Timberwolves Trade Deadline Feb. 8

[Carlos Danger]

I know there is another Wolves trade thread, but it looks like that one was started a long time ago and includes a lot of non-Wolves stuff. I wanted to make a new thread with Wolves only rumors and ideas. Canis Hoopus had a really good baseline article that outlines the current Wolves status coming into the the 10 days before the deadline:

https://www.canishoopus.com/2024/1/27/2 ... ny-edwards

From that article, it points out that if history is an indicator, then Tim Connelly will likely pull off another deal this year. Also from same website, Wolves supposedly interested in Royce O'Neale.

https://www.canishoopus.com/2024/1/27/2 ... ert-conley

[Q-is-here]

The Royce O'Neal rumor doesn't make much sense to me....Not sure we need another low usage 3&D wing defender. Feels like we have that covered with McDaniels and NAW.

May be if you swap Kyle Anderson for him you get a similarly versatile defender with a better outside shot? What's in it for Brooklyn though since they can just let Royce's contract expire after this year? We'd have to sweeten the deal, right?

[Carlos Danger]

The Royce O'Neal rumor doesn't make much sense to me....Not sure we need another low usage 3&D wing defender. Feels like we have that covered with McDaniels and NAW.

May be if you swap Kyle Anderson for him you get a similarly versatile defender with a better outside shot? What's in it for Brooklyn though since they can just let Royce's contract expire after this year? We'd have to sweeten the deal, right?

The article hints at the Timber-Jazz connection of O'Neal, Conley and Rudy along with the fact that he's a career 38% three point shooter. Would he be better than Shake (currently shooting .264 from three point)?

It's all just rumors at this point and all such moves are dependent on the cost. But I think most us agree we would love to see a back up PG and 3 point shooter come to us for the playoff push. O'Neal would check the 3 point shooter box - right?

[Q-is-here]

The Royce O'Neal rumor doesn't make much sense to me....Not sure we need another low usage 3&D wing defender. Feels like we have that covered with McDaniels and NAW.

May be if you swap Kyle Anderson for him you get a similarly versatile defender with a better outside shot? What's in it for Brooklyn though since they can just let Royce's contract expire after this year? We'd have to sweeten the deal, right?

The article hints at the Timber-Jazz connection of O'Neal, Conley and Rudy along with the fact that he's a career 38% three point shooter. Would he be better than Shake (currently shooting .264 from three point)?

It's all just rumors at this point and all such moves are dependent on the cost. But I think most us agree we would love to see a back up PG and 3 point shooter come to us for the playoff push. O'Neal would check the 3 point shooter box - right?

I don't know if he does. If your bar is "can he make an open 3?", the answer is yes. You can't just leave him wide open out there. But the same goes for NAW, Jaden, and TBJ. They are all capable of making the wide open 3 too, so what does Royce O'Neal add?

I think when people say we need a shooter, they are talking about a player that can take them in volume and really needs to be blanketed - no soft close-outs. We've mentioned Alec Burks and Luke Kennard. Go look at the rate they shoot 3s AND the accuracy. Players like them can shoot you back into a game. Royce O'Neale isn't going to do that.

[Carlos Danger]

The Royce O'Neal rumor doesn't make much sense to me....Not sure we need another low usage 3&D wing defender. Feels like we have that covered with McDaniels and NAW.

May be if you swap Kyle Anderson for him you get a similarly versatile defender with a better outside shot? What's in it for Brooklyn though since they can just let Royce's contract expire after this year? We'd have to sweeten the deal, right?

The article hints at the Timber-Jazz connection of O'Neal, Conley and Rudy along with the fact that he's a career 38% three point shooter. Would he be better than Shake (currently shooting .264 from three point)?

It's all just rumors at this point and all such moves are dependent on the cost. But I think most us agree we would love to see a back up PG and 3 point shooter come to us for the playoff push. O'Neal would check the 3 point shooter box - right?

I don't know if he does. If your bar is "can he make an open 3?", the answer is yes. You can't just leave him wide open out there. But the same goes for NAW, Jaden, and TBJ. They are all capable of making the wide open 3 too, so what does Royce O'Neal add?

I think when people say we need a shooter, they are talking about a player that can take them in volume and really needs to be blanketed - no soft close-outs. We've mentioned Alec Burks and Luke Kennard. Go look at the rate they shoot 3s AND the accuracy. Players like them can shoot you back into a game. Royce O'Neale isn't going to do that.

Fair enough. I don't know much about the guy other than I saw in his stats. He's a solid VORP through his career and you know I love that! But yeah - I'm sure they are just kicking tires still at this stage to see what deals can be struck.

[KiwiMatt]

I'd far prefer Royce O'Neil on this team over Kyle Anderson. The spacing issues Anderson is creating with his reluctance to shoot outside shots is really hurting this team. O'Neil at least spaces the floor and is a pretty solid defender. Plus has experience playing with Conley and Gobert previously in Utah.

I doubt Nets would do a straight swap, but maybe we could sweeten the deal with a 2nd RP. Royce has had a down year though and is a 9 mil expiring.

[Q-is-here]

I'd far prefer Royce O'Neil on this team over Kyle Anderson. The spacing issues Anderson is creating with his reluctance to shoot outside shots is really hurting this team. O'Neil at least spaces the floor and is a pretty solid defender. Plus has experience playing with Conley and Gobert previously in Utah.

I doubt Nets would do a straight swap, but maybe we could sweeten the deal with a 2nd RP. Royce has had a down year though and is a 9 mil expiring.

But then why not just play Troy Brown, Jr. over Kyle? That wouldn't cost us anything.

[Carlos Danger]

I'd far prefer Royce O'Neil on this team over Kyle Anderson. The spacing issues Anderson is creating with his reluctance to shoot outside shots is really hurting this team. O'Neil at least spaces the floor and is a pretty solid defender. Plus has experience playing with Conley and Gobert previously in Utah.

I doubt Nets would do a straight swap, but maybe we could sweeten the deal with a 2nd RP. Royce has had a down year though and is a 9 mil expiring.

But then why not just play Troy Brown, Jr. over Kyle? That wouldn't cost us anything.

IMO, TBJ should be getting getting minutes over Shake. With regard to SloMo...I'm reluctant to change out a rotational piece on a team that has been leading their conference most of the season. But...I'm not saying "no" either. SloMo has the lowest +/- of any of the rotational guys. And I do agree with Kiwi that it seems like his reluctance to shoot is becoming an issue. He's still a decent player that can help a playoff team (including us). So I'm not giving him up for nothing. But if there's a trade out there that might bring back a better fit for us (more offense), I'd certainly consider it.

[Q-is-here]

I'd far prefer Royce O'Neil on this team over Kyle Anderson. The spacing issues Anderson is creating with his reluctance to shoot outside shots is really hurting this team. O'Neil at least spaces the floor and is a pretty solid defender. Plus has experience playing with Conley and Gobert previously in Utah.

I doubt Nets would do a straight swap, but maybe we could sweeten the deal with a 2nd RP. Royce has had a down year though and is a 9 mil expiring.

But then why not just play Troy Brown, Jr. over Kyle? That wouldn't cost us anything.

IMO, TBJ should be getting getting minutes over Shake. With regard to SloMo...I'm reluctant to change out a rotational piece on a team that has been leading their conference most of the season. But...I'm not saying "no" either. SloMo has the lowest +/- of any of the rotational guys. And I do agree with Kiwi that it seems like his reluctance to shoot is becoming an issue. He's still a decent player that can help a playoff team (including us). So I'm not giving him up for nothing. But if there's a trade out there that might bring back a better fit for us (more offense), I'd certainly consider it.

Yeah, I agree. The thing we don't talk about enough is Kyle's defensive versatility and switch-ability. He has been a big part of our defensive success this year. If whatever we do involved giving up Kyle, it really has to be for a pretty damn good bench piece. Otherwise, may be we can find a 9th man on the buyout market that is an upgrade over Shake and JMac.

What we can't do is trot out a lineup of Kyle, Shake, Jmac, Naz and Gobert. Sheesh! Replace Shake with a legit shooter and may be that lineup can at least be adequate offensively.

[KiwiMatt]

But then why not just play Troy Brown, Jr. over Kyle? That wouldn't cost us anything.

IMO, TBJ should be getting getting minutes over Shake. With regard to SloMo...I'm reluctant to change out a rotational piece on a team that has been leading their conference most of the season. But...I'm not saying "no" either. SloMo has the lowest +/- of any of the rotational guys. And I do agree with Kiwi that it seems like his reluctance to shoot is becoming an issue. He's still a decent player that can help a playoff team (including us). So I'm not giving him up for nothing. But if there's a trade out there that might bring back a better fit for us (more offense), I'd certainly consider it.

Yeah, I agree. The thing we don't talk about enough is Kyle's defensive versatility and switch-ability. He has been a big part of our defensive success this year. If whatever we do involved giving up Kyle, it really has to be for a pretty damn good bench piece. Otherwise, may be we can find a 9th man on the buyout market that is an upgrade over Shake and JMac.

What we can't do is trot out a lineup of Kyle, Shake, Jmac, Naz and Gobert. Sheesh! Replace Shake with a legit shooter and may be that lineup can at least be adequate offensively.

Royce O'Neil is also defensively versatile and can guard 2 - 4.

I think it boils down to roster construction. At the moment we need Kyle because of his playmaking and ball handling capabilities. He's our 'quasi' back up PG. If we are able to upgrade our back up PG spot then Kyle becomes even more expendable and a trade for a wing who can stretch the floor like O'Neil would be a good move.

The other thing is Kyles contract - 9.2 mil expiring. It is the most moveable contract on our roster and for matching salaries.

And I agree with other posters. Why isn't TBJ getting minutes? He's played extremely well when called upon. Defends adequately, hussles and can hit an open 3. That's effectively what we need around Gobert and Ant.