Minnesota Sports Forum

Phenom wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 6:41 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:31 am I’ll follow up my last post by reiterating my sense that the Wolves already have a deal for Giannis (or some other player as a backup deal) in place and are waiting on a few more details before announcing. I just can’t imagine TC dealing Conley and giving a pick swap as part of that deal just to trim some salary now for financial reasons or to create flexibility for a deal that may or my not happen.

The Conley trade makes no sense unless it’s tied to a major trade deadline deal. Mike Conley’s contract is expiring so it was going to come off the books at the end of this season anyway. The pick swap to trade Conley means we’ll have Detroit’s 2026 pick instead of our own, which means it will likely be pick 29 instead of what could be much higher depending on where he Wolves end up. This summer we’ll be able to deal our 1st round pick as part of a package. Right now, we can’t deal that pick and it will have less trade value in the off season because of the Conley deal. It’s clear that TC wanted the extra cap room right now and that has to mean he has a deal for which that extra cap room is essential. I think it’s Giannis, but if there is no Giannis deal actually in place, then I have to think that TC has another deal locked in as an alternative.

It was reported by Yossi Gozlan (cap guru) that the Wolves, as a result of the trade, have access to the nontax MLE, which can be traded for a salary now. If Giannis doesn't happen it means they could absorb someone into that so that would seem to be the fallback plan.

kekgeek wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2026 11:51 pm Serious question when is the last impactful player that was acquired via the buyout market. Think it’s pretty darn rare

DNatagal wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 8:22 am Isn't there a harsh repeater penalty for going above the 1st and 2nd aprons? Could the Conley dump just be setting up a true run for a star? Not sure where we stand for next year salary, but it may be just a timing thing.

Monster wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 7:50 am

kekgeek wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2026 11:51 pm Serious question when is the last impactful player that was acquired via the buyout market. Think it’s pretty darn rare

I think it's a fair point to make that at times that option has been oversold. Some of that is whether or not players even get bought out. Often there is all this hype about guys getting bought out or waived and it never even happens. Morris was a worthwhile player for the Lakers and Love was a worthwhile pickup for the Heat. This last off-season had some pretty big buyout waive players but the one making some sort of impact I can think of is Ayton.

I don't think the buyout is the route the Wolves is THE route they are gonna go after dealing Conley but having a roster opening can be valuable. Last year Bones was let go and the Wolves signed him on a 2 way and brought him back this season for a vet min deal. That's looking like a pretty solid move and increases my confidence in Connelly being able to assess players even if he hasn't obviously hit on every evaluation which nobody does.