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All of the swaps we gave are unprotected picks basically. Like if we win the lottery that year and charlottes pick is 25, they pick #1. Surely you get that. They only gave up one pick swap. Pick swaps can be a pretty big deal. THe package that Toronto gave up is not any worse than what we gave up. I get that Leonard is more expensive, but he’s a better player than Ball and people are going to cringe when we sign the extension that TC gives to Ball. Overall Torontos deal is better. I get that you’re trying to convince yourself to like the trade, but just admit that it sucked lolLipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 5:55 pmComparing our deal for LaMelo to this deal for Kawhi should make Wolves fans feel better about the value we got relative to what we gave up. We gave up Naz Reid, one unprotected 1st seven years from now, three pick swaps and three second round picks. Toronto gave up Brandon Ingram, two unprotected 1st round picks (2030 & 2033), one pick swap (2030) and two future 2nd round picks. Here’s how I compare the two deals:TheGrey08 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 2:55 pmYet another big trade.Shams Charania
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are nearing deal sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, 2 first-round picks, 1 pick swap and 2 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN. A return to Canada for the Raptors champion and two-time Finals MVP.
1. I consider the 28-year old Brandon Ingram a better player than the 26/27 year old Naz Reid right now. Naz might prove to be better if he becomes the player I think he can be but not a lot better than Brandon if at all. So I’d say the player Toronto gave up has more trade value the player we gave up. Slight to moderate advantage to Minnnesota.
2. Giving up two unprotected first round picks is certainly more than the one distant 1st we gave up for Ball. Advantage to Minnesota.
3. Toronto only gave up one pick swaps compared to our three but pick swaps are relatively meaningless for the Wolves given how good we’re likely to be in the likely in at least two of those three years with Ball, Edwards, Jaden and Ayo under contract and also considering the new lottery rules. Toronto’s 2030 pick could be worth a lot in a swap because Kawhi will be long gone by then. I’d call this even with maybe a slight edge to Toronto v. Minnesota.
4. Toronto gave up two second round picks compared to our three. Slight edge to Toronto
5. Toronto received an established superstar who already has a ring. But Kawhi is 35 years old with only one year on his contract and maybe a year or two as a player before he exhibits the typical precipitous decline experienced by most NBA players after their mid 30s. Minnesota received an elite offensive player and former rookie of the year who is still only 24 years old and could become a great player. Compared to Kawhi, Ball can improve and has a longer trajectory to help the acquiring team. Both players have durability/availability issues. I’d give a slight edge to Minnesota.
Pick swaps are only swaps if you think there's a scenario where the team you traded them to becomes better than you. If the Hornets within 2 years become better than the Wolves, things went bad enough to where the thought of just dealing Ball, Ant and Jaden for picks and flotsam become appealing.D-Loser25 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 10:06 pmAll of the swaps we gave are unprotected picks basically. Like if we win the lottery that year and charlottes pick is 25, they pick #1. Surely you get that. They only gave up one pick swap. Pick swaps can be a pretty big deal. THe package that Toronto gave up is not any worse than what we gave up. I get that Leonard is more expensive, but he’s a better player than Ball and people are going to cringe when we sign the extension that TC gives to Ball. Overall Torontos deal is better. I get that you’re trying to convince yourself to like the trade, but just admit that it sucked lolLipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 5:55 pmComparing our deal for LaMelo to this deal for Kawhi should make Wolves fans feel better about the value we got relative to what we gave up. We gave up Naz Reid, one unprotected 1st seven years from now, three pick swaps and three second round picks. Toronto gave up Brandon Ingram, two unprotected 1st round picks (2030 & 2033), one pick swap (2030) and two future 2nd round picks. Here’s how I compare the two deals:
1. I consider the 28-year old Brandon Ingram a better player than the 26/27 year old Naz Reid right now. Naz might prove to be better if he becomes the player I think he can be but not a lot better than Brandon if at all. So I’d say the player Toronto gave up has more trade value the player we gave up. Slight to moderate advantage to Minnnesota.
2. Giving up two unprotected first round picks is certainly more than the one distant 1st we gave up for Ball. Advantage to Minnesota.
3. Toronto only gave up one pick swaps compared to our three but pick swaps are relatively meaningless for the Wolves given how good we’re likely to be in the likely in at least two of those three years with Ball, Edwards, Jaden and Ayo under contract and also considering the new lottery rules. Toronto’s 2030 pick could be worth a lot in a swap because Kawhi will be long gone by then. I’d call this even with maybe a slight edge to Toronto v. Minnesota.
4. Toronto gave up two second round picks compared to our three. Slight edge to Toronto
5. Toronto received an established superstar who already has a ring. But Kawhi is 35 years old with only one year on his contract and maybe a year or two as a player before he exhibits the typical precipitous decline experienced by most NBA players after their mid 30s. Minnesota received an elite offensive player and former rookie of the year who is still only 24 years old and could become a great player. Compared to Kawhi, Ball can improve and has a longer trajectory to help the acquiring team. Both players have durability/availability issues. I’d give a slight edge to Minnesota.
Surely you understand that the odds of the Wolves having a top 5 pick, much less a #1 pick, when Charlotte has a low first round pick are extraordinarily low. It’s highly likely the Wolves won’t even be in the lottery any of those swap years. So those swaps have some value but very little. I don’t have to convince myself to prefer giving up one rotation player and one 1st round pick for a 24-year old elite offensive PG with likely upside over giving up two rotation players and two 1st round picks for a mercurial 35-year old. I’d have to do some pretty extraordinary mental gymnastics to prefer the latter.D-Loser25 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 10:06 pmAll of the swaps we gave are unprotected picks basically. Like if we win the lottery that year and charlottes pick is 25, they pick #1. Surely you get that. They only gave up one pick swap. Pick swaps can be a pretty big deal. THe package that Toronto gave up is not any worse than what we gave up. I get that Leonard is more expensive, but he’s a better player than Ball and people are going to cringe when we sign the extension that TC gives to Ball. Overall Torontos deal is better. I get that you’re trying to convince yourself to like the trade, but just admit that it sucked lolLipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 5:55 pmComparing our deal for LaMelo to this deal for Kawhi should make Wolves fans feel better about the value we got relative to what we gave up. We gave up Naz Reid, one unprotected 1st seven years from now, three pick swaps and three second round picks. Toronto gave up Brandon Ingram, two unprotected 1st round picks (2030 & 2033), one pick swap (2030) and two future 2nd round picks. Here’s how I compare the two deals:
1. I consider the 28-year old Brandon Ingram a better player than the 26/27 year old Naz Reid right now. Naz might prove to be better if he becomes the player I think he can be but not a lot better than Brandon if at all. So I’d say the player Toronto gave up has more trade value the player we gave up. Slight to moderate advantage to Minnnesota.
2. Giving up two unprotected first round picks is certainly more than the one distant 1st we gave up for Ball. Advantage to Minnesota.
3. Toronto only gave up one pick swaps compared to our three but pick swaps are relatively meaningless for the Wolves given how good we’re likely to be in the likely in at least two of those three years with Ball, Edwards, Jaden and Ayo under contract and also considering the new lottery rules. Toronto’s 2030 pick could be worth a lot in a swap because Kawhi will be long gone by then. I’d call this even with maybe a slight edge to Toronto v. Minnesota.
4. Toronto gave up two second round picks compared to our three. Slight edge to Toronto
5. Toronto received an established superstar who already has a ring. But Kawhi is 35 years old with only one year on his contract and maybe a year or two as a player before he exhibits the typical precipitous decline experienced by most NBA players after their mid 30s. Minnesota received an elite offensive player and former rookie of the year who is still only 24 years old and could become a great player. Compared to Kawhi, Ball can improve and has a longer trajectory to help the acquiring team. Both players have durability/availability issues. I’d give a slight edge to Minnesota.
Kawahi is said to be signing an extension and is already making 50 million this year. He will cost to million this year that 10 million more than Ball. It sounds like he will sign a 2 year 123 million extension. Kawahi will make over 170 million in the 3 years. Ball will cast around 130 million...7 million more than what Kawahi will make in the last 2 years of his deal.Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 10:17 pmSurely you understand that the odds of the Wolves having a top 5 pick, much less a #1 pick, when Charlotte has a low first round pick are extraordinarily low. It’s highly likely the Wolves won’t even be in the lottery any of those swap years. So those swaps have some value but very little. I don’t have to convince myself to prefer giving up one rotation player and one 1st round pick for a 24-year old elite offensive PG with likely upside over giving up two rotation players and two 1st round picks for a mercurial 35-year old. I’d have to do some pretty extraordinary mental gymnastics to prefer the latter.D-Loser25 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 10:06 pmAll of the swaps we gave are unprotected picks basically. Like if we win the lottery that year and charlottes pick is 25, they pick #1. Surely you get that. They only gave up one pick swap. Pick swaps can be a pretty big deal. THe package that Toronto gave up is not any worse than what we gave up. I get that Leonard is more expensive, but he’s a better player than Ball and people are going to cringe when we sign the extension that TC gives to Ball. Overall Torontos deal is better. I get that you’re trying to convince yourself to like the trade, but just admit that it sucked lolLipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 5:55 pm
Comparing our deal for LaMelo to this deal for Kawhi should make Wolves fans feel better about the value we got relative to what we gave up. We gave up Naz Reid, one unprotected 1st seven years from now, three pick swaps and three second round picks. Toronto gave up Brandon Ingram, two unprotected 1st round picks (2030 & 2033), one pick swap (2030) and two future 2nd round picks. Here’s how I compare the two deals:
1. I consider the 28-year old Brandon Ingram a better player than the 26/27 year old Naz Reid right now. Naz might prove to be better if he becomes the player I think he can be but not a lot better than Brandon if at all. So I’d say the player Toronto gave up has more trade value the player we gave up. Slight to moderate advantage to Minnnesota.
2. Giving up two unprotected first round picks is certainly more than the one distant 1st we gave up for Ball. Advantage to Minnesota.
3. Toronto only gave up one pick swaps compared to our three but pick swaps are relatively meaningless for the Wolves given how good we’re likely to be in the likely in at least two of those three years with Ball, Edwards, Jaden and Ayo under contract and also considering the new lottery rules. Toronto’s 2030 pick could be worth a lot in a swap because Kawhi will be long gone by then. I’d call this even with maybe a slight edge to Toronto v. Minnesota.
4. Toronto gave up two second round picks compared to our three. Slight edge to Toronto
5. Toronto received an established superstar who already has a ring. But Kawhi is 35 years old with only one year on his contract and maybe a year or two as a player before he exhibits the typical precipitous decline experienced by most NBA players after their mid 30s. Minnesota received an elite offensive player and former rookie of the year who is still only 24 years old and could become a great player. Compared to Kawhi, Ball can improve and has a longer trajectory to help the acquiring team. Both players have durability/availability issues. I’d give a slight edge to Minnesota.