Minnesota Sports Forum

The Knicks sent four of their own first-round picks, the Milwaukee Bucks' 2025 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick swap, the Nets' own 2025 second-round pick, and Bojan Bogdanovic to Brooklyn as the package to land Bridges at Madison Square Garden.

Could we have received this package for KAT? Should we have?

Papalrep wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 11:53 am The Knicks sent four of their own first-round picks, the Milwaukee Bucks' 2025 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick swap, the Nets' own 2025 second-round pick, and Bojan Bogdanovic to Brooklyn as the package to land Bridges at Madison Square Garden.

Could we have received this package for KAT? Should we have?

I was wondering the same thing. I think KAT is a better more impactful player than Bridges and I’m a fan of Bridges. On the other hand, KAT’s contract is much larger than Bridges, which subtracts from KAT’s trade value to some extent and makes it more difficult to match salaries. Do I think the Wolves could have gotten a comparable return from the Knicks in exchange for KAT? I do, but it I think it would have been a bit less and I’m not sure how we could have matched salaries.

We should have held onto Shake Milton he was the final touch on that trade. Lol

Papalrep wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 11:53 am The Knicks sent four of their own first-round picks, the Milwaukee Bucks' 2025 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick swap, the Nets' own 2025 second-round pick, and Bojan Bogdanovic to Brooklyn as the package to land Bridges at Madison Square Garden.

Could we have received this package for KAT? Should we have?

I think the Wolves could have traded KAT for Bojan, Julius Randle and a package of picks similar to what the Knicks gave up for Bridges. KAT’s versatile and elite scoring combined with his rebounding and the backcourt talent of Brunson and Hart would have made the Knicks a better team than they’ll be with Randle and Bridges in my view. Brunson is just the type of #1 with whom KAT can flourish as a #2. His age would fit perfectly.

If I were in TC’s shoes I would have made the deal if available even though I’m not a fan of Randle. I still think we would have been a contender next season without KAT. The picks would have replenished our empty draft coffers. We would have shaved $20 million from payroll after next season with Bojan’s contract expiring. That would give us an opportunity to get below the second apron and avoid repeater penalties. Randle’s contract would end and come off the books the following summer or he could be traded for value as an expiring deal before then. Having drafted Rob and TJ, I like the way the Wolves 2.0 is coming together. Moving KAT to the Knicks this summer for a haul similar to the Bridges deal would have really solidified this longer-term version of the Wolves without entirely compromising the team’s ability to compete for a championship next season.

Monster wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 12:09 pm We should have held onto Shake Milton he was the final touch on that trade. Lol

Doc Rivers made good use of Shake, but Finch really struggles to integrate new players (especially in a bench role) ala Shake, Troy Brown and Monte last year and some others in prior years. So Shake is a zero with Finch, but maybe with another head coach and consistent minutes, he'll revert to his Philly form. Shake is a great guy, so I hope it works out for him.

Randle sucks. I want no deal with Randle in it. Bridges is awesome and if we could have got Bridges for KAT, I'd have done it, even with no picks back.

They wanted Bridges, not KAT. Paid the cross-state tax for it. They overpaid.

He's an ironman for Thibs and the Villanova connection. You don't think the Knicks don't see that they potentially(likely) can re-sign all 4 of those buddies at a discount, while actually contending for once?

I don't think they anticipated losing Hartenstein either, 29mil per for the first two years from Presti was out of left field. Especially when I believe it was the first FA signing this year. Presti isn't known to be one to go and set the market, usually he waits for things to unfold.

TheFuture wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 3:07 pm They wanted Bridges, not KAT. Paid the cross-state tax for it. They overpaid.

He's an ironman for Thibs and the Villanova connection. You don't think the Knicks don't see that they potentially(likely) can re-sign all 4 of those buddies at a discount, while actually contending for once?

I don't think they anticipated losing Hartenstein either, 29mil per for the first two years from Presti was out of left field. Especially when I believe it was the first FA signing this year. Presti isn't known to be one to go and set the market, usually he waits for things to unfold.

Well if Knicks overpaid, then we as sure as sh*t overpaid too. I would have preferred Bridges over Gobert as he is much younger and can be just as impactful as a two-way player.

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 2:45 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 12:09 pm We should have held onto Shake Milton he was the final touch on that trade. Lol

Doc Rivers made good use of Shake, but Finch really struggles to integrate new players (especially in a bench role) ala Shake, Troy Brown and Monte last year and some others in prior years. So Shake is a zero with Finch, but maybe with another head coach and consistent minutes, he'll revert to his Philly form. Shake is a great guy, so I hope it works out for him.

I'm not sure that is accurate. Troy Brown played well for the Wolves earlier in the season before falling off the last month or so. NAW took a week or 2 after coming over to be effective. It's worth remembering Monte Morris only played 6 games last season before coming over in the trade. He wasn't bad in the regular season statistically except shooting 2 point shots which probably shouldn't be that surprising considering he had barely played coming back from injury.

The reality is several guards including Russell ended up playing well offensively under Finch. I thought the Shake signing was going to be a good one but it didn't work out. Finch may not have been the right coach for him but I'm not sure I buy that Finch struggles to integrate bench players especially guards.

If the Nets even keep him it may be a decent opportunity for Shake to get his career back on track. The Nets are basically in full rebuild mode they may see if they can rehab him and then move him for a small asset. If Shake is a guy that can actually play he will show it. I do think he can play but it didn't work last year in MN. He may need more structure in an offense to be successful. If that's the case that's more on the Wolves organization not seeing that than on Finch and his coaching staff in season.

Monster wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 4:46 pm

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 2:45 pm

Monster wrote: ↑Thu Jul 04, 2024 12:09 pm We should have held onto Shake Milton he was the final touch on that trade. Lol

Doc Rivers made good use of Shake, but Finch really struggles to integrate new players (especially in a bench role) ala Shake, Troy Brown and Monte last year and some others in prior years. So Shake is a zero with Finch, but maybe with another head coach and consistent minutes, he'll revert to his Philly form. Shake is a great guy, so I hope it works out for him.

I'm not sure that is accurate. Troy Brown played well for the Wolves earlier in the season before falling off the last month or so. NAW took a week or 2 after coming over to be effective. It's worth remembering Monte Morris only played 6 games last season before coming over in the trade. He wasn't bad in the regular season statistically except shooting 2 point shots which probably shouldn't be that surprising considering he had barely played coming back from injury.

The reality is several guards including Russell ended up playing well offensively under Finch. I thought the Shake signing was going to be a good one but it didn't work out. Finch may not have been the right coach for him but I'm not sure I buy that Finch struggles to integrate bench players especially guards.

If the Nets even keep him it may be a decent opportunity for Shake to get his career back on track. The Nets are basically in full rebuild mode they may see if they can rehab him and then move him for a small asset. If Shake is a guy that can actually play he will show it. I do think he can play but it didn't work last year in MN. He may need more structure in an offense to be successful. If that's the case that's more on the Wolves organization not seeing that than on Finch and his coaching staff in season.

DLO was given starter minutes, so I don't even know why you bring him up. NAW played for Finch in New Orleans and he is a pet of Finchy and got starter minutes, so NAW was brought in to a situation that could help him succeed. So, I don't think the NAW situation is comparable. If Shake had been given starter minutes, he might have been successful. His track record is quite good as a starter. But Finch used him in a way that pretty much guaranteed that he'd disappoint. He played off ball most of time and Wolves just rarely passed to him and given how few chances he got, he pressed his shot a bit. His stint with Philly was much longer and he did real well when he got a consistent role. TC loved Shake, but apparently Finch wasn't a big fan even though he talked up Shake's defense. Shakes minutes markedly were less than Philly, Troy Brown's minutes were significantly less under Finch and same goes for Monte. I liked Monte as much as I liked Shake, but felt he got a raw deal too. I was a fan of TB as well, but he didn't get much chance here. Meanwhile NAW, Finch's pet got lots of minutes even when he sucked. Bryn Forbes played well for two teams, but was trash with Finch. Common denominator is Finch likes to play favorites, doesn't rest guys much at all (even with 20 point leads) and doesn't give many of his bench players opportunities to get going and freezes guys out even when they've had success elsewhere.