Minnesota Sports Forum

It almost seems like a foregone conclusion that we will move Ju this summer. Several potential deals are being discussed on the airwaves, and I'm interested in what the board thinks. Here are the rules (which I'm fairly certain will be broken a few times...I know you guys).

1) Vote for the two deals you like best
2) No, you can't change the deal laid out in the poll...the options I have put out there are the ones I am hearing or reading most often.

I picked Zion Williamson because there's hope his best basketball is ahead of him, unlike Irving or Giannis.

Then, I realized that Zion has made 33 three pointers in 6 years. I didn't know he was that adverse to taking them. I don't see how he and Gobert can play big minutes together...

I'm not opposed to any of the scenarios, but I voted for Ju for role players.

Chris Finch needs to have depth and utilize it because as we've seen in the playoffs, things happen.

If we expect the roster to be upended, the bench needs to be stronger. Right now, our main bench guys appear to be

Reid (remove him if he starts after a Randle trade)
Beringer
Shannon


This team needs 1-2 more high impact bench guys that Finch can use. If the idea is to keep Slow-Mo, Bones, Clark, and Conley, fine, but they're the last 4 guys on the bench every night to go with Rocco. Can't be relying on Conley for 15 minutes a game. Our depth just isn't good enough, so if we add 2 high impact bench guys and the #28 pick to go with Beringer and Shannon, you'll see not only a better bench, but a starting lineup that will be fresher for the playoffs.

I picked the latter two. Not sold on Zion. Kyrie I'm on the fence on. On the fence on the Giannis one too, but I don't even see that as realistic, as I think we'd also have to amass more assets via a Rudy trade to a 3rd team to get Milwaukee the full package of picks and players they'd want. Plus he and Giannis really can't be on the floor together.

The one thing about Giannis is unlike Kyrie and Kawhi, he really does have may be 2-3 years left of legit #1 type production in him. I just think any deal that lands us Giannis involves three or four teams and multiple players flying all over the place, LOL.

Bending the rules...

Assuming Boston misses out on Giannis, I wonder if Derrick White for Ju could be in play (Wolves would need to add more)?

And don't sleep on Dejounte Murray, Jrue Holiday or Immanuel Quickley!

[Edit: I chose Kyrie and cap space -- might be able to use one of our trade exceptions! ]

Question about how trades work? I know you can make a trade as soon as you're eliminated and your season is done. If we made a trade right now where we use our trade exception and Randle which hard caps us at the first apron. Would that count as business on the current season, or does it count for next season?

I voted for the last two options for roughly the same reasons given by Q. If it were truly just Ju and Jaden for Giannis, I’d be tempted to chose that option but there is simply no way that option is tenable. Trading for Giannis now at age 31 strikes me as similar to Boston’s acquisition of KG from the Wolves. I think we’d get three years of superstar quality production from him. But we’d have to trade Rudy as well so the pieces fit. Let’s not forget that what might have hurt the Wolves more than anything was having a less than optimal mix of players with Ju and Ant, both ball dominant ball stoppers on the floor together. Kevin McHale was right when he said “it’s not the five best players; it’s the five players who play best together.” Further, we should underestimate what we’d lose giving up Jaden.

So yes, I’d do the Giannis deal if it were truly viable and I’d then move Rudy for the best value possible. But I’d do so reluctantly because I don’t believe in silver bullet trade acquisitions. Those types of trades sometimes pan out (though usually not) when acquiring players at or near their prime like Kawhi and KG, but never when acquiring players in the mid 30s.

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 2:28 pm I picked Zion Williamson because there's hope his best basketball is ahead of him, unlike Irving or Giannis.

Then, I realized that Zion has made 33 three pointers in 6 years. I didn't know he was that adverse to taking them. I don't see how he and Gobert can play big minutes together...

I voted Zion too. Something about Zion and Ant together seems so wild. It would be a crazy ride either way. Id rather watch that show then us watching a vet break down.

thedoper wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 3:34 pm

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 2:28 pm I picked Zion Williamson because there's hope his best basketball is ahead of him, unlike Irving or Giannis.

Then, I realized that Zion has made 33 three pointers in 6 years. I didn't know he was that adverse to taking them. I don't see how he and Gobert can play big minutes together...

I voted Zion too. Something about Zion and Ant together seems so wild. It would be a crazy ride either way. Id rather watch that show then us watching a vet break down.

There's also "neither" with the other two options! Surprised you didn't pick those since you have been advocating for a more patient approach and getting back some younger players/draft assets in trades.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 3:59 pm

thedoper wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 3:34 pm

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 2:28 pm I picked Zion Williamson because there's hope his best basketball is ahead of him, unlike Irving or Giannis.

Then, I realized that Zion has made 33 three pointers in 6 years. I didn't know he was that adverse to taking them. I don't see how he and Gobert can play big minutes together...

I voted Zion too. Something about Zion and Ant together seems so wild. It would be a crazy ride either way. Id rather watch that show then us watching a vet break down.

There's also "neither" with the other two options! Surprised you didn't pick those since you have been advocating for a more patient approach and getting back some younger players/draft assets in trades.

I will always wrestle in Wolves ball between entertainment and doing the right thing. I really dont know if we will ever win a title so the entertaining route is always there. Im mostly of the position if a high risk move is to made, Id rather it be for a young, devalued player than an aging vet. But yes, my logical mind says neither.