Power Forward/Center Trade Targets

[Lipoli390]

What are your thoughts on the following three potential trade targets for the Wolves?

1. Larry Nance Jr.
2. Taurean Prince
3. Marvin Bagley Jr.

These three were mentioned in three separate trade hypotheticals in a blog recently. Culver is part of all three trades. Would any of these three materially help the Wolves and if more than one would help, how would you rank them? Finally, would you be willing to give up Culver for any or all of them?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I actually read the article you're referring to this morning as it was suggested to me by Google Chrome, and I had no real interest in any of the three deals mentioned, however, I do have some level of interest in each player that would have been returning to Minnesota.

The main reason why I wouldn't do any of the deals that article proposed is because I feel as though it's selling Jarrett Culver lower than appropriate value. I still see significant growth for him this season and believe he can be an x-factor for this team moving forward.

With all of that said, the player I would have the most interest in is Larry Nance Jr. He's proven to be a good rebounder and defender in the frontcourt with an intriguing offensive game that features an improving outside shot and an underrated ability to set up teammates. He's also an above average athlete with a constant motor. That's a player that addresses some of this team's more glaring weaknesses. He's 28 as of today so this is a guy that's still in the middle of his prime and locked into a very affordable $20.2M over the next two seasons.

Cleveland is right to want something of value for him, but how many teams are searching for a starting-level forward that isn't quite a star player? I guess that depends. Contending teams could show interest with the idea of using him how the Clippers used Montrezl Harrell in the past. Meanwhile, the Wolves should want to give him 30 minutes a game and the starting job. I still don't think I'd trade Culver, but I would entertain plenty of different offers for him. One that makes sense to me is Ed David, Jake Layman, and Jaden McDaniels for Nance Jr.

[KG4Ever]

I wouldn't trade Culver for any of those three. Culver is younger on a rookie deal and has a higher ceiling than any of them. Of course, Culver has a lower floor than Nance, but Wolves need to gamble that they can develop young two way players over taking a solid player like Nance, who is a nice complimentary piece but I don't see him as being a potential franchise cornerstone.

[KG4Ever]

I actually read the article you're referring to this morning as it was suggested to me by Google Chrome, and I had no real interest in any of the three deals mentioned, however, I do have some level of interest in each player that would have been returning to Minnesota.

The main reason why I wouldn't do any of the deals that article proposed is because I feel as though it's selling Jarrett Culver lower than appropriate value. I still see significant growth for him this season and believe he can be an x-factor for this team moving forward.

With all of that said, the player I would have the most interest in is Larry Nance Jr. He's proven to be a good rebounder and defender in the frontcourt with an intriguing offensive game that features an improving outside shot and an underrated ability to set up teammates. He's also an above average athlete with a constant motor. That's a player that addresses some of this team's more glaring weaknesses. He's 28 as of today so this is a guy that's still in the middle of his prime and locked into a very affordable $20.2M over the next two seasons.

Cleveland is right to want something of value for him, but how many teams are searching for a starting-level forward that isn't quite a star player? I guess that depends. Contending teams could show interest with the idea of using him how the Clippers used Montrezl Harrell in the past. Meanwhile, the Wolves should want to give him 30 minutes a game and the starting job. I still don't think I'd trade Culver, but I would entertain plenty of different offers for him. One that makes sense to me is Ed David, Jake Layman, and Jaden McDaniels for Nance Jr.

Cleveland hangs up on the Wolves if they offer those pieces. Davis has no trade value (remember Utah gave up two second rounders to move him), Layman has no trade value and McDaniels is intriguing but he is a developmental prospect who was taken late in the first round and his value is far less than an established player like Nance.

[Lipoli390]

Cam - I generally agree with your take that including Culver in deals for Nance or Prince would under-value Culver at this point. However, I wouldn't mind including him in a deal for Bagley.

The analysis changes for me if Culver's 0-10 performance against the Clippers is a sign that he's always going to be a problematic shooter. He still does other things well and is one of the few guys on our team who plays the right way. But given our wing glut, the Wolves should move him if he can't be counted on to become a good shooter. Whether that happens is still a guessing game.

Nance and Bagley would be true bigs who could slot in at the PF or even the center position. While neither of those two is a particularly good defender or rim protector, either one would be a big step up from Juancho and Layman. Prince strikes me as a SF and, in that sense, we'd just be adding another wing to our roster. But Prince is a pretty good perimeter shooter and would provide a more reliable scoring option at the SF spot. Unfortunately, we'd still have a glut of wings. So if I were Rosas, I'd definitely explore trades for Nance and Bagley.

[kekgeek]

No thank you on Prince or Bagley. I don't think Prince moves the needle at all and I think Bagley is a really bad defender. With the wolves having a lot of those types of players already I don't want to add a terrible defending injury prone PF who might not be that good anyways.

Now to Nance, I really like him and think he would be a great fit for the Wolves. He fits into my Aaron Gordon mold of PF that I think we should be putting next to Kat. Now my question would be how long is Kat going to be out. I say this because if Kat is going to miss a couple of months no reason to trade for Nance when he won't be the difference between making the playoffs or not. If Kat is back in a week or 2 I would strongly consider trading Culver for him. I think the Wolves need to start playing winning basketball and not hoping players can figure out there faults like Culver. Wolves have 2 max players on the roster, another #1 overall pick, guys making 17 and 15 million dollars Wolves need to start winning games. Wolves also have young guys in Jmac, Reid, Mcdaniels, Nowell that can be our upside players still. Nance helps the wolves win games now and the Wolves need to start winning games during the Kat era or he is going to want out. Now another upside to trading for Nance you get another 10 million dollar expiring next year. So Rubio, Nance, Hernangomez will equal to a 34 million dollar expiring putting every player in the NBA available to the Wolves via trade if the Wolves decided they want to go all in on the Kat era.

[kekgeek]

I actually read the article you're referring to this morning as it was suggested to me by Google Chrome, and I had no real interest in any of the three deals mentioned, however, I do have some level of interest in each player that would have been returning to Minnesota.

The main reason why I wouldn't do any of the deals that article proposed is because I feel as though it's selling Jarrett Culver lower than appropriate value. I still see significant growth for him this season and believe he can be an x-factor for this team moving forward.

With all of that said, the player I would have the most interest in is Larry Nance Jr. He's proven to be a good rebounder and defender in the frontcourt with an intriguing offensive game that features an improving outside shot and an underrated ability to set up teammates. He's also an above average athlete with a constant motor. That's a player that addresses some of this team's more glaring weaknesses. He's 28 as of today so this is a guy that's still in the middle of his prime and locked into a very affordable $20.2M over the next two seasons.

Cleveland is right to want something of value for him, but how many teams are searching for a starting-level forward that isn't quite a star player? I guess that depends. Contending teams could show interest with the idea of using him how the Clippers used Montrezl Harrell in the past. Meanwhile, the Wolves should want to give him 30 minutes a game and the starting job. I still don't think I'd trade Culver, but I would entertain plenty of different offers for him. One that makes sense to me is Ed David, Jake Layman, and Jaden McDaniels for Nance Jr.

Cleveland hangs up on the Wolves if they offer those pieces. Davis has no trade value (remember Utah gave up two second rounders to move him), Layman has no trade value and McDaniels is intriguing but he is a developmental prospect who was taken late in the first round and his value is far less than an established player like Nance.

I think in general you are right here with the Cavs hanging up the phone but I will say what is the value for Nance in a trade if the Cavs wanted to trade him. Probably a late 1st round pick. McDaniels is a late 1st round pick with upside, so it all comes down to how the Cavs valued McDaniels, what we do not know. Wolves also have the rights to Balmero what I think is somewhat important when it comes to trades.

[thedoper]

Id trade Culver for Bagley. I think its a fair deal even though Bagley had a tough injury.

[KiwiMatt]

I still love the Brandon Clarke fit. However not sure I'd give up Culver to acquire him. Maybe Okogie and future 2nd/s.

I'd also love to see Belly back with the Wolves. Maybe Layman and Nowell would work?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Nance Jr. hands-down for me. I think he's a better fit than Gordon honestly. But is there a realistic path to get him? Why wouldn't Cleveland want to keep him? He's playing significant minutes there and seems like the type of player a ton of teams would love to have at that contract value.

If I were Cleveland, I would not take Culver for Nance Jr. unless I'm convinced he can hit open 3s. Now if Culver starts hitting 3s consistently, that's a different story. But then I doubt we would want to trade him. Being a serviceable 3-point shooter can swing a guy's value by ~ $8-10M per year in my opinion if he is already a good defender.