KG Trade

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

I'm with you on the KG trade, bleed, regardless of what happens with Garnett in the future. Thaddeus Young opting in or opting out were both bad options for the Wolves...opting in, because we were not going to win with a $10 million PF who can't rebound, and opting out, because we would be losing a player for nothing. To get KG in exchange was a coup by Flip. I was fortunate to be at both the Wizards and Trailblazers games, both wins in which KG had a notable positive impact on the game, and I honestly got more enjoyment out of those two games than I did in all games that Young played in combined. And I believe he will be back next year and providing 20 minutes of great value. Having watched KG moving like a 25 year old in the Portland game, there's little doubt that his "knee" is a bogus injury, not to mention the mysterious "illness" he has been suffering from the past ten days. It's clear to me that KG and Flip are taking the long view. Having KG on the court leads to victories for the Wolves, and victories subtract valuable ping pong balls. Playing a 39 year old late in a wasted season would be a poor strategy...Flip wants KG to be as healthy as possible going into next year. Benching KG and Rubio hurt Glen at the gate (it kept me away, for instance), but could help the Wolves more in the long run...and I'm more interested in that.

Unfortunately, I'm moving closer to the naysayers' position on the Payne trade. I was a big fan of Adreian at MSU, and delighted when Flip got him for a future pick which I believe will be in late teens or even 20s. But I have been disappointed. Adreian had the reputation of being a coach's dream at MSU, but his eye-rolling at Flip made me question his attitude. And while I have not been as disappointed as many here about his defense and actually see him as potentially a plus defender, his offense has been terrible. He often looks lost out there, misses shots he made consistently in college, and has made me cringe several times. I don't give up on NBA rookies quickly so the jury is still clearly out on this trade, but I have to admit Adreian has not met my expectations to date.

Your insane to think if KG were on the court for any of these games, that they would have one more single win.

[TheGrey08]

I'm with you on the KG trade, bleed, regardless of what happens with Garnett in the future. Thaddeus Young opting in or opting out were both bad options for the Wolves...opting in, because we were not going to win with a $10 million PF who can't rebound, and opting out, because we would be losing a player for nothing. To get KG in exchange was a coup by Flip. I was fortunate to be at both the Wizards and Trailblazers games, both wins in which KG had a notable positive impact on the game, and I honestly got more enjoyment out of those two games than I did in all games that Young played in combined. And I believe he will be back next year and providing 20 minutes of great value. Having watched KG moving like a 25 year old in the Portland game, there's little doubt that his "knee" is a bogus injury, not to mention the mysterious "illness" he has been suffering from the past ten days. It's clear to me that KG and Flip are taking the long view. Having KG on the court leads to victories for the Wolves, and victories subtract valuable ping pong balls. Playing a 39 year old late in a wasted season would be a poor strategy...Flip wants KG to be as healthy as possible going into next year. Benching KG and Rubio hurt Glen at the gate (it kept me away, for instance), but could help the Wolves more in the long run...and I'm more interested in that.

Unfortunately, I'm moving closer to the naysayers' position on the Payne trade. I was a big fan of Adreian at MSU, and delighted when Flip got him for a future pick which I believe will be in late teens or even 20s. But I have been disappointed. Adreian had the reputation of being a coach's dream at MSU, but his eye-rolling at Flip made me question his attitude. And while I have not been as disappointed as many here about his defense and actually see him as potentially a plus defender, his offense has been terrible. He often looks lost out there, misses shots he made consistently in college, and has made me cringe several times. I don't give up on NBA rookies quickly so the jury is still clearly out on this trade, but I have to admit Adreian has not met my expectations to date.

Your insane to think if KG were on the court for any of these games, that they would have one more single win.

LST, that sounds within the realm of possibilities. I still don't think it's a complete tank job b/c of how Flip has played guys like Payne less when they're struggling. I think it's really about coaching up the young guys and keeping guys on the bench if they are battling injury. Plus when you have guys who have been battling injuries banged up, it's not worth playing them in this situation.

As for KG, hopefully it's 5 mill or less though. Either way I imagine it'll be a deal in the best interest of the team within reason. I think they'll pay him as much as they can without impacting the MLE, etc. IE: If paying him 2 mill instead of 5 mill has no benefit then I see them paying the 5+.

I'm with you on Payne too. I've been a bit disappointed, but the thing I keep remembering is Flip's comment a few weeks back about how the team couldn't fully practice b/c they only have had 7-8 guys. Lack of 5 on 5 practice has got to hurt someone like Payne who is a rookie on a new team with very very little practice time with the team. Games are basically his practice. Not trying to make excuses, but keeping things in perspective. He needs to take big steps between now and the start of next (regular) season.

Alex, you seriously think KG playing this whole time wouldn't have amounted to ONE additional win? Calling it insane to think they'd have ONE additional victory with him is what's crazy IMO.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Fortunately this one would be legal.

uh I think the whole point of calling it a "wink wink" deal is the fact that it wouldn't be legal, hence the need for the winking

But if it really was legal and you winked anyway, would that make it illegal? Or would the person winking just get slapped?

Ponder that one for a while!

We go deep here.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Brooklyn Nets: Before/After

With KG Record: 21-31
With Thad Record: 13-9

With KG Margin: -4.0
With Thad Margin: -0.3

With KG FG%: 44.7
With Thad FG%: 46.0

With KG Points in paint: 41.7
With Thad Points in paint: 51.0

Some of the added improvements are because Brook Lopez is playing better than he was earlier in the season, but Thad's played well for the Nets since the trade. Now they're likely a playoff team. Think they're upset about losing a 38-year old? I doubt it.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Brooklyn Nets: Before/After

With KG Record: 21-31
With Thad Record: 13-9

With KG Margin: -4.0
With Thad Margin: -0.3

With KG FG%: 44.7
With Thad FG%: 46.0

With KG Points in paint: 41.7
With Thad Points in paint: 51.0

Some of the added improvements are because Brook Lopez is playing better than he was earlier in the season, but Thad's played well for the Nets since the trade. Now they're likely a playoff team. Think they're upset about losing a 38-year old? I doubt it.

Thad is gone. Get over it. I've never seen someone argue so hard for such a wildly mediocre player. There is literally nothing special about Thad. He is a league average player.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

My stance is that it was a bad trade. This thread is for discussing the trade. That's what I'm doing. How about you argue with me about Bennett some more. That'll be fun.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I know I'm risking a board suspension by engaging in irrelevant Thad Young talk, but let's look a little deeper into his impact on the Nets.

Net's average score in games Thad has played since the trade: 103-104
Net's average score in games Thad has missed: 107-99

In other words, the Nets have played much better with Thad out (9 point swing), and one of the games he missed was one against the Cavs! Let's take a look at the two Cavs games: one with Thad, one without:

With Thad: 92-117
Without: 106-98

An even more dramatic swing...33 points! My position on Thad Young has not changed, whether he is playing for the Sixers, Wolves or Net...he will put up points but not get rebounds, and he doesn't make his teams better. I'm not going to do the math for the Wolves with and without KG, but I think we all know the results would be opposite of Thad's results. I'm disappointed by Flip's decision to tank and rest KG's "knee injury", but I'm still pleased with the trade for one simple reason... KG has demonstrated his entire career that he makes his teams better, and it holds true even at 38, and Thad Young does not.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Trading a first for Thad Young was a bad trade. Trading a first for Payne is an even worse trade. We have traded two first round picks, and we have no PF to show for it.

The Young for Garnett was a good one in the fact we get out of Young's 10 million dollar contract for next year. A PF that can't get 6 RPG is pretty useless.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Trading a first for Thad Young was a bad trade. Trading a first for Payne is an even worse trade. We have traded two first round picks, and we have no PF to show for it.

The Young for Garnett was a good one in the fact we get out of Young's 10 million dollar contract for next year. A PF that can't get 6 RPG is pretty useless.

To be fair, a PF that doesn't play for weeks at a time... and can't play more than 20 mpg when he's in the lineup is even more worthless.

While I agree that Thad Young wasn't a long-term answer, he's a legit professional player. No other PF on the opening day roster (as it stands now) fits that bill.

This board has gone "all in" with negativity on guys in the past while finding every excuse for others. It's what happens on passionate boards, I guess. But the venom for Thad Young this season became amusing. And the snuggly blanket-warming approach to other players on this 16-60 team is nearing that level, too.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Trading a first for Thad Young was a bad trade. Trading a first for Payne is an even worse trade. We have traded two first round picks, and we have no PF to show for it.

The Young for Garnett was a good one in the fact we get out of Young's 10 million dollar contract for next year. A PF that can't get 6 RPG is pretty useless.

To be fair, a PF that doesn't play for weeks at a time... and can't play more than 20 mpg when he's in the lineup is even more worthless.

While I agree that Thad Young wasn't a long-term answer, he's a legit professional player. No other PF on the opening day roster (as it stands now) fits that bill.

This board has gone "all in" with negativity on guys in the past while finding every excuse for others. It's what happens on passionate boards, I guess. But the venom for Thad Young this season became amusing. And the snuggly blanket-warming approach to other players on this 16-60 team is nearing that level, too.

Totally agree. Garnett isn't making 10 million next year. Hope he makes nothing close to that. Young has value. I just don't see how you can be successful with him long term as your starting PF. I think he would be a great bench guy.