ESPN Reports: POR MIN working on deal 2 1st and vet SF from another team?

[Nikolokolus]

Or they could get Paul Pierce and Kenneth Faried with those picks. Or Darko and Ndudi Ebi. Who knows? But no one knows what's going to be available next June. I'm pretty sure no one on this board (or draftniks like Ford, or GMs) thought "man, if I can wiggle up the the #6 I can snag Damien Lillard!" I'm pretty sure no one was saying "I don't care if I have the 19th pick---I'm not taking Sullinger"

But we got Gerald Wallace for basically a lotto-protected future first and a pick that came from trading away our backup SG.

Look, there's definitely a time and a place to trade a player for picks, but for the picks being discussed I don't think they're exactly more valuable than 4 more years of Nicolas ... even a somewhat overpaid Nicolas.

 

[Further]

I'm ok overpaying, that's what PA is for, I just don't want to be bent over and fucked by the Minnesota snowtards. My guess is that PA feels the same way. That's what his 14 billion is for.

 

[BrianFromWA]

yes, I slobbered over Webster. He got injured and isn't good. And no, I'm not outraged at giving Nic a 4-yr deal. I'm not "outraged" at anything here, unless they let him walk for nothing. I'm pretty sure I never advocated giving Webster the same level of deal as LMA.

I'm saying the smart play is to not pay him LaMarcus Aldridge extension money. And since you're not doing that, taking what's probably going to be a lotto pick and a pick in the late teens to add to our lotto pick is a decent deal. Adding Williams to it would make it a no-brainer.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

Trading Gerald Wallace to the Nets was smart because the Nets sucked - Deron was in and out, Lopez was out for the year, and 20 games of Gerald wasn't going to make them some super team immediately. That is COMPLETELY different than trading our (other) starting SF to a half way decent team that isn't virtually guaranteed to draft in the lotto (at the time we traded for the unprotected pick, they were like 4th or something - so its reasonable to assume they wouldn't drop 9 spots or whatever it is). It would be like the Celtics trading Ray Allen to the Orlando Magic for JJ Redick and a couple picks, and them expecting those picks to somehow be lottery picks, despite them giving up a superior player for virtually nothing. It is safe to assume that by giving up a better player (to an almost playoff team, prior to injuries and what not - and filling there biggest need) that they will finish better than they previously did; therefore, it would be of poor judgement to expect that pick to be in the lottery range.

I hate to say it with the Minny fans trolling us left and right, but if we give them Batum for that shit package? They've significantly upgraded there team while giving up very little. Rubio, Batum, Love, Pekovic is a solid core 4 to play with, depending on Rubio's health and ability to gain a shot. At the very least, I'd see them making the first round - possibly challenging for more.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm ok agreeing to disagree here. As I said, I'm not going to curse the heavens if we sign Nic, or be too sad if we get two picks back for him with some other asset. Just letting him walk for nothing (which I think there's a 1% chance of, IF he gets ballsy and just signs the QO) would upset me, but that's it.

I see the points that Nik, PapaG and you are making, I just don't buy into them. I think that Rubio's not going to be great for a bit coming off his surgery--I think "I expect to start" Roy is going to be more a distraction than a benefit for them, and I think that they're still missing a couple of players if they want an Adelman free-flowing offense.

 

[BBert]

Re: ESPN Reports: POR & MIN working on deal 2-1st picks and SF vet from another team?

If the Wolves are willing to trade Williams to the 76ers, why wouldn't they be willing to trade him to Portland?

No. Shit.

 

[BBert]

Re: ESPN Reports: POR & MIN working on deal 2-1st picks and SF vet from another team?

Jason Quick: "I have enough trouble running my own company, let alone running Minnesota’s as well,'' Olshey said re: no offer sheet presented to Batum. 4 minutes ago

Man I love Olshey. LOL

 

[BrianFromWA]

he's making a name for himself this week. Crushing agents, staring down other GMs, not backing down from players, the odd quip here and there...I'm liking what I see so far.

 

[Nikolokolus]

he's making a name for himself this week. Crushing agents, staring down other GMs, not backing down from players, the odd quip here and there...I'm liking what I see so far.

It doesn't add up to a fart in the wind as far as building a team goes, but it's fun to hear and it gives fans something to feel good about ... and that's important, especially with all of the losing we're probably going to endure for at least the next couple of years.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

I'm ok agreeing to disagree here. As I said, I'm not going to curse the heavens if we sign Nic, or be too sad if we get two picks back for him with some other asset. Just letting him walk for nothing (which I think there's a 1% chance of, IF he gets ballsy and just signs the QO) would upset me, but that's it.

I see the points that Nik, PapaG and you are making, I just don't buy into them. I think that Rubio's not going to be great for a bit coming off his surgery--I think "I expect to start" Roy is going to be more a distraction than a benefit for them, and I think that they're still missing a couple of players if they want an Adelman free-flowing offense.

Fair enough - I definitely understand your point, I just think that settling for two 15-25 picks just eats at our cap and doesn't really give us a solid player. As posted on BE some point today, Golliver made a nice point: Is batum worth Nolan Smith, Luke Babbitt, and future cap space? Is that a fair trade? Because that's the most likely scenario of what type of players we would be looking at. A diamond in the rough would be nice - but I'd rather have the Bobcats first rounder for Batum straight up than some shit package. Like I said, I'm not sold on Rubio, but Batum fills a major need of theres, which could legitimately put them in the 4-5-6 seed. If we are going to help a rival, I want to ream them for everything they have.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Don't call Minnesota a rival ... that demeans real rivalries everywhere.

 

[BBert]

Most importantly......are you listening.......is that we'll be bad enough to earn another Lottery pick next year. Another chance at Lottery greatness!!!

Hey, it worked for the Thunder.

 

[MickZagger]

Nic for Korver and a late 1st and I'll cry. More lottery balls though.... I guess.

 

[Blazer4ever]

If we're letting Batum go a player I like from the T-Wolves is Luke Ridnour. The kind of PG that can be a good backup to Lillard and also play with him.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I just saw that ESPN insider had something about a possible Minny, PDX, Chicago deal; does that mean Luol Deng could be the SF?

 

[oldguy]

Seems more likely it means Korver is the SF.

That would SUCK!

Go Blazers

 

[Mediocre Man]

I just saw that ESPN insider had something about a possible Minny, PDX, Chicago deal; does that mean Luol Deng could be the SF?

I have insider, and don't see anything about Deng. It's reportedly Korver, which wouldn't be horrible for cap purposes next year, along with our own lottery pick and two additional 1sts. I would think it would cost more though

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I have insider, and don't see anything about Deng. It's reportedly Korver, which wouldn't be horrible for cap purposes next year, along with our own lottery pick and two additional 1sts. I would think it would cost more though

So, does ESPN say anything about Korver, or is that from a different source? I know for sure that Olshey is not going to let Batum go for two late picks and Korver; i will guarantee it right now, just like Broadway Joe guaranteed a super bowl victory!

 

[RR7]

So, does ESPN say anything about Korver, or is that from a different source? I know for sure that Olshey is not going to let Batum go for two late picks and Korver; i will guarantee it right now, just like Broadway Joe guaranteed a super bowl victory!

The original article was editedto say Korver.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are attempting to acquire free-agent forward Nicolas Batum in a three-team trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls, a league source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.

Portland would receive shooting guard Kyle Korver from Chicago and two future first-round draft picks from Minnesota, according to the source. The Bulls would acquire a second-round pick from the Timberwolves, the source said.

 

[Mediocre Man]

So, does ESPN say anything about Korver, or is that from a different source? I know for sure that Olshey is not going to let Batum go for two late picks and Korver; i will guarantee it right now, just like Broadway Joe guaranteed a super bowl victory!

The Minnesota Timberwolves badly want small forward Nicolas Batum and ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reports they're trying to make it happen though a three-team trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls.

A source tells Bucher that Minnesota would get Batum. Portland would receive two future first round picks from the Wolves and Kyle Korver from the Bulls. The Bulls would receive a second round pick from the Wolves to complete the deal.

Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn reportedly will give Batum an offer sheet that's worth between $40-$50 million if a trade can't get done. Blazers general manager Neil Olshey reiterated on Wednesday that he will match it, reports The Oregonian.

The Wolves simply don't have enough cap room right now to make that offer to Batum unless they trade another contract -- J.J. Barea or Luke Ridnour -- and that's probably why Olshey isn't worried.

"It's called the Wrath of Kahn," Olshey said when asked about the delay of the offer sheet from the Wolves.

http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/features/rumors

 

[NorthBayBaller]

Nope. I fully believe that paying 45M over the next 4 years to a slightly-above average SF is less valuable to a rebuilding team than draft picks and cap space.

And there's no way...NO WAY...that you can defend Nic making 4/45 as 'within the market price.'

If POR matched this, people already have criticized it. Getting two picks for a guy going away anyway b/c you don't want to hamstring yourself is a steal.

Someone who gets it.

 

[barfo]

What doesn't make sense about this is, why would Portland say "go out and get us Korver, and you've got a deal"? Korver may technically be a SF, but he's no better than anything we could pick up from the veteran's minimum free agency pool. A not-very good player at any other position would seem to serve the purpose just as well. Why wouldn't we just take Ridnour, if Ridnour is what MN would be giving the Bulls for Korver?

barfo

 

[Eastoff]

What doesn't make sense about this is, why would Portland say "go out and get us Korver, and you've got a deal"? Korver may technically be a SF, but he's no better than anything we could pick up from the veteran's minimum free agency pool. A not-very good player at any other position would seem to serve the purpose just as well. Why wouldn't we just take Ridnour, if Ridnour is what MN would be giving the Bulls for Korver?

barfo

We called their bluff, and now Minnie is taking it to the next step and continuing to raise the pot. They are going through the motions hoping we flinch.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Is there much difference between Korver and Luke? Maybe if you were a title contender, but really how much difference is there. They both are designated outside shooters. Claver needs minutes as well. I just don't see Korver as a keeper. I would rather have Wes Matthews as my SF than Korver.

 

[Duckhook]

Is there much difference between Korver and Luke? Maybe if you were a title contender, but really how much difference is there. They both are designated outside shooters. Claver needs minutes as well. I just don't see Korver as a keeper. I would rather have Wes Matthews as my SF than Korver.

^^THIS^^

 

[Nikolokolus]

Someone who gets it.

If the compensation wasn't so poor I'd agree. Frankly I'd rather have cap room to make an unbalanced trade than two picks in the twenties in what many are predicting will be a terrible draft.

 

[Blazer4ever]

TimberWolves to amnesty Darko?...

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/222269/Timberwolves_To_Amnesty_Darko_In_Order_To_Chase_Batum

 

[crandc]

If Minny wants Nic that badly, they can just give Portland more for him. Or no deal. Hardball, Neil!

 

[Eastoff]

TimberWolves to amnesty Darko?...

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/222269/Timberwolves_To_Amnesty_Darko_In_Order_To_Chase_Batum

Who posted the video of Kahn talking up Darko just the other day? TOO FUNNY!

 

[Duckhook]

If Minny wants Nic that badly, they can just give Portland more for him. Or no deal. Hardball, Neil!

Agreed. Any while we're at it, pick up Webster or Darko on the cheap, and then match Batum. I still don't see what leverage Kahn thinks he has here - if Batum REALLY wants to play in Minny, decline our match, and sign for the QO. We get Nic for 1 more year and can plan around not having him in 2013.