Trades, trades, trades...
by twolvesgm on Jan 17, 2011 3:15 PM CST
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PrintWe all know the Timberwolves are likely to make a few trades between now and the trade deadline. The question is do the Wolves continue to try to get young pieces to build with or attempt to get a proven player to accelerate the process?
Now, this scenario is a potentially great one for the Wolves. To see Anthony leave Denver, presumably for less than ideal value, would put a division foe into long-term rebuilding. If you trade your star player, you need to rebuild as soon as possible, and that seems to be the mindset in Denver.
Anthony Randolph of the Knicks is a very talented 21-year old who seems snake bitten by injuries and inexperience. He is a player who many around the league are intrigued by and it seems he could be a fit for a team like the Wolves who still need another player or two to compliment what we have.
Another player who is clearly in a situation that will probably result in a trade before the deadline is O.J. Mayo. Mayo was infamously traded by the Wolves for Kevin Love in a move that I was initially furious at then liked it because of the financial savings we got in the deal by getting rid of Marko Jaric's contract. The fact that Love has become one of the best power forwards in the league makes the deal amazingly one sided as Mayo has completely failed to live up to expectations in Memphis. Memphis is in a bizarre situation as a franchise in they have some good young pieces in Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley but their financial situation going forward is one of the most unstable in the league as Gay is on a near max level contract and Gasol has to get paid this off-season. Mayo has been a problem off the court as well and clearly needs a change of scenery.
For the Wolves, the fundamental question is where do you believe the franchise is right now? Do you believe with Love, Michael Beasley, and Ricky Rubio coming over soon that you have the pieces to start winning in 2011-2012? If that answer is yes, then do you consider trying to advance your prospect pool from 2011 draft picks (in perhaps, one of the weakest drafts in memory because of the CBA conflict that is coming) to players who might be more ready to grow with the strides this franchise is making?
I believe O.J. Mayo would be a very good fit at the two guard for the Timberwolves. He seems to me to be a player who could really thrive in an environment where he isn't considered to be a franchise player but does all the little things needed to win such as defense and being a good third scoring option. Randolph's potential is intriguing, especially when one considers what the Wolves would probably have to give up to get him.
All of that build up to my possible deals involving the Wolves. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Trade #1
Minnesota gets:
Anthony Randolph
O.J. Mayo
Memphis gets:
Denver gets:
Haseem Thabeet
Roger Mason
Minnesota's 2011 Utah pick
Two future firsts from New York and $3 million in cash
New York gets:
Carmelo Anthony
Now, I realize this is a complex deal but follow me for a second. New York gets Anthony and takes on Al Harrington's terrible contract as a tax. They give up Fields, Gallinari, two distant first round picks, filler and $3 million to be big time again. They would do this deal in my opinion. Denver would do this deal because Anthony has been very smart in saying he won't sign an extension with New Jersey. If Denver is smart, they will look for the best deal involving the Knicks so they can begin rebuilding.
By clearing Harrington's deal, and with Kenyon Martin's contract expiring this year as well, the Nuggets would be able to quickly get cap space as soon as this summer. They would get a player in Thabeet who could be worth taking a shot on, three first round picks, and a player in Gallinari who could develop into a good offensive player. It's still a deal that trades Anthony for .40 on the dollar but is a much better return then the Cavs got for James or the Raptors got for Chris Bosh.
Memphis could get Flynn or Fields in this type of trade depending on which player Denver would like more. If they got Flynn, they would be getting a player who would almost certainly fit their team better then Mayo does right now. There could certainly be more compensation needed for Thabeet but I think Memphis would be tempted by this deal to save money this year and to ensure they'd have enough to pay Gasol this summer.
Trade #2 (basically without Anthony involved)
Minnesota gets:
O.J. Mayo
Anthony Randolph
Memphis gets:
Jonny Flynn
New York gets:
Minnesota's conditional Utah first round pick
A much simpler version of the blockbuster in which we still get Mayo, Memphis saves money and gets a great teammate and young point guard in Flynn and New York gets a pick to send to Denver for Anthony.
The Wolves rotation after trading for Mayo and Randolph:
PG - Luke Ridnour and Sebastian Telfair
SG - O.J. Mayo, Brewer, Ellington
SF - Beasley, Wes Johnson, Martell Webster
PF - Love, Randolph and Tolliver/Pekovic
C - Darko Milicic, Tolliver/Pekovic/Kosta Koufos
That team, to me, would be a great one to watch develop and start being in contention for the playoffs as soon as next year when Rubio comes over. That team would also have flexibility to make another move or two if the right star player came available in a trade. Our biggest problem right now is clearly depth and these moves would give us a good two deep roster at every position in my opinion. I think we can all agree there is an opportunity for the Wolves to be aggressive if they're smart about what they're trying to acquire in a trade. Let's hope they actually do something like this instead of just sitting on the cap space.
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Only if Johnny Flynn has any value left
Otherwise, the other teams just laugh at us when we make this proposal.
Rubio, who art thou savior.
agree
It just doesn’t seem like we are giving up much considering what we are getting in return.
by scottysnowski on Jan 25, 2011 9:33 PM CST up reply actions
unfortunately, yes
always appreciate a good trade proposal, but neither of these is gonna happen, too lopsided for the wolves
I forgot...
…to suggest we would put in Tolliver or some other compensation would head to Memphis. My main point was more along the lines of trade two in trying to add depth to the roster in the form of Mayo and Randolph, which is something I really think can/should happen.
its called consolidating
2 bad players into one really bad player
by hoodieNation on Jan 18, 2011 2:23 AM CST up reply actions
i'm guessing
it would take something like flynn and brewer to land Mayo. Shoot, I think they would consider flynn and brewer for mayo and thabeet. That may be worth it. Brewer is attractive for two reasons.
1. Still young and a good defender, elite stealing threat.
2.expiring contract which helps in resigning gasol.
I agree though, I think mayo would be a great fit with rubio, love, beasley and darko. Especially since love, mayo, and beasley all grew up playing with/against eachother.
my opinion anyways.
Mayo
Mayo would be a decent fit since he knows Love and Beasley, but there are concerns: Attitude, lack of size, he’s really mostly a jumpshooter and we have those, etc…Acquiring him and Randolph would be Kahn’s way of putting his eggs into the 08 drafts basket and hoping for the best. That was the best draft in a while. Probably since 03.
Personally, I still want Igoudala. Kahn seems deadset against his contract, though. Which is valid. It’s just that we aren’t going to be any good any time soon unless we take a risk like that. Iggy might only make us a 6th seed at best, but we’re in lottery hell without him. Not bad enough to possibly win the lottery and not good enough to contend. Maybe if we were to hit a homerun in this year’s draft, things would change, but as it stands now, we don’t have the core players to be a real contender in the future.
Trade for Iggy!
I like Iggy too...
but I think we can probably get Mayo for cheaper in terms of talent and or picks. If Papa Glen is willing to spend long-term then getting Iggy could be worthwhile, I haven’t seen any indication that he is really willing to do that, especially with the new CBA coming up.
agree with most above
We have to do something, it’s getting hard to watch the games. Outside of Darko last night that game was played miserably. Love got the majority of his points and boards when the wolves were down big and wasn’t much of a factor when we were close in the 1st half. Also wes johnson getting benched is demotivating.
No way
Thabeet is garbage, Flynn is maybe the same. You’re fitting Minnesota into this deal where no one else will see us as necessary. First, as discussed in other threads, the Utah pick is worthless, mostly. It’s not going to get us anything in trade.
The Memphis pick could be real nice if it’s a 2012 pick, and so that has value. Memphis, Denver, and New York would all want that pick, be it for Randolph, Mayo, or part of an Anthony package.
I haven’t seen Mayo this year, but think that if Memphis doesn’t want him, we probably shouldn’t either. They obviously don’t see him as being a meaningful part to a playoff run…or they think he detracts more than he helps.
You can't dust for vomit.
That first scenario:
You give up Johnny Flynn and a late 1st rounder for OJ Mayo and A.R.?
That seems a little lopsided in your favor.
"We're not talking about me and Darko in the same sentence." - Chris Webber vs KAHN!
by caseycheesecake on Jan 18, 2011 10:36 AM CST reply actions
Flynn...
…fits in Memphis quite well IMO. He’s a point guard who could play behind Conley, which is something Mayo clearly can’t do. If you believe the reports out of New York then all the Knicks are asking for AR is a first to throw at Denver. Maybe it would have to be the Memphis pick instead of the Utah pick, but first round picks have value in the league and I wouldn’t be shocked if some form of one of my proposals comes to fruition.
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