Minnesota Sports Forum

I found this article interesting. I think trading Gorgui should be something Tibs needs to consider to improve the wing depth and 3 point shooting. I liked the Denver deal. The other didn't seem very realistic after that.

http://dunkingwithwolves.com/2017/07/17/5-trade-ideas-for-gorgui-dieng/

I would have loved the Eric Gordon trade before the Crawford signing. They are redundant now. I'd probably still do it and flip Crawford at the deadline if I could because Gordon is a significant upgrade as a sixth man and his prime matches up with Jimmy's.

I noticed that a couple of the suggested trades included the Wolves 2018 2nd round pick. Last I looked, the Wolves don't have their own 2nd round pick next year. One deal has us getting Matthews in return. I wouldn't touch that deal with a 20 foot pole. I think Matthews' career is essentially over. The only deal I'd have any interest in is the deal for Eric Gordon. But I'm not sure I'd even do that deal. Gorgui was our best defender last year. With Rubio gone, he's the only returning roster player who would step in and take charges. And he always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

Truth is, Thibs wouldn't do any of these deals. He started last season high on Gorgui, referring to all the positive things he does that don't show up in the box score. And at the end of the season, Thibs praised Gorgui as the team's most improved player over the course of the season. The guy he loved at the outset and who improved the most is not a guy Thibs will move. Nor should he. I'm surprised to see interest among some Wolves fans in trading Gorgui or posts that refer to Gorgui as a weak link on the team or someone who should be coming off the bench. Some of those folks are the same ones who see Thibs as a basketball genius, yet Thibs loves the way Gorgui plays.

Gorgui's not getting traded this summer or next February and I'm happy about that.

None of these deals are remotely realistic. I'm glad I just scrolled through to see the basic parameters of them and moved on. I read a USA Today article about the Cavs and Lebron and the article called Cedi Osman a "big man" which is pretty hilarious.

Well based on that logic Lip Rubio wouldn't of been dealt either. I'm not saying he is going to be dealt, I think it's unlikely but it's so Minnesotan that a player of Gorgui's quality is considered untradable by most on the board.

A decent player (who might not even be starter quality) on a slightly higher than it should be contract...

Seems like a guy who might not be here until the end of it.

I don't think that means it's imminent by any means though.



[Note: One thing about the Wolves 4 spot... Gibson isn't a minutes eater. He's played about 25 mpg.]

Duke13 wrote:Well based on that logic Lip Rubio wouldn't of been dealt either. I'm not saying he is going to be dealt, I think it's unlikely but it's so Minnesotan that a player of Gorgui's quality is considered untradable by most on the board.

My logic goes like this: (1) Thibs loved Gorgui coming out of college and wanted to draft him to the point where he was pissed at management for drafting Tony Snell instead. (2) Thibs repeatedly and gratuitously praised Gorgui in public from the beginning of his first season coaching him. (3) Thibs gave him a lucrative early contract extension. (4) Thibs called Gorgui the most improved player on the roster after the season. (5) Gorgui was statistically our best defender last season and we all know Thibs puts a premium on defense. (6) There hasn't been a single rumor of any trade talks involving Gorgui. Therefore, it's highly unlikely Thibs will trade Gorgui this summer or by next February's trade deadline.

In contrast, Thibs was notoriously silent about Ricky and certainly didn't praise him until late in the season when Thibs referred several time to "how hard he worked." Faint praise indeed. Otherwise, none of the other premises in my logic apply to Ricky. Seriously, as we all know, the word in NBA circles was that Thibs had Ricky on the block almost from the moment Thibs arrived. There's no connection between the logic of predicting Thibs won't trade Gorgui before or during this season and Ricky Rubio's situation.

Gorgui's not "untradeable." I think there are now two players on our roster who fall into that category -- KAT and Butler. I could see Thibs trading Gorgui at some point after this next season if things aren't going well or a great trade opportunity presents itself. Heck he may even trade Wiggins. But I have no doubt that, after evaluating the roster he inherited for a full season, he now has the core guys he wants for this upcoming season -- KAT, Wiggins, Gorgui, Belly, Butler, Taj and Crawford.

lipoli390 wrote:

Duke13 wrote:Well based on that logic Lip Rubio wouldn't of been dealt either. I'm not saying he is going to be dealt, I think it's unlikely but it's so Minnesotan that a player of Gorgui's quality is considered untradable by most on the board.

My logic goes like this: (1) Thibs loved Gorgui coming out of college and wanted to draft him to the point where he was pissed at management for drafting Tony Snell instead. (2) Thibs repeatedly and gratuitously praised Gorgui in public from the beginning of his first season coaching him. (3) Thibs gave him a lucrative early contract extension. (4) Thibs called Thibs the most improved player on the roster after the season. (5) Gorgui was statistically our best defender last season and we all know Thibs puts a premium on defense. (6) There hasn't been a single rumor of any trade talks involving Gorgui. Therefore, it's highly unlikely Thibs will trade Gorgui this summer or by next February's trade deadline.

In contrast, Thibs was notoriously silent about Ricky and certainly didn't praise him until late in the season when Thibs referred several time to "how hard he worked." Faint praise indeed. Otherwise, none of the other premises in my logic apply to Ricky. Seriously, as we all know, the word in NBA circles was that Thibs had Ricky on the block almost from the moment Thibs arrived.

Gorgui's not "untraceable." I think there are now two players on our roster who fall into that category -- KAT and Butler. I could see Thibs trading Gorgui at some point after this next season if things aren't going well or a great trade opportunity presents itself. Heck he may even trade Wiggins. But I have no doubt that, after evaluating the roster he inherited for a full season, he now has the core guys he wants for this upcoming season -- KAT, Wiggins, Gorgui, Belly, Butler, Taj and Crawford.

Sometimes autocorrect is awesome. =)

monsterpile wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

Duke13 wrote:Well based on that logic Lip Rubio wouldn't of been dealt either. I'm not saying he is going to be dealt, I think it's unlikely but it's so Minnesotan that a player of Gorgui's quality is considered untradable by most on the board.

My logic goes like this: (1) Thibs loved Gorgui coming out of college and wanted to draft him to the point where he was pissed at management for drafting Tony Snell instead. (2) Thibs repeatedly and gratuitously praised Gorgui in public from the beginning of his first season coaching him. (3) Thibs gave him a lucrative early contract extension. (4) Thibs called Thibs the most improved player on the roster after the season. (5) Gorgui was statistically our best defender last season and we all know Thibs puts a premium on defense. (6) There hasn't been a single rumor of any trade talks involving Gorgui. Therefore, it's highly unlikely Thibs will trade Gorgui this summer or by next February's trade deadline.

In contrast, Thibs was notoriously silent about Ricky and certainly didn't praise him until late in the season when Thibs referred several time to "how hard he worked." Faint praise indeed. Otherwise, none of the other premises in my logic apply to Ricky. Seriously, as we all know, the word in NBA circles was that Thibs had Ricky on the block almost from the moment Thibs arrived.

Gorgui's not "untraceable." I think there are now two players on our roster who fall into that category -- KAT and Butler. I could see Thibs trading Gorgui at some point after this next season if things aren't going well or a great trade opportunity presents itself. Heck he may even trade Wiggins. But I have no doubt that, after evaluating the roster he inherited for a full season, he now has the core guys he wants for this upcoming season -- KAT, Wiggins, Gorgui, Belly, Butler, Taj and Crawford.

Sometimes autocorrect is awesome. =)

Lol. Well, he's both tradeable and traceable. :)

I think we have a pretty solid front court rotation with Towns, Dieng, Gibson and Belly with Aldrich and Patton as injury cover. I'm fine going forward with this group for the next couple of season. A nice combination of youth and experience, offense and defense, inside and outside scoring, toughness and finesse.

I'm not a fan of any of those trade ideas. Maybe the Eric Gordon one before we signed Jamal Crawford but even then think Dieng is a better fit.