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Timberwolves Rumors

Modest Proposal: Ellis, Beasley, Allen

March 2nd, 2012 at 8:38pm CST by Chuck Myron

It can be difficult to find two willing trade partners with assets that match each other’s needs. Bringing another team into the mix adds another set of needs to the equation, but it also provides another set of players and salaries to plug a deal’s holes. We’ve heard rumors about the Wolves' willingness to trade Michael Beasley, perhaps to the Celtics. Unless Wolves GM David Kahn is ready to unload Beasley on the cheap, which seems unlikely to me, it’s not immediately clear how the Celtics could make such a deal worthwhile to Minnesota. The most obvious need the Wolves have is at shooting guard, and while Ray Allen would certainly help them secure a playoff spot this year, he becomes a free agent in July, the same month he turns 37. Allen wouldn’t fit the long-term needs of a team still a ways from contending.

Meanwhile, Golden State has apparently been dangling Monta Ellis in their ongoing quest to land Dwight Howard. Yet as the Magic strengthen their resolve to keep Howard past the trade deadline, it becomes increasingly clear the Warriors’ only shot at Howard will come in free agency. Currently, according to Storytellers Contracts, Golden State has close to $47.32MM in cap commitments for next season, which puts them only about $10MM below next year’s expected salary cap of $58.04MM. If they could turn Monta Ellis and his $11MM-per-year deal into an expiring contract, they could open up enough money to sign Howard and still add some extra parts around him.

A three-way trade sending Beasley and Anthony Randolph to Boston, Ellis to Minnesota and Allen to Golden State could benefit all three teams. The Wolves would get a high-scoring shooting guard who’s signed through 2014 to help them climb up a few more pegs in the West. The Warriors would end the longstanding debate over whether Ellis and Stephen Curry could coexist, get a veteran mentor for surprising rookie Klay Thompson, and cap room to go after Howard and others this summer. The aging Celtics would get a 23-year-old former No. 2 overall pick to start their rebuilding process. They’d also get 22-year-old Randolph, who isn’t seeing much time this year but put up 11.7 PPG and 5.2 RPG in 20.1 MPG for the Wolves last year after they acquired him as the third team in the Carmelo Anthony deal. It’s worth noting, too, that Randolph’s 17.4 PER this season exceeds Beasley’s 13.7.

There are plenty of reasons why this trade wouldn’t work. The Warriors might be skittish about letting Ellis go without any promise of Howard. If the Celtics find Rajon Rondo’s behavior immature, they may be wary of Beasley’s brushes with the law. Still, there are plenty of reasons why this three-teamer is at least worth exploring.

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Odds & Ends: Draft, O’Neal, Heat

March 2nd, 2012 at 7:49pm CST by Chuck Myron

On this date 50 years ago, Wilt Chamberlain delivered his 100-point game for the Warriors against the Knicks in Hershey, Pa. Chamberlain averaged more than 50 points a game that season, but wasn't the MVP. Instead, Bill Russell got the nod. You'd figure having that over his friend Wilt would convince Russell to speak openly on the anniversary of Wilt's accomplishment, but as Ken Berger of CBSSports.com noted last night, he doesn't want to talk about it. Here are a few notes from today's NBA, where plenty more are willing to open their mouths:

  • Berger offers a primer on dissecting trade talk as the rumor mill nears peak season. The keys are to consider the source, discount mere discussion, and know that when one coach or team executive denies a trade rumor, another could be working on that very deal in the next office.
  • Michael Lee of The Washington Post is the latest to call this year's draft class, led by Kentucky big man Anthony Davis, one of the deepest in years. But top draft prospects Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Cody Zeller, Perry Jones and Quincy Miller are all giving indications they may stay in school, writes ESPN's Chad Ford. (Insider link)
  • Celtics center Jermaine O'Neal, rumored to be part of a potential Michael Beasley deal, is considering season-ending wrist surgery, reports Paul Flannery of WEEI radio.
  • South Florida Sun Sentinel writer Ira Winderman answered reader questions about the Heat. The efficiency of the Heat's rotation has kept the Heat out of trade talks this year, but team president Pat Riley remains on the lookout for any available top-tier talent.
  • Sam Smith opened up his Bulls.com mailbag, too. He doesn't foresee Chicago making a deal, and doesn't seem them signing draft-day acquisition Nikola Mirotic any time soon, either. He believes the 6'10" big man with the inside-outside game, currently playing overseas, is at least a couple years away from joining the Bulls. He also says the notion that Beasley could be had for a second-round pick, an idea advanced by Berger in his piece, says plenty about how far the former No. 2 overall pick has plummeted.
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Josh Smith Rumors: Friday

March 2nd, 2012 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

A report this morning suggested the Celtics have interest in acquiring Josh Smith, perhaps in a deal that includes Kevin Garnett. Following up on that rumor, here are the latest Friday updates on Smith, with the newest up top:

  • The Hawks are getting inquiries on Smith, but Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal Constitution says (via Twitter) he hasn't heard anything about the team wanting to move him.
  • According to Adrian Wojnarowksi of Yahoo! Sports, Smith has wanted a trade for the last year, but the Hawks haven't aggressively tried to move him. Wojnarowski adds that the Hawks spoke to the Timberwolves about a deal involving Smith during last year's draft, and that Atlanta GM Rick Sund has "always been partial" to Ray Allen rather than Garnett (Twitter links).
  • SI.com's Chris Mannix spoke to rival execs who believe the Hawks would move Smith, but not simply for an expiring contract like Garnett's (Twitter link).
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Odds & Ends: Nash, Beasley, Dawson

March 1st, 2012 at 11:28pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Thursday night:

  • The Arizona Republic's Dan Bickley writes that the Suns are taking a risk by not attempting to trade Steve Nash, pointing out that he's a longshot to re-sign in Phoenix after the season.
  • HoopsWorld's Eric Pincus explores the possibility of the Lakers making a trade for Michael Beasley after reportedly turning down an offer from the Timberwolves this week.
  • The San Antonio Express-News' Jeff McDonald reports that the Spurs are unlikely to re-sign Eric Dawson, who just finished up his first 10-day contract with the team.
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Celtics Interested In Michael Beasley

February 29th, 2012 at 6:51pm CST by Chuck Myron

Michael Beasley's 27 points off the bench in a win over the Clippers last night apparently aren't swaying the Timberwolves, who are pushing hard to trade him, perhaps to the Celtics, tweets A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.

Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reports that while the Nets, Rockets and Lakers have all had talks with the Wolves about Beasley, Boston is in the lead for his services. The deal would center around the expiring contract of Jermaine O'Neal, who's making close to $6.23MM this year.

Our Luke Adams profiled Beasley's trade candidacy yesterday. The fourth-year forward is averaging career lows in almost every major statistical category, despite his strong performance last night. Nonetheless, he was the second pick in the draft in 2008, and at only 23, his still-bright potential will make him a sought-after restricted free agent this summer.

O'Neal, averaging 5.0 PPG and 5.4 RPG in 22.8 minutes a night, is probably not in the Wolves' long-term plans. It's also hard to see where he fits in Minnesota's crowded frontcourt now, especially with the recent emergence of Nikola Pekovic. That the Wolves would ship out Beasley, whom they could simply just let go this summer, for little in return suggests that Minnesota simply doesn't want Beasley around.

 

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Minor Moves: Powell, Lee, Dowdell, Ebanks

February 29th, 2012 at 4:36pm CST by Luke Adams

We'll round up today's notable international and D-League-related transactions here, with the latest up top….

  • Josh Powell has signed with Swiss team Neuchatel, according to Sportando. Powell played most of this season in China, and was thought to be drawing some interest from NBA teams. He appeared in 54 games for the Hawks a year ago.
  • The Timberwolves have assigned Malcolm Lee to the team's D-League affiliate in Sioux Falls, according to the team (Twitter link). It's Lee's second D-League assignment this season.
  • Spain's Gran Canaria has signed Zabian Dowdell to a contract for the rest of the season, according to the team's website (hat tip to Sportando). Dowdell signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Suns a year ago before the team brought him aboard for the remainder of the season. After appearing in 24 games in 2010/11, he was cut by the Suns prior to this season.
  • Via Mike Trudell of Lakers.com (Twitter link), the Lakers announced last night that they've recalled Devin Ebanks from the L.A. D-Fenders, their D-League affiliate. Ebanks, who started four games for the Lakers earlier this season, had been assigned to the D-Fenders two weeks ago.
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Broussard On Gasol, Rondo, Ellis, Beasley, Kaman

February 29th, 2012 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

In addition to providing an update on the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, Chris Broussard shares rumors about a handful of big-name trade candidates in his latest Insider-only ESPN.com column. Let's dive in….

  • The Rockets still have interest in Pau Gasol but want to build around Kyle Lowry rather than include him in any Gasol deal. The Timberwolves haven't talked to the Lakers in months about Gasol, while the Bulls have shown some interest in the Spaniard.
  • Sources tell Broussard that the Celtics have determined they're not title contenders this year and would prefer to move Rajon Rondo rather than deal with the "headaches" he brings.
  • Broussard hears that if Monta Ellis were traded, the Warriors guard would like to join the Lakers, Bulls, or Magic (alongside Dwight Howard), but none of those scenarios appear realistic.
  • The Timberwolves offered Michael Beasley to the Lakers in exchange for the higher of L.A.'s two first-round picks, but were turned down. The Lakers are torn on Beasley — because L.A. is over the tax line, the team would be adding more than just Beasley's $6.26MM cap figure. I imagine they'd also prefer to use their trade exception to acquire a point guard.
  • The Hornets' asking price for Chris Kaman has dropped since earlier in the season. They're seeking a draft pick, even just a second-rounder, for the center.
  • LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum are "virtually untouchable" but the Blazers would talk about anyone else on their roster, particularly Raymond Felton and Gerald Wallace.
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Northwest Notes: Przybilla, Roy, Nuggets, Wolves

February 29th, 2012 at 2:13pm CST by Luke Adams

The newest Trail Blazer, Joel Przybilla, won't suit up for the team's game against the Nuggets tonight, but he expects to be on the court soon. Przybilla told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com that he hopes to make his 2011/12 debut Saturday night against the Timberwolves. As Przybilla gets in a little more practice time, let's check in on what else is going on with the Blazers, Nuggets, and T-Wolves in our latest Northwest Division update…

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Trade Candidate: Michael Beasley

February 28th, 2012 at 4:39pm CST by Luke Adams

A few years after the fact, the Derrick Rose vs. Michael Beasley debate that headlined the NBA draft in June 2008 seems laughable. Rose already has an MVP award under his belt, while Beasley has been inconsistent at best — he has switched teams once already and could potentially be on the move again before March 15th.

The Timberwolves acquired Beasley from the Heat in the summer of 2010, essentially giving up just a second-round pick in a deal that freed up cap space for Miami to sign its big three. While acquiring a former second overall pick for virtually nothing seemed like a coup, the Wolves have seen Beasley's production continue to slip during his time in Minnesota. Beasley's PER has declined in each of his four NBA seasons, from 17.2 in his rookie year to 13.0 this season.

The frontcourt in Minnesota is a crowded one, featuring Kevin Love, Derrick Williams, Nikola Pekovic, and a trio of former lottery picks in Beasley, Darko Milicic, and Anthony Randolph. Beasley doesn't seem to be in the team's long-term plans, having reportedly been offered to Golden State last June in a package for Monta Ellis. If the T-Wolves can find a deal that sends Beasley out of town and lands them a solid two guard, they'll likely pull the trigger.

Although Beasley hasn't developed in the way that many were expecting, he's still at least a useful rotation piece. He's shooting more three-pointers than ever this year, and hitting them at a career-best rate of 42.6%. And even though his scoring is down, this year's career-worst rate of 17.1 points per 36 minutes isn't bad. In addition to his play on the court, Beasley's contract situation makes him a useful asset. Whichever team holds Beasley at year's end would have the option of extending him a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent, or simply letting his $6.26MM salary come off its books.

The Lakers reportedly have some interest in Beasley, though they may prefer to use their $8.9MM trade exception to acquire a point guard. According to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, the Celtics and Nets are also interested. Boston makes some sense, since Beasley could help out in the short-term and be added to the team's lengthy list of expiring contracts. New Jersey is a less logical short-term fit for Beasley, though his expiring deal could help the team clear cap room to make a run at Dwight Howard — plus, Anthony Morrow is a shooting guard that may interest Minnesota. Michael Pina of Hoops Rumors suggested a swap with the Mavericks that sends Shawn Marion to Minnesota could help both teams, and I think there's something to that idea, though Marion's contract (which includes a 15% trade kicker) likely wouldn't appeal to the T-Wolves.

There are enough conceivable fits for Beasley that I think the Timberwolves will be able to find a deal before the deadline, if they so choose. The offers for Beasley may not seem like much for a former second overall pick, but one thing's for certain — they'll be better than the Rockets can expect for Hasheem Thabeet.

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Northwest Notes: T-Wolves, Morrow, Blazers, Jazz

February 28th, 2012 at 3:02pm CST by Luke Adams

A pair of Northwest teams are on the road tonight to open the second half — the Jazz play the Kings in Sacramento, while the Timberwolves head to the Staples Center to face the Clippers. As we wait for the season to resume following the All-Star break, let's check in on some updates out of the Northwest Division….

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