Trade Talks Update

[AbeVigodaLive]

I'm ready for a trade. I'm ready for Jimmy Butler to be off the Wolves.

Anybody remember the Isiah Rider or Christian Laettner trades? Most Wolves fans were simply happy to see them gone. I have the same feeling about Butler at this point.

Great player. A lot of smoke behind the scenes.

[Wolvesfan21]

I don't like Winslow either. Miami needs to throw in a 1st.

[bleedspeed]

Lip - so assuming your assessment is spot on, how do see this playing out over the next week or two?

Does Glen have a drop-dead date for a trade to be consummated? Is Thibs gone no matter what, but is merely being retained to complete the Butler trade?

The pure insubordination claim would suggest we are coming to head very soon...

Great questions, Tim.

1. Drop-dead date? I suspect Glen has told Thibodeau and Layden that a deal needs to be done before the season opener, but that he'd prefer it be done sooner. Then again, Glen may have simply said to get it done ASAP without any firm specific deadline. Glen's first order of business was to get Thibodeau and Layden to actually take calls and indicate an openness to trade Butler. That's what's so weird about this.

2. Is Thibs being retained only to complete the Butler trade? Perhaps. I've been asking my self the same question, but it's so hard to know with Glen. As we all know, Glen is famous for being slow to fire executives he hires. I think there are three possibilities: (a) he fires Thibs from both positions as soon as the Butler deal is done; (b) he removes Thibs only from the PBO position when the Butler deal is done, but retains him as head coach; or (c) he keeps him in both positions for the season. My head tells me he'll fire Thibs from both positions as soon as the Butler deal is done. But that may wishful thinking on my part.

As you said, Thibodeau's insubordination, even if not quite as bad as reported, would suggest things coming to a head soon. And even if none of the insubordination reports are true, Thibodeau's screw up with the Butler situation before the trade deman is so bad that I can't see Glen retaining him as PBO much longer.

Wouldn't it make sense to fire him now and let the new person deal with it?

[AbeVigodaLive]

Lip - so assuming your assessment is spot on, how do see this playing out over the next week or two?

Does Glen have a drop-dead date for a trade to be consummated? Is Thibs gone no matter what, but is merely being retained to complete the Butler trade?

The pure insubordination claim would suggest we are coming to head very soon...

Great questions, Tim.

1. Drop-dead date? I suspect Glen has told Thibodeau and Layden that a deal needs to be done before the season opener, but that he'd prefer it be done sooner. Then again, Glen may have simply said to get it done ASAP without any firm specific deadline. Glen's first order of business was to get Thibodeau and Layden to actually take calls and indicate an openness to trade Butler. That's what's so weird about this.

2. Is Thibs being retained only to complete the Butler trade? Perhaps. I've been asking my self the same question, but it's so hard to know with Glen. As we all know, Glen is famous for being slow to fire executives he hires. I think there are three possibilities: (a) he fires Thibs from both positions as soon as the Butler deal is done; (b) he removes Thibs only from the PBO position when the Butler deal is done, but retains him as head coach; or (c) he keeps him in both positions for the season. My head tells me he'll fire Thibs from both positions as soon as the Butler deal is done. But that may wishful thinking on my part.

As you said, Thibodeau's insubordination, even if not quite as bad as reported, would suggest things coming to a head soon. And even if none of the insubordination reports are true, Thibodeau's screw up with the Butler situation before the trade deman is so bad that I can't see Glen retaining him as PBO much longer.

Wouldn't it make sense to fire him now and let the new person deal with it?

No.

It's infinitely easier for the new guy to pick up the pieces... than be blamed down the line for causing all the shrapnel.

The public will be more patient.

[Coolbreeze44]

If we had an executive in waiting Thibs wouldn't be the PBO today. I think when Thibs goes so does Layden. The coaching part is even more difficult at this time of the year unless you want to elevate an assistant. And I'm not sure if any of our assistants qualify. It's just a bad situation all the way around. As disgusting at it may sound, Glen needs these two bozos right now, and they know it. And that's why a deal isn't getting done. Thibs still holds out hope Butler will eventually agree to join the team. And he's going to keep thinking that until he gets an offer that blows him away or he gets fired. And he won't get fired until Glen can line up an appropriate successor, and that will take time.

[AbeVigodaLive]

If we had an executive in waiting Thibs wouldn't be the PBO today. I think when Thibs goes so does Layden. The coaching part is even more difficult at this time of the year unless you want to elevate an assistant. And I'm not sure if any of our assistants qualify. It's just a bad situation all the way around. As disgusting at it may sound, Glen needs these two bozos right now, and they know it. And that's why a deal isn't getting done. Thibs still holds out hope Butler will eventually agree to join the team. And he's going to keep thinking that until he gets an offer that blows him away or he gets fired. And he won't get fired until Glen can line up an appropriate successor, and that will take time.

More importantly, what in Taylor's history as owner makes us think he'll be able to find an appropriate successor?

[Coolbreeze44]

If we had an executive in waiting Thibs wouldn't be the PBO today. I think when Thibs goes so does Layden. The coaching part is even more difficult at this time of the year unless you want to elevate an assistant. And I'm not sure if any of our assistants qualify. It's just a bad situation all the way around. As disgusting at it may sound, Glen needs these two bozos right now, and they know it. And that's why a deal isn't getting done. Thibs still holds out hope Butler will eventually agree to join the team. And he's going to keep thinking that until he gets an offer that blows him away or he gets fired. And he won't get fired until Glen can line up an appropriate successor, and that will take time.

More importantly, what in Taylor's history as owner makes us think he'll be able to find an appropriate successor?

I know what you mean. Chances are it won't be.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

I dont think id mind olynyk if he was the salary filler.

He can stretch the floor, not the worst defender, and has a feistiness about him that gets under the skin of opposing teams.

[thedoper]

Woj just mentioned Dragic in a potential Miami trade.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1045000493351796741

That would be interesting for sure, not what I was expecting from Miami. Love his game. If we got Dragic and a wing from Miami and unloaded Dieng I'd be pretty happy with that deal.

[Monster]

I'm not saying Winslow is an asset I'm excited about but I would like him in the trade. He is a plus defender and from what i read a few months ago when he was in trade talks around the draft he has made some progress offensively. It's still far from a strength but he is still 22. His contract is a concern but he still will be a RFA and unless he really blows up I don't he is gonna get a ton of money. Let's say he still can't hit a 3 I see him as a guy that could be sort of an Evan Turner type player. If Turner was making a more reasonable sum to be a bnechbplayer like say half of what h is making 7 million or even less he would be a solid guy to have.

There is some talk the Suns could get in on this deal to get either Teague or Dragic. If the Wolves were able to get an asset by moving Teague or moving Dragic to another team in the deal that would be interesting.

Wolfson's latest podcast is worth a listen. He has some pretty legit sounding info plus George Karl sharing his thoughts about things including how it was with Melo requesting a trade about the same time going into 2010 season.