Are the Wolves Done Dealing?

[Lipoli390]

After trading #17 and Johnson for Rubio and picks, then traded up to get Balmaro before using their final pick to take the mercurial McDaniels. The question is whether the Wolves are done dealing.

Right now the Wolves have 8 guards locked in, not counting Beasley of JMac. And the Wolves front office has expressed its desire to re-sign JMac and Beasley. Not including those two, here's the list of guards either currently on the roster or drafted today:

1. Russell
2. Okogie
3. Culver
4. Rubio
5. Edwards
6. Nowell
7. Balmaro
8. Evans

I guess you can argue that Culver, Okogie can play the SF position in what many call a position less game. I guess. But to this current roster situation is not sustainable - except perhaps in the mind of Gersson Rosas, although even he can't be quite that misguided, can he? Who besides Towns will rebound? Who will defend the paint? Who will protect the rim? Who other than Naz will back up Towns?

Something has to give, which leads me to believe there has to be another deal in the works. There has to be. The current roster situation makes no sense.

Who here thinks the Wolves are planning another deal or two that will further reshape and better balance our roster? I suspect that Okogie or Culver will be traded soon. I suspect that Balmaro will stay in Europe for another year. Porkchop jokingly suggested a trade with Atlanta for Capella. He might be on to something. Interestingly, Atlanta is overweight in the front court with Capella, Collins, Dewayne Dedmon, Hunter and now Okongwu. That's five guys for two positions. It doesn't seem sustainable. I suppose they might look at it differently, envisioning Okongwu coming along slowly in a limited back-up role this next season. But it would make a lot of sense for the Hawks to trade one of those five bigs and the Wolves seem like a good candidate to swap one of those bigs to the Wolves for one or two of the Wolves' guards.

I don't see Capella as a viable option because, with Johnson already traded for Ricky, it will be hard for the Wolves to match salaries. That leaves Okongwu and Collins as possibilities. Or maybe Hunter. I can't imagine the Wolves would be interested in Dedmon. But then again, if a deal for one of those bigs is possible, then why didn't it happen tonight? I'll go out on a limb and predict a Culver for Collins deal happening sometime soon. Stay tuned.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

That would be a funky pairing of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, and not in a good way. I don't see John Collins being traded, especially for Jarrett Culver. It'd make a ton of sense for Minnesota, but I'm not even sure they'd go for it. Gersson Rosas doesn't operate logically.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

There are absolutely more deals to be made. I just don't see the pieces on our end to land the pieces we need to bring this team together this year. Unless Rosas can land a blockbuster trade with Edwards, we are looking at Culver and Okogie as the main trade pieces and they make very little to acquire quality pieces that fit back for them. That means more picks going out the door if we want quality back which is not something we should be doing when we are still a bad team team with the light at the end of the tunnel not officially found yet. The one thing I'll give Rosas credit for is he has been able to find furniture moving deals in the past so I have next to no doubt he will make more moves this offseason. I just don't know how impactful they'll end up being if Ricky/Russell/Edwards/Towns aren't on the table.

[mrhockey89]

Lip,

I agree with you that I believe a trade is upcoming involving one of our wings (likely Culver, potentially Okogie, and/or a potential S&T with Beasley) to help balance the roster.

On Bolmaro. I've already read that he's locked in for another year in Barca. It sounds like that was actually what helped lock him in as a late 1st, and the expectation is that when he comes over, he'll be more polished.

I also agree with you and khans in your concerns about the lack of a balanced roster. I have to imagine that our head coach and entire front office are aware of this too. I'm assuming JJ was traded in the Rubio deal. I'm not sure what our cap situation looks like, but perhaps we can get someone at the MLE or trade.

At this point in time, the Wolves roster is a collection of assets. It's Rosas job to continue to mold it into his vision. He has tradeable assets still, and players will be available that can help.

[Lipoli390]

That would be a funky pairing of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, and not in a good way. I don't see John Collins being traded, especially for Jarrett Culver. It'd make a ton of sense for Minnesota, but I'm not even sure they'd go for it. Gersson Rosas doesn't operate logically.

I agree that it's hard to find logic in what Gersson does. But I can see Atlanta having a strong interest in acquiring Culver. He'd fit well next to Trae Young as a defensive SG with good size. I actually like Culver's and still see potential offensive upside in his future. Moreover, Culver is locked into a team-friendly rookie deal for several more years while Collins is entering the last year of his rookie deal after which he'll command a huge pay hike. So I'm not sure I'd want to swap Culver straight up for Collins even though, as you know, I love Collins and was livid when Thibs selected Patton over him. I think Capella would be a terrific fit for the Wolves, but I'm not sure how we'd match salaries with Johnson going in exchange for Rubio. Maybe Culver for Hunter. I'm not a big Hunter fan, but that's a deal that could make sense for both teams.

Again, if there were a possible deal with Atlanta I don't understand why it hasn't already happened. Of course, like you, I generally have a hard time understanding how Rosas thinks.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

That would be a funky pairing of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, and not in a good way. I don't see John Collins being traded, especially for Jarrett Culver. It'd make a ton of sense for Minnesota, but I'm not even sure they'd go for it. Gersson Rosas doesn't operate logically.

I agree that it's hard to find logic in what Gersson does. But I can see Atlanta having a strong interest in acquiring Culver. He'd fit well next to Trae Young as a defensive SG with good size. I actually like Culver's and still see potential offensive upside in his future. Moreover, Culver is locked into a team-friendly rookie deal for several more years while Collins is entering the last year of his rookie deal after which he'll command a huge pay hike. So I'm not sure I'd want to swap Culver straight up for Collins even though, as you know, I love Collins and was livid when Thibs selected Patton over him. I think Capella would be a terrific fit for the Wolves, but I'm not sure how we'd match salaries with Johnson going in exchange for Rubio. Maybe Culver for Hunter. I'm not a big Hunter fan, but that's a deal that could make sense for both teams.

Again, if there were a possible deal with Atlanta I don't understand why it hasn't already happened. Of course, like you, I generally have a hard time understanding how Rosas thinks.

Culver for Hunter could be interesting considering they both had disappointing rookie seasons and they both fill needs on the other team's roster. That's the kind of deal I could see happening for an Okogie or Culver to help re-balance the roster. Hunter is far from a sure thing but he is a better fit than Culver.

[worldK]

No way we are done dealing. We have too many guards.

Is rubio for sure going to be kept around? He is probably our best trade chip now.

[TheFuture]

That would be a funky pairing of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, and not in a good way. I don't see John Collins being traded, especially for Jarrett Culver. It'd make a ton of sense for Minnesota, but I'm not even sure they'd go for it. Gersson Rosas doesn't operate logically.

I agree that it's hard to find logic in what Gersson does. But I can see Atlanta having a strong interest in acquiring Culver. He'd fit well next to Trae Young as a defensive SG with good size. I actually like Culver's and still see potential offensive upside in his future. Moreover, Culver is locked into a team-friendly rookie deal for several more years while Collins is entering the last year of his rookie deal after which he'll command a huge pay hike. So I'm not sure I'd want to swap Culver straight up for Collins even though, as you know, I love Collins and was livid when Thibs selected Patton over him. I think Capella would be a terrific fit for the Wolves, but I'm not sure how we'd match salaries with Johnson going in exchange for Rubio. Maybe Culver for Hunter. I'm not a big Hunter fan, but that's a deal that could make sense for both teams.

Again, if there were a possible deal with Atlanta I don't understand why it hasn't already happened. Of course, like you, I generally have a hard time understanding how Rosas thinks.

I would wager that any deal involving Atlanta has Edwards heading out. I wouldn't mind. This is the least I have cared for a Wolves draft ever. Yes, including Khan.

[Monster]

Take out Balmaro as it sounds like he will be overseas for another year and take out Evans as he doesn't figure into any future plans.


Atlanta has Bruno Fernando too hey have a lot of guys that are actual bigs. Okongwu was an interesting choice at 6. I don't really see a fit between the Wolves and the Hawks though but I guess you never know what could happen. I'm less worried about the glut of guards though. Some of these things work their way out. It will be interesting to see how the Beasley situation goes.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

No way we are done dealing. We have too many guards.

Is rubio for sure going to be kept around? He is probably our best trade chip now.

Actually, KAT and DLO are our best trade chips. But if you exclude those two, then I'd argue Anthony Edwards is our best trade chip. After that, it gets fuzzy. But like a new car, I can almost guarantee that Edwards' value starts going down once we pull out of the lot and he starts playing real games. Until then, he is our most valuable trade chip. His theoretical value is much better than his actual value IMO.