Trade Deadline HOT Board!

JJ Redick

It has been reported that teams are asking about Redick. JJ would be a perfect shooter for the triangle offense. Now here are the three problems I see with a possible JJ Redick trade:

1) The Magic are having a good season in which Vince Carter is struggling. By shipping Redick they might be trading away their best two-guard.
2) The Magic still might deal Redick but you need a sweetner or two. Brian Cardinal (or Mark Blount) and one the Wolves 6 picks in the draft should do the trick. They might not have to toss in a pick if they are willing to take on Brandon Bass’s salary.
3) The Wolves are only running the triangle 60% of the time and David Kahn insists the goal is to be a running team. If that truly is the case JJ might not be the best guard for the Wolves.
JJ Redick note: If Minnesota still has a starting role or at least a role that would give JJ 22-25 minutes, he will be the type of player the Wolves could pursue in free agency. The Magic probably won’t match because the T-Wolves can offer a bit more than others. If they want to go this way they will not have to take on Bass’s contract.

Amare Stoudemire

It has been rumored the T-Wolves are enamored with the Suns All-Star big man. David Kahn insists this isn’t true by stating, if they make a deal it will only be a “minor one” and they won’t trade away any of his core. Here are the problems I see with a possible Amare acquisition:
1) Well the Suns likely won’t any expiring contracts in exchange for Amare considering his contract comes off the books at the end of the season. So the Wolves will have to give up first round picks with the expiring deals or they will have to toss in Big Al. Tossing in Big Al would go against what David Kahn has stated.
2) Amare’s contract is up at the end of the season so the Wolves will have to have some type of agreement in place before making the trade.
3) Amare is a risky player to acquire. He is going to cost a ton of money and he will receive a long term deal. Problem is he is injury prone and you don’t know how he will play without Steve Nash. The next issue is if you trade for him he will make the Wolves good enough to take them out of the sweepstakes for the #1 or #2 pick. Why is that a problem? Well because the Wolves would then have no cap space to sign upgrades and will have a lower pick in a weak draft.

Andre Iguodala

The other A.I. is young, athletic, never injured (6 missed games in his career), and the perfect complimentary player. Philly is apparently only seeking expiring contracts. According to John Hollinger this trade would add 8 or more wins than the Wolves would get without Iguodala. He also would not break the bank. They could still draft a guy like DeMarcus Cousins or Hassan Whiteside or even sign an athlete like Hakim Warrick. So why not make this trade? Well because for all of the reasons I just listed Andre has now become the hottest name on the market. So if everyone wants him you have to make your offer stand out. The Wolves do have draft picks to dangle, but I think the team who is also willing to take on Samuel Dalembert’s salary will get Iguodala. For the record I think the Rockets are the team in the best situation to acquire Igoudala because they have T-Mac’s contract.

Luol Deng

Another rumor has the Wolves going after Deng. Luol would be a very good complimentary player. All Chicago wants is expiring contracts. So what are the problems with this trade?

1) His contract is bad……I mean bad.
2) His contract is bad because he is injury prone and not a game changing player
3) His contract is bad……I mean bad

Rudy Gay/Hasheem Thabeet

These two guys are interesting to me. The fact the Grizzlies are willing to part with these two tell me they are not trying to win. I think they have ulterior motives (maybe sell fewer tickets, sell the franchise, and move the team). They have cap space and control Gay’s rights and they just drafted Thabeet #2 overall this year. I just don’t get it. Neither guy has a big contract so that means they will want something in return. I don’t think the Wolves have anything to trade the Grizz to make this work.

That is all for now. As the deadline gets closer we will re-visit the topic.