Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2026 10:47 pm
Giving it some more thought, I would do one of the following if we don’t get LeBron:
1. Sign Jeremy Sochan to a vet minimum deal to provide us with high energy, athleticism, some of Naz Reid’s ball-handling ability (similar to Vanderbilt), and most importantly rebounding; or
2. Trade Josh Green straight up for Obi Toppin. Obi is definitely a PF in both bulk and length. He’s a terrific offensive player who can run the floor, finish strong inside and hit threes. He’s actually a better defender statistically than I thought. His defensive rating has consistently matched his team’s defensive rating - identical, slightly better or slightly worse - in each of his NBA seasons. In other words, he doesn’t appear to be a drag on his team’s defense. His offensive rating has been consistently and substantially positive. He has a net positive plus/minus (defensive and offense) in every season except last season, which ended with a stress fracture in his foot. I haven’t been crazy about the idea of the Wolves trading for Obi because of his relatively poor rebounding and that stress fracture last season. But I’ve also assumed he’s a poor defender. Knowing that he’s a decent defender and thinking about his overall offensive game and how well he’d fit with LaMelo, I’ve put him at the top of my realistic PF trade target list. Because his salary matches perfectly with Green’s, we wouldn’t have to wait 60 days for the end of the ban on aggregating Green’s salary. The deal would make sense for Indiana because they’re overloaded at the PF position and apparently looking to shed long-term salary so they can extend Myles Turner after next season. Green would give them a sold 3&D wing on an expiring contract.
Lip I get that we need a PF. I spent some time on Toppin when looking for Randle trades. Based on what I read Toppin is not a good defender. Fans seemed to pretty much agree he wasn't good on that end.
Now here is the biggest thing is the Wolves simply can't afford to spend over 16 million on a backup a year from now. That's an opportunity cost that I can't live with. Who won't we be able to sign or resign due to that money he on the books?
I'd rather sign Sochan (or some other guy) and hope he can at least defend and rebound decently for the vet min than hitch my wagon to Toppin for that salary. It's not that Toppin is a bad player but the financials matter a lot.
I had the same impression of Obi as a bad defender, but the stats suggest he’s not bad. Looking at his defensive stats is what turned me around on him. You raise a great point about the financials. They absolutely matter in today’s NBA and as we all know the Wolves are on a razors edge in that area with the 2nd apron hovering just above us. But it’s his contract that gives us a shot at getting him straight up for Green. And Obi only has two more years on his contract - $15M next season and $16M the following season so it’s not as problematic as PJ Washington’s contract for example, which has 4 years left starting at $20M and increasing to $24.5M.
To your point about paying $15-16M for a backup, I wouldn’t trade for Obi unless he would be a major part of the rotation and possibly a starter. I actually think he’d fit well as a starter with Rudy, Jaden, Edwards and Ball. Rudy and Jaden can cover for Obi’s defensive mediocrity up front. It’s no worse defensively than Randle but offensively Obi would give us floor spacing, speed and mobility we didn’t have with Randle.
I’m actually torn between my two top options. You might be right that the best move would simply be signing Sochan at the vet minimum. It would be a much smarter choice financially and it would give us some additional rebounding, which will be important after losing the rebounding of Randle and Naz.
Randle's defense wasn't always there or what we needed at crucial times but he wasn't bad overall that's why he is a legit starter in the NBA and why the Nets wanted to acquire him.
Another thing about Toppin is he is coming from Indiana which means he has played in a good basketball program for a few years. That's good. What's ad is that it also means there likely isn't some sort of well he played in a crappy situation and we can make him better.
Yeah he is cheaper than PJ Washington but that's because he isn't as good of a player. Lets put it another way. Right now would you want to resign Josh Green for a 1 year 16 million dollar extension? Would you want to do that if we had acquired Grant Williams? Toppin is unlikely going to be the answer at PF I don't know if it makes sense to acquire him. If he is in decent decent at defense then maybe but I'm still skeptical. The fit with Ball does make some sense. We should be looking to acquire a player like Toppin in a trade like when the Pacers acquired him for a couple 2nd rounders from the Knicks and then made him a better version of what he was.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2026 10:59 am
Obi is an option?!?
So, which one of you called the Pacers to see if Obi is even available?
And since Obi makes more than Green, I assume you must willing to throw in Shannon to make the trade financials work, right?
Anyway, count me out.
Tim - I called and confirmed Obi’s availability. Indiana is overloaded at the PF position. But the Pacers rightly told me we’d have to wait for two months so we could propose an aggregate package because Green makes about $300K less than Obi and the Wolves can’t take back more salary then we send out. I said I’ll get back to them in a couple months but I also let them know I would not include TSJ in any outgoing package. So it’s unlikely Obi will end up here. I spoke with Tim Connelly this morning and we’re both on the same page that we should try to get Jeremy Sochan here at the vet minimum if we can’t land LeBron.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2026 10:59 am
Obi is an option?!?
So, which one of you called the Pacers to see if Obi is even available?
And since Obi makes more than Green, I assume you must willing to throw in Shannon to make the trade financials work, right?
Anyway, count me out.
Tim - I called and confirmed Obi’s availability. Indiana is overloaded at the PF position. But the Pacers rightly told me we’d have to wait for two months so we could propose an aggregate package because Green makes about $300K less than Obi and the Wolves can’t take back more salary then we send out. I said I’ll get back to them in a couple months but I also let them know I would not include TSJ in any outgoing package. So it’s unlikely Obi will end up here. I spoke with Tim Connelly this morning and we’re both on the same page that we should try to get Jeremy Sochan here at the vet minimum if we can’t land LeBron.
Thanks for clarifying!
I'm not adverse to Sochan, but my preference is for a big who can hit an outside shot... (although I don't think I'll ever get use to his 1-handed free throws!)
60WinTim wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2026 10:59 am
Obi is an option?!?
So, which one of you called the Pacers to see if Obi is even available?
And since Obi makes more than Green, I assume you must willing to throw in Shannon to make the trade financials work, right?
Anyway, count me out.
Tim - I called and confirmed Obi’s availability. Indiana is overloaded at the PF position. But the Pacers rightly told me we’d have to wait for two months so we could propose an aggregate package because Green makes about $300K less than Obi and the Wolves can’t take back more salary then we send out. I said I’ll get back to them in a couple months but I also let them know I would not include TSJ in any outgoing package. So it’s unlikely Obi will end up here. I spoke with Tim Connelly this morning and we’re both on the same page that we should try to get Jeremy Sochan here at the vet minimum if we can’t land LeBron.
Thanks for clarifying!
I'm not adverse to Sochan, but my preference is for a big who can hit an outside shot... (although I don't think I'll ever get use to his 1-handed free throws!)
Yes, those one-handed free throws are cringe material. . We have a true PF who can hit an outside shot. His name is Trey Lyles. At this point, Trey might be a more reliable 3-point shooter than LeBron. But beggars can’t be choosers. We don’t have the cap space or the assets to acquire a starting PF who can spread the floor and be a presence inside, which is the main point of wanting an alternative to Jaden as our starting PF. So it’s a matter of having PFs on our roster who can be folded into the rotation at certain times situationally. We have a solid bench PF with an outside shot. I think we need to balance that with another PF off the bench who can get us rebounds and defend inside.
Tim - I called and confirmed Obi’s availability. Indiana is overloaded at the PF position. But the Pacers rightly told me we’d have to wait for two months so we could propose an aggregate package because Green makes about $300K less than Obi and the Wolves can’t take back more salary then we send out. I said I’ll get back to them in a couple months but I also let them know I would not include TSJ in any outgoing package. So it’s unlikely Obi will end up here. I spoke with Tim Connelly this morning and we’re both on the same page that we should try to get Jeremy Sochan here at the vet minimum if we can’t land LeBron.
Thanks for clarifying!
I'm not adverse to Sochan, but my preference is for a big who can hit an outside shot... (although I don't think I'll ever get use to his 1-handed free throws!)
Yes, those one-handed free throws are cringe material. . We have a true PF who can hit an outside shot. His name is Trey Lyles. At this point, Trey might be a more reliable 3-point shooter than LeBron. But beggars can’t be choosers. We don’t have the cap space or the assets to acquire a starting PF who can spread the floor and be a presence inside, which is the main point of wanting an alternative to Jaden as our starting PF. So it’s a matter of having PFs on our roster who can be folded into the rotation at certain times situationally. We have a solid bench PF with an outside shot. I think we need to balance that with another PF off the bench who can get us rebounds and defend inside.
That's a good point Lip, to diversify the position (particularly the backups) so that you can take an "as needed approach"
I'm fine with Sochan, but not enchanted with it. Are there other options? Perhaps someone with playmaking chops who could play center at times?
I'm not adverse to Sochan, but my preference is for a big who can hit an outside shot... (although I don't think I'll ever get use to his 1-handed free throws!)
Yes, those one-handed free throws are cringe material. . We have a true PF who can hit an outside shot. His name is Trey Lyles. At this point, Trey might be a more reliable 3-point shooter than LeBron. But beggars can’t be choosers. We don’t have the cap space or the assets to acquire a starting PF who can spread the floor and be a presence inside, which is the main point of wanting an alternative to Jaden as our starting PF. So it’s a matter of having PFs on our roster who can be folded into the rotation at certain times situationally. We have a solid bench PF with an outside shot. I think we need to balance that with another PF off the bench who can get us rebounds and defend inside.
That's a good point Lip, to diversify the position (particularly the backups) so that you can take an "as needed approach"
I'm fine with Sochan, but not enchanted with it. Are there other options? Perhaps someone with playmaking chops who could play center at times?
While diversity is generally important, look at our C position: Rudy and Joan. There is no shooting diversity there, so I prefer the idea of adding a role player who can play either PF or C and hit a shot. Olynyk is my favorite. Kevin Love is supposedly following LeBron. Take a flyer on Drew Timme? Maxi Kleber?
Another thought is pursing a promising PF on a rookie scale contract in exchange for Shannon... Our old friend Luka Garza? Jay Huff? Olivier-Maxence Prosper? Can we get Leonard Miller back?!?
Yes, those one-handed free throws are cringe material. . We have a true PF who can hit an outside shot. His name is Trey Lyles. At this point, Trey might be a more reliable 3-point shooter than LeBron. But beggars can’t be choosers. We don’t have the cap space or the assets to acquire a starting PF who can spread the floor and be a presence inside, which is the main point of wanting an alternative to Jaden as our starting PF. So it’s a matter of having PFs on our roster who can be folded into the rotation at certain times situationally. We have a solid bench PF with an outside shot. I think we need to balance that with another PF off the bench who can get us rebounds and defend inside.
That's a good point Lip, to diversify the position (particularly the backups) so that you can take an "as needed approach"
I'm fine with Sochan, but not enchanted with it. Are there other options? Perhaps someone with playmaking chops who could play center at times?
While diversity is generally important, look at our C position: Rudy and Joan. There is no shooting diversity there, so I prefer the idea of adding a role player who can play either PF or C and hit a shot. Olynyk is my favorite. Kevin Love is supposedly following LeBron. Take a flyer on Drew Timme? Maxi Kleber?
Another thought is pursing a promising PF on a rookie scale contract in exchange for Shannon... Our old friend Luka Garza? Jay Huff? Olivier-Maxence Prosper? Can we get Leonard Miller back?!?
I would have liked Olynyk three or four years ago, but I don’t think he has anything left - at least not defensively. I like the idea of Love or Garza because they can both shoot AND rebound. But neither one can defend. More fundamentally, I don’t see the point of adding size if the size we add is going to hang around the perimeter to space the floor and can’t provide a truly physical defensive presence inside. And none of these guys - Olynyk, Love or Garza - can switch and guard guys in space either. If we’re looking for floor spacers who can score then we already have those guys in Jaden, Edwards, Green, and Ayo. I’ll take any of those guys defensively over Olynyk, Love or Garza. If we think we’re too small up front, it’s not enough to add more bulk if the bulk isn’t functional. The intrigue of a guy like Sochan is that he has functional size with athleticism to rebound and defend inside as well as switch to defend away from the basket. There might be other free agents that provide functional size. Honestly neither Sochan nor any other similar remaining free agents big is a panacea. But again, all we have to offer is the vet minimum and that’s not going to get us much if it doesn’t get us LeBron.
Lip I spent a little more time researching about Toppin. I realized I should maybe recalibrate a little since the situation we have now is more um serious/kinda desperate than when dealing away Randle. Here is what I read from some fans.
Toppin's best defense might be as a small ball center. At first I was like we don't need another option at center then I was like wait a minute that's what we don't have a floor stretching center option...well Lyles is but anyway. It also makes me think the Pacers might want to keep him themselves for that reason.
This also made me think...wait what is the gap between Toppin and Naz Reid? I don't want to go that far right now.
If we have to send out more salary that presents a couple things...who are we sending out? Will the Pacers be cool with adding even a little more salalry to move off of 1 year of Toppin's salary? Idk it kinda seems like if Toppin was the move maybe we would have kept a small salary player to make that deal happen.
Since we are looking at some random options...how many rebounds would Jaylen Clark average if he played PF? Last season he averaged almost 5 per 36 minutes. Lip and I are sorta intrigued with Sochan but is it possible that Clark is a guy that could be a guy that does some of what Sochan does (not all) but also is more likely to be able to hit a 3?
I read that Ben Simmons might be considering a comeback. He can shot Rocco and Beringer how to fish.
A name I saw looking back through FAs from previous years is Dominic Barlow. He always intrigued me and he did some good things last year as a 2 way player and they signed him to a 2 year deal mid season. Can we find that type of guy?
