NBA: ***Official 2019 NBA Playoffs Thread***

[jbindm]

I don't know why anyone would trade for Westbrook.

Organizational impatience? Mistaken belief that they can make it work when nobody else has been able to? Desperation because they're a small market team with limited avenues for obtaining All Star players?

But I agree with your point. We're talking about a guy approaching the wrong side of thirty with a bad contract to boot. Buyer beware.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I don't know why anyone would trade for Westbrook.

If you are a team that is not going to compete for awhile, I could see doing it.. flipping cap space for a face of a franchise and ammunition for a future rebuild.

 

[JP4CY]

Warriors just cut Livingston, who I think still can provide a playoff team some good value.

They must be trying to get younger.

 

[Doc]

RJ Barrett really doesn’t look like a lottery pick.

 

[Rabbuk]

I don't know why anyone would trade for Westbrook.

They like empty triple doubles

 

[NetflixAndClone]

I don't know why anyone would trade for Westbrook.

I worry that the timberwolves might.

 

[Doc]

I worry that the timberwolves might.

I could see the Thunder taking on Wiggins’ contract since they’re looking at a long rebuild. The Twolves need to do something.

 

[CyJack13]

Anfernee Simons had 35 yesterday for Portland in the summer league. Him and Michael Porter Jr were the two guys I most wanted to see in the summer, unfortunately Porter got hurt once again. Portland either legit thinks Simons is a future All-NBA type of player or they have been trying to hype up his trade value, because they supposedly won't even discuss him in any trade talks. I've assumed they were mainly trying to build up his trade value as it seems almost over the top how excited they are about him, but maybe they really feel that way.

 

[LLCoolCY]

I could see the Thunder taking on Wiggins’ contract since they’re looking at a long rebuild. The Twolves need to do something.

Westbrook really doesn't fit the wolves Timeline and that contract is such a albatross any team that takes him needs to win now.

I fully expect Rosas to go aggressively for D'Angelo Russell in the Spring once Klay Thompson is able to return. They have serious interest, is a good fit style and timeline, Teague in his last year and losing Tyus Jones plus it will make KAT happy which they need to consider.

 

[CyJack13]

Westbrook really doesn't fit the wolves Timeline and that contract is such a albatross any team that takes him needs to win now.

I fully expect Rosas to go aggressively for D'Angelo Russell in the Spring once Klay Thompson is able to return. They have serious interest, is a good fit style and timeline, Teague in his last year and losing Tyus Jones plus it will make KAT happy which they need to consider.

The Wolves have a timeline? For what?

 

[LLCoolCY]

The Wolves have a timeline? For what?

KAT is the Franchise Player and the franchize need to commit for his max contract max in 3 years, the set up will be young players that can grow with and show championship potential in the next 2 years. That is the timeline.

 

[CyJack13]

KAT is the Franchise Player and the franchize need to commit for his max contract max in 3 years, the set up will be young players that can grow with and show championship potential in the next 2 years. That is the timeline.

But how are they going to get young players who show championship potential? They're capped out. They don't have a lot of trade assets besides KAT. Covington would bring a nice return, but he's also a real helpful guy to have if you're trying to win. What is their package to get Russell? That's Golden St's one avenue to upgrade their roster to get back to title contention for the next few years, they aren't going to be looking to settle in any deal for him.

 

[CloniesForLife]

Glad Wolves didn't match.

http://www.startribune.com/timberwo...s-jones-offer-sheet-from-grizzlies/512511652/

 

[LLCoolCY]

But how are they going to get young players who show championship potential? They're capped out. They don't have a lot of trade assets besides KAT. Covington would bring a nice return, but he's also a real helpful guy to have if you're trying to win. What is their package to get Russell? That's Golden St's one avenue to upgrade their roster to get back to title contention for the next few years, they aren't going to be looking to settle in any deal for him.

Lot of questions to answer there. All we know is the Wolves were prepared to trading away abunch of their assets if Russell would have signed. GSW swooped in late and due to KD going to Brooklyn opened up the avenue to get D'Angelo. It works in the short term with Klay out but now with him, Curry and next year Green getting his Max, there won't be money for D'Angelo and he'll be available. Does that mean the Wolves will get him, no, but if they are giving up assets for Westbrook, D'Angelo or [enter young guard] they should go young and try to win in two years not this year. Especially with the current depth of the West.

 

[jbindm]

Lot of questions to answer there. All we know is the Wolves were prepared to trading away abunch of their assets if Russell would have signed. GSW swooped in late and due to KD going to Brooklyn opened up the avenue to get D'Angelo. It works in the short term with Klay out but now with him, Curry and next year Green getting his Max, there won't be money for D'Angelo and he'll be available. Does that mean the Wolves will get him, no, but if they are giving up assets for Westbrook, D'Angelo or [enter young guard] they should go young and try to win in two years not this year. Especially with the current depth of the West.

The Wolves are in a tough spot. They can either make a desperation deal for Westbrook right now to appease KAT and try to compete for a playoff spot in the West. Might keep KAT happy for now but they'll regret it in a few years when Westbrook is in decline and they still owe him another 100 million bucks and all they have to show for it is a first round playoff exit or two.

Or they can resist the temptation and hold out for Russell and/or keep trying to build for the long run. The downside there is that maybe KAT gets impatient and asks out. Doesn't matter if he's under contract; if he decides he's done in Minny then that's that.

I think they have to get out of that Wiggins deal but I don't know how or if they can do it without taking a bad contract back, and if that's the case then I'm not sure what they're gaining.

 

[CyJack13]

Lot of questions to answer there. All we know is the Wolves were prepared to trading away abunch of their assets if Russell would have signed. GSW swooped in late and due to KD going to Brooklyn opened up the avenue to get D'Angelo. It works in the short term with Klay out but now with him, Curry and next year Green getting his Max, there won't be money for D'Angelo and he'll be available. Does that mean the Wolves will get him, no, but if they are giving up assets for Westbrook, D'Angelo or [enter young guard] they should go young and try to win in two years not this year. Especially with the current depth of the West.

The Warriors didn't take on Russell just to dump him later to save money, their ownership is prepared to foot a monstrous tax bill. I agree that he will be available but the Warriors are wanting championship level rotation guys in return, especially wings. I doubt the Warriors would consider Wiggins as that type of player. The Thunder however, would probably be much more open in taking Wiggins back. That's how I would think a Westbrook deal would make some sense for Minnesota. They get rid of Wiggins contract, and while you take back an even bigger one, it also belongs to a guy who's actual an All-NBA or close to it caliber of player.

Westbrook and KAT aren't winning a title, but they probably are pushing for a playoff spot. This won't put them on a championship path, but it would take an absolute miracle for Minnesota to turn themselves into a contender in the near future. For a franchise that's been as bad as they have, there's value in just making the playoffs.

 

[jbindm]

The Warriors didn't take on Russell just to dump him later to save money, their ownership is prepared to foot a monstrous tax bill. I agree that he will be available but the Warriors are wanting championship level rotation guys in return, especially wings. I doubt the Warriors would consider Wiggins as that type of player. The Thunder however, would probably be much more open in taking Wiggins back. That's how I would think a Westbrook deal would make some sense for Minnesota. They get rid of Wiggins contract, and while you take back an even bigger one, it also belongs to a guy who's actual an All-NBA or close to it caliber of player.

Westbrook and KAT aren't winning a title, but they probably are pushing for a playoff spot. This won't put them on a championship path, but it would take an absolute miracle for Minnesota to turn themselves into a contender in the near future. For a franchise that's been as bad as they have, there's value in just making the playoffs.

Adding Westbrook to make a run at the eight seed might temporarily move the needle, but in the long run it's just another stopgap measure for a mediocre franchise. He's a top 15-20 player right now but there has to be a concern about a steep drop-off coming soon, not to mention the possibility of him alienating yet another superstar teammate and pushing them away.

But you're right about Wiggins. For them to move forward in any direction he's gotta go. That the Wolves gave him a max deal, let alone before they even had to make a decision, is still mind boggling.

 

[CyJack13]

Adding Westbrook to make a run at the eight seed might temporarily move the needle, but in the long run it's just another stopgap measure for a mediocre franchise. He's a top 15-20 player right now but there has to be a concern about a steep drop-off coming soon, not to mention the possibility of him alienating yet another superstar teammate and pushing them away.

But you're right about Wiggins. For them to move forward in any direction he's gotta go. That the Wolves gave him a max deal, let alone before they even had to make a decision, is still mind boggling.

Oh I know. And they would have to have some brutally honest conversations about their franchise to make that move, but when you have won one single playoff game in 16 years, there's value in just being in playoff contention and maybe sneaking into the playoffs for a couple years. The back end of that contract could get real ugly.

And yeah, that Wiggins deal just killed them. It's not even second guessing it either, at the time we both were in agreement that there was no reason for them to do it when they did, or at all. They could have had another full season to evaluate him and still had all the leverage to max him out then, he had shown nothing that provided a reason to rush into it. If you miss this badly on a max guy, it makes it pretty much impossible to contend.

 

[jbindm]

Oh I know. And they would have to have some brutally honest conversations about their franchise to make that move, but when you have won one single playoff game in 16 years, there's value in just being in playoff contention and maybe sneaking into the playoffs for a couple years. The back end of that contract could get real ugly.

And yeah, that Wiggins deal just killed them. It's not even second guessing it either, at the time we both were in agreement that there was no reason for them to do it when they did, or at all. They could have had another full season to evaluate him and still had all the leverage to max him out then, he had shown nothing that provided a reason to rush into it. If you miss this badly on a max guy, it makes it pretty much impossible to contend.

The one thing that Rosas and Saunders have going for them is that their hands are mostly clean of all the mistakes from the last regime. They can sell a rebuild without worrying about job security. That's why I think it's best to pass on Wesbrook and steer full-on into yet another rebuild. If it means eating Wiggins' deal until something more sensible comes along then so be it. Sucks for them, but there's just not much benefit in trading bad for bad in this case unless they can pry away one of Presti's newly acquired first rounders as a sweetener. And I doubt that's happening.

 

[CyJack13]

The one thing that Rosas and Saunders have going for them is that their hands are mostly clean of all the mistakes from the last regime. They can sell a rebuild without worrying about job security. That's why I think it's best to pass on Wesbrook and steer full-on into yet another rebuild. If it means eating Wiggins' deal until something more sensible comes along then so be it. Sucks for them, but there's just not much benefit in trading bad for bad in this case unless they can pry away one of Presti's newly acquired first rounders as a sweetener. And I doubt that's happening.

Assuming Golden St ownership is willing to pay just an absolute monster tax bill and all of the salary cap details would work out (Warriors not being hard capped, Igudoula trade exception making the salary differences work) would Golden St say yes to Russell for Wiggins, Covington, Culvert and/or their 2020 first?