The 11-15 Timberwolves‘ current five-game losing streak, which includes three consecutive home blowout defeats, displays Minnesota’s clear need for more frontcourt help, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Adding someone at the level of 6’11” Pacers big man Myles Turner, a solid defender and floor spacer, could be exactly the cure for what ails them.
“We’re not putting the work in,” Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns noted of the club’s recent losing streak. “It’s as simple as that. We gotta put more work in. All of us. Top to bottom.”
There’s more out of the Northwest Division:
- New reserve Jazz forward Rudy Gay has proven to be exactly what the doctor ordered for Utah this season, writes Mark Schindler of Basketball News. When he plays alongside All-Star starting Jazz center Rudy Gobert, Gay has been particularly effective. Lineups featuring that tandem have outscored opponents by 24.3 points per 100 possessions. Because the bulky 6’8″, 250-pound Gay can convincingly defend centers on switches, he operates as a helpful release valve for Gobert, who can struggle guarding opponents along the perimeter on switches.
- Trail Blazers All-Star point guard Damian Lillard has taken umbrage with what he perceives to be the media’s depiction of him as being somewhat wishy-washy in his thinking, per Portland’s official Twitter account (video link). “You can criticize how I play or who I am as a player, that’s one thing,” Lillard said. “But who I am as a person and the things that I say, I mean them. That’s one thing that I stand on and I know people can’t challenge me on that.”
- Second-year Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji is doing his darnedest to improve this season, writes Mike Singer of The Denver Post. With long-term injuries sidelining forwards Michael Porter Jr. and P.J. Dozier, Nnaji has carved out some legitimate rotation minutes this month, Singer observes. He is averaging 6.6 PPG and 2.4 RPG, across 17.6 MPG this month. Especially notable, Nnaji is shooting 58.6% from long range this year, tops in the league for volume three-point shooting (defined as two or more triples taken a night). Denver head coach Michael Malone is already a fan. “He is self-motivated,” Malone said. “He is a guy that is not allowing his maybe not playing or Summer League failures to identify and define him, and that’s kind of who Zeke is. He’s a guy that does everything hard. You’re never gonna catch Zeke Nnaji cutting corners.”
Wolves trade idea
Beverley, McDaniel and top-10 protected First for Turner
Warriors trade idea
Wiseman, Moody and 2.7 million salary filler (cash okay?) for Turner and 2022 top-7 protected First for Turner
Yeah Warriors 100% should trade for Turner. Turner is a perfect fit.
Low scoring, three point spacing, elite rim protection.
We would thrive with coach Kerr
They should offer Wiseman and Kuminga for Turner and a couple second round picks
IMO
Wiseman has more trade value than Turner. If Warriors pack with Moody, Pacers need to attach a top-7 protected First.
You guys are aware of the luxury tax situation the Warriors find themselves in right now right? I understand Turner’s fit but the team is already setting luxury tax records for their lofty spending. I can’t imagine anyone in that front office giving the green light to trade away young, cheap, and coveted players with plenty of team control left on their contracts for one and a half seasons of Turner.
Cost saving? Wiggins has to be throw in
IMO, This season Wiggins is top 5 Small Forward
George
Brown Celtics
Butler
LeBron
Wiggins – injury free, better defensive stats than Bridges
6. Bridges Suns
7. Ingram
8. OG
Defense is 50%
therehegoes again with Wiggins.
‘could be exactly the cure for what ails them.’
Yeahhhhh, that’s right…or maybe not.
Get Dame outta there. He stinks! He just makes too much money on and off the court, and really has no interest in winning. All the success got to his head unfortunately. Too bad for Portland.
This is an astoundingly cold take my friend
Simmons for Russell, McDaniels top Ten protect 1st. 2022
Wolves Russell, McDaniels, Okogie and top ten protected 2022 1st rounder for Simmons
I don’t think either team would be interested in this deal.
Supported all— Gay to Utah, Z.Nadji rising, Lillard levelling.
Turner to MIN is possible since he seems like a missing piece for them. MIN has to trade, the players he would take minutes from— Reid, Vanderbilt, both with above-average PERs; and McDaniels & expiring Prince.
But they would not be enough for GM Pritchard, and Edwards or the #1 would be too much. I would like to see Towns in Indiana, getting him out of MIN, but it would be too complicated to.pull off and too much change for IND, esp with Russell in it too.