Wolves are attempting to add another lotto pick

[Monster]

So I heard about this rumor this morning (Wolves discussing trade of Culver+17 for #6) and I'm alright with it to get a better schematic fit, but I'm re-thinking the scenario again now and part of me wonders (if it's not part of a trade for a star) if we might actually be overlooking the obvious here...

Taking star players out of the equation and looking strictly at what we would be looking at if we picked..
Wolves trade SG Jarrett Culver... There happens to be a SG who has long been connected to the #1 pick in Anthony Edwards. You just cleared a spot for him. Then you're drafting at #6 where another player who fits the scheme sits...Obi Toppin.

Not suggesting this is what will happen, and that might be too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to scorers, but I hadn't heard it mentioned yet in this thread and seems to be one obvious reason why a team might want to trade a starting wing (because you're planning on drafting a starting wing at #1).

Eh, maybe you're right, mrhockey, but I think that would be sloppy and irresponsible asset management from Gersson Rosas and the Wolves. To basically dump last year's sixth overall pick at an unfavorable evaluation in order to replace him with less than a sure thing just wouldn't sit well with me. I tend to think Rosas is smarter than that too.

Either he's compiling assets that a team has requested in order to facilitate a trade for an All-Star or the Wolves have a group of prospects no larger than the top-eight that they feel are considerably better than the rest and want to double-dip from that pool.

If you're right and Minnesota does indeed have their eyes on Anthony Edwards, then they absolutely need to trade down before selecting him. The secret lies with Charlotte... Where are my National Treasure, Nicholas Cage fans? Anybody? Just me? Alright.

I'm drunk it's two am. Lmao. I read it in a Nicholas Xage impression and then started annoying my wife with spider verse lines. Cheers Cam

Well, good to know someone is making the most this pandemic to engage in healthy habits and renewed relationships!

:)

Andy Samberg does a good Nic Cage when he was on SNL. Get in the Cage!

Lol Lol lol

We were just talking about Nic Cage movies the other day at work. There are a few Of his films that I'm now going to have to watch that I haven't seen.

[Phenom]

So after connecting some dots with little bits of information I came up with this. Who says no?

Hawks trade pick 6 and Dedmon for Oubre and pick 17.
Wolves trade pick 17, Johnson, Culver, and Layman for pick 6, Rubio, and Dedmon.
Thunder trade Paul for pick 10, Johnson, and Culver.
Suns trade Oubre, Rubio, pick 10 for Paul, Layman and pick 25.

Rosas would say no. He's not trading for a 35-year old. If Rosas is in the market for a star, he'll be looking for someone close in age to his current duo of Towns and Russell. So I think it comes down to Simmons, Beal or Booker. I can't think of another young star might conceivably be available. And I honestly don't think Booker will be gettable. So I think it's Simmons or Beal. Simmons would be the guy I'd want, but that would probably require the Wizards to send Beal to the Wizards in a 3-way.

As I've written several times before, I think the Wizards are ready to blow it up and start a rebuild. Their front office can't possibly believe that John Wall will return at his age from an Achilles tear and combine with Beal to take the Wizards from one of the worst teams in the League to playoff contention. And they have to know that the team will become a championship contender with those two as their core. So while Wizards front office talks publicly about wanting to keep Beal and take a shot with Wall, I've never believed them.

Wouldn't trading for 6 be part of the package to get one of those guys? I dont see Rubio or Dedmon as a key part of it but more as depth and salary concessions to be able to get to 6. I also don't think Rubio or Dedmon are quite that old yet.

[Phenom]

So after connecting some dots with little bits of information I came up with this. Who says no?

Hawks trade pick 6 and Dedmon for Oubre and pick 17.
Wolves trade pick 17, Johnson, Culver, and Layman for pick 6, Rubio, and Dedmon.
Thunder trade Paul for pick 10, Johnson, and Culver.
Suns trade Oubre, Rubio, pick 10 for Paul, Layman and pick 25.

OKC.

Interesting. It sounds as though they want as little salary commitment as possible. Paul to Johnson shaves a bunch of money off the books. I guess it depends on their mindset for this year because it's not a win now trade for them but it seems like they have been collecting assets and that's what this trade brings them.

They have A LOT of assets. Plenty of assets. They were also a playoff team.

Trading Paul for that mix takes them out of the playoffs immediately and puts them in the Promise of Hope category. Or, they trade Paul for a decent player AND still have plenty of assets without plummeting out of the chase.

And maybe the asset play would be going after the real blue chip piece at another point. They are said to be long term salary averse in a deal and have no interest in Rubio and Oubre who could help them. Also worth noting that they are reportedly letting Paul find a team he wants. I question their expectations if that is the case.

[Monster]

So after connecting some dots with little bits of information I came up with this. Who says no?

Hawks trade pick 6 and Dedmon for Oubre and pick 17.
Wolves trade pick 17, Johnson, Culver, and Layman for pick 6, Rubio, and Dedmon.
Thunder trade Paul for pick 10, Johnson, and Culver.
Suns trade Oubre, Rubio, pick 10 for Paul, Layman and pick 25.

OKC.

Interesting. It sounds as though they want as little salary commitment as possible. Paul to Johnson shaves a bunch of money off the books. I guess it depends on their mindset for this year because it's not a win now trade for them but it seems like they have been collecting assets and that's what this trade brings them.

They have A LOT of assets. Plenty of assets. They were also a playoff team.

Trading Paul for that mix takes them out of the playoffs immediately and puts them in the Promise of Hope category. Or, they trade Paul for a decent player AND still have plenty of assets without plummeting out of the chase.

And maybe the asset play would be going after the real blue chip piece at another point. They are said to be long term salary averse in a deal and have no interest in Rubio and Oubre who could help them. Also worth noting that they are reportedly letting Paul find a team he wants. I question their expectations if that is the case.

FWIW The last time Chris Paul picked his spot the Clippers ended up with a nice haul.

One thing OKC has been able to do is raise the value of players with high contracts the last few years. I wonder if they would take guys like Rubio and Oubre and try and flip them or simply just get even more out of them and keep winning. That's just an example of what OKC could do (I'd assume they would get some other actual asset) it will be interesting to see what happens but they have done very well for themselves taking on Chris Paul already.

[KG4Ever]

It's not often you get a redo on your first pick from the year prior. And that's essentially what the Wolves would be able to do. So are we more comfortable seeing Cukver improve or possibly getting a pg that could slide DR over to sg and make the offense more well rounded.
Haliburtons ceiling is far higher than Culvers at this point.

....or this is all about big-game hunting and having the #1 an #6 could help reel in an all-star caliber talent.

Who realistically could be had for that?

For months everyone here acknowledged that this was a weak draft. Now our pics are good enough to land an all star. I just don't see it.

Its only weak at the very top, but otherwise I think there will be good players available into the early second round.

[KG4Ever]

I am not keen on trading Culver (and would rather trade someone else not named KAT). I think because he was unable to play in the summer league, it hurt him and he did show grittiness on defense, and his FT shooting is correctible as he shot much better in college. I also think a good player will be available at 17. I suspect the 6th pick is sought to go with the #1 pick for a player like Simmons. If we trade for 6 and pick Killian Hayes, I'm fine with it, and I could live with Deni or Haliburton. I'd be very disappointed if we traded Culver plus 17 and drafted Okoro, Topin or Williams or use it to trade for Dipo.

[Lipoli390]

I am not keen on trading Culver (and would rather trade someone else not named KAT). I think because he was unable to play in the summer league, it hurt him and he did show grittiness on defense, and his FT shooting is correctible as he shot much better in college. I also think a good player will be available at 17. I suspect the 6th pick is sought to go with the #1 pick for a player like Simmons. If we trade for 6 and pick Killian Hayes, I'm fine with it, and I could live with Deni or Haliburton. I'd be very disappointed if we traded Culver plus 17 and drafted Okoro, Topin or Williams or use it to trade for Dipo.

I'm not keen on trading Culver either. And I honestly don't see us getting Simmons. I think Beal is a possibility, but I suspect we'd have to give up a lot to get him, including future first round picks after already trading both of our 2021 picks. You have to draw the line somewhere. However, if we could get Beal for #1 and 6 along with Johnson then sign me up. I remain convinced that Rosas needs to draft well this year. All the top NBA basketball executives draft well. Since it's a deep draft, I think the better bet is to hold onto Culver and make make a good pick at #17.

Ultimately, the fate of this team turns on the play and development of Towns and Russell. Rosas wanted Russell from the beginning and he got him. Now let's see what that tandem can do with support from Culver, Okogie, Johnson, Layman, JMac, Naz Reid, Nowell, H-Gomez, whoever they sign with the MLE, and the three high quality draft picks we have this year. I like the idea of packaging #33 and 17 to move up several slots. And I like the idea of picking up a future first from Charlotte as part of swapping #1 for #3 and then drafting Okongwu.

[mrhockey89]

I was listening to Tommy Sheppard (Wizard's GM) on the Lowe Post podcast and it definitely didn't feel like they have any intention on entertaining Beal trade offers, and said their team is building around Beal. Given Beal has indicated his own loyalty as well, I'm assuming this door is shut.

That said, looks like John Wall is an idiot.

[Lipoli390]

I was listening to Tommy Sheppard (Wizard's GM) on the Lowe Post podcast and it definitely didn't feel like they have any intention on entertaining Beal trade offers, and said their team is building around Beal. Given Beal has indicated his own loyalty as well, I'm assuming this door is shut.

That said, looks like John Wall is an idiot.

Lol. Yes, Wall is an idiot. You might be right about Beal. But I'm not taking Sheppard at his word on this. I just don't see a path forward for the Wizards with Beal. They were terrible this past season with Beal and I don't see that changing with the return of John Wall coming off Achilles surgery. I'm just going with a gut feeling. The evidence clearly supports your view that he's not going anywhere this year.

Here's a question. If Simmons, Beal and Booker are all unavailable - at least for anything the Wolves can offer - then who might the Wolves be pursuing in a draft-day trade and is there anyone other than the three I mentioned who would be worth giving up the #1 pick without getting another lottery pick in return?

[Phenom]

So after connecting some dots with little bits of information I came up with this. Who says no?

Hawks trade pick 6 and Dedmon for Oubre and pick 17.
Wolves trade pick 17, Johnson, Culver, and Layman for pick 6, Rubio, and Dedmon.
Thunder trade Paul for pick 10, Johnson, and Culver.
Suns trade Oubre, Rubio, pick 10 for Paul, Layman and pick 25.

OKC.

Interesting. It sounds as though they want as little salary commitment as possible. Paul to Johnson shaves a bunch of money off the books. I guess it depends on their mindset for this year because it's not a win now trade for them but it seems like they have been collecting assets and that's what this trade brings them.

They have A LOT of assets. Plenty of assets. They were also a playoff team.

Trading Paul for that mix takes them out of the playoffs immediately and puts them in the Promise of Hope category. Or, they trade Paul for a decent player AND still have plenty of assets without plummeting out of the chase.

And maybe the asset play would be going after the real blue chip piece at another point. They are said to be long term salary averse in a deal and have no interest in Rubio and Oubre who could help them. Also worth noting that they are reportedly letting Paul find a team he wants. I question their expectations if that is the case.

FWIW The last time Chris Paul picked his spot the Clippers ended up with a nice haul.

One thing OKC has been able to do is raise the value of players with high contracts the last few years. I wonder if they would take guys like Rubio and Oubre and try and flip them or simply just get even more out of them and keep winning. That's just an example of what OKC could do (I'd assume they would get some other actual asset) it will be interesting to see what happens but they have done very well for themselves taking on Chris Paul already.

That's true however Paul is older and much more expensive now. Most teams probably view him as a negative asset unless the fit is right. The 10th pick and Culver with long term salary relief seems fair I think. Also the Thunder reportedly are not interested in Rubio and Oubre which was one of the bases for this idea.


OKC does seem to have a leg up here for sure considering Paul's value heading into last off-season