McDaniels the key?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Portland is going to sell at the deadline. To what extent is unknown, but I would expect them to try to recoup value for their expiring contracts -- headlined by Robert Covington and Jusuf Nurkic -- and get below the luxury tax threshold in the process.

As it stands now, they're a disappointing 20-28 and Damian Lillard isn't expected back until March or later depending on his recovery. It's also not like the Blazers were setting the league on fire with him either as they were 12-17 when he played. Any way you slice it, this is a lost season for them given their expectations coming into the year.

If I was leading the front office in Portland, I would see this as a prime opportunity to sell off multiple pieces for quality assets and end Lillard's season for rehabilitation, effectively tanking the rest of the year and looking to raise the ceiling on this core any way that I could before completely blowing it up.

[Q-is-here]

I completely agree that RoCo would be an upgrade over Prince. But my sources tell me Portland gets a say in this deal too, and they would clearly see Prince as a big downgrade. RoCo is perhaps their best defender and is getting 30MPG as their starting PF, and Prince struggles to find consistent minutes. RoCo is a far better defender and rebounder, and is making 35.1% of his threes compared to 32.6% for Prince. Portland has to be thinking playoffs as well as they have been playing of late (especially with Dame returning in March), and I don't think throwing in second round picks is going to convince Portland to unload a starter in exchange for Taurean...it would take more.

I don't know FNG, after losing two straight at home, they are 8 games below .500 and barely hanging onto that last play-in spot. They need to keep one eye on the future in the event Dame wants out. This group just isn't going to get it done, even with a healthy Dame. I may have not said this a year ago, but I think I'd rather have KAT-DLO-Ant as my core versus Dame-McCollum-Nurkic. McCollum especially seems to be losing a bit of juice.

One thing Portland has been really adept at over the years is quickly re-building themselves into a competitive team. It's one of the great frustrations of being a longtime Wolves fan - watching other teams go through multiple successful rebuilds while we can't even get one off the ground. Portland may believe stocking up on draft assets is a good idea, even if it means downgrading a bit with their current roster.

[FNG]

Portland seems to be a cinch to make the playoffs this year, just as the Wolves are, because there are 5 dreadful teams in the West...NO (as long as Zion is out), SA, Sac, OkC and Houston. The top 10 are locked in (barring some kind of devastating injury barrage)...it's just the order that is in question. And while I think the Portland fans are disappointed in the close loss to the Wolves after leading by double digits, I don't think there are too many concerns about losing last night with 6 players out hurt.

I agree with Q that our top 3 are better than their top 3 (and like Q, I may have concluded differently a year ago). But 4-11 for Portland is so much better than 4-11 for us. We've complained here about our bench all season, but Portland has to be pretty happy with their depth. Simons, Little, Powell, Zeller, RoCo, McLemore and Nance can all contribute, and Dennis Smith is young and still intriguing. But while they have a lot of guys who can light it up, they also have some poor defenders. And that's why RoCo is so vital to their chances of doing something in the playoffs. By all reports Dame will be back in March, and while Cam is right that they were not impressive at the start of the year when he was playing, does anyone really think a 38% lifetime 3-point shooter is going to shoot 32% like he did at the start of the season? It seems like his abdominal injury was impacting his shooting. If you read the Portland message boards, they sound like this board...trying to figure out how they can add talent without giving up any of their top 5 or 6 players. Management still might decide to be sellers at the deadline, but I like their young talent supporting Dame, and I don't think the fan base would be happy.

[Monster]

Portland seems to be a cinch to make the playoffs this year, just as the Wolves are, because there are 5 dreadful teams in the West...NO (as long as Zion is out), SA, Sac, OkC and Houston. The top 10 are locked in (barring some kind of devastating injury barrage)...it's just the order that is in question. And while I think the Portland fans are disappointed in the close loss to the Wolves after leading by double digits, I don't think there are too many concerns about losing last night with 6 players out hurt.

I agree with Q that our top 3 are better than their top 3 (and like Q, I may have concluded differently a year ago). But 4-11 for Portland is so much better than 4-11 for us. We've complained here about our bench all season, but Portland has to be pretty happy with their depth. Simons, Little, Powell, Zeller, RoCo, McLemore and Nance can all contribute, and Dennis Smith is young and still intriguing. But while they have a lot of guys who can light it up, they also have some poor defenders. And that's why RoCo is so vital to their chances of doing something in the playoffs. By all reports Dame will be back in March, and while Cam is right that they were not impressive at the start of the year when he was playing, does anyone really think a 38% lifetime 3-point shooter is going to shoot 32% like he did at the start of the season? It seems like his abdominal injury was impacting his shooting. If you read the Portland message boards, they sound like this board...trying to figure out how they can add talent without giving up any of their top 5 or 6 players. Management still might decide to be sellers at the deadline, but I like their young talent supporting Dame, and I don't think the fan base would be happy.

I think Portland will look to sell on a guy like Covington if someone makes it worth their while. A first round pick? Ok that's gonna be better for Dame next season than Covington for nothing. Young player like a Naz Reid type signed for cheap? Ok that might interest them. A couple 2nds from teams likely to make the playoffs? No. If one of those 2nds was one that was likely to be higher because of came from a bad team that might be interesting for them. Portland is a weird group they usually start out slow and then make a run later in the year.

The problem with saying Dame isn't gonna shoot poorly from 3 like he did earlier (I agree with your thinking FNG) is that he will be coming off an injury and will likely be rusty for a while. Maybe that's 2-3 games maybe it takes 5-7 games...it could really hurt them depending on when he comes back and how close they are in the standings.

I think with Covington someone will eventually decide he is worth giving up a 1st round pick if they feel like they need a boast. That's like half of what was spent on Tucker last year and to be honest I'm not sure Tucker was that much better last year than Covington is this year. Of course that makes a good case for trading for Covington I suppose. I don't think the Wolves should be in the market for trading a 1st to get a guy like that. They aren't a rotation player away..at this point. Hopefully they can do something or as I have suggested a few times some guy on the roster step up and be average versions of themselves. Prince being a solid player most nights and hitting 3's and a good rate would be a big boost and that's not asking for something wild.

[KiwiMatt]

Covington's a free agent this off season anyways. Why not just wait and make him an offer. Instead of giving up assets.

Signing him and resigning Pat Bev would be a successful off season, especially for our defence!

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Covington's a free agent this off season anyways. Why not just wait and make him an offer. Instead of giving up assets.

Signing him and resigning Pat Bev would be a successful off season, especially for our defence!

This is a good question, Kiwi. There are two main reasons why I would trade for Robert Covington now versus waiting for the off-season to sign him.

The first reason is that I want to see if Covington's productivity can increase when used in a role that better suits him before having to sign him to a multi-year deal. Portland has juggled him from being a starter to reserve and back to starter this season while playing losing basketball for much of the campaign. I also think he's overextending his game to compensate for the Blazers missing players that typically carry the load. Damian Lillard (19) and C.J. McCollum (18) have missed too many games this year forcing role players to play above themselves. I'd want to see what Covington looks like playing 20-25 minutes a night off the bench for Minnesota where he's only asked to make catch-and-shoot threes and play defense. I think he can still do that at an above average level, but I'd want the trial period before giving him a new deal just in case he's actually washed.

The second reason is that I think trading for a player you're targeting in free agency gives you months to negotiate that contract versus just days when the free agency period officially begins. Even after a down season I'd expect Covington to have numerous suiters this summer. There's already five or more teams that have been reportedly interested in acquiring him via trade. Minnesota could get ahead of that pursuit by bringing him in at the deadline. It's not a guarantee that he'd re-sign, but I do think it increases the chances. It also doesn't hurt that he also has a good relationship with Karl-Anthony Towns and the organization.

[Q-is-here]

In addition to what Cam stated, there is the matter of this season and the playoffs. Assuming we can come out of this gauntlet of games and then start winning more frequently with the easier schedule after, I'd like to see us try to put a squad together that none of the higher seeded teams wants to meet in the playoffs. Adding Covington to the mix off the bench could really help. There is a balance of course - I don't want to give away toomuch to add RoCo.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Here's a good example. Patrick Beverley will be our exhibit A. I think it's pretty likely that Minnesota will re-sign Beverley after this season and it's already been reported that there's mutual interest. Would Beverley be interested, or as interested as he is now, in signing with Minnesota if he never got traded here? Obviously, I can't say for certain, but I feel like he'd have his eyes set elsewhere. Because he's played here, because he's acclimated, because he's made bonds here, because he's seen results -- I think it makes the Wolves his number one choice when they otherwise wouldn't be.

[Monster]

Here's a good example. Patrick Beverley will be our exhibit A. I think it's pretty likely that Minnesota will re-sign Beverley after this season and it's already been reported that there's mutual interest. Would Beverley be interested, or as interested as he is now, in signing with Minnesota if he never got traded here? Obviously, I can't say for certain, but I feel like he'd have his eyes set elsewhere. Because he's played here, because he's acclimated, because he's made bonds here, because he's seen results -- I think it makes the Wolves his number one choice when they otherwise wouldn't be.

I believe since Beverly made it in the league he has never become a FA. He has always signed with the team he is on and before FA hit. I think there is a bit of KG type mentality in him I think in that way. Covington has never been a FA either right? I have no idea what the actual market will be for him (I'd say he may get full mid-level offers) but even though the Blazers might be looking to get younger what if they can keep Covington for a reasonable salary? What if there is a sign and trade scenario where they get something even a 2nd rounder for him? Just because he is a FA doesn't mean can't have value to that roster after this season is over.

To me the reason you trade for Covington now is that you get a hopefully meaningful upgrade for the rest of the season and the playoffs. Beverly we basically traded some junk to get him. I think when it's all said and done Covington is going to cost a worthwhile asset to acquire. I don't think I would pay that price if I was the wolves at this point. That could change is they can make some other move that puts them a little closer to be an actual contender. It wouldn't have to be a block buster move either maybe another Beverly type deal. I'm not holding my breath on that though. :)

[Tactical unit]

I'm not interested in a Covington experiment unless its basically free, this year is about getting playoff experience and hopefully showing capable of more than one round. I don't want to lose any future assets for a guy that becomes a FA in a year where I fully expect to go no further than the 2nd round of the playoffs. Prince has great 3pt shooting ability on his career and seems to be getting more comfortable each night.

I'll continue to wish that they really develop McDaniels as stated when I made the thread, to me he is the key in how far we can go this year. He starts to develop and realizes his upside? Watch out MN becomes scary in a hurry. He remains a talented unrefined, prone to foul, hot and cold player and I think we lose in the first round.

Obviously a difference making trade is the clearest path to success, but finding that deal may be hard.