Minnesota Sports Forum

Apparently the Wolves and Warriors have reopened trade talks involving Love, but no word on whether Golden State is now willing to include Klay Thompson. At the same time, apparently Steve Kerr just called Thompson and told him how excited he is at the prospect of coaching him. One thing for sure is that Golden State will NOT get Love without giving up Thompson. If there's a compromise it would probably be Flip backing off his demand that the Warriors take Martin as part of the deal. Stay tuned.

So, what your saying is that we're in the same spot we were a month ago?

Volans19 wrote:So, what your saying is that we're in the same spot we were a month ago?

Yes, I sorry to say.

I'm thinking the Parsons/Haywood contracts are having the Warriors thinking twice about the costs of keeping Klay around. I'm guessing they were thinking $10-12 million/year before free agency started, but now that it has likely gone up to $15-17 million/year range, they may be hedging on whether they really want to pay him that much. Or perhaps they just want to beat the Cavs to a deal. Either way, it's good news for the Wolves.

MikeAz wrote:I'm thinking the Parsons/Haywood contracts are having the Warriors thinking twice about the costs of keeping Klay around. I'm guessing they were thinking $10-12 million/year before free agency started, but now that it has likely gone up to $15-17 million/year range, they may be hedging on whether they really want to pay him that much. Or perhaps they just want to beat the Cavs to a deal. Either way, it's good news for the Wolves.

See, this is precisely why I'm not interested in a GS deal regardless of Klay's inclusion. Does anyone actually think Klay is a freaking franchise player?! He absolutely will not stay here for anything less than the full five-year max, and he's nowhere near worthy that sort of payday. I'd much, much rather have draft picks and/or rookies who are locked in for a number of years at reasonable or even below-market salaries. Plus then we have a chance to actually give them a positive experience in Minnesota, which might influence their future decision-making regarding second and third contracts.

I mean think about it. What are the chances you can keep a guy in Minnesota after he played his rookie contract out in California? The guys who stay in smaller/colder markets do so because those were their first stops. They developed ties and connections to those areas. Guns-for-hire and unwilling trade victims don't put down roots and hang around.

Volans19 wrote:So, what your saying is that we're in the same spot we were a month ago?

Eh, I think just hearing the fact they are talking again helps. Now we just need to hear about the Celtics and any other potential suitors. The more buzz & interest the better.

TheGrey08 wrote:

Volans19 wrote:So, what your saying is that we're in the same spot we were a month ago?

Eh, I think just hearing the fact they are talking again helps. Now we just need to hear about the Celtics and any other potential suitors. The more buzz & interest the better.

Exactly! Besides, the fact that they're in the same position today as a month ago is pretty meaningless unless they find themselves in the same position when camp starts!

Horatio -- I agree with you. I was initially interested in the reported deal for Klay Thompson, Barnes and Lee, provided that the Warriors would take Martin's contract off our hands. But I'm leaning with you towards favoring a more pick-centric deal that gets us multiple first round picks or young talent in their first or second years. I like Klay, but we'd only have him under contract for one season after which we'd be vulnerable to a max contract demand that someone around the League would likely be willing to offer. . Some teams have attributes that can entice players to sign for slightly less than market value, but the Wolves are not one of those tames.

I've beginning to think that the Klay Thompson deal is not a risk this organization can afford to take. Flip and Love's agent need to work together to pry Wiggins loose from the Cavs and land the Wolves a package including Wiggins, Waiters, and either Tristan Thompson or Andrew Bennett. If Bennett, Flip should insist on the Miami pick that Cleveland controls. Ultimately, I'd be willing to take the deal without the pick if necessary. If the Cavs refuse to budge on Wiggins, then I would suggest seeking one of the following deals:

1. SUNS --

a. Love, G. Robinson and Shved or Shabazz for Dragic, Gerald Green, one of the Morris twins and the Laker 2015 1st round pick currently controlled by the Suns, or

b. Love for Dragic, Morris, Laker 2015 1st rounder, Suns own 2015 1st rounder, return of Wolves 1st round pick.

2, CELTICS --

Love and Robinson for Smart, Olynyk, Jeff Green, Boston's 2015 1st round pick and the Nets 2016 1st round pick controlled by the Celtics.




3.

Horatio---See, this is precisely why I'm not interested in a GS deal regardless of Klay's inclusion. Does anyone actually think Klay is a freaking franchise player?! He absolutely will not stay here for anything less than the full five-year max, and he's nowhere near worthy that sort of payday. I'd much, much rather have draft picks and/or rookies who are locked in for a number of years at reasonable or even below-market salaries. Plus then we have a chance to actually give them a positive experience in Minnesota, which might influence their future decision-making regarding second and third contracts.


Words of wisdom. I still say work Boston for picks and players. Klay is fine, but he will not be worth what it costs us to keep him.

It's interesting. This report comes out that the Warriors and Wolves are talking again. At the very same time, we see the report that the Warriors are still refusing to put Klay Thompson on the table. Hmm. Warrior propaganda fed through the media? It's this simple: Flip would NOT be engaged in talks again with the Warriors if Klay were still "off the table." There is absolutely no scenario under which Flip would bother talking with the Warriors unless they have indicated that they're willing to put Klay on the table as part of the return package for Love. So if the report that talks have reopened is true, then it's just a matter of negotiating peripheral terms such as who else will be included in the return package and whether the Warriors will take Martin in return and, if not, whether they might take Luc or some other Wolves player instead.

So here's my prediction. If it's true the two teams are talking again (meaning Klay is back on the table), then one of two things will happen in the next week: either (1) the Wolves will do a deal with the Warriors for a package including Klay Thompson; or (2) the Wolves will end up doing a deal with the Cavs for a package including Wiggins.