Trying to salary dump to create cap space. (Who wants Josh Green!?!)
Easier said than done.
Don’t think they can get him at the minimum.
Nonetheless, they are VERY interested in Rui.
Wolves did in fact reach out to the LeBron camp yesterday. (Along with probably half the league)
I’m being told it was hard to gauge any possible interest or lack there of.
LeBrons team are playing their cards close, but something tells me he already knows where he is going.
I understand the financial constraints with landing either John Collins or Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Wolves would need to get creative to make either of those acquisitions work.
The Wolves did have discussions with the Celtics on Jaylen Brown as well, sources told The Athletic. But they saw LaMelo Ball as fitting more of what they needed, for likely less compensation going out.
Timberwolves were in heavy trade talks with Boston and acquiring JB in a deal around Gobert.
Once they got wind of LaMelo being available, all focus went there.
This deal came together quickly.
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN.
Not surprised by the LaMelo talk. TC is VERY active. Still think JB is most likely given Celtics want a big man.
We shall see though, things change quickly.
Feel like a broken record with this but it's true: Tim Connelly will always be inquiring on star players when they become available. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, LaMelo Ball, Jaylen Brown, on and on and on. The pursuit won't end until he gets one.
Random idea of the afternoon... Something like
Rudy
Donte
TJ
2033 first
for Jaylen Brown ... works financially
Wolves could still have $27.3 million below the first apron even after accounting for Ayo already on the roster.
Then you get a rotation that looks something like this*:
Ant / Bones / Conley
Brown / Ayo / Evans
McDaniels / Clark / Phillips
Reid / Slow-Mo / Okogie
Williams III^^ / Beringer
*If Naz/Wolves doesn’t want him to be the starting 5 and Ayo is cool playing big 6th man minutes of the bench
^signs using MLE, hardcapping Wolves at first apron
Note these are estimates for vet mins (Bones through Okogie) and a second-round exception minimum. Can fudge the numbers on RW3/Clark accordingly.