AbeVigodaLive wrote:Whether I think Murray's value -- either now or in the future -- is close to Durant's value is irrelevant. Theoretically, Murray was gettable.
Durant is not. Durant has ALL the power on where he ends up.
- We can't assume that the Timberwolves wouldn't be willing to give up the assets necessary for Kevin Durant just because they were unwilling to offer them for Dejounte Murray. That's why the comparison was relevant. They are on two completely different levels as players even at their respective ages.
- Durant still has four years remaining on his current deal. Superstar or not, he doesn't have the leverage necessary to dictate his next destination. If he's indeed traded, Brooklyn will inevitably take the best offer and that is where Durant will go.
That's simply not how the NBA works.
Do you really think Durant would request a trade from Brooklyn... and then shut up even if he's sent to another destination he doesn't want to be?
The reality is that a contending team will likely jump on the opportunity to acquire Kevin Durant, and will be more motivated to give up the assets required to get him than a bottom feeder would, which makes this very conversation irrelevant. But when you have four years left on your deal you have little actual power. The entire reason players have been able to control their next destination is because of the threat to sit out or not report to their team. Would Durant be willing to do that for the next four years? Would he even do it for one year? That's incredibly unlikely.
I disagree vehemently.
Kevin Durant has a A LOT of power, whether he's on a one-year deal or a four-year deal. And he will ultimately decide where he plays.
Having a superstar like Durant sit out for a significant amount of time is bad business for the NBA. And with players and agents running the current version of the league... it would never happen. Ever.
Allegedly, he's already given his preference for Phoenix or Miami. And the way the league works, that effectively tells about 25 other teams to "don't even bother."
Wow, the Wolves have passed up many opportunities to add a point guard in the draft, free agency or via trade. Here's who they've passed on so far:
TyTy Washington (passed on him twice)
Kennedy Chandler (passed on him twice)
Andrew Nembhard (pass on him twice)
Jean Montero (passed on him four times and didn't sign as free agent)
Tyus Jones (didn't sign, though probably didn't have available money to match Memphis offer)
Monte Morris (passed up opp to trade for him)
Malcom Brogdon (passed up opp to trade for him)
Delon Wright
Ricky Rubio
*DeJounte Murray (passed up opp to trade for him)
I don't think there are any starting caliber or even high end reserve point guards available in free agency and I am not excited about the idea of having Dennis Schroder to run point. I'm not sure there are any quality point guards that are rumored to be on the trading block unless you want Westbrook (yikes) or Kyrie. Maybe Conley or Ben Simmons could be had in a trade if their teams decide to really blow things up. Maybe, we really roll back it with DLO and JMAC despite all the buzz about DLO being out the door. While I would be happy to move on, I am not really all that excited about paying another supermax contract for another big in Rudy and acquiring old guy Conley, plus all the assets we might have to give up in a trade.
It's almost like D'Angelo Russell is a pretty good -- below the elite tier -- point guard who is just flat out better than any of those available options in the draft, free agency, or rumored to be gettable via trade. The Timberwolves front office should always gauge the value of their players on the market, but I believe that from the beginning they were plenty comfortable running it back with D-Lo, and for good reason.
As always, things can change if the right offer surfaces, but their focus should be on acquiring a quality big without breaking up their nucleus.
Camden wrote:It's almost like D'Angelo Russell is a pretty good -- below the elite tier -- point guard who is just flat out better than any of those available options in the draft, free agency, or rumored to be gettable via trade. The Timberwolves front office should always gauge the value of their players on the market, but I believe that from the beginning they were plenty comfortable running it back with D-Lo, and for good reason.
As always, things can change if the right offer surfaces, but their focus should be on acquiring a quality big without breaking up their nucleus.
Of course, that is your opinion. I think the Wolves are better off moving on from DLO and his bloated contract and look for a point guard that better compliments its stars and doesn't wilt in the playoffs. Even though, I'm not crazy about having DLO on the roster long term, I would keep him another year over making a spectacularly bad trade.
KG4Ever wrote:Wow, the Wolves have passed up many opportunities to add a point guard in the draft, free agency or via trade. Here's who they've passed on so far:
TyTy Washington (passed on him twice)
Kennedy Chandler (passed on him twice)
Andrew Nembhard (pass on him twice)
Jean Montero (passed on him four times and didn't sign as free agent)
Tyus Jones (didn't sign, though probably didn't have available money to match Memphis offer)
Monte Morris (passed up opp to trade for him)
Malcom Brogdon (passed up opp to trade for him)
Delon Wright
Ricky Rubio
*DeJounte Murray (passed up opp to trade for him)
I don't think there are any starting caliber or even high end reserve point guards available in free agency and I am not excited about the idea of having Dennis Schroder to run point. I'm not sure there are any quality point guards that are rumored to be on the trading block unless you want Westbrook (yikes) or Kyrie. Maybe Conley or Ben Simmons could be had in a trade if their teams decide to really blow things up. Maybe, we really roll back it with DLO and JMAC despite all the buzz about DLO being out the door. While I would be happy to move on, I am not really all that excited about paying another supermax contract for another big in Rudy and acquiring old guy Conley, plus all the assets we might have to give up in a trade.
I think this proves the wolves are pretty content going forward with Dlo has the starting PG next season. Who knows their long term plans with Dlo but I think they are perfectly fine bringing Dlo back next year (as they should be)
KG4Ever wrote:Wow, the Wolves have passed up many opportunities to add a point guard in the draft, free agency or via trade. Here's who they've passed on so far:
TyTy Washington (passed on him twice)
Kennedy Chandler (passed on him twice)
Andrew Nembhard (pass on him twice)
Jean Montero (passed on him four times and didn't sign as free agent)
Tyus Jones (didn't sign, though probably didn't have available money to match Memphis offer)
Monte Morris (passed up opp to trade for him)
Malcom Brogdon (passed up opp to trade for him)
Delon Wright
Ricky Rubio
*DeJounte Murray (passed up opp to trade for him)
I don't think there are any starting caliber or even high end reserve point guards available in free agency and I am not excited about the idea of having Dennis Schroder to run point. I'm not sure there are any quality point guards that are rumored to be on the trading block unless you want Westbrook (yikes) or Kyrie. Maybe Conley or Ben Simmons could be had in a trade if their teams decide to really blow things up. Maybe, we really roll back it with DLO and JMAC despite all the buzz about DLO being out the door. While I would be happy to move on, I am not really all that excited about paying another supermax contract for another big in Rudy and acquiring old guy Conley, plus all the assets we might have to give up in a trade.
I think this proves the wolves are pretty content going forward with Dlo has the starting PG next season. Who knows their long term plans with Dlo but I think they are perfectly fine bringing Dlo back next year (as they should be)
Well, we should probably wait til free agency dies down before making any conclusions. For all we know, DLO is still going to be used as a trade chip in a big trade.
Camden wrote:It's almost like D'Angelo Russell is a pretty good -- below the elite tier -- point guard who is just flat out better than any of those available options in the draft, free agency, or rumored to be gettable via trade. The Timberwolves front office should always gauge the value of their players on the market, but I believe that from the beginning they were plenty comfortable running it back with D-Lo, and for good reason.
As always, things can change if the right offer surfaces, but their focus should be on acquiring a quality big without breaking up their nucleus.
Or, nobody wants him as I've said numerous times on this platform. I still hope they can move him, but am resigned to the possibility he plays out his contract with us. That salary slot would be really nice to open up after next season. But there is plenty of time to still get something done.
DLO's fit is a bit better on this roster. Having an absolutely massive backline of Gobert, KAT, and McDaniels (who I think will start at SF) even further limits his defensive liabilities. And now he finally has a big that can actually set a proper screen and roll to the hoop.
While I'm still leery about signing him to an extension, I'd be even more reluctant than previously to trade him away just for the sake of moving on from him. Besides, the options to replace him at PG are minimal at this point.
