Minnesota Sports Forum

lipoli390 wrote:

Camden wrote:For what it's worth, the following is actually possible and makes the Wolves better on the court, in my opinion.

Minnesota:: Jusuf Nurkic, 2027 second-round pick (via POR)

Portland: Josh Okogie, Leandro Bolmaro, Naz Reid

Oklahoma City: Jake Layman, 2022 second-round pick (via PHI/DEN via MIN)


Whether or not you'd be willing to make that trade is another story. I probably would pull the trigger on that assuming nothing else materialized. I think a healthy Nurkic is a big matchup problem for a lot of teams in this league, especially in the Western Conference.

I would pull the trigger on that deal too, Cam - even though I like Reid and remain intrigued by Bolmaro's potential. I wouldn't give up Beasley, Prince or Beverley for Nurkic, but your hypothetical is a deal that would definitely make the Wolves better. And I can see Portland having an interest in getting two young talents in Bolmaro and Reid as part of what appears to be a rebuild or retool. It's an easy deal for OKC to make as they get a second round pick and Layman for nothing.

This is why I come to the board this trade is way better.

They could choose to keep Nurkic or Beasley this off-season then. So we can give 30 games to see if Beasley comes back in to form.

I'm not very savvy with how the salary cap works in the NBA. But I saw People saying that cap is project two more million than was it was before. Does this really help the wolves?

Jester1534 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

Camden wrote:For what it's worth, the following is actually possible and makes the Wolves better on the court, in my opinion.

Minnesota:: Jusuf Nurkic, 2027 second-round pick (via POR)

Portland: Josh Okogie, Leandro Bolmaro, Naz Reid

Oklahoma City: Jake Layman, 2022 second-round pick (via PHI/DEN via MIN)


Whether or not you'd be willing to make that trade is another story. I probably would pull the trigger on that assuming nothing else materialized. I think a healthy Nurkic is a big matchup problem for a lot of teams in this league, especially in the Western Conference.

I would pull the trigger on that deal too, Cam - even though I like Reid and remain intrigued by Bolmaro's potential. I wouldn't give up Beasley, Prince or Beverley for Nurkic, but your hypothetical is a deal that would definitely make the Wolves better. And I can see Portland having an interest in getting two young talents in Bolmaro and Reid as part of what appears to be a rebuild or retool. It's an easy deal for OKC to make as they get a second round pick and Layman for nothing.

This is why I come to the board this trade is way better.

They could choose to keep Nurkic or Beasley this off-season then. So we can give 30 games to see if Beasley comes back in to form.

I'm not very savvy with how the salary cap works in the NBA. But I saw People saying that cap is project two more million than was it was before. Does this really help the wolves?

I agree, Jester. This is a great message board. There's no local sports reporter (or national) who would come up with something like the deal Cam suggested. I hope Gupta reads this thread. :)

Since we're already getting our feet wet in hypotheticals, let's revert back to the reported offer from Boston that was essentially put on hold.

Minnesota: Josh Richardson, Aaron Nesmith

Boston: Malik Beasley

Minnesota could execute that trade and still process the one I constructed for Jusuf Nurkic while remaining under the luxury tax threshold -- though it's definitely close. Bottom line, these examples are more in line with what I'd like to see from the Wolves' front office rather than the continued blind pursuit of Ben Simmons.

The *new* depth chart would appear as follows:

1: Patrick Beverley / Jordan McLaughlin / McKinley Wright
2: D'Angelo Russell / Josh Richardson / Jaylen Nowell
3: Anthony Edwards / Jaden McDaniels / Aaron Nesmith
4: Jarred Vanderbilt / Taurean Prince / Nathan Knight
5: Karl-Anthony Towns / Jusuf Nurkic

The end result is a more potent and balanced reserve unit. You've essentially upgraded at the wing with Josh Richardson and swapped the 23rd overall pick in 2020 (Leandro Bolmaro) with the 14th overall pick in the same draft (Aaron Nesmith). It's possible that Naz Reid would have been made a restricted free agent this upcoming summer anyways and the money allocated to him would be much better spent on retaining Jusuf Nurkic, assuming he pans out with the Wolves. It's not a perfect fit, but it's talented, deep, and would cause headaches in the playoffs.

lipoli390 wrote:

Jester1534 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

Camden wrote:For what it's worth, the following is actually possible and makes the Wolves better on the court, in my opinion.

Minnesota:: Jusuf Nurkic, 2027 second-round pick (via POR)

Portland: Josh Okogie, Leandro Bolmaro, Naz Reid

Oklahoma City: Jake Layman, 2022 second-round pick (via PHI/DEN via MIN)


Whether or not you'd be willing to make that trade is another story. I probably would pull the trigger on that assuming nothing else materialized. I think a healthy Nurkic is a big matchup problem for a lot of teams in this league, especially in the Western Conference.

I would pull the trigger on that deal too, Cam - even though I like Reid and remain intrigued by Bolmaro's potential. I wouldn't give up Beasley, Prince or Beverley for Nurkic, but your hypothetical is a deal that would definitely make the Wolves better. And I can see Portland having an interest in getting two young talents in Bolmaro and Reid as part of what appears to be a rebuild or retool. It's an easy deal for OKC to make as they get a second round pick and Layman for nothing.

This is why I come to the board this trade is way better.

They could choose to keep Nurkic or Beasley this off-season then. So we can give 30 games to see if Beasley comes back in to form.

I'm not very savvy with how the salary cap works in the NBA. But I saw People saying that cap is project two more million than was it was before. Does this really help the wolves?

I agree, Jester. This is a great message board. There's no local sports reporter (or national) who would come up with something like the deal Cam suggested. I hope Gupta reads this thread. :)

Ha! I too hope these ideas or similar have floated around the Wolves' front office. Who knows, though? Maybe Jon Krawczynski spends his nights running through various trade ideas of his own. :)

I'm wondering why the Wolves would seriously consider swapping Beverley for Smart. Others have pointed Beverley's importance to this team as m as a defensive culture changer who brings some much-needed moxie to
the Wolves. Something I haven't seen mentioned is the huge gap between them offensively. Beverley is a career 38% three-point shooter. Smart is a 38% FG shooter who hits around 32% of his threes. We already have Josh Okogie. Swapping Beverley for Smart seems like a silly idea and I have to believe Gupta is smart enough to know that.

lipoli390 wrote:I'm wondering why the Wolves would seriously consider swapping Beverley for Smart. Others have pointed Beverley's importance to this team as m as a defensive culture changer who brings some much-needed moxie to
the Wolves. Something I haven't seen mentioned is the huge gap between them offensively. Beverley is a career 38% three-point shooter. Smart is a 38% FG shooter who hits around 32% of his threes. We already have Josh Okogie. Swapping Beverley for Smart seems like a silly idea and I have to believe Gupta is smart enough to know that.

I've seen both Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley mentioned as potential salary matches for a Marcus Smart deal, but usually in addition to a first-round pick and/or Jaden McDaniels. I don't have any interest in making a trade for Smart let alone giving up significant assets for him. He's more reputation than actual production at this point, in my opinion.

I also don't have interest in trading Beverley at or before the deadline. A lot of why this team's attitude has changed this year has to be attributed somewhat to Beverley's gritty, no fear mindset. It's a contagious source of energy both on and off the court. I don't typically buy the locker room veteran angle, but I buy that Beverley's energy is infectious and that he provides value that can't necessarily be quantified. Taking him off this team could potentially be deflating in a way. Minnesota should be more focused on extending him for the mid-level or less across two years rather than trading him.

lipoli390 wrote:I'm wondering why the Wolves would seriously consider swapping Beverley for Smart. Others have pointed Beverley's importance to this team as m as a defensive culture changer who brings some much-needed moxie to
the Wolves. Something I haven't seen mentioned is the huge gap between them offensively. Beverley is a career 38% three-point shooter. Smart is a 38% FG shooter who hits around 32% of his threes. We already have Josh Okogie. Swapping Beverley for Smart seems like a silly idea and I have to believe Gupta is smart enough to know that.

I think its long term insurance on the defensive culture guy. Pat Bev is old and has been hurt a lot, while Marcus Smart is only 27 and will be locked up for 4 more years after this one. Marucs Smart is probably a better creator than Pat Bev also. With all that said I do not want Smart at all. I think he is a good player but I don't think he is a huge difference maker on this team. I wouldn't trade Beasley for him either.

I just don't like locking up role guys to big long term money when the team is not ready to compete for a title. Pretty much Smart would be our 4th guy in the future and I think that is a role he could succeed at but I don't want that locked in right now. I want to see the development of guys like Nowell and Mcdaniels. I would rather make a trade for a player like Smart when the Wolves show they can start getting over that hump. I just don't think Smart moves the Wolves from somewhere 4-9 in the west into the top 3.

I know you agree with this Lip but I want to see how this season plays out and make a trade in the offseason to see where the Wolves weaknesses lie then. Im cool brining in a cheap C or for example if Prince injury was a season ended I would trade his salary but at this moment I really like the Wolves top 12 and I think it is rare to find a team that just knows their roles.

Camden wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:I'm wondering why the Wolves would seriously consider swapping Beverley for Smart. Others have pointed Beverley's importance to this team as m as a defensive culture changer who brings some much-needed moxie to
the Wolves. Something I haven't seen mentioned is the huge gap between them offensively. Beverley is a career 38% three-point shooter. Smart is a 38% FG shooter who hits around 32% of his threes. We already have Josh Okogie. Swapping Beverley for Smart seems like a silly idea and I have to believe Gupta is smart enough to know that.

I've seen both Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley mentioned as potential salary matches for a Marcus Smart deal, but usually in addition to a first-round pick and/or Jaden McDaniels. I don't have any interest in making a trade for Smart let alone giving up significant assets for him. He's more reputation than actual production at this point, in my opinion.

I also don't have interest in trading Beverley at or before the deadline. A lot of why this team's attitude has changed this year has to be attributed somewhat to Beverley's gritty, no fear mindset. It's a contagious source of energy both on and off the court. I don't typically buy the locker room veteran angle, but I buy that Beverley's energy is infectious and that he provides value that can't necessarily be quantified. Taking him off this team could potentially be deflating in a way. Minnesota should be more focused on extending him for the mid-level or less across two years rather than trading him.

Lip the way I read the report I thought it was unclear whether the Wolves were actually looking to swap Beverly for Smart. I bet the Celtics would like to do that deal especially if it meant getting another asset while moving off Smart's long term money. I think it's clear someone with the Wolves is a fan of Smart. Heck I'm a fan of him and I'd check in and see what the price was if I was a GM. You never know what might happen. I think Cam's take that Smart's contract is just too expensive is probably the right take. I also don't think the Celtics will basically give him away. I don't think a deal is gonna happen.

I tend to agree that the Wolves won't end up making any trades that rock the boat, so to speak, but I obviously do see value in making a significant trade this season.

I think Minnesota should be looking at acquiring a starting-level, two-way role player that theoretically fits well next to their little-big three. Malik Beasley isn't that guy and Patrick Beverley can't be that guy because of his age and health concerns. Perhaps the front office has identified Marcus Smart as that player. I wouldn't agree with their selection, but the idea is close to what I have in mind. I'd prefer any one of Derrick White, Harrison Barnes, or Jerami Grant to be that trade target. Any one of those three would prove to be a key addition as Minnesota's fourth-best player.

Camden wrote:I tend to agree that the Wolves won't end up making any trades that rock the boat, so to speak, but I obviously do see value in making a significant trade this season.

I think Minnesota should be looking at acquiring a starting-level, two-way role player that theoretically fits well next to their little-big three. Malik Beasley isn't that guy and Patrick Beverley can't be that guy because of his age and health concerns. Perhaps the front office has identified Marcus Smart as that player. I wouldn't agree with their selection, but the idea is close to what I have in mind. I'd prefer any one of Derrick White, Harrison Barnes, or Jerami Grant to be that trade target. Any one of those three would prove to be a key addition as Minnesota's fourth-best player.

I agree with you on those three. But I can't see how Smart could be remotely close to what you have in mind. As a career 38% FG shooter, I see Smart as closer to Okogie than the type of player represented by the three you listed as the guys you'd target. In other words, I don't see Smart as a legitimate 2-way player - certainly not a high caliber one. And then there's his contract.