Questions from a Wolves fan

by Airete on May 25, 2011 10:43 AM EDT

Hello, I'm a long time Timberwolves fan, but can't say I follow the Raptors too closely. I mean no disrespect, but have some basic questions I was hoping fans of the team might be able to help with. The Wolves are a team that is woefully imbalanced. We have very little talent at the guard positions and too many talented young players (each with their own flaws of course) at the forward positions (SF/PF). I've being going to fans of some teams I could see the Wolves as trading partners with to try and take off the "homer goggles" and get an outside idea of what the teams needs are and what if anything they would be interested in from the Wolves.

1) What are the Raptors biggest needs? I hate to pretend I understand this better than the actual fans.

2) Kevin Love is now the face of our franchise so he's basically off limits, but is there any interest adding a player like Wes Johnson, Michael Beasley, Anthony Randolph or Martell Webster? Getting the second pick and likely Derrick Williams only adds to an already troublesome logjam here. Also as a heads up we still like Johnson, but he's a SF and not a SG. We've had to play him out of position for an entire year giving Beasley free reign to develop as a SF.

3) Is there any interest in Jonny Flynn? He and Johnson are horribly misused. Rambis is an awful coach and runs a system that goes against all of Jonny's instincts and talents. He's hurt our team and we haven't done right by him I expect he'll be moved. I'm not certain the return he'd require, but he needs a fresh start.

4) What do you consider your trade assets (i.e. players with value that you'd part with and or picks/future picks etc)?

5) Do you have interest in our #20 overall pick?

6) Do you have interest in a #2 for #5 pick swap and what would you be willing to part with in such a swap?

I appreciate your incite and thank you for your time.

Airete

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Comments

In order for salaries to work...

Jose Calderon, Linus Kleiza, and our 5th pick

for

Flynn, Pekovic, Webster, 2nd pick

About the only feasible scenario that can be done salary-wise…

"the Truth"

by Mikthaniel on May 25, 2011 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

I like Randolph but it doesn't shed enough salary to swap him and Pekovic...

"the Truth"

by Mikthaniel on May 25, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

A few random responses for your consideration:

- The Raptors were bad at 3-point shooting last season, so Webster might be of some interest.

- Considering the Euro-strategy that the Raptors have persued, it is likely that management would have some interest in the rights to Rubio. Whether fans would be enthusiastic about him would probably depend on what the Raptors gave up in exchange.

- Personally, I don’t see how Randolph, Flynn or Beasley would fit with the Raptors current line-up.

- As far as assets available for trade, the Raptors would part with Bargnani if the return was reasonable.

- The Raptors also have a TPE worth somewhere between 5-10M available to make a deal work.

- I might propose a trade along the lines of Bargnani + #5 for #2, the rights to Rubio and any bad contract(s) Minnesota wanted to shed. That trade doesn’t really pass the smell test, but if you guys are interested give Colangelo a call.

- Lastly, a question, why don’t the T-Wolves draft Kanter if you guys already have a ton of SFs, including Beasley whose game seems pretty similar to D. Williams?

by DW19 on May 25, 2011 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

We might very well draft Kanter if we keep the pick, but Williams won't surprise me either.

The question of Kanter and Love anchoring a defense is a little iffy. Memphis made it work with Zach and Gasol, but their guard play is much much better than ours.

Would you guys prefer to stand pat or trade the 5th pick for Johnson if he were available? The FO really likes him so I doubt it’d happen, but we really do need to clear up our SF/PF log jam. I imagine Webster is more likely to go, but he wouldn’t command as much in return.

by Airete on May 25, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Wesley Johnson when he was at Syracuse, but I haven’t followed his NBA progress. It seemed like the Wolves grabbed him a bit earlier than his projected draft position last year. Personally, I would not trade the #5 pick for WJ. If the Raptors wanted to draft a guy like Kemba Walker or Brandon Knight at #5 then maybe something like Jerryd Bayless or Calderon or Barbosa for Wesley Johnson could work.

by DW19 on May 25, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions

re: Timberwolves trade possibilities

I agree with DW19 that Webster might have some promise as a 3pt specialist at the SF position. I don’t think we have the ammunition for Wesley Johnson, although SF is probably the position on the team that is most up for grabs in terms of who starts. The fellow we had starting, Kleiza injured his knee and who knows how long he’ll take to come back, and what kind of shape he will be in.

We have Amir Johnson and Ed Davis at PF, so I don’t see us expending assets to create a logjam by adding Williams. With Kyrie Irving off the board, I think we’d just sit tight at five and see who drops.

Didn’t David Kahn announce that “rebuilding is over”, or something to that effect? In which case what is the situation positionally with Flynn (vs Rubio) and Wes Johnson (vs Beasely vs Randolph). You guys seem like you need to get multiple positions sorted out before you can make a concerted push towards getting better.

by Yardly on May 26, 2011 12:56 AM EDT reply actions

Kahn says a lot of dumb things while trying to sell hope.

He basically said no more total roster overhauls. We only kept 4 players from 2009/2010 last year and we shipped one of them out (Brewer). He was raked through the press for saying the team was basically set and then hedged his bet saying significant fine tuning was needed.

Having listened to him for two years here’s my translation. Our core is largely set (Rubio, Love, Johnson/Beasley one or the other maybe both). The roster needs to improve, but I expect at least 9 of our 12 current players to be back next year as a ballpark idea of what significant fine tuning is.

by Airete on May 26, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Not insannly knowlage able about Ball but,

what would you guys think of a trade of our 5th pick and Bargnani for your 20thpick Beasly and Flynn. I think we really wanna get rid of Bargnani, and Flynn and Beasly would be nice somewhat young additions to our team. But for this to happen we would have to make another trade with a PG involved we cant have Caulderon Fylnn and Bayless.

by Jt Malley on May 26, 2011 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

I wouldn't do that trade

Beasley and Flynn don’t really address any needs for the Raptors. Neither is much of a defensive presence or much of a leader or even an efficient scorer. Beasley for Bargnani straight-up is probably a fair trade. That leaves #5 for #20 + Flynn, which I don’t like at all as a trade. The Raptors would be better off just keeping #5 and drafting Walker or Knight.

by DW19 on May 26, 2011 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

What about Flynn, Webster and 20 for 5?

Flynn needs to go if Rubio’s inked to a contract. Webster I’d rather hang on to, but if we keep Beasley and Johnson he still won’t be getting enough minutes unless people are hurt. Number 20 because in all honesty I don’t think the Wolves need that many rookies (the # 2 unless we trade it, Rubio if he signs, the # 5 if picked up in this deal and the # 20).

Lastly I’d enjoy this for the irony of picking behind Cleveland twice.

Normally I’d be hesitant to ask a team about a top 6 or 7 pick, but I just don’t like this draft class very much at the top of the board.

by Airete on May 26, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

On a personal level

No Flynn, No Beasley, No Johnson, No Webster, No Darko

Interest: Love, Rubio, #2 pick.

But thats just me.

While you are around…. what would you give the Raps for Bargnani?

by Not so Friendly Stranger on May 26, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

I agree with NSFS, except for Webster who I wouldn’t mind the Raptors picking up if he was available for a cheap price.

by DW19 on May 26, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

We wouldn't want Bargnani....

He and Love would be a terrible defensive combo. Orlando would be the team I expect would want him the most. I just don’t know what they could offer to get him.

by Airete on May 26, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

oh I think

the Raps are gonna be hearing alot of that this offseason.

by Not so Friendly Stranger on May 26, 2011 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think we are trading him, but do you guys have any interest in Darko?

He’s our starting center so I don’t see him moved unless we move the #2 and a wing for an upgrade.

by Airete on May 26, 2011 10:30 AM EDT reply actions

The Toronto Raptors are in a rebuilding mode and they would want young talent or prjects ith potential or had potentail when they came to the league (Jerryd Bayless) Our GM is a gambler but will only gamble for young players and will most likey not gamble away any of his young assets. This mainly includes: Demar Derozan, Ed Davis. Also to a certain extent, Jerryd Bayless just because of his late season run which was something like 20+ ppg and 6+ assists over the last 8 games i think as a starter. Everyone else is tradeable. The Raptors would prefer one of the following when it comes to the Wolves: Wes Johnson, Ricky Rubio, picks (mostly the 2nd overall of course), and Jonny Flynn since we are rebuilding. We wouldn’t prefer Anthony Randolph since Ed Davis is our future and Kevin Love is untouchable and I don’t think we would want Beasly becaus of his defense. Otherwise anyone else on our roster you can have.
How about this trade?
Johnny Flynn, Anthony Tolliver, 2nd overall pick
Jose Calderon (underrated point guard and knows Ricky Rubio), 5th overall pick, next year’s draft pick top 14 protected and next year’s 2nd round pick top 37 protected

by TORONTO:Greatest City Ever on May 26, 2011 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

ugh

'....as a child, I dreamt of being a baseball.'

by Jenge on May 27, 2011 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah I read that

and I figured it was either a wolves fan in disguise or someone who is out to destroy the Raps organization.

I wouldn’t even trade Jose for Flynn, Tolliver and a #2 pick, let alone everything else.

by Not so Friendly Stranger on May 27, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

edit

pick… I meant 2nd round pick

by Not so Friendly Stranger on May 27, 2011 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

ugg terrible

pick… I meant 2nd round pick

by Not so Friendly Stranger on May 27, 2011 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

fuck it

think you guys know what I mean

by Not so Friendly Stranger on May 27, 2011 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we should just go with what Jenge said. Say any more and your head might explode.

by Yardly on May 27, 2011 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

ugh

by Not so Friendly Stranger on May 28, 2011 7:06 AM EDT up reply actions

What Is Bad About This Trade

I think that it actually ain’t that bad.
We are basically giving up Jose Calderon who has 9 million for 3 years left and the fifth draft pick for Johnny Flynn who made the all rookie team last year and the second overall draft pick which we can choose Derrick Williams. Next years pick which is 14 protected is a nice add on for the raps because the chances of us making the playoffs are slim so we are most likely gonna keep our next year’s pick and what is the second round pick gonna do? It probably won’t amount to anything. This is basically what we are giving up. The others are add-ons which would make the deal look more intriguing.
Minnesota: Jose Calderon (horrible contract, horrible defender) + 5th overall pick
Toronto: Johnny Flynn (young player who has a lot of promise) + Derrick Williams/Kyrie Irving
Whoever says this trade is dumb, why don’t you think of a better trade because this trade looks amazing for the other team on the outside but would really be fantastic for us in the long-term!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by TORONTO:Greatest City Ever on May 29, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Jose has 2 years left on his contract.

This was Flynn’s 2nd year in the league and he had one of the largest negative impacts on his team in the NBA. Flynn is not a good player. I don’t care if he is young.

This team is in need of talent and giving up any future picks right now (without a good young established player in return) is gambling with the future.

While I’d prefer the #2 pick… it will Williams who is a tweener. I don’t want to see this team take on a negative and give up a positive in order to take a tweener in a terrible draft year.

Did I mention Flynn sucks? Cause if I didn’t… he sucks.

by Not so Friendly Stranger on May 29, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

ya two years on his contract at 9 million dollars with the new cba coming, its best to get rid of it as soon as possible and now to get to flynn. Flynn>9 million dollar contract for two years
ya i would rather have flynn any day especially since we could package him since he does have value in the league
now draft picks
how are we giving up draft picks if we are going to get some back!!!
all we do is lose a second round draft pick…omg, imagine who we could have got with that…. and a first round pick which we should keep protected for like 3 years which is when i expect for the raptors to make the playoffs
besides who said we had to draft derrcik williams? how about brandon knight? enes kanter? how about that possibility that cleveland decides to draft derrick williams since he is a hometown boy which leaves us with kyrie irving?

by TORONTO:Greatest City Ever on May 31, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

What Is Bad About This Trade

by TORONTO:Greatest City Ever on May 29, 2011 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t think you are correctly representing how protected picks work. You have to eventually deliver a pick, so you can’t just say that if Toronto’s pick is in the lottery that they don’t give Minnesota anything. Toronto will have to give Minnesota a pick in 2013 or later or acquire a pick from another team to give to Minnesota.

by DW19 on May 30, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions