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Alternatives to LaMello
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2026 9:40 pm
by Lipoli390
The Jon K article today is an interesting one about other trade possibilities for the Wolves - specifically Josh Giddy and Jaylen Brown.
According to the report, “the Celtics shopped Jaylen Brown to the Timberwolves and wanted the following trade package for him, per @JonKrawczynski
- Rudy Gobert
- Future draft capital
Minnesota was NOT interested”
Obviously, the Wolves gave up all the future draft capital they could give for LaMello. So in effect, the Wolves preferred to give up Naz Reid for LaMello than Rudy for Jaylen Brown. I think that was absolutely the right call. Jaylen Brown is a great player but the last thing Ant needed was a 29-year old ball-dominant backcourt mate with sticky-fingers. And the last thing the team needed was a seemingly decisive player who will make $57M next season and $183 million total over the next three seasons.
I love Naz as a person and player and I think he’s going to get even better. So I would have preferred to trade Rudy, but not for Jaylen Brown. It seems clear that the Wolves front office had the same view. I also think our front office rightly values what Rudy brings to the team and how critical he is to our defense.
Re: Alternatives to LaMello
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2026 9:50 pm
by kekgeek
I agree with you here. I like Jaylen Brown, think he is getting way to bad of a rap because of advance analytics and that is coming from a guy who loves those stats.
But I don’t think Brown fixes many of the wolves problems and it creates even a bigger problem at center. Also it’s hard to build a contender with a supermax contract and Brown has one.
Re: Alternatives to LaMello
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2026 10:12 pm
by Q-is-here
Yeah, it's a little awkward to say it's an overpay for the Finals MVP from just a couple years ago, but I agree his fit with the Wolves is a little iffy and he is so damn expensive.
Re: Alternatives to LaMello
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2026 10:14 pm
by Q-is-here
Did Jon K say what the asking price for Giddey was? He would have been a very good fit for the Wolves and brought a lot of the same things to the table LaMelo does with a little less scoring punch and at a much lower salary.
Re: Alternatives to LaMello
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2026 11:10 pm
by Lipoli390
Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2026 10:14 pm
Did Jon K say what the asking price for Giddey was? He would have been a very good fit for the Wolves and brought a lot of the same things to the table LaMelo does with a little less scoring punch and at a much lower salary.
No, it didn’t say. Here’s an excerpt from Jon K’s article in Bleacher Report:
"There were also debates about how Edwards and Brown would fit together as two ISO-heavy scorers on offense. Connelly had given chase to Antetokounmpo before last season and at the trade deadline, but the Wolves never got close on a deal there either, sources said. Giddey was another big guard to potentially pair with Edwards, but there was little traction on talks there."
Jaylen Brown ended up going to the Philadelphia 76ers, while Antetokounmpo was sent to the Miami Heat. Giddey remains a Bull.
The Wolves, of course, eventually added LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. Krawczynski noted that Ball being available was a game-changer.
"When it became clear Ball was available, every other option was set aside," Krawczynski wrote in part.
My read is that Ball was the guy the Wolves really wanted. We’ve already seen reports that the Wolves front office had Ball targeted for the past two years. Of all the players the Wolves reportedly had interest in acquiring or actually pursued, Giannis was unquestionably the best talent, but LaMello was clearly the best fit and the guy most coveted by our front office.
Re: Alternatives to LaMello
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2026 5:54 pm
by TheGrey08
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2026 9:40 pm
The Jon K article today is an interesting one about other trade possibilities for the Wolves - specifically Josh Giddy and Jaylen Brown.
According to the report, “the Celtics shopped Jaylen Brown to the Timberwolves and wanted the following trade package for him, per @JonKrawczynski
- Rudy Gobert
- Future draft capital
Minnesota was NOT interested”
Obviously, the Wolves gave up all the future draft capital they could give for LaMello. So in effect, the Wolves preferred to give up Naz Reid for LaMello than Rudy for Jaylen Brown. I think that was absolutely the right call. Jaylen Brown is a great player but the last thing Ant needed was a 29-year old ball-dominant backcourt mate with sticky-fingers. And the last thing the team needed was a seemingly decisive player who will make $57M next season and $183 million total over the next three seasons.
I love Naz as a person and player and I think he’s going to get even better. So I would have preferred to trade Rudy, but not for Jaylen Brown. It seems clear that the Wolves front office had the same view. I also think our front office rightly values what Rudy brings to the team and how critical he is to our defense.
yeah and it would have ended up being Rudy & Naz going out to get BOS what they wanted as I don't see the one 2033 1st being enough for them. Ball is the much better fit and allowed them to keep Rudy.
Re: Alternatives to LaMello
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2026 9:46 pm
by Monster
At a media availability after the season Connelly made a comment about he would rather swing big etc. Honestly IF......Ball is healthy and becomes the player he has the talent for I'm not sure there was actually a better fit for the roster than him especially with what we gave up to get him. He is actually a player that makes other players better and is one of the few actual high level passing PGs in the league.
Yes the Wolves now could use another big in the front court but it's a lot easier to find a complimentary player at that spot than it is to find a backcourt player next to Edwards. I think it's much easier to have a PF that does a few things reasonably well than have a guard that is maybe a good player. That guy probably isn't gonna be a passer that gets guys easy looks creating shots etc.
Ball actually has the talent if he can stay healthy to be in the MVP conversation someday. That's a very good add to a young roster. Again there are questions about Ball and his success and the team's success is not certain but again IF...this hits damn it could be really good and partly because he actually fits the team and roster.