Minnesota Sports Forum

As far as Lopez, please read what I wrote on the "Free Agent" thread.

The only realistic trades that make sense are MIN's pick to PHX for both of their lotto picks, BOS for their lotto pick and #15, or DEN for their lotto pick and #16.

I mentioned in another thread a trade with the 76er who I think would be more than willing to absorb Peks contract to move up in the draft:

Pekovic and #5/6 for Carl Landry, Kendall Marshall, #24 and #26 picks.

Or (being more optimistic)

Pekovic and #5/6 for Carl Landry, Kendall Marshall, rights to Dario Saric and #26 pick

I just don't see Pek's contract as that much of a hindrance right now. You have to remember that we're not even at the salary cap floor WITH him, I believe. Also, if we absolutely had to move him to make a really significant deal work, it'd be better for us to attach a future pick with protections on it because we look to be a much better team in the future, thus a less valuable pick being dealt. Trading a No. 5 pick should have a better purpose than just to dump $23.7M of salary, IMO.

Camden0916 wrote:I just don't see Pek's contract as that much of a hindrance right now. You have to remember that we're not even at the salary cap floor WITH him, I believe. Also, if we absolutely had to move him to make a really significant deal work, it'd be better for us to attach a future pick with protections on it because we look to be a much better team in the future, thus a less valuable pick being dealt. Trading a No. 5 pick should have a better purpose than just to dump $23.7M of salary, IMO.

To take it a step further it's possible Pek's contract could end up as something enabling a trade for a player that comes available. Every year some high salary playe becomes available Pek's contract could help match salaries to make things happen. I'm not saying keep him for that purpose or he is turning into an asset but yeah Pek's contract isn't going to really hold this team back going forward.

My reasoning for wanting to move Pek is so we can clear enough cap space to sign Nic Batum this offseason. :thumb:

KiwiMatt wrote:My reasoning for wanting to move Pek is so we can clear enough cap space to sign Nic Batum this offseason. :thumb:

I think we have plenty of capspace to sign Batum without shedding Pek's contract.

Hicks, I actually like a handful of those guys on the list you put up (of #5/6 picks). I like Robin Lopez as well, but not enough to give up a top 5 pick for. That's the type of guy I expect to pick up with a mid-first round pick or in FA as a mid-tier FA rather than as a prize to trade our high lotto pick for. Like everyone else mentioned, I don't see Pekovic's contract as a problem at this point.

I'm also not interested in Marc Gasol as part of any trade with the #5 pick. By the time this team is ready to compete with the Warriors or Spurs, Gasol will be on the serious downturn of his career I believe. He'd be a guy I'd be more interested in if we were in a win-now mentality.

I'm going to throw a couple out there...

#5/6 for Nerlens Noel
#5/6 for WCS

Okay...go!

If we get top 3 pick, I think we take Ingram, Simmons or Bender. If we pick 5-7 and the aforementioned guys and Hield are gone and Thibs isn't sold on Dunn or Jaylen Brown being the guy, then I'd consider trading back if we can get at least two picks to target the following guys Luwawu, Deyonta Davis, Valentine, McCaw and Sabonis. Denver and Boston are teams I'd consider deals with. I just don't think we will get good value trading the 5-7 pick for a player, at least one that is better than what we could sign in free agency this year or next.

mrhockey89 wrote:I'm going to throw a couple out there...

#5/6 for Nerlens Noel
#5/6 for WCS

Okay...go!

Intriguing for sure.