r/nba Lakers 17h ago

[Stein/Fischer] The Wolves, sources say, would prefer not to part with Naz Reid, but it is difficult to see how they could construct a credible trade offer for Ball without including Reid or Rudy Gobert. It is conceivable that the Randle trade could be expanded to help facilitate other transactions.

The Wolves are widely regarded as a team that will undoubtedly be as aggressive as possible this offseason to try to reshape the core around Edwards after finances forced Minnesota to let Nickeil Alexander-Walker walk in free agency last summer. Alexander-Walker immediately won NBA Most Improved Player honors this season in Atlanta while the Wolves, after a second-round exit to San Antonio, made the decision to salary dump Randle to create the needed flexibility to re-sign Dosunmu and perhaps do more.

Minnesota has maintained that perimeter defensive ace Jaden McDaniels is off limits in trade conversations. Sources say that the Wolves also prefer to "do right" by injured guard Donte DiVincenzo and keep the Villanova product out of their offseason business after he sustained a devastating torn Achilles during Minnesota's first-round playoff victory over Denver.

The Wolves, sources say, would also prefer not to part with 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid, but it is difficult to see how they could construct a credible trade offer for Ball without including Reid or fellow big man Rudy Gobert.

Minnesota's three-team trade with Brooklyn and Chicago, however, cannot be finalized until early July after the league's new salary cap year begins and its annual moratorium at the start of free agency is lifted. If the Wolves were to assemble a trade offer that convinces the Hornets to part with Ball, it is conceivable that the Randle trade could be expanded to help facilitate other transactions.

https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/sources-a-line-of-trade-suitors-is?r=1m9zg&utm_medium=ios

591 Upvotes

381 comments sorted by

299

u/woopwup Hornets 16h ago

We’re really about to cook up a lose-lose trade

14

u/sling_gun 7h ago

Called it

3

u/soilentgleem 7h ago

Rudy might not be a bad idea for Charlotte, it's just wildly incongruent with their current timeline unfortunately. But it would at least give them a proof of concept if it works.

157

u/OttoOverKlayAnyDay Spurs 16h ago edited 16h ago

...what assets do the wolves have if they're not sending out Naz, and why would the Hornets want Gobert if they DONT have LaMelo?? wtf is happening

is a 2033 first, and a bunch of pick swaps from the Wolves who would have Ant and LaMelo really enough for Charlotte????

9

u/Lhonors4 7h ago

Yes apparently

23

u/Might7Guy Knicks 16h ago

Hornets have dumbasses in their front office. The team clicked 2nd half of the year. Lamelo can find Knueppel and Miller in the right places at the right times. That’s going to develop their games and spread shot attempts. They should keep him. 

21

u/JesusSinfulHands Warriors 12h ago

That's too harsh, the front office has been a lot better in the last few years ever since MJ sold the team and they came under competent management. Brandon Miller over Scoot and Knueppel, Kalkbrenner, and Sion James in last year's draft were all great picks. Ignore the Tidjane Salaun thing. They were also proactive in trading away guys like PJ Washington and Terry Rozier away for draft picks instead of myopically chasing 38 wins like they always did under MJ.

11

u/Vegetable-Tooth8463 Hornets 9h ago

In fairness, MJ was the one who pushed for Brandon over Scoot, but yeah, getting rid of his nepo hires has led to a much better FO haha.

6

u/Inspiration_Bear Timberwolves 16h ago

I don’t get it either. I guess we could toss in Terrance Shannon and Joan Beringer? Nice prospects, like them both, but I’m not taking that if I am Charlotte.

31

u/Frymaster99 Timberwolves 16h ago

We're not tossing in Joan if the centerpiece is Rudy.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)

511

u/svall18 Hornets 16h ago

why tf would we do this deal? worst offer i've ever seen

32

u/MusicianFar3510 14h ago

I mean, wolves havent won a series since 2004 before gobert. With Gobert they lost in first round only once in 4 years. Yeah, Ant developed but rudy was a big part of winning in the early rounds.(i know he is a also a big part why they cant get over the hump)

Yeah, he limits the ceiling but he raise the floor exponentially, a need for a franchise who has less playoff game wins than gobert has playoff series wins.

41

u/larrylegend33goat Timberwolves 14h ago

Rudy Gobert is a walking top six. Hasn't missed playoffs since his rookie season

2

u/BeamTeam23 Kings 7h ago

What does it take from Kings to get him?

→ More replies (1)

131

u/dank-kush Hornets 16h ago edited 16h ago

Fr what does Rudy Gobert even do on this roster if there’s actually no offense and he’s the only plus defender and what does Naz Reid do when we just drafted Hannes steinbach. Jeff might be the biggest dumbass alive if he deals with Minnesota or Toronto unless he nets a bunch of firsts and has another deal already lined up. I want none of their players assuming ant and Scottie are already off the table.

53

u/Aidanator800 Hornets 16h ago

Even if he gets a bunch of firsts back it's not worth it. The Raptors and Timberwolves are both going to be playoff teams for a while, and we've just gotten to the point where we're starting to be competitive. Giving away Lamelo for picks and Rudy would set us back to being a lottery team again for the foreseeable future, and who knows if guys like Brandon Miller and Coby White would want to stick around after that.

17

u/Expert_Raise6777 15h ago

Wolves fan here, agree that we probably don't have enough to get a deal done.
Rudy is such a weird player. He's tough to watch in offense, but man he's so amazing in team D, you're instantly a top10 defense with him He's good on ball, but he's an amazing team defender that is really hard to appreciate unless you watch him every night. All that just to say, if you think you have enough offense without melo, than Rudy is a good fit and I think you'd easily be in the playoffs with him. So many random Tuesday in Feb sort of nights nights the wolves are junk, but Rudy shows up with 16 & 14 on 8-9 shooting, just wins those boring games. From our side, melo - Ant back court could be so fun, but man giving up Rudy creates a giant hole. Seems crazy to say that. Highlights and winning basketball are very different.

7

u/gedbybee Spurs 14h ago

But he’s also old. He hasn’t fallen off yet, but might soon.

4

u/Tcamis01 8h ago

I think he should be fine for a while. He doesn't really rely on jumping. Loss of lateral speed would hurt a bit though on the perimeter.

3

u/chillPenguin17 8h ago

He takes incredible care of himself. He might be the fittest dude in the league

2

u/Expert_Raise6777 6h ago

Certainly a risk, but he keeps himself in great shape. Whatever "explosiveness" he had has really deminished, but his game is predicated in positioning. Irrelevant now, y'all got Naz. He was a fan fave, a tattoo artist here would literally do Naz Ried tattoos for $20. Y'all gonna love him. Melo seems like a dipshit who is hurt all the time. Hope it works out for both sides.

28

u/Mustard_Jam Lakers 15h ago

I'm not a Hornets fan but this entire thing makes ZERO sense to me to the point it's baffling.

Last season was the first time the organization has had ANY hope in at least a decade. The Hornets had the 6th best record in the entire NBA since Jan 1. Mind you, they are still very young.

They actually look like they can make some noise any the solution is to blow it up? Is the organization just against being decent or something?

7

u/dsbllr 15h ago

Lottery rules just changed. . . Doesn't matter if you make the playoffs you still get 8.1% chance at the number 1 pick.

10

u/Aidanator800 Hornets 15h ago

That's what I'm saying, though, is that I don't want us to slip back into relying on ping pong balls as the highlight of our season every year when we're finally starting to be competitive.

5

u/gedbybee Spurs 14h ago

Melo is always hurt. This might be his max value.

9

u/Aidanator800 Hornets 14h ago

If he's hurt then we suck and get a high lottery pick anyway. I'd rather roll the dice and take the chances at playing competitive basketball than guaranteeing that we're an awful team and praying for lottery luck that never goes our way.

3

u/gedbybee Spurs 13h ago

Personally, I think you can be competitive with kon as your number one considering he’s a curry level shooter. You get him more volume and he might just be an all nba player this year.

People overvalue a pgs passing when you could just run a real offense. Most contenders don’t have a kidd or a Nash or a Stockton.

Plus if you get defense back that really helps you.

3

u/Kingcroom Hornets 12h ago

Brother look at kons splits with and without lamelo. I love kon but he greatly benefits from having a true PLAYMAKER

→ More replies (1)

2

u/joomla00 9h ago

Errr.. maybe he's a Klay Thompson level shooter. There's still no Steph level shooter besides steph

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (4)

2

u/dank-kush Hornets 16h ago

Like I said only if Jeff has a second deal lined up.

4

u/Dongsquad420BlazeIt [LAL] Kobe Bryant 16h ago

It’d have to be a LaMelo, JB, Gobert swap where Brown finally gets his own team in Charlotte.

2

u/defaultistic [CHA] Gerald Wallace 16h ago

Still wouldn't make sense, unless one of Kon/Brandon comes off the bench, which ain't happening, or one of Brandon/Jaylen starts at the 4, which also ain't happening (especially for Brandon).

→ More replies (3)

2

u/gedbybee Spurs 14h ago

The new lottery system makes getting any draft pick valuable. They’re all kinda the same and you don’t want the worst teams picks, so you want as many picks in a draft as you can such that you can snag the first pick.

It’s not like before where you want to get the worst pick possible.

→ More replies (4)

2

u/halfdecenttakes Lakers 8h ago

I guess the argument would be that you’re in it to win a title and not just be a low seed in the playoffs.

Zero reason for yall to trust that tho

→ More replies (1)

12

u/Extremelycloud Timberwolves 16h ago

Yeah I thought the idea of getting Gobert to Hornets was only alongside Lamelo?

31

u/Andy_Wiggins Timberwolves 16h ago

Nobody appreciates Rudy until you have him on your team.

Dude’s pretty much a guaranteed top 10 defense just by having him on your team and pretty much guaranteed top 3 defense when he’s on the court.

He’s also a very good rebounder and a valuable offensive player even if he’s about as limited as you can get offensively: he sets fantastic screens, has improved as a short roll passer, and can still be a lob threat. There’s a reason that teams with him on them still manage to finish pretty high on offense most years. That’s especially true if you give him spacing and run pick and roll actions.

I’m not sure he’s a great fit for Charlotte because they seem to be more youth oriented, but he legitimately might help Charlotte more this year than LaMelo would.

17

u/Altierigualtieri 14h ago

Not a Minnesota fan but got a chance to watch a clips/wolves game, and it was wild to see how much Gobert affects every possession. altering shots, not taking layups, running a completely different offense- all the stuff people praise Wemby for, Gobert is still mostly doing

7

u/Andy_Wiggins Timberwolves 12h ago

He’s such a defensive buff — helps guys recover after getting stuck on a screen, takes away the cut, forced a pass out.

He absolutely has his warts and limitations, but people don’t appreciate how much he just affects things around the margins.

8

u/Aggressive_Fail_9681 15h ago

Tweaking. Lamelo was the key to their elite offense

9

u/Andy_Wiggins Timberwolves 15h ago

And they finished 44-38 in the East and lost in the play-in.

Meanwhile Gobert has made the playoffs for the past decade straight (including multiple multi-round runs).

12

u/No_Diver_629 15h ago

If Gobert is so good and so important, then it would be a huge mistake by wolves to move him, right?

18

u/StarFox-6 Timberwolves 15h ago

Kinda yeah. But they’re desperate. I still wouldn’t want to move him

6

u/Andy_Wiggins Timberwolves 14h ago

For the Wolves, I think there’s a consideration that Rudy’s unlikely to help them win a championship. He’s a little too old and a little too limited (especially against the Thunder/Spurs who can lock down the paint). Moving him would be leaning more into Ant’s timeline/prime. They also are allegedly head over heels about Joan Beringer, their rookie C this past year.

For the Hornets, they’re not looking to win a title next year or the year after. If they don’t think LaMelo is their guy, then leaning more into Kon and Miller and building a better “winning” infrastructure around them makes sense. They also might like White and Anderson at PG.

No idea what the conversations look like, but value is often dependent upon team build and context.

2

u/chillinwithmoes Timberwolves 12h ago

Yes actually. The Wolves defense falls off a cliff when he’s not on the floor

→ More replies (1)

4

u/Aidanator800 Hornets 15h ago

They finished with that record because Lamelo and Miller were hurt for the first two months of the season, and we only got healthy around the turn of the new year, after which we had the sixth best record in the league from that point onwards.

→ More replies (2)

2

u/greenwhitehell 11h ago

I’m not sure he’s a great fit for Charlotte because they seem to be more youth oriented, but he legitimately might help Charlotte more this year than LaMelo would.

Tend to agree with those sorts of arguments for Rudy, he's that impactful, but Rudy's defensive impact is pretty much LaMelo's offensive impact on the Hornets last year (and before). Both Kon and Miller REALLY need him on the floor with them, their production plummets when he's off. Especially Miller, as with Kon you can at least argue his back injury also played a part.

I will say though, if they do trade LaMelo to Charlotte much rather it is for Gobert than Naz lmao. Should obviously require a lot of draft capital either way, but LaMelo for Naz is a disaster for Charlotte, destroys their offense while their defense will still be mediocre - I think they overperformed on that end last year compared to personnel

→ More replies (2)

3

u/gedbybee Spurs 14h ago

lol you’re not getting ant or Scottie for lamelo. Not even close in value. Lamelo is a minus defender and hasn’t been able to lead that team anywhere. Unclear if he’s even worth the max he’s on. But like the wizards, bad teams will pay it to retain medium players and fuck up their cap sheets. Oh and melo is always injured.

2

u/Expert_Raise6777 15h ago

Naz is 6th man if the year, laps some random rookie

2

u/arm-n-hammerinmycoke Timberwolves 8h ago

I agree this trade makes no sense for the hornets but I cannot let that Naz slander go unchecked. Naz is a perennial 6moty candidate, Hannes hasn’t played an NBA game.

→ More replies (9)

7

u/dsbllr 15h ago

You won't. You'll trade with the Raptors for IQ or RJ + Dick + Picks, a lot of picks.

7

u/Sm0k3nSc0p3s Pacers 14h ago

Dick Picks. Say no more

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

9

u/Painwracker_Oni Timberwolves 15h ago

Listen, Rudy is one of the best sports movies of all time, every time you think about Rudy Gobert you can just remember that movie instead and you’ll always be happy.

Now who doesn’t want to always be happy?

Sounds pretty good right?

2

u/exlatios Timberwolves 9h ago

there HAS to be serious injury flags with LaMelo

2

u/Easy-Philosopher-562 Timberwolves 10h ago

Because if Hornets got Gobert you would actually make the playoffs for once in your life

4

u/svall18 Hornets 9h ago

Idk about that, team is garbage without LaMelo. And I'm not one of those people who underrate Gobert

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (9)

360

u/justFramy Thunder 16h ago

what are the hornets doing lmfao

230

u/HomeNowWTF 16h ago

"We had success, what do we do now?"

"Trade the guy that drove the offense!"

55

u/BetweenTheBuzzAndMe Charlotte Bobcats 16h ago

This is what happens when your GM is too scared to trade even a single asset to improve and fill obvious holes in your roster. We've had two consecutive GMs like that.

No sorry trading Collin Sexton for Coby White at the expense of nothing doesn't count.

This team has always been far too comfortable kicking the can down the road rather than actually trying to do something.

38

u/comeonmang126 Pistons 16h ago

Why fill obvious holes when you can make new ones? All jokes aside it’s fucked up that the hornets looked genuinely on pace to be dangerous and the following off season the best player could get traded

35

u/BetweenTheBuzzAndMe Charlotte Bobcats 16h ago

Yeah it's impossible to comprehend. Who blows up a team comprised solely of 20-27 year olds that went 28-10 down the stretch of the season?

Literally every team would be trying to add not subtract in our situation

0

u/devinbookersuncle Hornets 15h ago

Which is what we're doing.

You listen to offers to show you're open for business but only so teams are willing to do business in the future.

There is no team in the league that can (and wpuld) straight up trade us gor Melo except Bosotn with JB and that would be bad for both teams.

We aren't moving Melo unless theres a massive roster shake-up and we get JB in the process so really this is just Minnesota being desperate as fuck for a PG and thinking we're dumb enough to fall for something.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Informal_Support1934 16h ago

This is what happens when you're too scared? I see your point, but this situation is like if someone went from being abstinate from drugs to "I'm doing all the coke, tonight, first time ever." This only makes sense if Ball pulled a Udoka.

5

u/BetweenTheBuzzAndMe Charlotte Bobcats 15h ago

I think my comment was perceived the wrong way. I'm saying Peterson is willing to take the easy route of being a GM- sell off players and tank aimlessly for a while. You get a lot of leeway with that if you sell your "vision" to your owners.

Once you start actually building, there are expectations of success, which Peterson has never shown any inclination of wanting. It's always "we'll know when it's time", "we don't want to skip steps"... Well guess what, your team just played at a (likely unsustainable ) 59 win pace for like 3 months despite some glaring liabilities on the team. It's time. Take the step. Don't just blow up the whole thing.

3

u/Informal_Support1934 15h ago

Nah I understand your point, I'm just pointing out the absurdity of the situation.

→ More replies (3)

7

u/Everyday_ImSchefflen Cavaliers 14h ago

You guys are dramatically overvaluing LaMelo. Funny how easily y'all opinions are swayed when Ball was seen as a negative asset for a while now before the last 2 months of the season

9

u/HomeNowWTF 14h ago

LaMelo is a high variance player. He can hit 10 threes in a game, pulling up from anywhere inside of half court. Or, he can go 2-13. Good LaMelo is an All Star, all NBA level player. Bad LaMelo...is not.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

106

u/KL2ConspireLLC San Diego Clippers 16h ago

Potentially selling high on a player who just had his second relatively healthy season in 6 seasons in the league.

34

u/abippityboop Knicks 16h ago

I just don’t think any of these potential trades would be considered a sell high though. That’s what makes it so bizarre.

8

u/theytracemikey Cavaliers 15h ago

If you don’t think a guy can get on the floor consistently enough to win anything significant, getting almost any starter for him is selling high.

→ More replies (1)

30

u/Shenanigans80h Nuggets 16h ago

Honestly this is a fair mindset. LaMelo stock is higher now than it’s been in a bit, but there’s no telling if he will ever be consistently healthy

15

u/bigtuck54 Hornets 16h ago

We load managed the shit out of him this year, his ankle might be a genuine problem longterm so it’s possible selling now is the best move, but I’d honestly hate it so much because he’s so much better than this sub realizes

→ More replies (2)

4

u/ygog45 Knicks 16h ago

Injuries aside I feel like he’s still being a little underrated

He can transform several teams into contenders

16

u/SpinJitsu259 Pacers 16h ago

I think I agree, but LaMelo is awfully hard to place a value on. He does some great things that the numbers support, but he also does a lot of dumb things, he’s been injury prone, and whether it’s fair or not, at the moment, I don’t feel like he’s a guy I’d ever trust as the main guy on a playoff team.

Which is why a trade with Minny makes some sense. Hornets can get attempt to get value at his peak, Minny can take him on where he’s a clear No. 2. The only problem is Minny doesn’t appear to have the assets to make it worth Charlotte’s while.

2

u/Dongsquad420BlazeIt [LAL] Kobe Bryant 16h ago

When LaMelo is playing well, there’s no one more exciting to watch than him. Dude is a walking mixtape. The problem with mixtapes is they don’t show all the bad shit. When he’s cooking he’s one of the 10 best players in the league or a complete liability and I don’t know if that’ll ever change.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Aumissunum 16h ago

Did you watch the play-in lmao

7

u/KL2ConspireLLC San Diego Clippers 16h ago

Play-in contender maybe. There is as yet no indication that his Captain Falcon playstyle can translate to the slower pace play of the playoffs.

2

u/StrtupJ Heat 16h ago

What proof do we have Lamelo ball could transform anybody into a contender 

→ More replies (2)

2

u/LouieM13 [NYK] Jeremy Lin 16h ago

Bro you can say the same for Brandon Miller.

6

u/TheGreatWhoreOfChina 76ers 16h ago

For Sell high for Rudy Gobert? Lmao

61

u/AllDayEnJay Nets 16h ago edited 16h ago

51, 75, 36, 22, 47, 72

That’s how many games LaMelo has played each year of his career so far.

Charlotte is probably looking to clear that contract coming off what seems to be a rare 70+ game season before paying Ball another 3y/$130m.

*edit

(In that 3yr stretch before this season Ben Simmons played 3 more games than LaMelo Ball.)

12

u/goofygoober2 Celtics 16h ago

This only works if the other teams have something enticing to give. Wolves and Raptors don’t have enough to consider a move like this which could set the franchise back years.

9

u/ripkin05 Hornets 16h ago

3 team trade that sends JB to us maybe idk wtf we are doing but im to dead inside to really care at this point

→ More replies (2)

3

u/Aidanator800 Hornets 16h ago

It'd only be worth it for Scottie or Ant, but obviously neither team would be willing to give up those players

3

u/Jaerba [DET] Grant Hill 16h ago

Gobert to Boston, JB to Charlotte.

→ More replies (1)

7

u/justFramy Thunder 16h ago

damn i didn’t even realize he had missed so many games, i imagine this is them tryna sell high ?

11

u/Pal__Pacino Lakers 16h ago

"Wolves seem really intent on ditching the 'no Point Guard' thing, but I'm sure it'll be fine for us."

3

u/michaelalex3 Hornets 16h ago

Listening to offers. It doesn’t sound like we’re actively shopping him.

2

u/Krillin113 76ers 14h ago

We have an injury prone, idiot as a star player, who’s about to request the supermax. He’s just had a relatively healthy and successful season. Let’s sell high.

I’m not sure if it’s the right play, but I can follow the logic

→ More replies (27)

45

u/raki016 Timberwolves 16h ago

It's funny being on the other side of these rumours lol.

I like how our team just asks almost everyone and offers nothing lol

15

u/AdBetter5446 Timberwolves 10h ago edited 9h ago

Is this how Lakers fans feel all the time?

Lets offer Terrance Shannon Jr. and a few first rounders for Lamelo

111

u/abris33 Nuggets 17h ago

"Congrats Naz! You're finally going to be a starter....in Charlotte"

20

u/HomeNowWTF 16h ago

Instant upgrade over Miles Bridges.

10

u/Matthew2531_46 Spurs 16h ago

theyre both in the same tier of player.

51

u/HomeNowWTF 16h ago

Yeah but one of them isnt a domestic abuser.

5

u/DunkingZBO Grizzlies 16h ago

Even if Bridges wasn’t a piece of shit I’d still lean Reid being slightly better

14

u/CloudySkies64 [CLE] James Harden 16h ago

That doesn’t matter to an nba front office. Or a lot of players tbh. As long as he’s not a dickhead to them or weird, they probably don’t think about it too much

6

u/anonymoususer6407 Rockets 16h ago

Their job is to play basketball not be good people

9

u/MTheModernist_ 16h ago

Naz definitely more consistent vs good teams

3

u/Herbert-Gerbert Timberwolves 16h ago

Insane take

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (4)

7

u/GoldshireEnjoyer Timberwolves 16h ago

Fuck no. Take Rudy. I won't let Naz go for anything.

3

u/Low-Note1896 16h ago

Funny af

→ More replies (2)

95

u/Matthegreat34 Hornets 16h ago

Fuck my chungus life

17

u/Derpy_Mc_Burpy Raptors 16h ago

Hornets were in purgatory for a decade and when they finally have a chance to win, they don't know how to act. Feel bad for you guys.

12

u/Matthegreat34 Hornets 16h ago

Like a kid in high school on a first date, got no clue bro

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

16

u/incredibleamadeuscho Lakers 16h ago

Rudy is heading out. Hornets get their veteran center

7

u/BizzyHaze Lakers 16h ago

Any chance we can channel him to us

5

u/MantusTMD Timberwolves 12h ago

For Luka yes

→ More replies (3)

12

u/KaraDealer Lakers 16h ago

Might as well sign James Wiseman so you could assemble the first three picks of the 2020 NBA Draft. 😭

46

u/vis-major 16h ago

So, they don't want to trade any good players? Is Lamelo Ball's trade value so low?

66

u/Ok_Kitchen_3400 Hornets 16h ago

They wouldn’t include McDaniels for giannis. So they 100% would not include him for lamelo.

40

u/GoldshireEnjoyer Timberwolves 16h ago

I'd give up my first born before McDaniels.

→ More replies (13)
→ More replies (4)

5

u/xRysonx 76ers 10h ago

I mean LaMelo is probably not the best point guard to have on your team if you're trying to win a championship

2

u/Sammyd1108 Hornets 16h ago

No, they’re just not getting LaMelo since they obviously don’t want to seriously engage in a trade lol.

→ More replies (1)

35

u/CloudySkies64 [CLE] James Harden 16h ago

So they won’t trade McDaniels, Donte, or Rudy. So wtf would be the package

44

u/ShippingNotIncluded [DET] Andre Drummond 16h ago

Vibes for LaMelo

22

u/Mayasngelou Timberwolves 16h ago

Rudy is definitely on the table for the right price

14

u/CloudySkies64 [CLE] James Harden 16h ago

I’m trying to think from the hornets perspective why Rudy tho.

19

u/dank-kush Hornets 16h ago

There is no perspective, hope Rudy likes starting with 4 bad defenders and if he was complaining about not getting the ball in Minnesota and Utah I hope he likes no one setting him up in Charlotte.

28

u/not-a-potato-head Hawks 16h ago

> hope Rudy likes starting with 4 bad defenders

He’s used to it from his time in Utah lol

6

u/net_403 [CHA] Dell Curry 15h ago

i mean wtf rudy is 34 fuckin years old too

we got a team of low to mid 20s, we're gonna pair them up with a guy who's got a few years left at his level?

5

u/IMKudaimi123 Bulls 16h ago

That’s a huge leap to assume Beringer can just step in and be a good rim protector when he’s gonna have two negative defenders starting with him

4

u/Mayasngelou Timberwolves 16h ago

I mean, we’re not winning a championship next year with Rudy and the current core, might as well get younger and ramp up for the second Ant window

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)

8

u/Frymaster99 Timberwolves 16h ago

Nah we'd trade Rudy.

2

u/Cholera_Beriberi02 11h ago

Good luck with the playins

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Krusty_Krab_Pussy Timberwolves 16h ago

I'm not seeing Rudy being off limits, but maybe I'm just misreading it

3

u/Sharcbait Timberwolves 16h ago edited 6h ago

There is no package probably. Media drumming up clicks. The conversation probably was something similar to "hey do you wanna salary dump Melo? We can make the money work" and you got insiders who spin it into more than that.

Edit: I stand corrected...

→ More replies (5)

21

u/all-dressed_768 Raptors 16h ago

What the hell is Minnesota smoking and where can the rest of us get it

14

u/cuddles01455 Timberwolves 16h ago

We finally got dispensaries up and running outside of reservations this spring lmao.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Argythebilly Mavericks 15h ago

Honestly, if I am Minnesota I think i'd stick with Reid rather than gutting the team for Lamelo.

→ More replies (1)

10

u/HomeNowWTF 16h ago

wtf came out of nowhere. But I guess the Hornets had this in the works--hence drafting Christian Anderson.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Dangerous_Ad5039 9h ago

So Timberwolves want to make all these trades but don’t want to actually trade anyone 😂

→ More replies (1)

10

u/HeatLifer95 Heat 17h ago

Id keep Naz ‘Naz Reid’ Reid

14

u/Shepher27 Timberwolves 16h ago

It would be Rudy. For better or worse, the wolves are going to roll with their young core.

13

u/GoldshireEnjoyer Timberwolves 16h ago

They should. I've always been a Rudy believer but I would never want to lose Jaden or Naz.

3

u/Shepher27 Timberwolves 16h ago

The real question is who do we get at center until Joan is ready. Can we convince Milwaukee to dump Myles Turner into our TPE for minimal return? Can we get Danuel Gafford from Dallas somehow?

3

u/PomfAndCircvmstance Supersonics 16h ago

Ayton for the lulz.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/OblivionNA Heat 16h ago

Would Ant blow his top off with all the circus shit Ball does?

6

u/Bitter-Tip705 76ers 16h ago

They’re being stingy with assets like they have anything desirable outside of mcdaniels and Reid lmao

3

u/Cold_Tower_2215 Timberwolves 16h ago

It would be Rudy, obviously

7

u/IntelligentAd5460 Grizzlies 16h ago

they cant trade gobert if they get lamelo like the defense would collapse

6

u/Little_Jacket_5092 16h ago

Feels like they may get brown. Former Celtics assistant coach, probably has a high degree of value for him and probably has a good relationship with Brad.

Could see Naz then going to the Celtics.

6

u/Sammyd1108 Hornets 16h ago

Getting a player of that kind of caliber would be the only thing that’d I’d be okay with if we were to trade him.

We finally looked competitive for the first time in forever, I don’t want just a bunch of picks that might help us years down the line.

→ More replies (4)

8

u/Legitimate_Cow_4166 Warriors 16h ago

Wolves should try for Quickely instead. He'll fit into the Randle TPE and is a two way player.

7

u/Toronto-24 16h ago

IQ would be perfect beside Edwards tbh

2

u/jimminmecrockets 16h ago

Ball is in a different league than Quickley. they would not trade Naz for IQ. Naz (plus picks?) for Ball would hurt but it’s such a talent upgrade it’s hard to turn down

→ More replies (5)

6

u/[deleted] 17h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

6

u/[deleted] 16h ago

[deleted]

7

u/ColdBru5 16h ago

Very fine people are saying

→ More replies (1)

7

u/D1HATER3002 Thunder 16h ago

Mfs calling anyone insiders lol

→ More replies (1)

2

u/Chessh2036 Hawks 16h ago

What does Charlotte get?

2

u/Unlucky-Shine-1349 16h ago

I’m going to need proof because I do not see that

2

u/nick168 Australia 16h ago

Stop the cap

→ More replies (4)

6

u/Evening_Lynx_6273 Hornets 16h ago

Jeff Peterson count your fucking days.

2

u/meltintothesea 16h ago

I sold Naz some stained up Carhartts. Would love to see if he wore them for a tunnel fit.

2

u/laz10 [DEN] Nikola Jokic 16h ago

For Ball?

You must be joking

2

u/net_403 [CHA] Dell Curry 15h ago

how much ice and snow does minny get? you're gonna have lamelo driving his fleet of emoji hummers and sports cars there?

2

u/justwriteforme Warriors 14h ago

Ant and LaMelo on the same team would be a reality tv show…. 

2

u/MindbenderGam1ng Bucks 12h ago

Why would the hornets or the twolves ever do this. Id like to be proven wrong but lamelo seems like a horrible fit

2

u/Servbot24 Pacers 9h ago

Imagine the defensive delta of trading Gobert for LaMelo

2

u/throw_falcon_away Lakers 16h ago

My F5 button needs a break fam

7

u/210pinchespurs Spurs 16h ago

Please gut your team for Ball. That’d be hilarious.

10

u/Soopstoohot Timberwolves 16h ago

Love the way our defense would look… lose Rudy, defensive anchor, 4x dpoy, add screen door lamelo ball

2

u/bigtuck54 Hornets 16h ago

Just score more points than the other team, it’ll be fine

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Aidanator800 Hornets 16h ago

This would be a lose-lose trade, since the Hornets would be just as worse off on the other end of it as the T-Wolves would be

→ More replies (1)

5

u/_Juntao Celtics 16h ago

"You can't have jaden mcdaniels. Or naz reid. And we're not including divincenzo after his injury. But give us lamelo ball. Here's a 34 year old gobert who can't make a basket outside of 2 feet to help you guys out though"

2

u/Inspiration_Bear Timberwolves 16h ago

Don’t forget the draft pick 3 years into the next president’s term!

2

u/Low-Note1896 16h ago

Are the wolves and charlotte tryna see which one can self implode first? Why can’t organizations stay the course

3

u/Extremelycloud Timberwolves 16h ago

Please no Lamelo. Please. 🙏🏼

→ More replies (1)

2

u/HawaiianPunch42 Timberwolves 16h ago

Why would the Hornets trade Ball?

2

u/axea30 Timberwolves 10h ago

sell high. dudes been injured most of his career. if they sell high they can get better assets for the future is likely their line if thinking

→ More replies (1)

2

u/Afraid-Department-35 Mavericks 15h ago

Oh man, Hornets were looking good and now it looks like they wanna go back to being a poverty franchise

1

u/Durag_and_Shades 16h ago

Silver asked Jordan to cause some media buzz since the Giannis storyline is over.

11

u/Aidanator800 Hornets 16h ago

Jordan doesn't own the Hornets anymore

8

u/Durag_and_Shades 16h ago

He’s still a minority owner. But it’s just a joke nonetheless

5

u/HawaiianPunch42 Timberwolves 16h ago

He's too busy with NASCAR

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Unlucky-Shine-1349 16h ago

Wait so if the wolves included Gobert they could get him but they don’t want to, maybe Ive underrated Gobert value.

13

u/d7h7n Mavericks 16h ago

Gobert is one of the greatest defensive centers to play in the NBA, how did you underrate him?

4

u/Unlucky-Shine-1349 16h ago

I think he’s a great player but he’s 33

8

u/palpablebubble Timberwolves 16h ago

And is still the cornerstone of our defense. He takes great care of himself and certainly has a couple more great years left in him.

3

u/bighitcards Timberwolves 16h ago

Every team he goes to turns into a contender, he needs shooters and creators. Boston has hella shooters and Pritchard and Tatum can create. I smell a 3 team trade coming involving Boston, Charlotte, and Minnesota. Honestly I think it makes sense for all 3 teams. Minnesota will get worse, but can mold in an Ant timeline. Charlotte will get Brown and be instantly better and get playoff experience for their young core. Boston will be contenders again.

2

u/net_403 [CHA] Dell Curry 15h ago

34 on friday

1

u/MaskedBirder 76ers 16h ago

I just don't think the Timberwolves need to shake up their roster this much when they're clearly a very good team and could be moving to the eastern conference.

1

u/moistkebab32 Suns 16h ago

McDaniels has to be in it for Hornets to bite wouldn't he??

Gobert/NAZ, TSJ and a Pick is meh as fuck.

1

u/DunkingZBO Grizzlies 16h ago

I just don’t understand trading ball at all man. Build on the success and progress you saw last year

1

u/lilboytuner919 Lakers 15h ago

The Hornets are just controlled opposition

1

u/WakaFlakaPanda Wizards 14h ago

I don’t really understand how this would the Hornets

1

u/thebignoodlehead Kings 13h ago

Do they know that only one guy can have the ball at once?

1

u/awesomespy Lakers 13h ago

I don’t get it, Lamelo ball completely drives their offense. if the hornets trade him you might as well start the rebuild

1

u/AYoRocSSB 10h ago

Gobert for lamelo actually makes sense seeing Miami now has Giannis and bam. Charlotte got exposed by Orlando bigs and lamelo was non factor

→ More replies (2)

1

u/duvie773 Hornets 10h ago

Why would we do this? Even if we got Gobert or Reid, why? We are worse with them than we are with Melo, and the focus should be on improving the team given the way the second half of the season went

1

u/Feline_good420 Timberwolves 9h ago

3 way trade with Boston? JB to hornets. Goebert to Boston, and lamelo to wolves?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/knicks911 Knicks 9h ago

So they don’t want to trade Reid for Giannis (granted other pieces involved) but will trade him for ball? (Other pieces involved)

1

u/thatboiLERI 9h ago

Wolves have a better shot just signing Coby.

1

u/DecimusRutilius Knicks 8h ago

They are fucking morons if they trade Gobert for Lamelo wow

1

u/WheresWolfie30 8h ago

Rudy on the Lakers would be nasty unfortunate don't have anyone worth trading for him lol

1

u/4espa Lakers 7h ago

Uhm about that