Trade season

[rapsuperstar31]

We need a good point guard who can start and play big minutes. The sooner the better.

Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?

The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.

We need a young Mike Conley. I don't know who that is or how we get him. i just know that's what we need. It's TC's job to make something happen and give his team the piece it needs. Jrue would help but he doesn't line up with our core and he's not the setup guy I envision. I think Pritchard would be the best fit.

That's probably Tre Jones as a young Mike Conley. He's not the three point shooter that Mike became, but who knows maybe a summer with Ant's trainers can get Jone's three point shot up to league average.

[FNG]

We need a good point guard who can start and play big minutes. The sooner the better.

Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?

The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.

I know you're looking for Cool to answer, but I'll give my thoughts about trades right now.

1) We're 18-10 on pace for 53 wins, and we just knocked off the best team in the Association. In addition, Chris Finch teams always play better in the second half of the season. Is this really the time to change the roster?

2) Picking up a starting PG would move Donte into a reserve roll. Jon K said before the start of the season that he thought Donte would replace Mike in the starting lineup, and the main reason was psychological...Mike could handle coming off the bench, and Donte wouldn't like it. I posted Jon's prediction here and made fun of it. But then Finchy made the surprise move for Game 1, and Donte has been terrific as a starter. He's making 38% of his threes, playing disruptive defense, and leading the team in on/off...we're 12.1 points per 100 better when he's on the court. Do we want to mess with that?

3) Getting a PG who would be a better option than the 3 candidates we have now would cost us guys we like...probably Ju or Jaden plus one or two of our young guys.

4) I really don't know that a true PG would work with Ant on the roster. This team is only going to go as far as Ant takes them, and he needs to be ball dominant...I don't see him giving up the ball to a new PG. Give our current trio of PGs minutes to be true PGs when Ant is resting, and in addition play Bones even when Ant is our there if we need scoring punch.

5) As Q has said, trading Ju or Jaden forces Naz into a starting role, and makes our already thin bigs depth even thinner. And no, our two teenage giants are not ready.

So, I'm against almost all the deals that have been mentioned...Holiday, White, Ja, etc.

BUT...the one deal that intrigues me would be a really big swing: Mike and Ju for Harden. Yes, he's not young, and we'd still have the Donte and Naz problems, but this is why I'd consider it.

1) He's one guy that I think would insist on taking the ball out of Ant's hands, and maybe his 8.1 assists per game could make things easier for Ant.
2) He averaged 26.5 PPG on 62.4 TS%, almost identical numbers to Ant's. Imagine them next to each other.
3) He makes 7.5 free throws a game...he could teach Ant to grift!
4) We'd have him for a year and a half and I think we'd challenge for a championship both years. Then we could let him go and use the $42 million of cap space to go out and get another star who wants to play with Ant and Jaden.

So, I would probably do it. But the Clippers wouldn't unless we replaced Ju with Jaden, and I don't think I would do that. All that said, I don't think there is a viable PG deal out there that would make most of us happy, and I guess I don't even think one is necessary.

[AussieWolf3]

We need a good point guard who can start and play big minutes. The sooner the better.

Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?

The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.

I know you're looking for Cool to answer, but I'll give my thoughts about trades right now.

1) We're 18-10 on pace for 53 wins, and we just knocked off the best team in the Association. In addition, Chris Finch teams always play better in the second half of the season. Is this really the time to change the roster?

2) Picking up a starting PG would move Donte into a reserve roll. Jon K said before the start of the season that he thought Donte would replace Mike in the starting lineup, and the main reason was psychological...Mike could handle coming off the bench, and Donte wouldn't like it. I posted Jon's prediction here and made fun of it. But then Finchy made the surprise move for Game 1, and Donte has been terrific as a starter. He's making 38% of his threes, playing disruptive defense, and leading the team in on/off...we're 12.1 points per 100 better when he's on the court. Do we want to mess with that?

3) Getting a PG who would be a better option than the 3 candidates we have now would cost us guys we like...probably Ju or Jaden plus one or two of our young guys.

4) I really don't know that a true PG would work with Ant on the roster. This team is only going to go as far as Ant takes them, and he needs to be ball dominant...I don't see him giving up the ball to a new PG. Give our current trio of PGs minutes to be true PGs when Ant is resting, and in addition play Bones even when Ant is our there if we need scoring punch.

5) As Q has said, trading Ju or Jaden forces Naz into a starting role, and makes our already thin bigs depth even thinner. And no, our two teenage giants are not ready.

So, I'm against almost all the deals that have been mentioned...Holiday, White, Ja, etc.

BUT...the one deal that intrigues me would be a really big swing: Mike and Ju for Harden. Yes, he's not young, and we'd still have the Donte and Naz problems, but this is why I'd consider it.

1) He's one guy that I think would insist on taking the ball out of Ant's hands, and maybe his 8.1 assists per game could make things easier for Ant.
2) He averaged 26.5 PPG on 62.4 TS%, almost identical numbers to Ant's. Imagine them next to each other.
3) He makes 7.5 free throws a game...he could teach Ant to grift!
4) We'd have him for a year and a half and I think we'd challenge for a championship both years. Then we could let him go and use the $42 million of cap space to go out and get another star who wants to play with Ant and Jaden.

So, I would probably do it. But the Clippers wouldn't unless we replaced Ju with Jaden, and I don't think I would do that. All that said, I don't think there is a viable PG deal out there that would make most of us happy, and I guess I don't even think one is necessary.

I won't lie, it's easy to talk yourself into liking Harden and I do agree that he and Ant would be a great pairing. It's just very difficult for me to mentally get past his playoff performances and his exceptionally poor defense

[Q-is-here]

We need a good point guard who can start and play big minutes. The sooner the better.

Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?

The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.

We need a young Mike Conley. I don't know who that is or how we get him. i just know that's what we need. It's TC's job to make something happen and give his team the piece it needs. Jrue would help but he doesn't line up with our core and he's not the setup guy I envision. I think Pritchard would be the best fit.

I think Pritchard is a good PG target, but I wouldn't necessarily start him over DDV. Also, he isn't exactly a prolific assist-man/floor general, but he does take care of the ball.

[Q-is-here]

We need a good point guard who can start and play big minutes. The sooner the better.

Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?

The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.

I know you're looking for Cool to answer, but I'll give my thoughts about trades right now.

1) We're 18-10 on pace for 53 wins, and we just knocked off the best team in the Association. In addition, Chris Finch teams always play better in the second half of the season. Is this really the time to change the roster?

2) Picking up a starting PG would move Donte into a reserve roll. Jon K said before the start of the season that he thought Donte would replace Mike in the starting lineup, and the main reason was psychological...Mike could handle coming off the bench, and Donte wouldn't like it. I posted Jon's prediction here and made fun of it. But then Finchy made the surprise move for Game 1, and Donte has been terrific as a starter. He's making 38% of his threes, playing disruptive defense, and leading the team in on/off...we're 12.1 points per 100 better when he's on the court. Do we want to mess with that?

3) Getting a PG who would be a better option than the 3 candidates we have now would cost us guys we like...probably Ju or Jaden plus one or two of our young guys.

4) I really don't know that a true PG would work with Ant on the roster. This team is only going to go as far as Ant takes them, and he needs to be ball dominant...I don't see him giving up the ball to a new PG. Give our current trio of PGs minutes to be true PGs when Ant is resting, and in addition play Bones even when Ant is our there if we need scoring punch.

5) As Q has said, trading Ju or Jaden forces Naz into a starting role, and makes our already thin bigs depth even thinner. And no, our two teenage giants are not ready.

So, I'm against almost all the deals that have been mentioned...Holiday, White, Ja, etc.

BUT...the one deal that intrigues me would be a really big swing: Mike and Ju for Harden. Yes, he's not young, and we'd still have the Donte and Naz problems, but this is why I'd consider it.

1) He's one guy that I think would insist on taking the ball out of Ant's hands, and maybe his 8.1 assists per game could make things easier for Ant.
2) He averaged 26.5 PPG on 62.4 TS%, almost identical numbers to Ant's. Imagine them next to each other.
3) He makes 7.5 free throws a game...he could teach Ant to grift!
4) We'd have him for a year and a half and I think we'd challenge for a championship both years. Then we could let him go and use the $42 million of cap space to go out and get another star who wants to play with Ant and Jaden.

So, I would probably do it. But the Clippers wouldn't unless we replaced Ju with Jaden, and I don't think I would do that. All that said, I don't think there is a viable PG deal out there that would make most of us happy, and I guess I don't even think one is necessary.

This year's version of Harden is a compelling option and he's learned to play with other stars since his Houston days. But yeah, seems like a big risk and a deal probably couldn't be found that would satisfy both sides.

[FNG]

Who is the starting caliber PG that we can actually obtain, who do we trade to get him, and what does the rotation look like?

The Jrue idea is the best I've seen, but what's the knock-on effect of moving (presumably) Randle and then putting Naz into the starting lineup? Who is our backup C/PF? Connelly gets paid the big bucks to figure this stuff out, but he may not find a solution that doesn't just create another big hole.

We need a young Mike Conley. I don't know who that is or how we get him. i just know that's what we need. It's TC's job to make something happen and give his team the piece it needs. Jrue would help but he doesn't line up with our core and he's not the setup guy I envision. I think Pritchard would be the best fit.

I think Pritchard is a good PG target, but I wouldn't necessarily start him over DDV. Also, he isn't exactly a prolific assist-man/floor general, but he does take care of the ball.

I think any trade proposal mentioned here has to supported by 1) what we'd have to give up, 2) why it would make us better and 3) why the other team would do it. I like Pritchard, but he's Boston's starting PG and has the best assist to turnover ratio of all starting point guards...all for $7 million a year! I can't see Boston trading their starting PG for any 2 Wolves whose salaries add up to his.

[DNatagal]

We need a young Mike Conley. I don't know who that is or how we get him. i just know that's what we need. It's TC's job to make something happen and give his team the piece it needs. Jrue would help but he doesn't line up with our core and he's not the setup guy I envision. I think Pritchard would be the best fit.

I think Pritchard is a good PG target, but I wouldn't necessarily start him over DDV. Also, he isn't exactly a prolific assist-man/floor general, but he does take care of the ball.

I think any trade proposal mentioned here has to supported by 1) what we'd have to give up, 2) why it would make us better and 3) why the other team would do it. I like Pritchard, but he's Boston's starting PG and has the best assist to turnover ratio of all starting point guards...all for $7 million a year! I can't see Boston trading their starting PG for any 2 Wolves whose salaries add up to his.

The Celtics will just wait to sign whoever the Wolves cut this summer. Worked with Minott and Garza. Leonard Miller next?

[Q-is-here]

I think Pritchard is a good PG target, but I wouldn't necessarily start him over DDV. Also, he isn't exactly a prolific assist-man/floor general, but he does take care of the ball.

I think any trade proposal mentioned here has to supported by 1) what we'd have to give up, 2) why it would make us better and 3) why the other team would do it. I like Pritchard, but he's Boston's starting PG and has the best assist to turnover ratio of all starting point guards...all for $7 million a year! I can't see Boston trading their starting PG for any 2 Wolves whose salaries add up to his.

The Celtics will just wait to sign whoever the Wolves cut this summer. Worked with Minott and Garza. Leonard Miller next?

Heh, true. Leonard Miller for sure will be on another team next year and probably given a shot. Not sure it will be the Celtics, but someone is going to give him a chance.

[FNG]

I think any trade proposal mentioned here has to supported by 1) what we'd have to give up, 2) why it would make us better and 3) why the other team would do it. I like Pritchard, but he's Boston's starting PG and has the best assist to turnover ratio of all starting point guards...all for $7 million a year! I can't see Boston trading their starting PG for any 2 Wolves whose salaries add up to his.

The Celtics will just wait to sign whoever the Wolves cut this summer. Worked with Minott and Garza. Leonard Miller next?

Heh, true. Leonard Miller for sure will be on another team next year and probably given a shot. Not sure it will be the Celtics, but someone is going to give him a chance.

I'm going to predict Miller gets a shot this season. I don't think anyone can dispute that he has been much more productive in Iowa than either of our rookie centers, so I think he is next man up if any of Rudy/Ju/Naz get hurt, or if Ju gets traded.

[60WinTim]

I was busy exploring various PG trades for several weeks when it seemed our current starting lineup was struggling against pressure defense. But they aren't going to face much more pressure than what they had thrown at them last night. So I am off the "trade for a PG" bandwagon, or at least a "starting PG" bandwagon. And I'm inclined to abandon the whole PG notion completely with Bones exploding onto the scene and Dilly showing signs of developing. Add in Conley for depth, and I am fine with our current backcourt.

It's the NAZ/Randle combo that still has me concerned. While I don't NEED to have either one traded away, it sure would be nice to add some depth behind them that isn't too damn young (Beringer, Rocco, and even Leonard). I could see a buyout candidate making some sense...