Minnesota Sports Forum

The last thread I started attempted to make the case for keeping both DLO and Beasley. As intended, the thread elicited a great discussion on both sides of the issue. I think there's a consensus that the Wolves should NOT under any circumstances extend DLO and that he's clearly not a max level player. Whether the Wolves should trade him this summer ultimately comes down to this question: Who could we realistically get in return and how much, if anything, more than DLO would we have to give up.

This thread is intended to be devoted entirely to realistic DLO trade ideas that you think would improve the team for next season and beyond. I don't have any ideas at the moment, but I'll weigh in later in the thread with some ideas after others have offered some ideas. So let the proposals come in.

lipoli390 wrote:The last thread I started attempted to make the case for keeping both DLO and Beasley. As intended, the thread elicited a great discussion on both sides of the issue. I think there's a consensus that the Wolves should NOT under any circumstances extend DLO and that he's clearly not a max level player. Whether the Wolves should trade him this summer ultimately comes down to this question: Who could we realistically get in return and how much, if anything, more than DLO would we have to give up.

This thread is intended to be devoted entirely to realistic DLO trade ideas that you think would improve the team for next season and beyond. I don't have any ideas at the moment, but I'll weigh in later in the thread with some ideas after others have offered some ideas. So let the proposals come in.

How far could we move up in the draft ?

This just pulled into my feed this morning. Sounds like they looking to move him for real:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-timberwolves-attempt-trade-d-114529741.html

As far answering the questions posed in the original post (what could we get for him) - I have no idea either. Looking back, did we over pay to get him in the first place? It seemed like a push at the time, as both he and Wiggins were young, talented, but somewhat underachievers. DLO was one year removed from an All Star honor at the time of the trade. Now Wiggins earned an All Star honor and I don't see anyone referring to DLO as an All Star anymore. Plus we threw in a top 10 pick...

I'm not too plugged into the guessing game for this type of thing. But I'm thinking if we could get a vet PG and a 1st round pick back for DLO - that would be a good deal at this point. The vet PG would probably have to be either an older guy (think Fred Hoiberg with Wolves) or a reclamation project (think Chauncey Billups with Wolves) and I'm sure the pick would be protected.

Westbrook is a HARD no. As in, burn the franchise to the ground if this trade happens.
Conley?
Gobert?
Poor DLo did this to himself. He could have made himself a LOT of money if he actually showed for the 1st round.

Lavine sign and trade lol

Carlos Danger wrote:This just pulled into my feed this morning. Sounds like they looking to move him for real:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-timberwolves-attempt-trade-d-114529741.html

FWIW There is nothing in that article that says anyone with the Wolves are looking to deal him. It's other team officials that say they think they will. It's certainly still good info to consider. A big question is whether any of those team officials actually value Russell and want to deal for him.

I'm not opposed to dealing Russell but the article is spot on that if you are hoping for a Russell trade you shouldn't get your hopes up too high on much value coming back. I spent a bit of time this morning again looking through rosters and salaries of teams. I didn't find much of a fit in terms of salaries and players. To me at this point if you want to move on from Russell then it might be best to let him play out his contract and maybe even sign guys to 1 year deals declining Beasley's last season (if he isn't traded) and be under the salary cap next offseason with just Towns and basically rookie deals and guys like Vanderbilt and McLaughlin signed cheap. I think rather do that than trade for another overpaid player that's signed for more years. Plus MAYBE another star type player decides they want out in a few months. Russell and Beasley's expiring deals would be very useful in making a deal. Plus if you think the Wolves should move on from Russell for X Y and Z why is some other team gonna give up value for him? I'm looking forward to seeing what people here come up with.

Also after watching Finch and Gupta in their exit interviews they didn't sound like guys that was looking to trade Russell either. Obviously I'm not saying they are absolutely locked in on him (and Of course they are not going to just say bad things even if they are considering trading him) but everything they said made it sound like they were going to make changes that were less significant than trading Russell...especially if the return for their current starting PG is meh.

monsterpile wrote:

Carlos Danger wrote:This just pulled into my feed this morning. Sounds like they looking to move him for real:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-timberwolves-attempt-trade-d-114529741.html

FWIW There is nothing in that article that says anyone with the Wolves are looking to deal him. It's other team officials that say they think they will.

Fair and valid point. My interpretation was along the lines of "where there is smoke, there is fire". But you are correct, nothing out of the Wolves camp - just speculation from other team officials.

His main value is as an expiring contract, so the question is whether there is a team rebuilding (or wanting to rebuild) that will value his expiring deal and be willing to give us an asset we value in return, likely a well paid vet or two that has a few years left on their deals.

Q-was-here wrote:His main value is as an expiring contract, so the question is whether there is a team rebuilding (or wanting to rebuild) that will value his expiring deal and be willing to give us an asset we value in return, likely a well paid vet or two that has a few years left on their deals.

Yeah this is the most likely scenario, or we give up a draft pick too in the attempt to upgrade. I don't know if now is the time, I guess once they really start negotiation on a potential extension it would give a better idea whether they can move. You know his agents will be working multiple teams if Minnesota gives a perceived low ball offer. Its tricky, because if he got to a trade demand it would lower his value even more, which is not very high now. I'm skeptical we get a lot for him if we shop him, but the NBA is crazy and changes quickly.