Minnesota Sports Forum

I would not be inclined to help a division rival dump salary and free up cap space to make other moves that could improve their team. I don't see Portland wanting to move Aminu since his salary is reasonable relative to his production. And I don't believe they're anxious to dump Harkless contract unless they truly believe they can sign someone like Paul George. They'll be looking to dump the Crabbe and Turner contracts. There's no way I'd take on Turner just to a low 1st round pick. I might be interested in Crabbe's contract plus one of Portland's low first round picks because Crabbe is an excellent 3-point shooter and could actually be an asset for the Wolves on the court. But his contract is inflated, especially with the trade kicker.

lipoli390 wrote:I would not be inclined to help a division rival dump salary and free up cap space to make other moves that could improve their team. I don't see Portland wanting to move Aminu since his salary is reasonable relative to his production. And I don't believe they're anxious to dump Harkless contract unless they truly believe they can sign someone like Paul George. They'll be looking to dump the Crabbe and Turner contracts. There's no way I'd take on Turner just to a low 1st round pick. I might be interested in Crabbe's contract plus one of Portland's low first round picks because Crabbe is an excellent 3-point shooter and could actually be an asset for the Wolves on the court. But his contract is inflated, especially with the trade kicker.

There is no risk in opeing up space to allow more moves. They are currently WAY over the cap, and even reducing $20MM doesn't really help them. Just saves them cash.

And I just don't think that way. If the deal benefits us, we do it. I don't worry what it does for another team.

lipoli390 wrote:I would not be inclined to help a division rival dump salary and free up cap space to make other moves that could improve their team. I don't see Portland wanting to move Aminu since his salary is reasonable relative to his production. And I don't believe they're anxious to dump Harkless contract unless they truly believe they can sign someone like Paul George. They'll be looking to dump the Crabbe and Turner contracts. There's no way I'd take on Turner just to a low 1st round pick. I might be interested in Crabbe's contract plus one of Portland's low first round picks because Crabbe is an excellent 3-point shooter and could actually be an asset for the Wolves on the court. But his contract is inflated, especially with the trade kicker.

I agree, I wouldn't dare touch Turner. Not unless I get Harkless or Aminu + 15 or 20. As for Crabbe, he is too one dimensional. He definitely can shoot, but he can't routinely get to his shot. Then you factor in the trade kicker. I'd need Aminu or Harkless as well and would really want their last 1st rounder as well. Bottom line - ain't happening.

Hicks123 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:I would not be inclined to help a division rival dump salary and free up cap space to make other moves that could improve their team. I don't see Portland wanting to move Aminu since his salary is reasonable relative to his production. And I don't believe they're anxious to dump Harkless contract unless they truly believe they can sign someone like Paul George. They'll be looking to dump the Crabbe and Turner contracts. There's no way I'd take on Turner just to a low 1st round pick. I might be interested in Crabbe's contract plus one of Portland's low first round picks because Crabbe is an excellent 3-point shooter and could actually be an asset for the Wolves on the court. But his contract is inflated, especially with the trade kicker.

There is no risk in opeing up space to allow more moves. They are currently WAY over the cap, and even reducing $20MM doesn't really help them. Just saves them cash.

And I just don't think that way. If the deal benefits us, we do it. I don't worry what it does for another team.

Agree 100%. They made their bed, they are forced to sleep in it. I have no issue trading with a rival, but only if we are the definite winners. I just don't see any realistic deal where our office wins and their office allows that to happen, because, well, we are rivals. If Portland deals it is definitely to the east.

Personally I am not convinced Portland is desperate to move anyone. Sure if a team takes a player like Turner for just a 1st rounder. Sure. Are teams calling about their guys especially a player like Harkless? Yeah you can bet they are. If they decide to save money and deal a guy like Harkless they will probably look to deal him to an EC team unless it obviously benefits them a lot more than saving a bunch of cash. Portland has a nice roster but they could use one more player with a bit more upside. They have some assets to work with including draft picks.

Aminu, Ed Davis and then Harkless, In that order would be of huge benefit to us. Crabbe, Turner, really crush them for flexibility, so for a team to help them and take either on would be another bail out for the Blazers. I still say that the Nurkic addition was the best trade all year and they robbed Denver over it.

They really over stretched this past summer with all the long contract extensions. Then having three 1st Rounders makes zero sense cause they don't have the roster flexibility to add three new guaranteed contracts.

I hope they burn, but if they are throwing away, they better be willing to do so to east or west teams.

Ok. MIN is $5.33m under the cap, have Pek's fully insured $11.6m, & Hill's T/O at $4.2m. So that's over $21m. POR is $19.6m over the lux. Turner is $17.1m. He's average, but can play SF so AW can play SG. And Vonleh is $3.5m. So, Pek/Hill for Turner/Vonleh/#15.

That would put MIN at 3 PG's, 3 Wings, and 5 posts. #7 almost has to be a wing. #15 could be BPA. And that is before any other deals involving BlondeRickey, Aldrich, Belly, (Dieng?).

JasonIsDaMan wrote:Ok. MIN is $5.33m under the cap, have Pek's fully insured $11.6m, & Hill's T/O at $4.2m. So that's over $21m. POR is $19.6m over the lux. Turner is $17.1m. He's average, but can play SF so AW can play SG. And Vonleh is $3.5m. So, Pek/Hill for Turner/Vonleh/#15.

That would put MIN at 3 PG's, 3 Wings, and 5 posts. #7 almost has to be a wing. #15 could be BPA. And that is before any other deals involving BlondeRickey, Aldrich, Belly, (Dieng?).

Just dumping the cap holds for Bazz, Rush, Payne and Casspi put us at 21 million not including Pek and Hill. We have plenty of money to do whatever we want. I also don't see them giving up Vonleh. He doesn't make enough and he's a young and promising player. Salary dump for the pick is what it's gonna be if they get a deal done.

khans2k5 wrote:

JasonIsDaMan wrote:Ok. MIN is $5.33m under the cap, have Pek's fully insured $11.6m, & Hill's T/O at $4.2m. So that's over $21m. POR is $19.6m over the lux. Turner is $17.1m. He's average, but can play SF so AW can play SG. And Vonleh is $3.5m. So, Pek/Hill for Turner/Vonleh/#15.

That would put MIN at 3 PG's, 3 Wings, and 5 posts. #7 almost has to be a wing. #15 could be BPA. And that is before any other deals involving BlondeRickey, Aldrich, Belly, (Dieng?).

Just dumping the cap holds for Bazz, Rush, Payne and Casspi put us at 21 million not including Pek and Hill. We have plenty of money to do whatever we want. I also don't see them giving up Vonleh. He doesn't make enough and he's a young and promising player. Salary dump for the pick is what it's gonna be if they get a deal done.

D'oh. I also didn't acknowledge the cap hold for the lottery pick, either. But it's closer to your number than mine.

Vonleh didn't have a great year, and when you look at where their contracts are at, Crabbe makes the most sense, but Turner/Vonleh is a close second. So maybe Hill for Turner/Vonleh/#15. Then that leaves MIN Pek, BlondeRickey, Aldrich, Belly, (& Dieng?) to possibly move for other young players and/or draft considerations.

I am typing this at 1215am EST. This GS team that nobody's talking about looks OK. Maybe not worry about winning the western conference for the next season or two. But at least the Wolves had a good run with Flynn, Williams, and Jaric.

monsterpile wrote:Personally I am not convinced Portland is desperate to move anyone. Sure if a team takes a player like Turner for just a 1st rounder. Sure. Are teams calling about their guys especially a player like Harkless? Yeah you can bet they are. If they decide to save money and deal a guy like Harkless they will probably look to deal him to an EC team unless it obviously benefits them a lot more than saving a bunch of cash. Portland has a nice roster but they could use one more player with a bit more upside. They have some assets to work with including draft picks.

I'm convinced they will make a move. They just aren't good enough to justify paying the lux, and the penalty would be $19m, and it's not like they get a Hendrix guitar with it, or a picture of Robert Zimmerman teaching him the words to "All Along the Watchtower". If something would hold back a POR/MIN move, it wouldn't be the same conference, or even the same division. It would be the great war of Martell/Roy/Batum. Much weeping, many lives lost.