Preseason Game Report - Wolves v. Thunder

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Cam -- What are your ideas for better deals than the Miami deal I'm suggesting that you would consider realistic? I'm not thrilled with my own Miami trade scenario, so I'm thirsty for better suggestions.

Wizards: Otto Porter, Markieff Morris, and Kelly Oubre for Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson

Sixers: Dario Saric and Robert Covington for Jimmy Butler

Nuggets: Gary Harris and Trey Lyles for Jimmy Butler

Mavericks: Harrison Barnes and a first-round pick (top-20 protected) for Jimmy Butler

Los Angeles Clippers: Tobias Harris and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Jimmy Butler

Toronto: OG Anunoby, Norman Powell, and Serge Ibaka for Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson

Brooklyn: Jarrett Allen, Allen Crabbe, and a first-round pick (top-12 protected via Denver) for Jimmy Butler

Some of these trade ideas I've thrown out there are subjective in terms of whether or not they're better than the offers the Miami Heat are capable of offering. It just depends on your opinion of each individual player/asset involved. I do, however, believe every one of these offers are realistic in terms of value for Jimmy Butler. I'm valuing him as the All-NBA player that he is and the league is well aware of how difficult they are to acquire. That's the leverage Thibs and co. should be working with and I'm confident they know this.

I continue to believe that there are better deals than the hot garbage that has been reported to this point that will surface at some point as long as the Wolves remain patient. I don't believe the majority of the bullshit that is being spewed by the media when a star player becomes available -- even the reporting from Woj, Stein, Jon K, and others. Those sources are player agents and anonymous front office members with their own agendas to push. I understand they have to report it, but it's often misleading. Don't you all remember when all we heard during the "Kevin Love demands trade" off-season that the Boston Celtics were going to land him for the No. 6 pick, Jared Sullinger, and Kelly Olynyk? How is this any different? Stay patient and continue to demand a fair return.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

None of these guys are worth keeping around if they are just gonna sandbag to get their coach fired. Show some professionalism. Grow the fuck up and play the game you get paid millions of dollars to play. This team is doing nothing to prove Jimmy wrong. Just a bunch of losers.

[Monster]

None of these guys are worth keeping around if they are just gonna sandbag to get their coach fired. Show some professionalism. Grow the fuck up and play the game you get paid millions of dollars to play. This team is doing nothing to prove Jimmy wrong. Just a bunch of losers.

This is a valid sentiment that I do agree with to some extent.

I'll add I think one thing that has been somewhat downplayed is that for some of these players the Butler situation has to have a negative effect. These are people not robots. Teague stays in contact with Butler. Taj has known him a long time etc. Some guys are new so it's probably not a big deal but even guys like Towns and Wiggins who reportedly weren't big fans of Butler the situation probably weighs on them to some extent.

On Wolfson's podcast George Karl said that he felt like when they had Melo on the team when he had requested the trade Melo was basically Melo but it was tough on everyone else. Butler isn't around but this thing probably isn't helping the team going forward. Sure they should rally and show Butler they can do stuff without him but damn it's also a team that wasn't exactly awesome last year without him and they haven't exactly got some reinforcements yet.

It's just a tough situation and it's gotta be tough on a lot of people. Let's hope some team folds and gives up a worthwhile package. I would t be surprised if teams think Thibs will fold worrying about the season if he doesn't get something back. I doubt it. If he got a 1st round pick for Rubio you can bet he isn't gonna just give Butler away for a ho hum return.

[KG4Ever]

None of these guys are worth keeping around if they are just gonna sandbag to get their coach fired. Show some professionalism. Grow the fuck up and play the game you get paid millions of dollars to play. This team is doing nothing to prove Jimmy wrong. Just a bunch of losers.

Thibs needs no help in getting fired. He should have been fired long ago and Glen is being slow because he has so much money tied up in Thibs. If any player helps speed along the process, they are heroes in my book.

[KG4Ever]

By the way, Thibs hired two people who have been accused of sexual misconduct--Brunson and Teague. I hope the Metoo-ers tell Glen to fire Thib's sorry ass.

[Lipoli390]

Cam -- What are your ideas for better deals than the Miami deal I'm suggesting that you would consider realistic? I'm not thrilled with my own Miami trade scenario, so I'm thirsty for better suggestions.

Wizards: Otto Porter, Markieff Morris, and Kelly Oubre for Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson

Sixers: Dario Saric and Robert Covington for Jimmy Butler

Nuggets: Gary Harris and Trey Lyles for Jimmy Butler

Mavericks: Harrison Barnes and a first-round pick (top-20 protected) for Jimmy Butler

Los Angeles Clippers: Tobias Harris and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Jimmy Butler

Toronto: OG Anunoby, Norman Powell, and Serge Ibaka for Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson

Brooklyn: Jarrett Allen, Allen Crabbe, and a first-round pick (top-12 protected via Denver) for Jimmy Butler

Some of these trade ideas I've thrown out there are subjective in terms of whether or not they're better than the offers the Miami Heat are capable of offering. It just depends on your opinion of each individual player/asset involved. I do, however, believe every one of these offers are realistic in terms of value for Jimmy Butler. I'm valuing him as the All-NBA player that he is and the league is well aware of how difficult they are to acquire. That's the leverage Thibs and co. should be working with and I'm confident they know this.

I continue to believe that there are better deals than the hot garbage that has been reported to this point that will surface at some point as long as the Wolves remain patient. I don't believe the majority of the bullshit that is being spewed by the media when a star player becomes available -- even the reporting from Woj, Stein, Jon K, and others. Those sources are player agents and anonymous front office members with their own agendas to push. I understand they have to report it, but it's often misleading. Don't you all remember when all we heard during the "Kevin Love demands trade" off-season that the Boston Celtics were going to land him for the No. 6 pick, Jared Sullinger, and Kelly Olynyk? How is this any different? Stay patient and continue to demand a fair return.

That's a good list, Cam.

I think all of them are realistic except the Saric/Covington deal. I don't think the Sixers would give up Saric. If we could get both, this deal would probably be my first choice.

Otherwise, my first choice from your list would be the Washington deal for Porter, Morris and Oubre.

My next choice from your list would be the T. Harris/G-Alexander deal with the Clippers

After that, I'd opt for the Toronto deal to get Anunoby.

I'd be OK with the Nets deal because I'm pretty high on Allen and the Denver pick would be another good draft opportunity with a pick in the low to mid-20s.

I'd have no interest in the Denver deal. Harris is too injury-prone and I'm not high on Trey Lyles.

Regarding the Dallas deal you listed, Atlanta has the Mav's 2019 1st rd pk, top 3 or top 5 protected, so couldn't get the Dallas pick until 2021 at the earliest. I'd insist that the pick be unprotected.

The Sixers and Wizards deals are the only ones on your list I like better than my Miami deal that sends Butler and either Gorgui or Taj to the Heat for Richardson, Bam and Tyler Johnson.

[WildWolf2813]

We've gotta be super realistic about this situation. It's not conducive towards a great return because other than Miami nobody is overly desperate to acquire someone who is destroying his own value. We're at a point where we'd rather get a deal done to get it over with so we can lose in peace rather than drag this out. Nobody thinks they're a Jimmy Butler away from greatness in 2018. This just isn't like the Kevin Love situation at all. If it wasn't for LeBron James, there wouldn't have been a trade at all. The Cavs would have kept Wiggins and gone on about their business, then we would be in this position now.

I'm actually rooting against a trade because I don't see any other way Thibs is gone. Butler has to come in, take the boos, and make it so uncomfortable that Glen has to witness firsthand why he has to fire Thibs at all costs. As far as I'm concerned Jimmy and Thibs have done enough damage. We've got a dysfunctional front office for all to see, a team with a bad bench, bad contracts, a soft franchise player, a bunch of former Bulls and a player that now everybody views as wasted talent. Whether Jimmy or Thibs are here tomorrow or not, this is what's gonna be left. These are reputations the Wolves organization earned and won't shake off any time soon.