Minnesota Sports Forum

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 3:14 pm Another thought about trading for a PF. Obviously, any trade for a PF would invariably require the Wolves to send out Josh Green. All of us appear to be viewing Josh Green as nothing more than a contract to give up for a true PF. But as I think about it, it’s important to recognize that Green is a good player who would give the Wolves some things we really need given what we have and the type of team TC is putting together. Green is a very good defender and a very solid corner three shooter - two things we need on this team that TC is clearly building for speed and shooting. Moreover, Green brings toughness and high energy to a roster that lacks toughness and that’s coming off season where the energy came and went. In addition, Green was a valuable contributor to the Mavs’ success when they beat the Wolves on their way to the NBA finals two years ago. He’s smart, mature, tough, and highly athletic with NBA finals experience. And while his expiring contract has value as a trade asset, it also has considerable value to the Wolves as a team skirting the edge of the 2nd apron.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 2:33 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 11:11 am Olynyk is not the answer, nor is Batum or Sochan. Here are just some of the names that would be a great fit: Nikola Jovic, Sam Hauser, Jabari Smith, Tari Eason, Jae'Sean Tate, Obi Toppin, and Ronald Holland. Do what it takes to get one of these guys.

We don’t have anything close to the tradable assets needed to get Jabari Smith. Getting him isn’t remotely realistic. I’d love to get Tari Eason, but the Rockets just signed him to a 5-year deal with a 10% trade kicker. The Rockets obviously value Eason highly and likely have no interest in trading him for any of our tradable assets. Moreover, Tari can’t be traded before December 15. So as much as I’d love to get one of these two on our roster, there’s no realistic path to get either one.

Ronald Holland is 205 lbs (197 lbs at the combine) with a standing reach of 6’8 and a wingspan of 6’10.75. We already have multiple players who match his bulk and length. He’s no more of a PF than multiple guys on our current roster. Oh, and he’s a career 24.6% three-point shooter. Why on earth would we trade any asset for him? Tate is 230 lbs, but he’s only 6’4 with a 6’8 wingspan. He’s about the same size as Ant but with a shorter wingspan. He’s not significantly more bulky and has a slightly shorter wingspan than TSJ (230 lbs v 220 lbs/6’8 v. 6’9). He’s a career 31% low-volume three-point shooter. Why would we trade any valuable asset for him? Neither he nor Holland comes close to anyone who should slotted in as our starting PF and I don’t see either one as a sensible part of the rotation. If the point is to add bulk for defensive purposes, we wouldn’t get that from Holland. If the point is to stretch the floor next to Rudy, we wouldn’t get that from Holland or Tate.

I’d take Jeremy Sochan or Kevin Love in a heartbeat over Holland or Tate. Sochan is a better rebounder than Holland or Tate, bigger than either one and has lots of upside those two do not have. Further, Sochan’s 3-point shooting is no worse than either of those two. Kevin Love is a much better three-point shooter and rebounder (even at his age) than Holland or Tate.

The only two on your list who might make sense for the Wolves and might be obtainable for the tradable assets we have would be Nikola Jovic and Sam Hauser.

But I’m not sure I’d want to give up Green and TSJ (which is what it would take to match salaries) for Jovic. His regressed last season, which is a bad sign for a young player. He had abysmal stats last season, including 27% three-point shooting, 36.6% FG shooting and only 3.3 rebounds. Yes, he has PF length and bulk, although he doesn’t look strong. But what good is that size with that sort of production. We know what we’ll get from Green, have a very good idea of what we’ll get from Trey Lyles. Comparing TSJ’s stats to Jovic’s I’d take TSJ in a heartbeat. To get Jovic we’d have to give up both Green and TSJ, and we have no idea what we’ll get from him. If last season even close to what we can expect from him, he’d be a terrible bust. It’s a huge stretch to envision Jovic as our starting PF and a net positive rotation contributor based on what we’ve seen from him most recently.

That leaves us with Sam Hauser. I’d love to get him and I’d be willing to trade Green and TSJ. But I suspect the Celtics will be very reluctant to give him up. Moreover, his $10,848,215 salary would make a trade very challenging under cap rules because the Celtics can’t absorb the difference between Sam’s salary and Green’s. And we don’t have any draft assets to add as sweeteners to a third team.

Sorry to say that your suggested trade targets either make no sense for the Wolves (Holland, Tate, Jovic), or if they make sense for the Wolves (Tari Eason, Jabari Smith, Sam Hauser) there’s no realistic path to acquiring them.

I think we have a more realistic chance of acquiring PJ Washington via trade, but his contract would be a huge long-term problem for the Wolves. In fact, it’s his contract that would probably motivate the Mavs to trade him for a Green-centric package. Another problem is that Green and TSJ wouldn’t be enough to match salaries in a PJ deal. The only other player we should consider adding to a package for PJ would be Donte, but I don’t think the Mavs would view that as enough given Donte’s situation as a injured player who becomes an unrestricted FA at the end of next season. And it seems the Wolves don’t want to trade him anyway. I don’t see Houston being motivated at all to trade Eason or Smith - at least not for what we’d have to offer.

Faced with reality, it seems clear that adding size to our PF position will have to happen through free agency. And that likely means Sochan, Love, Batum or Olynyk. The good news is that we won’t have to give up any assets for any of those four or any other other free agent - assuming they’re willing to sign here for the vet minimum.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 4:17 pm We still need a power forward that can start and play big minutes. You can poke holes and make excuses as to why we can't get every player, but it doesn't change the truth. And I can't believe the word Batum still gets mentioned on this board every time we need a player. Batum - garbage, Olynyk - garbage, Sochan - garbage. Love is the only one who should get any mention at all.

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 5:01 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 4:17 pm We still need a power forward that can start and play big minutes. You can poke holes and make excuses as to why we can't get every player, but it doesn't change the truth. And I can't believe the word Batum still gets mentioned on this board every time we need a player. Batum - garbage, Olynyk - garbage, Sochan - garbage. Love is the only one who should get any mention at all.

Batum signed in Europe.

I'm curious what is the differentiator between Tate and Sochan? To be clear I actually like both guys to some extent. Tate's basketball journey is a legitimately fun one.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 6:08 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 5:01 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 4:17 pm We still need a power forward that can start and play big minutes. You can poke holes and make excuses as to why we can't get every player, but it doesn't change the truth. And I can't believe the word Batum still gets mentioned on this board every time we need a player. Batum - garbage, Olynyk - garbage, Sochan - garbage. Love is the only one who should get any mention at all.

Batum signed in Europe.

I'm curious what is the differentiator between Tate and Sochan? To be clear I actually like both guys to some extent. Tate's basketball journey is a legitimately fun one.

Monster, I just think given the opportunity Tate would be the better player.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 4:17 pm We still need a power forward that can start and play big minutes. You can poke holes and make excuses as to why we can't get every player, but it doesn't change the truth. And I can't believe the word Batum still gets mentioned on this board every time we need a player. Batum - garbage, Olynyk - garbage, Sochan - garbage. Love is the only one who should get any mention at all.

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 5:01 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 4:17 pm We still need a power forward that can start and play big minutes. You can poke holes and make excuses as to why we can't get every player, but it doesn't change the truth. And I can't believe the word Batum still gets mentioned on this board every time we need a player. Batum - garbage, Olynyk - garbage, Sochan - garbage. Love is the only one who should get any mention at all.

Batum signed in Europe.

I'm curious what is the differentiator between Tate and Sochan? To be clear I actually like both guys to some extent. Tate's basketball journey is a legitimately fun one.