Hi all,

Long while since I posted but felt compelled to share this scenario, I think it makes the Wolves mega interesting, extends the Clippers window gets the Raps a shooter and the Blazers double down on the back half of the 2020’s being their time in the West. So, here’s the reasons each team does the trade and why I think it’s fair.

Wolves: Big sacrifice off the jump for Minnesota, Kat is a love hate player, has been a top 5? Guy in franchise history but the fact is he was destined to be traded as soon as Rudy arrived. Conley might bring out the best in Gobert but he’s a million years old and on an expiring contract so isn’t a long term solution at PG.

In this scenario the Wolves balance out the roster adding Grant in place of Towns and complimenting their ball dominant primary scorer, Edwards, with a perfect back court partner in Holiday. Holidays a bit younger, on a longer deal and transforms this Wolves team into the most menacing defensive 5 in basketball.

Holiday, Edwards, Grant, McDaniels, Gobert - monster rim deterrent, best POA in basketball, two young two way wings, if Jerami Grant is your weakest starting defender I think you’re playoff proof!

It ages the Wolves slightly and there’s risk of Holiday departing but this surrounds Ant with an insane defensive infrastructure while keeping shooting on the floor too! The Wolves would be well equipped to play any team in the West and providing Edwards takes a leap this year I think they contend in the West.

Clippers: Kind of the reverse for the Clippers, they’re no longer the hyper efficient offence they once were around 2020, the league has caught up, so why not turn an aging duo into a 3 headed monster, adding a Center who spaces from 3, can attack in isolation, make passing reads and make it that bit harder to switch Leonard/George pnr’s.

It’s risky, sacrificing pick capital that’s just started to build up again but it’s a definite talent upgrade, one that can push the Clippers back to the top of the offensive rating rankings and perhaps it’s the home the Towns has been waiting for.

Raptors: This just seems like a no brainer to me, maybe more 2nds are required but this helps the Blazers get off the long term money of Powell (in a crowded positional area) while really making the Raps roster look a lot more normal.

Powell is a spark plug that we know fits with the likes of Siakam, OG and Scottie and whether he’s coming off the bench or starting he slots in as a top 3 shooter on the roster.

Blazers: If Joe Cronin was happy to wait on pick capital coming through with the Bucks, he’s probably still happy to wait with the Clippers. Yet again this is an aging roster that he’s getting picks from, there’s overlap with Milwaukee but the swaps/picks alternate in different years. This means that the Blazers will have had Scoot, Shaedon, Anfernee and Ayton together building chemistry (probably picking up more high end talent through the draft with their own picks) and just as they’re getting ready to contend, they get two chances each year to add a premium young talent to the roster with high value picks. There’s no real long term money coming back here, Portland adds a fun player in Terrance Mann who fits in on the roster and completes the Dame trade with 3 unprotected firsts, 3 unprotected swaps, Deandre Ayton and Terrance Mann without taking back any bad money. Not bad if you ask me.

I think if this trade falls down it’s because of the Clippers not wanting KAT. A similar result can be achieved involving the Pels in their place but that means CJ comes home to Portland (IE bad money) but personally I like it for all parties.

Let me know your thoughts down below!