Cole Aldrich‘s contract has been a topic of trade conversation in July. Here are five viable options the Minnesota Timberwolves have to trade him.
As the Minnesota Timberwolves look to clear up more cap space and shore up some of their remaining holes, a Cole Aldrich trade has become a popular idea.
He appears to be the easiest remaining player to trade as Minnesota continues their roster overhaul this summer.
Aldrich is set to make $7,300,000 during the 2017-18 season and $6,956,021 in 2018-19 (most of which is non-guaranteed).
The cap figure is the biggest barrier to any trade involving the Bloomington, MN product. Not many teams have salary cap space remaining after last year’s summer spending spree.
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The limited money means limited partners for Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden. Any trade involving Aldrich most certainly means that Minnesota will not want to bring back salary.
They will also have to give up an asset in order to convince another team to agree to the deal.
The Timberwolves don’t have many assets remaining that they will want to move. The only potential options include Nemanja Bjelica, Gorgui Dieng, Tyus Jones and the 2018 lottery-protected first round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
When you combine Thibodeau’s affliction for Dieng along with the power forward’s four-year $64 million contract extension that kicks in this season, you can pretty much cross him off the list.
Bjelica makes sense for Minnesota to keep as he is only owed $4 million this year and is a restricted free agent next season. The Timberwolves need any and all cheap players they can get given their current cap situation.
Jones is another player who is on a cheap deal as he has two seasons left on his rookie contract which will see him paid less than $2.5 million each year. However, Jones probably doesn’t carry very much trade value.
That only leaves the Thunder’s first round pick. Since Minnesota still owes the Atlanta Hawks their first round pick for next year (assuming they make the playoffs), they have rightfully been reluctant to attach it to any trade as a sweetener.
However, if Minnesota is serious about trading Aldrich they should do the following: 1. Attach the pick in a trade and 2. read this article for great trade ideas.
Knowing that Thibodeau is reluctant to give up the first round pick, this is a way for the Atlanta Hawks and Wolves to compromise on a trade.
Minnesota wouldn’t be clearing up much cap space in this deal as Marco Belinelli is owed $6.6 million next season, the last year of his deal. That’s okay for Thibs because clearing cap space isn’t the reason he makes this trade.
Belinelli’s shooting ability is the reason. A career 37.7 percent 3-point shooter, the Italian appears to have re-discovered his stroke last year by shooting 36 percent with the Charlotte Hornets. That’s still not up to par with his career best 43 percent back in 2013-14 but is loads better than when he shot 30 percent two seasons ago.
Despite the recent ups and downs in Beli’s shooting, he has maintained a steady scoring average around 10 points per game. This is where he will help Minnesota the most as they need to continue to add depth on the perimeter.
He can also play and defend both the shooting guard and small forward spots. Although he isn’t known for his defensive ability, he can still hold his own on that end of the floor.
In return for Belinelli’s contract, the Timberwolves get out from underneath the remaining money on Aldrich’s deal. In order to do that, however, it cost them a 2018 second round pick.
The added flexibility in free agency next year (since Belinelli’s money comes off the books) is worth giving up the second rounder.
The only way Minnesota is going to be able to effectively dump Aldrich’s contract is by attaching something of value to it. In this case, they used the newly acquire Thunder’s first-round draft pick.
In return, they get Quincy Acy who is nothing but a spot filler. Acy had the best season of his career, points-wise, last year by averaging 6.5 points per game.
He wouldn’t see the floor for the Wolves put can provide some nice frontcourt insurance. At 6-foot-7 he’s a bit undersized for a power forward but makes up for that with his strength. He’s made a decent career for himself after being selected with the 37th pick in the 2012 draft.
Setting Acy to the side, this move is about opening cap space for Minnesota to sign a better free agent to fit on the bench. The Timberwolves would have about $7 million in cap room after making this move.
That $7 million is enough to sign another decent backup wing or point guard.
As it stands, Minnesota is in desperate shape for some depth as they are one injury away from having another Brandon Rush type player start for them.
This is another cap clearing room for Minnesota that has the potential to turn into a two-for-one deal.
Devin Harris is owed $4.4 million next season, however, only $1.3 million of that is guaranteed for the 2017-18 season. After next season he’s an unrestricted free agent which means he won’t hurt Minnesota’s salary cap beyond that.
Given that it’s only partially guaranteed gives Thibodeau the option to release Harris, thus creating more cap space, or keeping Harris as the third point guard on the team.
At 34 years old, the former Wisconsin Badger is a shell of his former self. That doesn’t mean that he can’t be a productive third point guard for the Timberwolves.
Harris isn’t the outside shooter or defensive stopper Thibodeau has been rumored to be looking for. Fortunately, he brings the heat in other areas.
As a 13 year veteran, he knows the ropes of the NBA. He’s also a very crafty guard who relies on his basketball IQ to get the job done. He would bring tremendous experience and be a great role model and teacher for Tyus Jones.
If Minnesota decides to keep him they can also use that extra $2.5 million towards signing another free agent on the perimeter.
If they release him, the Wolves will save $6 million from the Aldrich contract giving them even more money to work with and fill out their roster.
Either way, it gives Thibodeau and Layden some flexibility and options in this ever closing market.
This is another salary dump for the Wolves as they look to create more room to sign a free agent.
The Phoenix Suns are on record saying they are willing to move some of their veterans or take on contracts in order to receive future assets. Unfortunately for Minnesota, there isn’t a great fit with the players and the salary for the Wolves to pry away a big name like Eric Bledsoe.
Bledsoe is a great player that has been lost in the desert the past few seasons. It’s highly unlikely Thibodeau would even be interested in him as he already has his starting point guard in Jeff Teague.
Even a player like Jared Dudley might be attractive to the Wolves if they are willing to take on some extra salary.
In this case, Thibs ships Aldrich and the much-coveted Thunder’s 2018 first round pick in exchange for Derrick Jones.
Jones, 20 years old, has a non-guaranteed contract for the upcoming season which means the Timberwolves could waive him to maximize their money in free agency.
However, it might be a better idea to keep him as he’s only owed $1.3 million next year. It’s a good way for the Wolves to find a cheap player who is still very young and has time to develop.
Phoenix is likely to release Aldrich next season as they probably don’t have much use for the big man.
They would add another first rounder to their asset list and acquire another opportunity to hit big in the draft.
The Minnesota Timberwolves pick up more wing depth in this move, acquiring Terrence Ross from the Orlando Magic. In return, they send Aldrich and their second round pick back to Orlando.
Ross is set to make $10.5 million each of the next two seasons so he comes at a steep price for Thibodeau. However, his production should make up for that hefty contract.
At 6-foot-7, the former Magic brings a wing who can play either the shooting guard or small forward positions. He’s also uber athletic and has a nice outside shot. Over his career, he’s a 37.4 percent 3-point shooter.
Working almost exclusively off the bench in Toronto before starting every game with the Magic, Ross can thrive in either role.
In Minnesota, he will obviously be coming off the bench and providing a spark to the second unit. He can play well off the ball which is a positive as the Timberwolves need to add players who don’t need the ball in their hands to be successful.
The Magic get a player in Aldrich who can be waived after the 2017-18 season and a second round pick for their troubles.
Orlando also creates more playing time for their younger players like Mario Heznoja, Evan Fournier and Jonathan Isaac.
Minnesota is taking on extra salary in this deal which would put them over the cap. If owner Glen Taylor is okay with it, the move won’t affect the Timberwolves current money situation very much.
Next: Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 cheap free agents (part 1)
In the end, this move is a cheap way for Thibs to acquire more talent for the team.