Share Your Trade Ideas

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

I think thibs and Taylor are holding out for Deng to get stretched or bought out.

He may not have much left in the tank, but i still think he can give us 5 - 10 minutes a game as a team defense big 3 small 4 type of role.

He can help be the glue guy next to Dieng and/or bjelly while allowig Crawford to continue dominating the ball.

[Lipoli390]

I think thibs and Taylor are holding out for Deng to get stretched or bought out.

He may not have much left in the tank, but i still think he can give us 5 - 10 minutes a game as a team defense big 3 small 4 type of role.

He can help be the glue guy next to Dieng and/or bjelly while allowig Crawford to continue dominating the ball.

That would not surprise me. One thing about Thibs as PBO is that he seems to be very organized with plans and contingency plans. I have no doubt he left that 15th roster spot open to sign a released player later in the season. In fact, I seem to recall him saying something to that effect. I also think he's had a list of players who might be released and has them ranked. I would think that Deng is pretty high on that list.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I love me some Luol Deng and have argued in his favor as recent as two years ago, but this version of him isn't moving the needle. We're better off using Bjelica like we have.

Making a bigger move like trading for Bazemore (or fill in the blank; productive 3/D wing) makes us a lot better than a buyout addition would, in my mind.

By the way, I totally understand the difference in team-building philosophies that this board has. Clearly, I'm a bit more on the aggressive end on a lot of topics while others are "let's wait and see." I've said it before and I'll always believe it wholeheartedly, there is no one way to build a winner. Different avenues can lead to the same or similar result.

[Lipoli390]

I love me some Luol Deng and have argued in his favor as recent as two years ago, but this version of him isn't moving the needle. We're better off using Bjelica like we have.

Making a bigger move like trading for Bazemore (or fill in the blank; productive 3/D wing) makes us a lot better than a buyout addition would, in my mind.

By the way, I totally understand the difference in team-building philosophies that this board has. Clearly, I'm a bit more on the aggressive end on a lot of topics while others are "let's wait and see." I've said it before and I'll always believe it wholeheartedly, there is no one way to build a winner. Different avenues can lead to the same or similar result.

Cam - I agree with you about the different team-building philosophies. I'm more on the conservative side. If we were to make a bold move yet this season, I agree with you that Bazemore or a similar wing should be our prime target. Any idea on alternatives to Bazemore you'd like to see us pursue?

[Monster]

"The Wolves are playing well so what are they really going to do to improve?"

I can't agree with this either, monster. This entire season there has been a massive, glaring hole in our depth chart behind Butler and Wiggins. We may be an impressive 12 games over .500, but that problem definitely still remains. We have nobody that can consistently come in and give you 20-minutes of solid production should one of those two get in foul trouble, or just to give them a breather -- or god forbid, an injury occurs. Not to mention, having a bonafide bench is a game-changer in the playoffs. Jamal Crawford can give you a spark, and over the last several weeks he's been more efficient offensively, but there have been plenty of games where he is downright useless on the court. Minnesota desperately needs a more viable option than the 39-year old Seattle native.

The Wolves are playing like an elite team in the NBA, but their bench is far from where it needs to be. Holding steady for the sake of not rocking the boat or because we feel good about the current state of the team is more complacent than I'd like to be. Minnesota is not incapable of improving their current team. That is for sure given what we know right now.

Crawford turns 38 in March.

I should clarify by saying I don't think they do nothing but I have doubts they are going to make a significant move in the way of a trade. They just don't have many contracts to move out in a deal which is part of the problem. You mention Belinili supposedly could be had for a 2nd rounder. Let's say that is legit. Would Atlanta be ok taking back Aldrich who they would have to pay 2 million next season just to get a 2nd round pick? Probably not.

This is why they are probably going to look at the buyout market ad the need for a player on the wing means a guy they sign might actually play. People say Thibs doesn't play his bench but some vet guys came in last year and he played them right away. It seems they are clearly looking for a bigger upgrade than the vet guys which were unsigned FA which is probably a positive espciallybased on your premise that they need to be looking to improve which I agree with. I think they are gonna be aggressive in a different way if that makes sense.

Sorry I'm being a wet blanket on your trade thread I promise I will come up with a trade. Let's see who else has a guy they don't want we could trade one man's junk (Bazz) for another junk basically players that aren't working out one place that a change of scenery might make sense.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

I agree that Dieng is likely the odd man out. He's a good player, but has more value as a solid starter than as the first big of the bench due to that contract. And we also have patton needing some minutes next year.

I think Dieng would look fantastic in Cleveland, but don't think there's a deal to be had.

[Monster]

As promised a trash for trash trade

Bazz for Sam Dekker from the Clippers.

Clippers save a little bit of money in this deal which they may like since they are really close to the lux tax and every dollar counts. They would save money next year too even if Bazz opts in.

Wolves get a combo forward with size and have to pay him 2.7 million next year which unless he does something worthwhile is a decent chunk of money. He is probably a better complimentary player than Bazz but thats not hard to do!

FWIW Wolfson said to Glen Taylor on his podcast he wants to see Bazz play. Glen said he would like to see him play too and that he always works hard. Glen probably wasn't gonna say anything bad about Bazz but I was a little surprised at how positive the conversation went. It didn't seem like there was any significant issue going on.

[Big O [enjin:13874644]]

Gorgui will not be traded during the season - it would leave us too thin on bigs. Trading shit for shit is a great big MEH. One of the lottery teams is going to look to buyout and release a veteran as soon as they can strart tanking and not overly piss off their fans. I'm looking for LAL to release Brewer so they can focus on playing time for their younger players that will be with the team next year.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Gorgui will not be traded during the season - it would leave us too thin on bigs. Trading shit for shit is a great big MEH. One of the lottery teams is going to look to buyout and release a veteran as soon as they can strart tanking and not overly piss off their fans. I'm looking for LAL to release Brewer so they can focus on playing time for their younger players that will be with the team next year.

I'd rather the perception be that we're thin on bigs than thin at the wing. Much easier to find production in the frontcourt than it is to find capable perimeter players. Not to mention, my proposal leaves us well-stocked anyways.

[Lipoli390]

I agree that Dieng is likely the odd man out. He's a good player, but has more value as a solid starter than as the first big of the bench due to that contract. And we also have patton needing some minutes next year.

I think Dieng would look fantastic in Cleveland, but don't think there's a deal to be had.

Patton's G-League performance to date suggests he shouldn't get any minutes with the parent team next season. I've been looking at his box scores, watching some videos and reading what Monster and Q have written about him. I'm not writing him off by any means, but he's so far from showing anything that would merit NBA playing time.