Minnesota Sports Forum

The Wolves have indicated that they're open to trading up or down in the first round. They could also trade pair their #11 pick with a player to get a player in return. What are some realistic draft-day trades the Wolves should pursue?

I'll start by offering one potential trade that I would at least consider if I were Rosas: Covington for the Lakers' #4 pick. There can be no doubt that LeBron is pressuring the Lakers to make win-now deals. Keeping the 4th pick doesn't align with the imperative to win now with LeBron. So I'm convinced the Lakers will trade the pick. I would expect them to offer that pick with other assets for Anthony Davis. But AD might decide he wants to stay with the Pelicans, in which case he won't be traded. And there will be other suitors like the Celtics seeking to deal for AD. The Celtics have more attractive assets and I'm sure the Pelicans will be more inclined to trade AD out of the Western Conference. If the Lakers don't deal the #4 pick for AD, then I think Covington could be a reasonable trade chip for that pick. They could trade the pick for Covington and still have enough cap room to sign an elite free agent like Kawhi or Kyrie. Covington is just the type of player LeBron would want on the roster - a great defender who hits threes and doesn't need to dominate the ball.

So why should the Wolves consider doing this deal? Because the Wolves need to find another all star caliber player to pair with KAT and it's unlikely the Wolves will get that sort of talent at #11. In my view, the deal makes sense for the Wolves if you believe Garland is going to be a Damion Lillard caliber PG in the NBA. I suspect he will be, but there's not a lot to go on. If I'm right about Garland, then the Wolves should definitely pursue a Covington/#4 swap. For the Wolves it would be a 1-step back/2-steps forward type deal. I would not include our #11 pick in that deal. Again, I think it's important for the Wolves to add young talent and maximize their chances of landing a future all star or borderline all star. So the more picks the better from that standpoint.

Short of a Covington for #4 deal with the Lakers, I think the Wolves should seek to trade down -- trading their #11 pick to Boston or the Nets for their two lower first round picks. I just don't see much difference between the talent likely to be available at #11 and the talent that will be available at 20 or even 25.

The #4 could land a better player than Covington.
Even though like others... I dig Covington.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:The #4 could land a better player than Covington.
Even though like others... I dig Covington.

Yes, the #4 pick might yield a better player than Covington. But I question whether that pick could yield a better fit for the Lakers. The best fit for LeBron in a win-now scenario is a player already in his prime who excels at 3-point shooting and defense and whose salary leaves room to sign an elite free agent. Covington checks all those boxes. Still, I understand the Lakers will have other attractive options for that #4 pick. But I'd still consider the Covington for #4 deal at least marginally realistic and definitely worth exploring.

#4 for Covington is something I would consider. The problem for me is I don't think the Lakers are going to have the information they need (who they can get or not get via trade) by the draft to do that deal. It certainly looks like a franchise I would be talking to because they are ripe for fleecing. I can't believe I just said that.

lipoli390 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:The #4 could land a better player than Covington.
Even though like others... I dig Covington.

Yes, the #4 pick might yield a better player than Covington. But I question whether that pick could yield a better fit for the Lakers. The best fit for LeBron in a win-now scenario is a player already in his prime who excels at 3-point shooting and defense and whose salary leaves room to sign an elite free agent. Covington checks all those boxes. Still, I understand the Lakers will have other attractive options for that #4 pick. But I'd still consider the Covington for #4 deal at least marginally realistic and definitely worth exploring.

You're not giving me enough of a reason to think the Lakers (or any team) would undervalue their own assets unnecessarily.

After all, it's not like the ONLY way to get Covington is by giving up the #4 pick.

Can't link the tweet as I'm at work but Bleacher report says we're one of the teams going after Deangelo Russell

Shams is also reporting that wolves are going to go after russell

kekgeek1 wrote:Shams is also reporting that wolves are going to go after russell

That's great news. Him and KAT are close too. That was one guy I was hoping the wolves were going to trade for before Brooklyn got him.

thedoper wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:Shams is also reporting that wolves are going to go after russell

That's great news. Him and KAT are close too. That was one guy I was hoping the wolves were going to trade for before Brooklyn got him.

Cue up that tweet from a few months ago comparing Russell And Harden's stays at the same age...

Ok back to reality I wonder what the Wolves have in the think tank to get space/or assets to make a run at Russell legitimate. We aren't getting him for the mid-level. Lol

thedoper wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:Shams is also reporting that wolves are going to go after russell

That's great news. Him and KAT are close too. That was one guy I was hoping the wolves were going to trade for before Brooklyn got him.

Love the idea....don't realistically know that we have pieces to get him. #11 doesn't come close. Adding Okogie.....I know many on here like his upside, but man, he was statistically HORRIBLE last season. A team would really have to believe that he improves drastically in every facet of his game. And how does that work when Russell is up for huge extension this off-season? Can they even do a sign & trade?