Minnesota Sports Forum

Duke13 wrote:Butler is gone after this year, so where does that leave us Khans?? We got one run for a 7/8 seed, and 1st round thrashing just like last year.

Oh thats right, I forgot the silver lining of Kat and Butler having a bad game and we were within 4 points of another 7/8 seed on the road, we are on our way!!

Butler leaving will likely result in Teague opting out. Taj is gone. We actually have the ability to start over if we want and bottom out with all the non-Timberbulls. Rather than fight for 10th we can be really bad for a year and have a chance at a top 5-6 pick. Do what the Lakers did last year and use the cap space on 1 year deals and then either use the pick or have a top 5 pick to trade for a guy to go next to Wiggins and Towns. Hell that's what got us Jimmy in the first place was young guys like Lavine/Dunn and a high pick. Jimmy leaving for nothing gives us great flexibility while trading him locks us into that team for a couple years. I'm not in a rush to lock in a 8-10 seed. And you guys can play your 7/8 crap all you want. We are a 3/4 when Jimmy is healthy and playing.

khans2k5 wrote:

Duke13 wrote:Butler is gone after this year, so where does that leave us Khans?? We got one run for a 7/8 seed, and 1st round thrashing just like last year.

Oh thats right, I forgot the silver lining of Kat and Butler having a bad game and we were within 4 points of another 7/8 seed on the road, we are on our way!!

Butler leaving will likely result in Teague opting out. Taj is gone. We actually have the ability to start over if we want and bottom out with all the non-Timberbulls. Rather than fight for 10th we can be really bad for a year and have a chance at a top 5-6 pick. Do what the Lakers did last year and use the cap space on 1 year deals and then either use the pick or have a top 5 pick to trade for a guy to go next to Wiggins and Towns. Hell that's what got us Jimmy in the first place was young guys like Lavine/Dunn and a high pick. Jimmy leaving for nothing gives us great flexibility while trading him locks us into that team for a couple years. I'm not in a rush to lock in a 8-10 seed. And you guys can play your 7/8 crap all you want. We are a 3/4 when Jimmy is healthy and playing.

Yeah, I wasn't the biggest fan of the original trade, but you definitely can't go back trading for less than you sent out, while adding more long term salary. Everyone knew the only guarantee with the trade was two years of Butler - we still look to have that. At the very least, 1.5 if we totally bottom out and trade him for a player and a pick at the deadline. But you have to ride it out until the deadline now.

Like you said, worst case - he walks. Taj walks. Teague is guaranteed to be gone after next season at the latest. Gorgui guaranteed to be gone after next season too (or is gorgui 2 more after this?). At that point, hand the keys to KAT and Wiggins to establish themselves as the cornerstones in their mid twenties, sign role players to short term deals that fit our two young guys' talents, and hope you can convince a big name free agent to come in 2-4 offseasons after we've hopefully hit on another pick or 3.

The Josh Richardson hype train is past the point of ridiculous. The guy goes 8-21 in back to back games and posts a -5 and +/- 0 in the first two games and everyone is losing their minds over it. Realistically, he's solid, and will be asked to do more than he's actually capable of and the Heat will see what they have with him early on. But what player are you guys watching that makes you this eager to move Jimmy freakin' Butler for him? My goodness.

Camden wrote:The Josh Richardson hype train is past the point of ridiculous. The guy goes 8-21 in back to back games and posts a -5 and +/- 0 in the first two games and everyone is losing their minds over it. Realistically, he's solid, and will be asked to do more than he's actually capable of and the Heat will see what they have with him early on. But what player are you guys watching that makes you this eager to move Jimmy freakin' Butler for him? My goodness.

We'll see what happens. Richardson's 3 years... and counting... run of improvement could be derailed very soon. Or, he never really improves. Both possible. Both fair.

But right now, we know the Wolves have lost at least one game because Jimmy Butler isn't with the team. Injury. Trade. Rest. Whatever. The Wolves win if CJ Wilson doesn't see the court tonight. Or if the rookie doesn't play as much. It's that simple.

But it's about more than this season. It's about long-term success. So we'll see who the Wolves ultimately get for Butler. Maybe the Wolves will surprise everybody and get a surefire star back. Maybe. ... Maybe...

Or, maybe Butler gets hurt. Or, maybe Thibs keeps him and the Wolves win 46 games and lose Butler for nothing. Or, maybe they get somebody worse than Richardson or LaVert or whoever.

I just want Butler gone. I don't see how him being on this team does anything good for anybody in the organization. Or even those of us whining about it at home.

Camden wrote:The Josh Richardson hype train is past the point of ridiculous. The guy goes 8-21 in back to back games and posts a -5 and +/- 0 in the first two games and everyone is losing their minds over it. Realistically, he's solid, and will be asked to do more than he's actually capable of and the Heat will see what they have with him early on. But what player are you guys watching that makes you this eager to move Jimmy freakin' Butler for him? My goodness.

Cam -- Jimmy Butler is eager to leave!! Did you miss that news? Otherwise, you can read Abe's response to get my thoughts.

Probably should call up Pat Riley and tell him we need another first round pick to take Richardson back with him shooting under 36% to start the season. Strike while the iron is...cold? That's a thing right?

Getting back to the thread title. Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 points hitting 50% of his field goals and nailing 4 of 4 from the line. He also had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal with a +21 tonight. Gallo had 20 points 9 rebounds and 4 assists. I suspect we could have dealt Butler for Gallo and G-Alexander. Might still be able to make that deal. I'd do that deal if we also received a future unprotected 1st. I'd still prefer T. Harris and G-Alexander but we've all read the reports that the Lakers won't give him up T. Harris for Butler. G-Alexander is the sort of young talent we should be targeting as part of any deal for Butler. Getting both T. Harris and G-Alexander would be a great deal for the Wolves. We may never know if that's a possibility since I don't think Thibodeau will do any realistic deal for Butler.

Camden wrote:The Josh Richardson hype train is past the point of ridiculous. The guy goes 8-21 in back to back games and posts a -5 and +/- 0 in the first two games and everyone is losing their minds over it. Realistically, he's solid, and will be asked to do more than he's actually capable of and the Heat will see what they have with him early on. But what player are you guys watching that makes you this eager to move Jimmy freakin' Butler for him? My goodness.

Still early....we'll see how things progress, as I doubt he's going to shoot 36% this season. I like the fact his assist rate keeps creeping up, as it suggests he's got some ability to make plays off the bounce.

You do realize that Jimmy kind of put us in a bind and that in turn affects what other teams might be willing to give up for him?

lipoli390 wrote:Getting back to the thread title. Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 points hitting 50% of his field goals and nailing 4 of 4 from the line. He also had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal with a +21 tonight. Gallo had 20 points 9 rebounds and 4 assists. I suspect we could have dealt Butler for Gallo and G-Alexander. Might still be able to make that deal. I'd do that deal if we also received a future unprotected 1st. I'd still prefer T. Harris and G-Alexander but we've all read the reports that the Lakers won't give him up T. Harris for Butler. G-Alexander is the sort of young talent we should be targeting as part of any deal for Butler. Getting both T. Harris and G-Alexander would be a great deal for the Wolves. We may never know if that's a possibility since I don't think Thibodeau will do any realistic deal for Butler.

I heard that the Clippers are extremely high on Gilgeous-Alexander... Remember, they traded up for him in the draft... giving up a couple of picks for him.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Getting back to the thread title. Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 points hitting 50% of his field goals and nailing 4 of 4 from the line. He also had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal with a +21 tonight. Gallo had 20 points 9 rebounds and 4 assists. I suspect we could have dealt Butler for Gallo and G-Alexander. Might still be able to make that deal. I'd do that deal if we also received a future unprotected 1st. I'd still prefer T. Harris and G-Alexander but we've all read the reports that the Lakers won't give him up T. Harris for Butler. G-Alexander is the sort of young talent we should be targeting as part of any deal for Butler. Getting both T. Harris and G-Alexander would be a great deal for the Wolves. We may never know if that's a possibility since I don't think Thibodeau will do any realistic deal for Butler.

I heard that the Clippers are extremely high on Gilgeous-Alexander... Remember, they traded up for him in the draft... giving up a couple of picks for him.

I remember them trading up to get him. That could mean that both G-Alexander and T. Harris are not gettable in a Butler deal. I wouldn't be surprised. It's simply the reality of Butler's market value under the circumstances.

And honestly, Butler wasn't exactly a hot commodity when the Wolves traded for him. I recall the Bulls were pushing the Celtics to deal for Butler last summer, but the Celtics had no interest. We ended up giving up (1) one very promising young talent (LaVine) who was recovering from ACL surgery and had not yet shown himself to be an allstar caliber player, (2) one PG lottery pick (Dunn) coming off a very disappointing rookie season, and (3) our 7th pick in the draft in exchange for the 15th. I still think that was a significant package for Butler, but it wasn't a super-impressive package. Here's the clincher. At the time that there were no reports that Butler had even remotely suggested he wanted to leave the Bulls or that there was any friction between Butler and Bulls management. Moreover, Butler still had 2 seasons left before his opt out opportunity.

I'm a bit perplexed that some still believe we can get a better return for Butler than the reports we're read about. I think it's more a matter of some clinging to the belief that somehow Butler will lead the Wolves to a great record this season and then re-sign next summer. I have no problem with fans embracing that scenario in rejecting the reality of Butler's deflated market value. However, that scenario strikes me as far to improbable to merit serious consideration by Wolves management. And it's also worth considering whether it would even make sense to re-sign Butler next summer to a 4 or 5-year deal starting at $33 million per year given his age and injury history.