Hindsight is 20-20: KG and the trade
Posted on December 26th, 2007 – 12:53 PMBy Michael Rand
This isn’t so much an indictment of what we wrote for much of June and July — that a KG trade was inevitable and that the McLovins might as well pull the trigger as soon as possible — but a reflection on what might have been had they rolled the dice and carried the star player into this season. While we still think the centerpiece of Al Jefferson was a reasonable haul in exchange for KG, and the records of the respective teams really don’t play into this right now (yes, we know Boston is cruising while the McLovins are suffering), we do have to wonder what might have been considering the slow start and relative turmoil of the Chicago Bulls, long rumored to be KG suitors. The disappointing Bulls are 9-16, just fired their head coach and are being handled on an interim basis by Pete Myers, perhaps best known as the shooting guard who replaced Michael Jordan upon his gambling-mandated suspension first retirement. There are suggestions that more shakeups are to come in Chicago, where all sorts of good players have, for whatever reason, underachieved or at least failed to play well together. Had the McLovins held onto KG — again, not something we advocated, and certainly a risky move considering he could have walked away for nothing after the season and that teams generally lose leverage the longer they wait to deal someone in that situation — they might have been able to work a pretty good deal with the Bulls right now. Perhaps at least two (maybe three) out of Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas. Of course, the Bulls’ failure and desperation would have been hard to predict. Still, it’s food for thought. Would a mid-season KG deal for a Bulls’ package have been better for the McLovins than what they got from the Celtics?
13 Responses to "Hindsight is 20-20: KG and the trade"
Would a mid-season KG deal for a Bulls’ package have been better for the McLovins than what they got from the Celtics?
I like those four players to varying degrees, but I like Big Al more than all of them. Maybe Hinrich, Deng and Gordon for KG, but I’m not convinced that the Bulls would part with all three.
I dont think in the short run any move they made wouldve paid dividends. In fact Id be surprised if they are near 500 for about 3 yrs, but with a young interesting core and a good draft choice this year (Kevin Love)?, they should be decent in a couple yrs.
that being said…if they get number one pick…who do they take?
Rose from Memphis?…do we need another point guard?
Beasley from Kstate? looks good.
Kevin Love from UCLA…the McLovins would love to have him for the name alone.
Talent? McLovins? Brings to mind this little ditty by Norman Kelsey (yes, he’s originally from Cleveland, why do you ask?) which I propose as Stu’s new theme music.
I just want to ask for some information on something that I read last night on Hoopshype.com.
Some guy is in there claiming that Al had done some pretty horrible things in his past. I’ve not found anywhere to confirm this so there is no way I will say what it was, but is there some JUNK from his past that we haven’t had reported here in Minnesota? Go to the hype page and see it for yourself. IT was disgusting.
And as for the draft
Beasley or Rose with our 1st pick, and we pray that Miami gets hot and gets an 8th seed and we can get the 15th pick, and get Love, Collison, or Thareet with the 15th pick.
Also We owe the Pistons a 2nd round pick this year, and I’ve seen that we own Miami’s 2nd round pick this year from when we traded with Boston to get Ricky Davis. Can this be confirmed anywhere because some places say it, and some places don’t show either.
and I would have gladly taken
Thomas, Hinrich, and Deng along with a 1st for KG.
1- It’s not the Celtics so I’d do the trade more likely
2- Hinrich is a good PG, Deng is a great SF, and Thomas could be a great PF/SF if he continues to grow.
Now all I can hope for is that after Wittless gets us a top 3 pick we can fire him, and hire Skiles to come in here and coach… his players let him down… he’s a great coach!
All I want for New Years is McHale’s remains shot into space.
Again, someone explain to me what we would’ve lost by letting KG walk? Would we still be on the hook for his (record-setting overbloated) contract?
As Randball knows, I’m not the sharpest tack on the court, but I’m a good listener. So explain the problem with keeping KG one more year; the fun of listening to him (redacted) and moan and rip on the brass in the press, and at the same time holding onto the most valuable expiring contract in the history of the new CBA.
ramon
Letting KG walk would have freed up some money but the Wolves were well over the salary cap with KG. They wouldn’t have had that much money to sign anyone in the offseason anyway.
I CANNOT understand the stupidity of some of these responses: Bloated contract? KG moaning? attacking the brass? you people have ZERO NBA knowledge. NBA Rule #1 - you win with veterans, not rookies/lottery picks. ANY other owner and GM would’ve done exactly what Boston did - surround KG with two stars (not a bunch of average talented overpaid players as McFail did). KG wasn’t overpaid - THE REST WERE! The few of you who have the audacity to be critical of KG will be in the minority when he/Boston comes on 2/8 - the crowd response will be unbelievable in it’s support (and cheering) for KG and the Boston team. I will be courtside (where I used to have seats before “Taylor the Failure” and McFail destroyed the fun) wearing my green #5 and doing my best to wail for a Celtics landslide…The Green by 25? I think so
Oh, and one more - Stu can’t be a real person, right? it’s got to be someone’s idea of a jokester. If you’all had League Pass, and have watched all of Bostons games so far (as I have) you’d hear the overwelming responses from broadcasters (not just Boston’s but National and opposing team crews)blasting T’Wolves “brass” for not appreciating what they had - this year’s probable MVP, and the most dominating (not just scoring, but overall effect on team/game)power forward in NBA history!
saxman
Are you a Wolves fan? It sounds to me like you are a KG fan and not a Wolves fan. That bandwagon is pretty full make sure you have room to breathe.
I agree the management did a horrible job but it is time to move on. The past cannot be changed so we look to the future.
Jama - YES the past can be changed; as soon as Taylor sells the team and McHale is fired many of us will come back…until then, it’s League Pass and HDTV! (you actually trust current management with future draft picks and player aquisitions? I certainly don’t)
I love that show where the two guys wearing first season Star Trek uniforms run into that spiraling tunnel vortex (the one Dr. Evil bought) and fall into WWII occupied France and change history.
What was the name of that show?
Jama - you mean over the cap with KG? I understand the logic of a Garnett for Jefferson and picks trade, but getting stuck with Green, Telfair and Gomes, at least for another year or two (not sure about their contracts), I’m not sure. I don’t like having players forced on us for cap reasons. The pick? Who are we going to get at 29? (Unless I’m wrong on how the deal works with that pick).
I’d rather watch a whining Garnett with Smith, McCants and Foye and then rebuild with the money we’d be saving from losing Garnett and the expiring Davis deal (or getting rid of Davis/Blount for a draft pick). Randball’s right in that the deal should have been done a year earlier - but since it wasn’t, in my opinion, it should not have been done at all.
I’m wondering if Bill Smith thinks about this re: Santana. I like the attitude Santana’s under contract and he’s willing to go into the season with him. He won’t get bullied like the Celtics bullied McHale. Or maybe it’s hubris.
Saxman65 (Isn’t that cool that 64 other people came up with “Saxman”) - screaming about how bad McHale is at his job is like screaming about how Barry Manilow doesn’t rock. I’m not being critical of Garnett. In fact I’d rather watch him play another year and lose him - as everyone else here says - for nothing.
OK folks; I’ve calmed down; and yes I am an NBA fan first, T’wolves (oops, I mean Boston) fan second.It’s just that as a 17 year season ticket holder who loved to watch NBA hoops, it’s sad to see it end. There are at least 12 Western teams ahead of the Wolves, and they aren’t going down - they’re all going up. Sure Portland and Seattle are young - but they’re young AND talented. You’re looking at a 7 or 8 year “Clippers like” situation here now - cap money to attract free agents?? who would come if the only draw is Jefferson? - ain’t enought to attract the “big boys”. No, I’m more sad than mad - this didn’t have to happen; is Dallas rebuilding?, San Antonio? Phoenix? No, the well run orgs. rarely rebuild. The next 4 to 6 years should have been our window to compete for a title (KG’s best years are/will be now) WHILE at the same time building some young guys for the future…OH, the Saxman65? - born in 65.
