Rudy trade ideas

[Sundog]

I don’t expect the Wolves to trade Rudy or KAT this offseason, unless a new GM comes in and wants to put his stamp on the roster. My sense is that the crunch of all of these salaries (Rudy and KAT maxes, extensions for Ant and Jaden, resigning NAZ) doesn’t come until after next season — does any one know if that’s right? If so, it makes sense to me to run it back next season, see if this mega-big lineup can work.

Unless some team offers the Wolves a Gobert-like package for Rudy or KAT… then yeah, of course! lol

[mjs34]

I see that the suns are expected to aggressively shop Ayton. Thinking the wolves could swap Rudy even up and open up room to re-sign Naz with the savings. Not really a fan of Ayton, but he is younger, has a little range on the offensive end and fits age wise with Ant.

[Lipoli390]

I see that the suns are expected to aggressively shop Ayton. Thinking the wolves could swap Rudy even up and open up room to re-sign Naz with the savings. Not really a fan of Ayton, but he is younger, has a little range on the offensive end and fits age wise with Ant.

I had the same thought and was about to post that suggestion. Like you, I’m not a big Ayton fan, but Anton’s age in more in line with Ant and Jaden. In addition, the one-for-one swap would save the Wolves $8 million next season, giving us breathing space under the luxury tax threshold to re-sign NAZ and NAW with room left to add a BAE free agent like Pat Beverley.

[kekgeek]

No thank you on Ayton. Don’t like paying guys big money for average production.

[mjs34]

No thank you on Ayton. Don’t like paying guys big money for average production.

Not sure how that statement doesn't apply to Rudy, who is making an extra 8-9 mil per year.

[kekgeek]

No thank you on Ayton. Don’t like paying guys big money for average production.

Not sure how that statement doesn't apply to Rudy, who is making an extra 8-9 mil per year.

Yes Rudy is over paid but he is still an elite defender. Once again wolves were the number 2 defense in the nba when Rudy was on the floor this year.

Ayton is not an elite offensive player, can’t space the floor, only league average at defending the rim, and reports that her does not like basketball.

If you want to trade Rudy that is fine but trading Rudy for Ayton is just paying for average production at best

[mjs34]

No thank you on Ayton. Don’t like paying guys big money for average production.

Not sure how that statement doesn't apply to Rudy, who is making an extra 8-9 mil per year.

Yes Rudy is over paid but he is still an elite defender. Once again wolves were the number 2 defense in the nba when Rudy was on the floor this year.

Ayton is not an elite offensive player, can’t space the floor, only league average at defending the rim, and reports that her does not like basketball.

If you want to trade Rudy that is fine but trading Rudy for Ayton is just paying for average production at best

Rudy started 70 games this season and we won 34. the wolves can't afford our current lineup two years from now. The wolves defensive ranking improved to 10 from 13, and our offense fell from 8 to 23 with Ant and JM showing improvement. I don't see any team improvement after the rudy trade, and we gave up 5 first round picks as well. I want to find ways to reduce our salary going forward without losing talent. Rudy seems like the obvious move.

[kekgeek]

Not sure how that statement doesn't apply to Rudy, who is making an extra 8-9 mil per year.

Yes Rudy is over paid but he is still an elite defender. Once again wolves were the number 2 defense in the nba when Rudy was on the floor this year.

Ayton is not an elite offensive player, can’t space the floor, only league average at defending the rim, and reports that her does not like basketball.

If you want to trade Rudy that is fine but trading Rudy for Ayton is just paying for average production at best

Rudy started 70 games this season and we won 34. the wolves can't afford our current lineup two years from now. The wolves defensive ranking improved to 10 from 13, and our offense fell from 8 to 23 with Ant and JM showing improvement. I don't see any team improvement after the rudy trade, and we gave up 5 first round picks as well. I want to find ways to reduce our salary going forward without losing talent. Rudy seems like the obvious move.

I understand wanting to moving on from Rudy but adding Ayton does nothing for this team.

1) Get significantly worse at defense
2) Does not spread the floor
3) Get worse at rebounding
4) Still playing 2 bigs what does not maximize Kat, Kat would still be guarding 4s but would not have an elite rim protector behind him, then 4s would still guard Kat so he does not have his ultimate advantage when center guard him.
5) multiple reports of Ayton not loving basketball
6) centers without an elite skill that make money are a negative asset. Ayton does not suck but he is not special and is not elite at anything, meaning what teams are dying to trade assets for the 8th best center in the nba. We are stuck with Ayton long term and he would be a negative asset going forward.

If Rudy is traded you need multiple mid level contracts, or some picks, or a player that moves Kat back to the majority center to maximize him. Ayton does none of that

[mjs34]

I understand wanting to moving on from Rudy but adding Ayton does nothing for this team.

1) Get significantly worse at defense
2) Does not spread the floor
3) Get worse at rebounding
4) Still playing 2 bigs what does not maximize Kat, Kat would still be guarding 4s but would not have an elite rim protector behind him, then 4s would still guard Kat so he does not have his ultimate advantage when center guard him.
5) multiple reports of Ayton not loving basketball
6) centers without an elite skill that make money are a negative asset. Ayton does not suck but he is not special and is not elite at anything, meaning what teams are dying to trade assets for the 8th best center in the nba. We are stuck with Ayton long term and he would be a negative asset going forward.

If Rudy is traded you need multiple mid level contracts, or some picks, or a player that moves Kat back to the majority center to maximize him. Ayton does none of that

1 Our def rating was slightly better last year before Rudy.
2 Ayton has range on his jump shot. Definitely better than Rudy.
3 We were significantly better rebounding before Rudy.
4 Having Ayton able to pull his guy out of the paint would allow KAT to post up more.
5 Dont know anything about the reports, but I do know several of Rudy's teammates don't like him.
6 I don't think Ayton's value is any lower than Rudy's.

I don't see much value for Rudy, but Phoenix seems like a nice option considering they are looking to move Ayton and are in win now mode.

[Q-is-here]

I understand wanting to moving on from Rudy but adding Ayton does nothing for this team.

1) Get significantly worse at defense
2) Does not spread the floor
3) Get worse at rebounding
4) Still playing 2 bigs what does not maximize Kat, Kat would still be guarding 4s but would not have an elite rim protector behind him, then 4s would still guard Kat so he does not have his ultimate advantage when center guard him.
5) multiple reports of Ayton not loving basketball
6) centers without an elite skill that make money are a negative asset. Ayton does not suck but he is not special and is not elite at anything, meaning what teams are dying to trade assets for the 8th best center in the nba. We are stuck with Ayton long term and he would be a negative asset going forward.

If Rudy is traded you need multiple mid level contracts, or some picks, or a player that moves Kat back to the majority center to maximize him. Ayton does none of that

1 Our def rating was slightly better last year before Rudy.
2 Ayton has range on his jump shot. Definitely better than Rudy.
3 We were significantly better rebounding before Rudy.
4 Having Ayton able to pull his guy out of the paint would allow KAT to post up more.
5 Dont know anything about the reports, but I do know several of Rudy's teammates don't like him.
6 I don't think Ayton's value is any lower than Rudy's.

I don't see much value for Rudy, but Phoenix seems like a nice option considering they are looking to move Ayton and are in win now mode.

#1 and #3 are simply not true, so not sure where you are getting your stats from. We were a slightly worse defensive team the season before Rudy (ranked 13th vs. 10th). We were also a poor defensive rebounding team before Rudy (ranked 27th vs. 26th) and not at all significantly better. Vando may have helped us a bit more on the offensive glass, but certainly not the defensive glass.

On #4, Ayton has more range than Rudy, but it isn't enough in my opinion to help overall spacing much.

That being said, the one thing Ayton can do that Rudy can't is create decent looks for himself and make shots outside of 3-feet from the rim. I also think he could make for a better PnR partner for Ant in that Ant doesn't need an advanced skill-set in delivering him a pass. That push shot of Ayton's would be available a lot with Ant drawing so much attention going down hill and it's not a difficult pass to make on the short roll.

Ayton's defense isn't nearly as good as Rudy's, but it's not bad either. So I think he could offer a solution that makes us a better offense without completely cratering our defense, especially if NAW takes Nowell's minutes.