too good right now. Again, kudos to Flip for steering clear of that one. I think I was almost on board at one point in time with a Boston deal.

Lol what was the deal you and Lip liked again? No. 6, Olynyk and Bogans? Something like that?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Alex, giving both the Wolves and Cavs A+ on the deal is an extraordinary win/win...doesn't happen very often with trades, but it looks like it might have this time.

You make a good point about the Boston deal not looking too good right now. Again, kudos to Flip for steering clear of that one. I think I was almost on board at one point in time with a Boston deal.

Lol what was the deal you and Lip liked again? No. 6, Olynyk and Bogans? Something like that?

I can't remember exactly, but I think I wanted Olynyk, Green, #6 (didn't want Smart), and two future firsts. Boston probably offered less than that, and it's a good thing they did. The Boston deal seemed the best to me at the time because Chicago wasn't involved yet, GS was offering crap, and Love was cool on re-upping with the Cavs so they wouldn't give up #1. But then LeBron stepped up and made two cold, Midwestern cities very happy!

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Ehh, I believe it was significantly less than that because I was outraged over the posts, but it's in the past. We don't need to go look it up. Wiggins, Young and Bennett all arrived to Minnesota today. Happy happy happy.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Ehh, I believe it was significantly less than that because I was outraged over the posts, but it's in the past. We don't need to go look it up. Wiggins, Young and Bennett all arrived to Minnesota today. Happy happy happy.

Yeah, I'm happy too...and even more important, THEY'RE happy!

[Lipoli390]

Cavs- A+

They get a superstar player. Best PF in the game, top 5 player, for a player that was a huge overreach for a number one pick and was afwul, the number 1 pick that they had no right to get, and a pick that was considered a throw in to soften the blow of losing lebron.

It is the equivalent of a guy who blows all his money at the casino by constantly splitting 10's at the blackjack table, and on the way home finds a lottery ticket that happens to win the jackpot. They can lock up their prime for the next 5 years and will still have a prime Kyrie and 31 year old Love by the end of it. Either Gilbert must of saved a bus of puppies or sold his soul to get this level of karma.

Wolves A+

It's a weird grade because it's the biggest risk/reward trade for a superstar in history. This all pretty much depends on Wiggins and what he becomes. If he becomes George, then it's great, if he becomes Corey Brewer, then it could be the final nail in the coffin for this francise. All things considered, it was by far the best deal out, and kudos to Flip for holding onto it.

A good 98% of people were going with the idea of Love's value would never be higher then before the draft. People wanted the Celtics deal soo bad I can remember. I am so glad right now that we don't have a lineup of Rubio-Smart-Brewer-Olynk-Pek. That sounds just disgusting. That team has no chance of developing into anything worthwhile.

The other big to remember is the luck that went into this deal. It seemed like it was a done deal with GS for Love. But stupidly, people in GS pulled Klay off the table. Good lord will that bite them when they lose in the 1st round again, have to pay Klay the max, and be pretty much tapped out of potential.

The other big piece of luck was of course Lebron. I was 100% sure that there was no way he would leave Miami. Not only that, but based on his letter, saw this deal happen before anybody. Lebrons genius is something. I figured staying in Miami pretty much means they get to the finals for at least the next two years, then they would go from there. Instead, Lebron sees the idea of teaming with Kyrie and Love, and getting the same thing, only with a 5-7 window instead of a two year one.

Philly F

Yea I'm not a big fan. Here's the logic with the 76er move in my eyes. Philly is going to lose Thad anyway, because he doesn't want to be on a tanking team, so they trade him so they can continue to tank even more. Maybe if you didn't try to lose, your FA won't want to leave. I'm sure MCW is going to want to take a discount to stay around that environment

Alex -- This is a great post! Excellent analysis and fun to read. It pretty much sums up the entire situation.

[Lipoli390]

Alex, giving both the Wolves and Cavs A+ on the deal is an extraordinary win/win...doesn't happen very often with trades, but it looks like it might have this time.

You make a good point about the Boston deal not looking too good right now. Again, kudos to Flip for steering clear of that one. I think I was almost on board at one point in time with a Boston deal.

Lol what was the deal you and Lip liked again? No. 6, Olynyk and Bogans? Something like that?

Lol. Thanks for reminding me, Cam. :) But give me more credit than that. I suggested Olynyk, #6 and Jeff Green. Ok, I know I don't deserve much credit for that, but it's better than Bogans. :)

[KiwiMatt]

Cavs A

Getting Love not only gets them past CHI in the East but makes them favorites to win the whole thing. Without getting Love they were 2 years away from getting past a healthy CHI let alone winning it all. LeBron - Irving - Love is one scary three headed monster. You could start Mark Madsen and Anthony Peeler next to them and they'd still probably win the whole thing. Another key to this being such a great trade for them is they have retained a solid back up big in Tristan Thompson and a starting caliber SG in Dion Waiters.

Wolves A -

Let faces it none of us were expecting this haul 2 months ago. As Cam said we were expecting a package of mediocre picks, Olynyk and vets from BOS as a good pay day. Instead we now have 2 consecutive 1st overall picks and a very good player in Thaddeus Young. Wiggins is going to be a superstar, mark my words. And the most scariest thing is he hasn't stopped growing and he is already 6' 8" with a 7' wingspan and is only 19 years old. I also think Anthony Bennett will develop into a decent starting PF in this league. And what better guy to help him than Thaddeus Young! Bravo Flip and Milt, they handled the whole situation perfectly.

Philly C

From their point of view Young was only going to be wearing a 76ers uniform for one more season before he inevitably opted out. Kind of the same situation as we were in with Love (except Thad is twice the professional as Love and never complained). The MIA pick will be late teens to early 20's which IMO isn't good enough for a top 12 PF in this league. They wanted LMAM as a mentor for fellow Cameroon Embiid which is fair enough and maybe a change of scenery is exactly what Alexey Shved needs to get out of his funk, although I struggle to understand why they preferred him to Barea. Just goes to show how little value Barea has in the the league. Philly are 2 years away from being 2 years away from competing and they know it. They've thrown in the towel before the seasons even begun. It's all very well having all these young prospects and picks, but every team needs vets and they have none worthy of mention now.


Side note:

If only we have drafted the Greek Freak instead of Bazz. Him and Wiggins would have formed a formidable wing combo for years to come!

[worldK]

Im very happy that for once, things actually went as I wanted for the wolves. I was all for wiggins and cavs trade from the start. Never wanted any other deals and we actually pulled it off!

I never really value the mid and non lottery 1st round picks. I dont believe you can rebuild a team with mid and non lottery picks. You can get good role players and once in a while but rarely, you get a star player out of it as its a very long shot. Teams can build on the draft if they get lucky and pick high like okc for a few years straight but you can not do it with non lotto picks and role players no matter how many you got. Thats why I was completely againts the bulls deal for 16 and 19 and gibson and role players as well as the boston deal even though they have the 6th pick and a couple of future first.

Things actually went our way for once given the current situation. Interesting that for a team that has never won the lottery or move up in the draft despite being in the lottery more than in the playoffs. We now have two back to back 1st picks and it happened via trade.