Flip Saunders takes over for Kahn in Minnesota (Trade Idea)

[JSD]

Saunders as President presents a lot of possibility for the Celtics who might look to blow it up. I believe the Timberwolves are a veteran core away from making serious noise in the West. Bringing in KG and Paul Pierce could kick start a winning culture that would remain even beyond their careers. Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams need to start logging some playoff minutes in order to take the next steps in their career. A package revolved around Pierce and KG offers that.

The Celtics on the other hand would benefit with the cap room and future 1st rounder. Being bad is an important part of rebuilding when you are not a destination city.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9236287/david-kahn-president-basketball-operations-minnesota-timberwolves

[LarBrd33]

... Lol

I'll humor you... Who are the 30 million dollars worth of contracts the timberwolves will be parting with in this far-fetched fantasy?

[JSD]

... Lol

I'll humor you... Who are the 30 million dollars worth of contracts the timberwolves will be parting with in this far-fetched fantasy?

Brandon Roy, Ridnour, AK (All expiring), absorb space and a future 1st rounder for KG and Pierce. Remember, Saunders has a great rapport with KG and the Celtics.

[JSD]

And I don't think this trade is any more far fetched than your offer for Gasol, so I don't appreciate the "lol".

[badshar]

I don't think OP got the memo: KG absolutely hates the timberwolves.

[D.o.s.]

I don't get the Kevin Love obsession. To me he's a classic "good numbers on a bad team" player.

[Yogi]

That future first is completely useless.  A Rubio, Pierce, KG, Pekovic, Love team is going to net us a late first rounder.  We can have a better first round pick and the cap space just keeping Pierce and KG until they retire.

[LarBrd33]

And I don't think this trade is any more far fetched than your offer for Gasol, so I don't appreciate the "lol".

My offer for gasol wasn't serious.  Brandon bass, Courtney lee, Jason terry, Jared sullinger, and the 16th pick is nowhere near enough to land gasol.  If you saw my comment before that, I was suggesting we give away draft picks in order to get some team to take on the terrible contracts of lee, terry and bass.  Something like those three + incentives for Richard Jefferson's expiring contract.  Kg is probably retiring... I threw the gasol pipe dream in there to appease fans who want to "run it back".

The Saunders thing is a stretch, but it got me thinking... Take a look at teams with potential cap space like Houston and Dallas.  If they fail to sigh cp3 or Dwight, perhaps they might be interested in taking on piece's salary.  I think kg is done

[JSD]

Fair enough. But that is exactly what I think we are going to see here if either KG or Pierce get traded. A team with cap space will absorb their short term contracts.

[Smitty77]

http://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/6258313

PP for Kirilenko, Ridnour, and Stiemsa.

We get a back up center that is really a center and seemed to flourish here. 

We get a back up PG, FINALLY!!!!

We get an expiring AK47 who is an efficient veteran that was a +16.11 this year.

Thoughts?

Smitty77

[Who]

So the T-Wolves would have

PG: Rubio, Barea
SG: C-Lee, Shved
SF: Pierce, Williams, Budinger
PF: K-Love, Garnett
C:  Garnett, Pekovic

That is a nasty team. Definite title contender.

One first rounder is very little. Minnesota will be winning so many games that those picks will probably be in the 23-27 range. So their first rounders don't have much value.

I think Boston should get more. 2-3 first rounders from them. Or maybe Derrick Williams + a first rounder. That sounds like a decent offer to me. The Derrick Williams one. It doesn't look like he is going to pan out but Ainge could pick up another superior asset than one of those Minny 1sts by trading D-Williams to another team.

Yeah, I think there is good potential for a major blow-it-up type trade here. To move Pierce and Garnett in a single deal.

[Who]

http://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/6258313

PP for Kirilenko, Ridnour, and Stiemsa.

We get a back up center that is really a center and seemed to flourish here. 

We get a back up PG, FINALLY!!!!

We get an expiring AK47 who is an efficient veteran that was a +16.11 this year.

Thoughts?

Smitty77

I love Kirilenko.

I could see that move working out reasonably well for Boston. By reasonably well, I mean a lateral move I suppose.

PG: Rondo, Ridnour, Terry
SG: Bradley, Lee
SF: Green, (FA)
PF: Kirilenko, Bass
C:  Garnett, Sullinger, Stiemsma

I love the idea of Kirilenko (PF) alongside Garnett (C) in a quick running team. The defensive chemistry of those five starters would be superb. Excel at creating turnovers and getting out into the open floor. Have a speed advantage 1-5 against most squads.

I think that forward combination (Kirilenko @ PF, Green @ SF) would work better together than Pierce + J.Green together. Better balance. Kirilenko is a very good defensive player and quality possession creator as a big forward. Something neither J.Green or P.Pierce are capable of. Some drop-off offensively but I think the added value defensively makes up for that. Maybe even improves the team a bit.

[JSD]

So the T-Wolves would have

PG: Rubio, Barea
SG: C-Lee, Shved
SF: Pierce, Williams, Budinger
PF: K-Love, Garnett
C:  Garnett, Pekovic

That is a nasty team. Definite title contender.

One first rounder is very little. Minnesota will be winning so many games that those picks will probably be in the 23-27 range. So their first rounders don't have much value.

I think Boston should get more. 2-3 first rounders from them. Or maybe Derrick Williams + a first rounder. That sounds like a decent offer to me. The Derrick Williams one. It doesn't look like he is going to pan out but Ainge could pick up another superior asset than one of those Minny 1sts by trading D-Williams to another team.

Yeah, I think there is good potential for a major blow-it-up type trade here. To move Pierce and Garnett in a single deal.

I'm glad someone agrees. It makes a lot of sense for both squads from where I'm sitting.

Heck, if the C's could get this years lottery pick from them then it's a slam dunk in my opinion. Clears space and gets an asset. Who objects? KG finishes his career where he started and Pierce helps him.

I believe KG waives his clause to return to Sota with Saunders at the helm.

[BballTim]

http://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/6258313

PP for Kirilenko, Ridnour, and Stiemsa.

We get a back up center that is really a center and seemed to flourish here. 

We get a back up PG, FINALLY!!!!

We get an expiring AK47 who is an efficient veteran that was a +16.11 this year.

Thoughts?

Smitty77

  That's actually fairly interesting, AK47 IIRC plays some pf so a Sully/Green/AK forward combo would be pretty good. I might see if I could swap out Ridnour for Favors and do something like Bass or Favors and Bradley or Terry for an upgrade at sg and go with Williams for the backup pg.

[Kane3387]

Rather just have Pierce as a Celtic next year if we're not getting any young talent.