Trade deadline discussion thread

[Monster]

a couple scearios or possible things than could happen this offseason that have not been mentioned.

1. Randle opts in and the Wolves trade him. He would be a good player ona 1 year deal and of some team that might be a good option. Think about a team like Detroit this last offseason. They might have taken him for nothing or sending back something with a smaller salary. There tends to be a couple teams hoping to take a step and add a vet player. Randle can be frustrating but I have not heard anything about him being a bad guy.

2. NAW sign and trade to a team that either can't pay the mid level or a team that needs to trade more than the mid-level to sign him. Of course this is tricky considering the Wolves salary situation but we saw a bunch of creative sign and trades last offseason so I would not be shocked to see it happen again.

Its been mentioned that Randle couple possibly be dealt next season to a team that wants him. Thats another option and one where the Wolves in that deal could find a way to drop below the 2nd apron. The Lakers did that in dealing Russell a few weeks ago. What if the Wolves say screw the 2nd Apron we are gonna keep as much talent as we can? That's not impossible right? if the Wolves resign guys to contracts they feel like can be moved they could reconfigure the roster. I do agree this is somewhat unlikely. Doing it to keep NAW might make sense.

I'm more interested in look at what we can get out of this trade deadline than looking pretty much at just future situations due to financial constraints. Is there any reasonable players that might be able to be acquired?

Wolves can’t sign-and-trade any of their players because we’re over the 2nd apron. So if we don’t trade NAW by the February deadline we’re lose him unless Randle shocks the world and declines to opt in. Meanwhile, if we don’t trade Randle by the February deadline, he’s almost certain to opt in and then we’ll lose NAW for nothing.

Good point about not being able to do a sign and trade since they are likely to be a 2nd apron team.

I guess something to consider if the Wolves traded NAW simply for draft assets like the now seemingly trendy three 2nd round picks is if the Wolves got no players back they would have an open roster spot they could use to eventually sign someone if they wanted. I'm not up on everything but there is still some guys out there that would be worthwhile vet min signings right? I mean they could even sign a young player too but that seems less likely.

Ultimately Connelly has made some tough decisions on players while taking on his role. Kyle Anderson was a guy they valued greatly but he let him walk and then ended up getting something for him while signing Ingles who made more sense before the Randle trade than after plus adding Donte added another player to the rotation. He moved Towns too and while there was a basketball component to that deal it was financially motivated. He let Prince go and that looks to have been a wise decision as well. I'm not saying everything Connelly has done has turned out well but he has been willing to let guys go while not having an absolute plan to get better after they left. In addition whatever team trades for NAW is going to value him so its not like they are going to be jacking him by trading him. As its been discussed he is likely to get rewarded financially in a few months and will be able to choose his destination.

Ok I'm being talked into trading NAW. If that happens and we get draft assets it will be fun to keep the ledger going of what we got in the Russell deal!

[FNG]

Great discussion here...I wouldn't want to be TC with all the moving parts and the impending decisions. It might be interesting to weigh in on what we want to happen, and what we think will happen (although I guess I'm clueless on the latter).

Despite the turds Ju laid in the final minute yesterday, I'm not going to overlook how he played the rest of the game and how well he has played recently. Finchie obviously loves him, and he loves Finchie...I think either both stay or both go. I'm guessing both stay, and I'm okay with that. The other variable is that Detroit is the hottest team in the league right now other than Cleveland and OkC. We're going to get that pick either this year or next, so I don't want to attach it to a salary dump Ju move. So I guess that puts me on the move NAW train...that's difficult for me, because he may be my favorite T-Wolf.

So my preferred direction is move NAW at the trade deadline, promote Shannon into the rotation, do nothing with Ju and assume he opts in, and cheer for the Pistons.

[Lipoli390]

Great discussion here...I wouldn't want to be TC with all the moving parts and the impending decisions. It might be interesting to weigh in on what we want to happen, and what we think will happen (although I guess I'm clueless on the latter).

Despite the turds Ju laid in the final minute yesterday, I'm not going to overlook how he played the rest of the game and how well he has played recently. Finchie obviously loves him, and he loves Finchie...I think either both stay or both go. I'm guessing both stay, and I'm okay with that. The other variable is that Detroit is the hottest team in the league right now other than Cleveland and OkC. We're going to get that pick either this year or next, so I don't want to attach it to a salary dump Ju move. So I guess that puts me on the move NAW train...that's difficult for me, because he may be my favorite T-Wolf.

So my preferred direction is move NAW at the trade deadline, promote Shannon into the rotation, do nothing with Ju and assume he opts in, and cheer for the Pistons.

That’s where I’m at, FNG. I still see the Rudy/Randle tandem as a poor fit for Ant, but there’s no way I’d give the Detroit pick to deal Randle. Moreover, it sure sounds like Finch wants to keep him and that Randle wants to be here. I didn’t like the KAT trade and I dislike it even more with hindsight. Of course, that trade ties back to the Gobert trade, which I still intensely dislike. But focusing on Randle as a player, he’s won me over. He’s produced at a high level and provided the Wolves with everything you could expect from him.

Based on fit, I still think the Wolves need to move either Randle or Rudy to optimize this team’s title chances during the Ant era. I have a hard time envisioning any team will to give up anything for Rudy and his contract, which is telling. And since the Wolves depend so much now on their defense, trading Rudy would be a risky move. Nevertheless, I could see moving Rudy and keeping Randle long term if we can get a good deal for Rudy. I still think the better and more realistic move is to keep Rudy and trade Randle, but the best time to trade Randle will probably be a year from now when he’ll be on an expiring contract.

So I think the path for the Wolves is to trade NAW now even though he’s a favorite of mine and trade Randle next winter assuming he opts in. I would absolutely NOT extend him. In the meantime, let’s get TSJ and Dilly into the rotation.

[Q-is-here]

Great discussion here...I wouldn't want to be TC with all the moving parts and the impending decisions. It might be interesting to weigh in on what we want to happen, and what we think will happen (although I guess I'm clueless on the latter).

Despite the turds Ju laid in the final minute yesterday, I'm not going to overlook how he played the rest of the game and how well he has played recently. Finchie obviously loves him, and he loves Finchie...I think either both stay or both go. I'm guessing both stay, and I'm okay with that. The other variable is that Detroit is the hottest team in the league right now other than Cleveland and OkC. We're going to get that pick either this year or next, so I don't want to attach it to a salary dump Ju move. So I guess that puts me on the move NAW train...that's difficult for me, because he may be my favorite T-Wolf.

So my preferred direction is move NAW at the trade deadline, promote Shannon into the rotation, do nothing with Ju and assume he opts in, and cheer for the Pistons.

That’s where I’m at, FNG. I still see the Rudy/Randle tandem as a poor fit for Ant, but there’s no way I’d give the Detroit pick to deal Randle. Moreover, it sure sounds like Finch wants to keep him and that Randle wants to be here. I didn’t like the KAT trade and I dislike it even more with hindsight. Of course, that trade ties back to the Gobert trade, which I still intensely dislike. But focusing on Randle as a player, he’s won me over. He’s produced at a high level and provided the Wolves with everything you could expect from him.

Based on fit, I still think the Wolves need to move either Randle or Rudy to optimize this team’s title chances during the Ant era. I have a hard time envisioning any team will to give up anything for Rudy and his contract, which is telling. And since the Wolves depend so much now on their defense, trading Rudy would be a risky move. Nevertheless, I could see moving Rudy and keeping Randle long term if we can get a good deal for Rudy. I still think the better and more realistic move is to keep Rudy and trade Randle, but the best time to trade Randle will probably be a year from now when he’ll be on an expiring contract.

So I think the path for the Wolves is to trade NAW now even though he’s a favorite of mine and trade Randle next winter assuming he opts in. I would absolutely NOT extend him. In the meantime, let’s get TSJ and Dilly into the rotation.

If we're being honest about just how good you have to be to win a title, it probably means both Randle and Rudy aren't part of it unless they are coming off the bench (which might be viable if either are still around when Ant is in his late 20s).

My point isn't to suggest the front office mindlessly jettison good players, but just to suggest that neither of these guys pair that well with Ant offensively and we're going to need a better #2 in the playoffs than Randle, preferably another dynamic perimeter play maker (may be Dillingham??).

In the meantime, I hope we start mining the young guys a bit more in the coming months and especially next season, as the current group of 8 guys in the rotation aren't good enough together to make another WCF appearance.

[Lipoli390]

Great discussion here...I wouldn't want to be TC with all the moving parts and the impending decisions. It might be interesting to weigh in on what we want to happen, and what we think will happen (although I guess I'm clueless on the latter).

Despite the turds Ju laid in the final minute yesterday, I'm not going to overlook how he played the rest of the game and how well he has played recently. Finchie obviously loves him, and he loves Finchie...I think either both stay or both go. I'm guessing both stay, and I'm okay with that. The other variable is that Detroit is the hottest team in the league right now other than Cleveland and OkC. We're going to get that pick either this year or next, so I don't want to attach it to a salary dump Ju move. So I guess that puts me on the move NAW train...that's difficult for me, because he may be my favorite T-Wolf.

So my preferred direction is move NAW at the trade deadline, promote Shannon into the rotation, do nothing with Ju and assume he opts in, and cheer for the Pistons.

That’s where I’m at, FNG. I still see the Rudy/Randle tandem as a poor fit for Ant, but there’s no way I’d give the Detroit pick to deal Randle. Moreover, it sure sounds like Finch wants to keep him and that Randle wants to be here. I didn’t like the KAT trade and I dislike it even more with hindsight. Of course, that trade ties back to the Gobert trade, which I still intensely dislike. But focusing on Randle as a player, he’s won me over. He’s produced at a high level and provided the Wolves with everything you could expect from him.

Based on fit, I still think the Wolves need to move either Randle or Rudy to optimize this team’s title chances during the Ant era. I have a hard time envisioning any team will to give up anything for Rudy and his contract, which is telling. And since the Wolves depend so much now on their defense, trading Rudy would be a risky move. Nevertheless, I could see moving Rudy and keeping Randle long term if we can get a good deal for Rudy. I still think the better and more realistic move is to keep Rudy and trade Randle, but the best time to trade Randle will probably be a year from now when he’ll be on an expiring contract.

So I think the path for the Wolves is to trade NAW now even though he’s a favorite of mine and trade Randle next winter assuming he opts in. I would absolutely NOT extend him. In the meantime, let’s get TSJ and Dilly into the rotation.

If we're being honest about just how good you have to be to win a title, it probably means both Randle and Rudy aren't part of it unless they are coming off the bench (which might be viable if either are still around when Ant is in his late 20s).

My point isn't to suggest the front office mindlessly jettison good players, but just to suggest that neither of these guys pair that well with Ant offensively and we're going to need a better #2 in the playoffs than Randle, preferably another dynamic perimeter play maker (may be Dillingham??).

In the meantime, I hope we start mining the young guys a bit more in the coming months and especially next season, as the current group of 8 guys in the rotation aren't good enough together to make another WCF appearance.

You nailed it, Q. The notion that we can be a WCF team with Randle as our second best player is nuts. If we want a sense of the caliber #1/#2 players it typically takes, we can look to Tatum/Brown, Mitchell/Garland, Doncic/Irving, Jokic/Murray, SGA/Jalen Williams in today’s NBA. Keep in mind those teams are loaded with a lot of additional high caliber two-way talent. Boston has Portzingis, Holiday and White. Cleveland has Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Denver has Porter and Aaron Gordon. OKC has Holmgren, Dort, Caruso and Hartenstein. We can also look to the past at Jordan/Pippin/Grant, Stockton/Malone, Magic/Worthy/Jabbar, Kobe/Shaq, Wade/Shaq, Curry/Thompson/Green. There’s a fine line between being just a playoff team on the one hand and a title contender on the other. Going from KAT to Randle and Conley’s decline were all that it took to knock the Wolves down from contender to a team struggling to make the playoffs.

[kekgeek]

That’s where I’m at, FNG. I still see the Rudy/Randle tandem as a poor fit for Ant, but there’s no way I’d give the Detroit pick to deal Randle. Moreover, it sure sounds like Finch wants to keep him and that Randle wants to be here. I didn’t like the KAT trade and I dislike it even more with hindsight. Of course, that trade ties back to the Gobert trade, which I still intensely dislike. But focusing on Randle as a player, he’s won me over. He’s produced at a high level and provided the Wolves with everything you could expect from him.

Based on fit, I still think the Wolves need to move either Randle or Rudy to optimize this team’s title chances during the Ant era. I have a hard time envisioning any team will to give up anything for Rudy and his contract, which is telling. And since the Wolves depend so much now on their defense, trading Rudy would be a risky move. Nevertheless, I could see moving Rudy and keeping Randle long term if we can get a good deal for Rudy. I still think the better and more realistic move is to keep Rudy and trade Randle, but the best time to trade Randle will probably be a year from now when he’ll be on an expiring contract.

So I think the path for the Wolves is to trade NAW now even though he’s a favorite of mine and trade Randle next winter assuming he opts in. I would absolutely NOT extend him. In the meantime, let’s get TSJ and Dilly into the rotation.

If we're being honest about just how good you have to be to win a title, it probably means both Randle and Rudy aren't part of it unless they are coming off the bench (which might be viable if either are still around when Ant is in his late 20s).

My point isn't to suggest the front office mindlessly jettison good players, but just to suggest that neither of these guys pair that well with Ant offensively and we're going to need a better #2 in the playoffs than Randle, preferably another dynamic perimeter play maker (may be Dillingham??).

In the meantime, I hope we start mining the young guys a bit more in the coming months and especially next season, as the current group of 8 guys in the rotation aren't good enough together to make another WCF appearance.

You nailed it, Q. The notion that we can be a WCF team with Randle as our second best player is nuts. If we want a sense of the caliber #1/#2 players it typically takes, we can look to Tatum/Brown, Mitchell/Garland, Doncic/Irving, Jokic/Murray, SGA/Jalen Williams in today’s NBA. Keep in mind those teams are loaded with a lot of additional high caliber two-way talent. Boston has Portzingis, Holiday and White. Cleveland has Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Denver has Porter and Aaron Gordon. OKC has Holmgren, Dort, Caruso and Hartenstein. We can also look to the past at Jordan/Pippin/Grant, Stockton/Malone, Magic/Worthy/Jabbar, Kobe/Shaq, Wade/Shaq, Curry/Thompson/Green. There’s a fine line between being just a playoff team on the one hand and a title contender on the other. Going from KAT to Randle and Conley’s decline were all that it took to knock the Wolves down from contender to a team struggling to make the playoffs.

So I’m not a big Randle guy obviously. But to be fair to Randle. He had made more All NBA teams than Brown, Williams, Murray and Garland combined.

Randle has an elite skill set, I just don’t think it fits well with the wolves current roster

[Lipoli390]

If we're being honest about just how good you have to be to win a title, it probably means both Randle and Rudy aren't part of it unless they are coming off the bench (which might be viable if either are still around when Ant is in his late 20s).

My point isn't to suggest the front office mindlessly jettison good players, but just to suggest that neither of these guys pair that well with Ant offensively and we're going to need a better #2 in the playoffs than Randle, preferably another dynamic perimeter play maker (may be Dillingham??).

In the meantime, I hope we start mining the young guys a bit more in the coming months and especially next season, as the current group of 8 guys in the rotation aren't good enough together to make another WCF appearance.

You nailed it, Q. The notion that we can be a WCF team with Randle as our second best player is nuts. If we want a sense of the caliber #1/#2 players it typically takes, we can look to Tatum/Brown, Mitchell/Garland, Doncic/Irving, Jokic/Murray, SGA/Jalen Williams in today’s NBA. Keep in mind those teams are loaded with a lot of additional high caliber two-way talent. Boston has Portzingis, Holiday and White. Cleveland has Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Denver has Porter and Aaron Gordon. OKC has Holmgren, Dort, Caruso and Hartenstein. We can also look to the past at Jordan/Pippin/Grant, Stockton/Malone, Magic/Worthy/Jabbar, Kobe/Shaq, Wade/Shaq, Curry/Thompson/Green. There’s a fine line between being just a playoff team on the one hand and a title contender on the other. Going from KAT to Randle and Conley’s decline were all that it took to knock the Wolves down from contender to a team struggling to make the playoffs.

So I’m not a big Randle guy obviously. But to be fair to Randle. He had made more All NBA teams than Brown, Williams, Murray and Garland combined.

Randle has an elite skill set, I just don’t think it fits well with the wolves current roster

Yes. But if told the head of basketball operations for each of the NBA’s 30 teams they could choose any of the four guys you listed or Randle to add to their respective rosters, none of them would even consider Randle. I like Randle. His production and success in the League are noteworthy. But sometimes we need to take a step back to see the truth. My main issue with Randle, like yours, is his fit with our team that already has a lane-clogging center (Rudy) but needs to open up space to optimize our ball dominant guard whose strength is attacking the rim. But it’s also true that take as a whole, Randle isn’t on the same level as the guys you listed or others you didn’t list like KAT.

[FNG]

I certainly agree with Lip about Brown, Garland and Williams, but I would take Ju over Murray all day. I've never been a big fan of Randle throughout his career, but watching him this year has changed my opinion. When we're making our three pointers, Ju is invaluable in his ability to draw the double and make the right pass to the open man, and he's also good at recognizing when he has a smaller man on him that he can bully. I don't know if he's the right fit for this roster, but I think we're going to have to make it work because I suspect we will see Ju, Rudy and Ant all starting again next season.

[Q-is-here]

One thing to keep in mind as well is that Connelly has a track record of making moves none of us predicted. The Rudy trade, snagging Dillingham in the lottery, and KAT trade were all things we didn't really see coming at the time they happened. Connelly may have a whole other trade deadline move that doesn't even involve Randle!

[FNG]

One thing to keep in mind as well is that Connelly has a track record of making moves none of us predicted. The Rudy trade, snagging Dillingham in the lottery, and KAT trade were all things we didn't really see coming at the time they happened. Connelly may have a whole other trade deadline move that doesn't even involve Randle!

Great point, Q. Very little of what TC has done has been predictable, so the entire premise of this thread might be flawed. Knowing his track record, what happens in the next two weeks hasn't even been considered here!