I could go on and on but I'm going to keep it to a simple question;

Assuming outr two biggest needs are PG and C, would you rather:

1) Obtain the PG through the draft (pick 5-7): Jrue Holiday/Jeff Teague/Brandon Jennings
AND
obtain the C through a trade (Mike Miller + pick?): Tyson Chandler/Samuel Dalembert/DeSagana Diop (requires filler from the 'Cats)

2) Obtain the C through the draft (pick 5-7): Hasheem Thabeet/Cole Aldrich
AND
obtain the PG through a trade (same package): Kirk Hinrich/Raymond Felton s&t

I'm easily choosing option 1. Because neither Felton or Hinrich are good enough to pass up on an opportunity to get a starting C like Chandler and Dalembert.

Lol, a crazy thoguht hit my head; what if B-Diddy was available to the TWolves? No surprise Clippers made a mistake signing him (Mike DUnleavy Sr is a HORRIBLE coach) and want to deal him... he would strive in McHale's free wheeling offense and having a monster down low like Al Jeff.

I can dream, can I?

This franchise needs to do everything in its power to obtain Rubio. If he's not available then I think it makes sense to take the best player available (Harden, Thabeet, Holiday, etc.). After one of those, the second priority is going after a solid young center that can come off the bench to supplement Al for 20-24 minutes a game and provide some height against the Lakers and Celtics of the league (Dalembert or Chandler would be perfect).

Clearly Option 1. Hinrich/Felton wouldn't even compare to Dalembert/Chandler.

Also, both DeROK and I wanted us to trade for BDiddy when he left the Hornets, because we had Latrell Sprewell's expiring contract. I wanted him sooooooooooooo bad, but everyone was worried about "injury concerns." I was really mad when we didn't even try to get him. He could have been great with KG, and he'd still be solid now with Big Al.

Think Miller+Bassy+pick would be enough to entice the Clips? I'd hate to give up Bassy, but they obviously would need a PG on the way back...

Unless of course the pick would be a PG, but in order for them to get someone at least decent it would have to be Miami's pick.

From Britt Robson/On The Ball:
It's no secret that heading into what is expected to be an active and highly productive off-season for Minnesota, the team's biggest needs are a legit big man to defend the paint and a more capable all-around point guard. Every now and then, Telfair teases you into thinking that with a little more seasoning--he's just 23, after all--he might be able to emerge as that complete player at the point. At worst, he seems to be a capable backup, and a relative bargain for the $4.8 million he's getting for this year and next (with a player option for $2.7 m the year after that). But then he starts fancying himself a scorer, or goes into one of those funks like he did in the turnover-filled second quarter against Memphis, or Saturday night's third period versus Augustin and the Bobcats, and the doubts re-emerge. All that said, no player on the Wolves' roster has so dramatically improved his stock over the past two years. And no player has a greater opportunity fulfill a vital need on this ballclub in the next two years.

Britt agrees!

czaras wrote:
From Britt Robson/On The Ball:
It's no secret that heading into what is expected to be an active and highly productive off-season for Minnesota, the team's biggest needs are a legit big man to defend the paint and a more capable all-around point guard. Every now and then, Telfair teases you into thinking that with a little more seasoning--he's just 23, after all--he might be able to emerge as that complete player at the point. At worst, he seems to be a capable backup, and a relative bargain for the $4.8 million he's getting for this year and next (with a player option for $2.7 m the year after that). But then he starts fancying himself a scorer, or goes into one of those funks like he did in the turnover-filled second quarter against Memphis, or Saturday night's third period versus Augustin and the Bobcats, and the doubts re-emerge. All that said, no player on the Wolves' roster has so dramatically improved his stock over the past two years. And no player has a greater opportunity fulfill a vital need on this ballclub in the next two years.

Britt agrees!


Never a bad thing when Britt Robson agrees with ya!

RUBIO

Option #1 is far and away the much better route to go.

If the Hornets make a run in the playoffs I'm not sure they'll be looking to get rid of Chandler anymore. At the very least, they won't give him away like the deal with OKC.

Dalembert could most likely be had for nothing but expirings. He'd be perfect on our team and I've always liked him, so that'd be cool if we got him.

-Mike Miller - 1 yr $9.8 mil
-Craig Smith - 1 yr $2.3 mil
-Bobby Brown - 1 yr $736k (if he accepts his player option)
-Utah or Boston pick

for

-Samuel Dalembert - 2 yrs $12.1 mil
-Jason Smith - 1 yr +TO $1.4 mil
-protected future 1st round pick

If we could fill our hole at center with this trade, the only other massive gap on our roster is at PG. Getting Rubio would be of the utmost importance and I think is actually possible if we don't end up getting a Top 2 pick.

Washington could possibly be coaxed out of their pick with a trade something like this:

-Our pick
-Utah or Boston pick (whichever is left after Dalembert trade, and then Washington could sell it during the draft if they wanted to)
-2nd round pick

for

-Washington pick
-Etan Thomas - 1 yr $7.3 mil

With the thinking being that we will be far enough under the cap to absorb one of Washington's large contracts without giving back salary in return. Washington has a huge bloated payroll and I think they would go for something like this. Maybe we'd have to give back a young player in the trade or our Miami pick as well? Who knows, I don't know what the going rate for a Top 3 pick is from a team that kind of wants to get rid of it.

So say we draft Rubio and then either a SG or SF with the Heat pick (DeRozan, Evan Turner, James Johnson, etc.)

Roster

PG: Rubio, Bassy
SG: Foye, Brewer, heat pick
SF: Gomes, Brewer, heat pick
PF: AL, Love
C: Dalembert, AL

Others: Jason Smith, Etan Thomas, Cardinal, Maddog

Now THAT's a team that I can root for. I don't think anyone can argue that this scenario is unrealistic either. The hardest part would probably be convincing Glen Taylor to: 1. take on Dalembert's large salary 2. take on Etan Thomas' contract. It takes money to make money.

If this were to go down everybody would be talking about us as the up-and-coming team that's going to be a contender in a couple of years.

Let's make it happen.

I like yer thinking, Roundhouse!

Washington more than likely will be trading down due to their payroll, and we've the room to make that move.
I'm rooting for us to get Chandler rather Dalembert, though. and if we could pick up Evan Turner as our second or third pick, it would be a brilliant off-season!

PG: Rubio, Bassy
SG: Brewer, Foye, Turner
SF: Gomes, Brewer, Turner
PF: Jefferson, Love
C: Chandler, Jefferson

and I'd love it if Foye would become the 6th man we need him to be.

SlimPickens wrote:
I like yer thinking, Roundhouse!

Washington more than likely will be trading down due to their payroll, and we've the room to make that move.
I'm rooting for us to get Chandler rather Dalembert, though. and if we could pick up Evan Turner as our second or third pick, it would be a brilliant off-season!

PG: Rubio, Bassy
SG: Brewer, Foye, Turner
SF: Gomes, Brewer, Turner
PF: Jefferson, Love
C: Chandler, Jefferson

and I'd love it if Foye would become the 6th man we need him to be.

That would be great, even better than what I laid out, but I find it slightly not doable.

The Hornets have no need for Mike Miller. What they really need is depth down low. Trading Chandler for Miller would only further compound the problem. They'd never go for it and I think we'd have to add something valuable in the trade, such as the Heat pick.

On the other hand, the Sixers are DESPERATE for a sharpshooter while having a lot of big man depth. Dalembert is perceived as having less value and a worse contract than Chandler and thus easier to obtain. Personally, I think Dalembert is underappreciated and people are biased because of his contract (which is almost identical to Chandler's). This is a win-win no-brainer trade for both teams.

I'd opt for Dalembert who is only one year older than Chandler and keep the Heat pick.

Either of those scenarios would be great! Howl to Roundhouse for the awesome post.

Do you think that if we spam Jim Stack's email with countless TRADE MILLER FOR DALEMBERT emails he will actually scratch his head before deleting them?

Stack: "Freddie, something's wrong with my email, I've got countless emails about trading Mike Miller for Samuel Dalembert from Philadelphia... errr?"

Hoiberg: "Beats me Jim... but it's not that bad of an id- shit, it's Mac!"

McHale: "Howdy boys! Whatcha talking about? Anyone up for some deer hunting in our wonderful Minnesotan wilderness later in the evening?"

Stack: "Sure, sure, Mac..."

AND IT'S DOWN!

Hm...I'll have to go with option 1 also.

It would be awesome if we could get Dalembert.

I think Dalembert would fit in wonderfully playing center besides Al/Love.

I hope this happens. We have more than enough assets to trade for him, especially because of all the rumors about Philly trying to get rid of him because of his contract.

I agree, but my only concern, and change of mind to the tune of Chandler, is/are the mumblings (?) of a poor attitude, that I keep hearing/reading about.

I seem to recall more than a couple angry sixers posts that highlighted Mr. Dalembert over the last year...
Anyone have any info to share on that?


Otherwise that'd be great!

Just don't want any new cancers to join the squad, ya dig?

Hrm, we could send some reconaissance to some Philly and NOLA bloggers about those guys.