Minnesota Sports Forum

Assuming you were in Gersson's position right now, which of the following big would you trade for? Note that I'm assuming a trade is needed because we won't have any roster spots if we sign Vanderbilt, JMac and Bolmaro. Assume that all except Markkanen could be signed for no more than $6M per year.

My preference would be to acquire Lauri Markkanen (four-years, $60-million with a team option in the final year) in a sign-and-trade for Juan Hernangomez, Jarrett Culver, and a 2022 first-round pick (top-20 protected, converts to two second-round picks if not conveyed). If the Wolves could turn two non-contributors into a 24-year old starting caliber player on a similar deal to Malik Beasley's I think that would be a win despite the imperfect fit.

Camden wrote:My preference would be to acquire Lauri Markkanen (four-years, $60-million with a team option in the final year) in a sign-and-trade for Juan Hernangomez, Jarrett Culver, and a 2022 first-round pick (top-20 protected, converts to two second-round picks if not conveyed). If the Wolves could turn two non-contributors into a 24-year old starting caliber player on a similar deal to Malik Beasley's I think that would be a win despite the imperfect fit.

Good analysis, Cam. But I still have a hard time getting comfortable with locking him in for 3 years at that amount given his poor defense and durability issues. What are your thoughts on a far more minor acquisition like Hartenstein or WCS?

I voted Cauley-Stein. He's not an ideal fit either, but I think a healthy DLO-KAT-Edwards needs minimal help offensively, so I go with a guy who knows his role and can relieve some pressure off of KAT defensively early in halves.

Hartenstein is intriguing to me, but I just haven't seen enough of him to know how well he'd fit with KAT up front.

I don't think I would do a sign and trade of any of these guys.

Edit:

Sorry hit the button before I was done. I don't think it would be worth looking into to sign any of the cheap guys to a sign and trade because nobody is going to want our meh players for a sign and trade.

I'd probably do the Markkanen sign and trade even though I know Lip was chuckling when he wrote that out. :) I don't think Markkanen would settle for that he would probably just play out the QO (about 9 million) which honestly would be a good outcome for Chicago in some ways.

lipoli390 wrote:

Camden wrote:My preference would be to acquire Lauri Markkanen (four-years, $60-million with a team option in the final year) in a sign-and-trade for Juan Hernangomez, Jarrett Culver, and a 2022 first-round pick (top-20 protected, converts to two second-round picks if not conveyed). If the Wolves could turn two non-contributors into a 24-year old starting caliber player on a similar deal to Malik Beasley's I think that would be a win despite the imperfect fit.

Good analysis, Cam. But I still have a hard time getting comfortable with locking him in for 3 years at that amount given his poor defense and durability issues. What are your thoughts on a far more minor acquisition like Hartenstein or WCS?

I believe his durability concerns and defensive ineptness are built into that price tag. Frankly, he has a premium skill (shooting) with size and that usually doesn't come cheap. It would also give Minnesota another contract more than the mid-level but less than a max contract that could be used later to match salaries for a player that fits better. Right now the Wolves need to upgrade the talent level where they can and adjust for fit later, presumably after a winning season.

I prefer Jarred Vanderbilt to either Isaiah Hartenstein or Willie Cauley-Stein if the money is in the same range.

lipoli390 wrote:

Camden wrote:My preference would be to acquire Lauri Markkanen (four-years, $60-million with a team option in the final year) in a sign-and-trade for Juan Hernangomez, Jarrett Culver, and a 2022 first-round pick (top-20 protected, converts to two second-round picks if not conveyed). If the Wolves could turn two non-contributors into a 24-year old starting caliber player on a similar deal to Malik Beasley's I think that would be a win despite the imperfect fit.

Good analysis, Cam. But I still have a hard time getting comfortable with locking him in for 3 years at that amount given his poor defense and durability issues. What are your thoughts on a far more minor acquisition like Hartenstein or WCS?

I thought Cauley-Stein was back in Dallas?

https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2021/8/1/22605023/dallas-mavericks-pick-up-option-keep-willie-cauley-stein

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

Camden wrote:My preference would be to acquire Lauri Markkanen (four-years, $60-million with a team option in the final year) in a sign-and-trade for Juan Hernangomez, Jarrett Culver, and a 2022 first-round pick (top-20 protected, converts to two second-round picks if not conveyed). If the Wolves could turn two non-contributors into a 24-year old starting caliber player on a similar deal to Malik Beasley's I think that would be a win despite the imperfect fit.

Good analysis, Cam. But I still have a hard time getting comfortable with locking him in for 3 years at that amount given his poor defense and durability issues. What are your thoughts on a far more minor acquisition like Hartenstein or WCS?

I thought Cauley-Stein was back in Dallas?

https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2021/8/1/22605023/dallas-mavericks-pick-up-option-keep-willie-cauley-stein

Mavs have like 35 PF/center types as they added Moses brown via trade and brought back Boban. It seems possible they move someone.

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

Camden wrote:My preference would be to acquire Lauri Markkanen (four-years, $60-million with a team option in the final year) in a sign-and-trade for Juan Hernangomez, Jarrett Culver, and a 2022 first-round pick (top-20 protected, converts to two second-round picks if not conveyed). If the Wolves could turn two non-contributors into a 24-year old starting caliber player on a similar deal to Malik Beasley's I think that would be a win despite the imperfect fit.

Good analysis, Cam. But I still have a hard time getting comfortable with locking him in for 3 years at that amount given his poor defense and durability issues. What are your thoughts on a far more minor acquisition like Hartenstein or WCS?

I thought Cauley-Stein was back in Dallas?

https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2021/8/1/22605023/dallas-mavericks-pick-up-option-keep-willie-cauley-stein

Mavs have like 35 PF/center types as they added Moses brown via trade and brought back Boban. It seems possible they move someone.

Yep. I like Powell, Kleber and WCS as possible Wolves acquisitions. WCS is the cheapest of the three.

I think Kyle Kuzma is also still a very real option, though he's definitely not the top available four at this time. I don't think Washington would mind swapping his multi-year deal for an expiring Taurean Prince, or hopefully the combination of smaller expiring contracts in Juan Hernangomez and Jarrett Culver.