Wolves Next Move

[Lipoli390]

The Wolves have played three good games in a row at home and won two of them. They should win their next game against Memphis and they can definitely win the following game on the road against the Pelicans. Nevertheless, the Wolves' roster is still fundamentally flawed in its lack of size and rebounding.

The Wolves have underachieved to this point in my view for main two reasons -- (1) poor three-point shooting; and (2) poor rebounding. I think the 3-point shooting is bound to come around. Beasley, Russell and Beverley are all substantially underperforming their career averages from behind the arc. That's not going to continue. All three - especially Beasley and DLO - will start hitting their threes and that alone will come pretty close to fixing the three-point shooting problem. I also think that McDaniels will likely improve his three-point stroke as the season wears on. But the rebounding won't improve a lot without a roster move. I've suggested the possibility of swapping Beasley (and perhaps other assets) for a big like Myles Turner, but I'm not longer interested in that sort of move. Our three-point struggles to date this season have underscored the team's need for Beasley as well as Russell to supplement the offensive firepower we get from KAT and Edwards. So adding size to the roster will have to happen through a minor trade. The question is this: who could the Wolves conceivably get to provide the size and rebounding help the Wolves need?

One thought I have is Moses Brown. He's an athletic 7'2", 250 pound center. A year ago he averaged about 9 rebounds in only 22 minutes with the Thunder. This season he's getting almost no playing time with the Mavs. Meanwhile, we have guards and wings who aren't getting much playing time but who might be able to help Dallas off the bench. I'm thinking about Layman and Nowell in particular. Perhaps there's a realistic deal involves swapping Nowell or Layman along with another asset (a future 2nd round pick) for Brown. Thoughts on that deal? Any other bigs we should target for minor deals?

[Porckchop]

Jarett Allen would look really good on this team.

[Jester1534]

I would trade for Ricky Rubio I heard that guy is pretty good.

Then I would get this guy to come out of retirement https://youtu.be/OkzfLc86Lwo

I might be a little drunk

You guys are the worst sponsor for having hope for the wolves

[Porckchop]

I don't believe I can have a positive out look on this team until they string two 40 win seasons together.

[thedoper]

Can we still get Ben simmons for Beasley, Jaden, and a protected first? Hahaha

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

A number of us talked about the Mavs during the offseason having a glut of bigs and they really do. Sure, let's try to target Moses Brown, although I suspect they may want more than what we are willing to offer.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Quality Bigs Available

- Vernon Carey Jr. (Charlotte Hornets)
- Moses Brown (Dallas Mavericks)
- Willie Cauley-Stein (Dallas Mavericks)
- Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers)
- Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)
- Goga Bitadze (Indiana Pacers)
- Brandon Clarke (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Xavier Tillman (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Derrick Favors (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Robin Lopez (Orlando Magic)
- Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic)
- Alex Len (Sacramento Kings)
- Damian Jones (Sacramento Kings)
- Jakob Poeltl (San Antonio Spurs)
- DeMarcus Cousins (Unrestricted Free Agent)
- Harry Giles (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Italics = players that would cost at least one first-round pick to acquire

[Lipoli390]

A number of us talked about the Mavs during the offseason having a glut of bigs and they really do. Sure, let's try to target Moses Brown, although I suspect they may want more than what we are willing to offer.

Moses Brown was an undrafted player who has had one good season last year and is getting essentially no playing time with the Mavs this season. It shouldn't take more than Nowell and maybe a 2nd-round pick to get him.

[FNG]

A number of us talked about the Mavs during the offseason having a glut of bigs and they really do. Sure, let's try to target Moses Brown, although I suspect they may want more than what we are willing to offer.

Moses Brown was an undrafted player who has had one good season last year and is getting essentially no playing time with the Mavs this season. It shouldn't take more than Nowell and maybe a 2nd-round pick to get him.

I think we're vastly underestimating how Dallas values Moses Brown. Yes, he's not getting minutes right now, but he is also already a fan favorite in Dallas and someone they look at as having great potential as a rim protector. A good indicator of how Dallas values him is looking at who they traded 4 months ago to get him...Josh Richardson. It stands to reason that they would only consider someone at Richardson's level or higher if they were going to move Brown, and I think it's safe to say Nowell is not that guy. Richardson is getting 25 MPG for a pretty good Boston team, while Nowell can't break into the rotation for the Wolves. I would guess the price for a guy with Brown's upside who they were willing to part with Richardson to get would be more like Malik Beasley.

And for the record, I would consider that trade.

[Lipoli390]

Quality Bigs Available

- Vernon Carey Jr. (Charlotte Hornets)
- Moses Brown (Dallas Mavericks)
- Willie Cauley-Stein (Dallas Mavericks)
- Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers)
- Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)
- Goga Bitadze (Indiana Pacers)
- Brandon Clarke (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Xavier Tillman (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Derrick Favors (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Robin Lopez (Orlando Magic)
- Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic)
- Alex Len (Sacramento Kings)
- Damian Jones (Sacramento Kings)
- Jakob Poeltl (San Antonio Spurs)
- DeMarcus Cousins (Unrestricted Free Agent)
- Harry Giles (Unrestricted Free Agent)

Italics = players that would cost at least one first-round pick to acquire

That's a good list, Cam. I'll group they guys your listed and share some of my thoughts:

1. The Elite Group (Sabonis, Turner, Poeltl, Carey): These are four guys I covet the most and who would have the biggest positive impact. All four are bona fide starters. Sabonis is a borderline all-star and Turner isn't far behind. Unfortunately, I agree that we'd likely have to give up at least one future 1st round pick for Sabonis, Turner, or Poeltl and I think we'd have to give up a future 1st for Carey as well. Moreover, we'd also have to give up Beasley for any of those four to match salary and value. Given the Wolves' heavy reliance on 3-point shooting and poor 3-point shooting to date, I don't think the Wolves can afford to give up any of their few proven 3-point shooters. So I don't see any of these four as realistic options that I'd consider.

2. Stay-Away Group (WCS, Derrick Favors): I've never been a WCS fan. He has the length the Wolves need, but he plays small. There's a reason he hasn't gotten much playing time over the years. I recall there were questions about his interest in the game coming out of college and I've seen that since he's come to the NBA. He doesn't play big and he doesn't play very hard. I've always liked Favors, but he seems to have lost a couple steps.

3. The Free Agents (Giles, Cousins): You and I have wanted to the Wolves to add one of these guys to the roster since the season started. I continue to want the Wolves to sign one of them. I don't know what we'll get from them, but they're both long and talented. Cousins is also a wide body with a bit of a nasty streak. The best thing about both is that we wouldn't have to give up any assets to get either one. I think it's ridiculous that we haven't one of them to a minimum contract for the rest of this season.

4. The Rest: I'd be interested in any of the remaining players on your list, provided we wouldn't have to give up a future 1st round pick, Beasley, McDaniels, Reid, Vanderbilt, Beverley, DLO or KAT. My top choice would be Moses Brown because of his size, rebounding prowess last season, youth and upside. My second choice would be Robin Lopez because of his size and competitiveness. I think we could put together a salary-match package without giving up any of the Wolves players I listed as off-limits. My third choice would be Alex Len. He would bring the sort of size we need. I'm not sure what it would take to get him, but I think he'd be a good addition. My fourth choice would be Bitadze because of his length and upside, but he seems a bit soft.