Jon K on the wolves

[kekgeek]

Stealing this from Reddit but it had nice tidbits.
https://theathletic.com/4622864/2023/06 ... nba-draft/

• ⁠Wolves are trying to trade back up into the first round but so far are not making progress
• ⁠Wolves want cheap draft picks to fill out a bloated salary roster at the top
• ⁠Finch, Connelly and all 3 owners are content to run it back
• ⁠The Towns for #3 and Simons mock is complete fantasy. Wolves have not held talks around that. There has been nothing of substance for any Wolves asset
• ⁠Gobert and Edwards are in Minnesota this summer working out together and improving their chemistry
• ⁠Naz Reid is still in Minnesota. Both sides want to agree to a deal for him to stay

[Carlos Danger]

Good stuff - thanks for posting.

[Carlos Danger]

Personally, I don't see any reason to move up into the first round. For who? The next Wendell Moore Jr.? If we had a bunch of extra picks - sure, move up assuming you are targeting a specific guy. But when you are starting out at pick #54, you might as well just treat that pick like getting your first choice of Undrafted Free Agents.

TC is supposed to be the draft guru...but he traded away all our picks

[Lipoli390]

Personally, I don't see any reason to move up into the first round. For who? The next Wendell Moore Jr.? If we had a bunch of extra picks - sure, move up assuming you are targeting a specific guy. But when you are starting out at pick #54, you might as well just treat that pick like getting your first choice of Undrafted Free Agents.

TC is supposed to be the draft guru...but he traded away all our picks

I’m assuming the Wolves will not trade Ant, Jaden or even KAT to trade up into the first round. That means there’s no chance of trading up into the lottery (1-14). Taking those players off the table and given the lack of future picks to swap, it will be very hard for the Wolves to simply trade up into the second half of the first round. The natural trade partners would be teams with multiple first-round picks. Possibilities: Portland’s #23 pick assuming they keep Lillard to go for it next season. The Nets’ #21 or 22 pick. I doubt the Nets will want to use and keep both picks. Indiana’s #26 or 29 pick. The Pacers have three first-round picks. No way they’ll want to keep all three and I think they’re ready to try to win now. Miami’s #18 pick. They are clearly are in win-now mode and I don’t see them keeping this pick. Houston’s #20 pick. They have the #4 pick and will likely keep it. But they’re also apparently interested in winning games next season. Seems natural they’d trade #20 if it could bring in a win-now vet like Rudy, Slo Mo or maybe even Prince. Atlanta’s #15. They don’t have multiple picks, but it seems obvious they are in win-now mode.

What players/assets could the Wolves conceivable trade to get into the 2nd half of the first round? It’s a short list:

1. Rudy Gobert is the only player/asset I’m certain could get us into the first round. Teams with multiple firsts that want to win now would be the logical targets. Possibilities include Portland, Miami (the MN experiment with Bam), Brooklyn (the MN experiment with Claxton), Houston (they could definitely use a center and seem like an obvious target for a Rudy deal). Since TC doesn’t seem open to trading Rudy, this is all academic.

2. Naz Reid (sign-and-trade). I have no doubt the Wolves could get a first-round pick in a Naz Reid sign-and-trade. Whether it would be worth it to the Wolves depends on who they’re targeting and how high in the draft they’d have to be to get him. I’d rather keep Naz than trade him for a pick in the teens or 20s who may or may not pan out. But it’s definitely a possibility. It would certainly be better than letting Naz walk and ending up with nothing.

3. Kyle Anderson. I think a win-now team like Miami would love to have Kyle and would consider dealing their #15 pick for him. Portland, Brooklyn and Indiana are a few other teams that I think might get us into the first round in exchange for Kyle.

4. Taurean Prince. This is a long shot. I think Prince could move us up in the 2nd round, but I don’t see him getting us all the way to the 1st round. On the other hand, pairing him with a couple future 2nd-round picks might get it done. I could see the Nets and Houston potential having an interest in him.

Now the most important question. Who among players who might be available in the second half of the first round might be worth trading up for? My list is short:

1. Jalen Hood-Schifino
2. Carson Wallace
3. Maxwell Lewis
4. Brandin Podziemski

Of these four, my favorite is Brandin. I think he’s going to be a great NBA player. He started out as a mid second rounder on most draft boards, but he’s not in the mid to late 1st round on most mock draft boards. He’s risen fast for a reason. As a sophomore he averaged 20 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He shot 48.3% from the field and an incredible 43.8% from behind the arc on a healthy 5.8 attempts. He got to the line a more than respectable 4.5 times per game. He’s a superb ball-handler and excellent passer with a high IQ and great feel for the game. And he has a super high-octane motor along with a chip on his shoulder. Watching him reminds me of Manu. He’s probably the only player I’d trade into the 2nd half of the first round to get.

[Monster]

I read the article by Jon K and O think the original post covered the main stuff.

Lip you broke down the trade options etc and said some players that interest you which his great. One thing that you didn’t mention that’s a problem in dealing guys on expiring deals like Anderson or Prince is salary. What is Miami gonna send back for Kyle Anderson? Dipo? I’d have to REALLY want that #15 pick to trade Anderson for a guy that might not be able to play.

Prince to the Pacers? I don’t see who they are sending to match salaries.

I’m just pointing this out and this is with guys that I think are worth their salaries in Anderson and Prince. Matching salaries makes deals more difficult to do and both of those guys are significant contributors especially Anderson.

Having said all that you never know what a team will want to do. Even first round picks can get expensive if they don’t work out and for some teams they might feel like they may not have opportunities for all their players so maybe they get what they can later. Last draft OKC moved multiple picks to get higher in that draft and then moved a pick to get a pick in 2027. It’s worth a call to see what a team is looking to accomplish. I am not getting my hopes up for the Wolves but I would also not be shocked if we see some later 1st round picks or some earlier 2nds go for not a whole lot.

One thing that’s clear to me is that Connelly really likes building relationships with guys and yet he is also not afraid to trade those guys. A couple days ago he glowingly talked about Gary Harris and they hung out together recently. I remember that he and Vanderbilt actually have a good relationship and he traded that guy twice! I’m sure Connelly isn’t pals with all players but he does seem like a legit guy that cares about players and it’s not just some front. It’s a little bit rare to have an executive that’s so invested in people like that and doesn’t seem afraid to make a move.

[Lipoli390]

I read the article by Jon K and O think the original post covered the main stuff.

Lip you broke down the trade options etc and said some players that interest you which his great. One thing that you didn’t mention that’s a problem in dealing guys on expiring deals like Anderson or Prince is salary. What is Miami gonna send back for Kyle Anderson? Dipo? I’d have to REALLY want that #15 pick to trade Anderson for a guy that might not be able to play.

Prince to the Pacers? I don’t see who they are sending to match salaries.

I’m just pointing this out and this is with guys that I think are worth their salaries in Anderson and Prince. Matching salaries makes deals more difficult to do and both of those guys are significant contributors especially Anderson.

Having said all that you never know what a team will want to do. Even first round picks can get expensive if they don’t work out and for some teams they might feel like they may not have opportunities for all their players so maybe they get what they can later. Last draft OKC moved multiple picks to get higher in that draft and then moved a pick to get a pick in 2027. It’s worth a call to see what a team is looking to accomplish. I am not getting my hopes up for the Wolves but I would also not be shocked if we see some later 1st round picks or some earlier 2nds go for not a whole lot.

One thing that’s clear to me is that Connelly really likes building relationships with guys and yet he is also not afraid to trade those guys. A couple days ago he glowingly talked about Gary Harris and they hung out together recently. I remember that he and Vanderbilt actually have a good relationship and he traded that guy twice! I’m sure Connelly isn’t pals with all players but he does seem like a legit guy that cares about players and it’s not just some front. It’s a little bit rare to have an executive that’s so invested in people like that and doesn’t seem afraid to make a move.

Trades can be difficult to put together. But I’m sure the Wolves could move Prince or Kyle for picks. The Atlanta scenario is a bit tougher than some. But a deal with the Pacers would be easy. Since the Pacers are under the cap, the Wolves wouldn’t have to take any salary back. As one example, the Wolves could trade Prince for the #26 pick and George Hill (S&T) at his current salary or less. I think Prince would have more value to Indiana than the #26 pick and George Hill. Whether it would be worth it to the Wolves depends on who’s available and how much TC values him. The Wolves could trade Anderson for Nesmith and picks 26 and 29. I don’t think I’d make that deal if I were TC because of how much I value Slo Mo. But I think the Pacers would jump at the chance to add a vet like Slo Mo to their core of young talent.

Since I love to speculate on Rudy Gobert Trades even though I know it won’t happen, here’s another possible deal with the Pacers:

Outgoing: Rudy Gobert
Incoming:
- Myles Turner
- pick 26

The Pacers would be getting a better defender and a far more durable player. The Wolves would be getting a better fit, salary savings (especially in 2024), and a first-round pick.

[Monster]

I read the article by Jon K and O think the original post covered the main stuff.

Lip you broke down the trade options etc and said some players that interest you which his great. One thing that you didn’t mention that’s a problem in dealing guys on expiring deals like Anderson or Prince is salary. What is Miami gonna send back for Kyle Anderson? Dipo? I’d have to REALLY want that #15 pick to trade Anderson for a guy that might not be able to play.

Prince to the Pacers? I don’t see who they are sending to match salaries.

I’m just pointing this out and this is with guys that I think are worth their salaries in Anderson and Prince. Matching salaries makes deals more difficult to do and both of those guys are significant contributors especially Anderson.

Having said all that you never know what a team will want to do. Even first round picks can get expensive if they don’t work out and for some teams they might feel like they may not have opportunities for all their players so maybe they get what they can later. Last draft OKC moved multiple picks to get higher in that draft and then moved a pick to get a pick in 2027. It’s worth a call to see what a team is looking to accomplish. I am not getting my hopes up for the Wolves but I would also not be shocked if we see some later 1st round picks or some earlier 2nds go for not a whole lot.

One thing that’s clear to me is that Connelly really likes building relationships with guys and yet he is also not afraid to trade those guys. A couple days ago he glowingly talked about Gary Harris and they hung out together recently. I remember that he and Vanderbilt actually have a good relationship and he traded that guy twice! I’m sure Connelly isn’t pals with all players but he does seem like a legit guy that cares about players and it’s not just some front. It’s a little bit rare to have an executive that’s so invested in people like that and doesn’t seem afraid to make a move.

Trades can be difficult to put together. But I’m sure the Wolves could move Prince or Kyle for picks. The Atlanta scenario is a bit tougher than some. But a deal with the Pacers would be easy. Since the Pacers are under the cap, the Wolves wouldn’t have to take any salary back. As one example, the Wolves could trade Prince for the #26 pick and George Hill (S&T) at his current salary or less. I think Prince would have more value to Indiana than the #26 pick and George Hill. Whether it would be worth it to the Wolves depends on who’s available and how much TC values him. The Wolves could trade Anderson for Nesmith and picks 26 and 29. I don’t think I’d make that deal if I were TC because of how much I value Slo Mo. But I think the Pacers would jump at the chance to add a vet like Slo Mo to their core of young talent.

Since I love to speculate on Rudy Gobert Trades even though I know it won’t happen, here’s another possible deal with the Pacers:

Outgoing: Rudy Gobert
Incoming:
- Myles Turner
- pick 26

The Pacers would be getting a better defender and a far more durable player. The Wolves would be getting a better fit, salary savings (especially in 2024), and a first-round pick.

Lip Good idea on that sign and trade with George Hill. That is creative. I would want to sign George Hill to the smallest amount possible I. That first guaranteed season to make the trade work. It would be nice if Hill still could play too. Lol

Reading the CBA FAQ it looks like a sign and trade has to be 3 year deal but only 1 year has to be guaranteed. I also noticed there can be some restrictions that come into play if some teams do a sign and trade. That might be an issue for a team like the Celtics…or maybe even the Wolves. I’m not gonna go back and try and read all that and figure it all out (above or below the apron hard capped etc etc Bligh blah lol) but something to maybe keep in mind.

[KG4Ever]

Because the Wolves don't pick until #53, I didn't take a deep dive into the draft prospects that I normally do. I do remember thinking about Kris Murray last year as a potential target if he stayed in. Kind of wished we promised to draft him in first round to entice him to stay as I think he's a better prospect than Wendell Moore. Anyway, if he's available late in the first round, I think he's someone to consider if we get a pick in the early 20s. I really don't want us to trade any of our Big 4 for anything less than a top five pick or Conley or SloMo for less than a lottery pick, so if we can net a first round pick without having to give up one of them, I'll be pleasantly surprised.