Potential trade targets this summer. Backup PG

**TLDR**: Backup PG is needed, and Prince’s contract might be used to acquire such a player. Best and most realistic options: Delon Wright, Monte Morris, or Payton Pritchard

Long posts don’t get much attention here, so it’s probably my last for a while. I hope whoever reads it enjoys it!

# Introduction

Predicting trades is almost impossible. Every day during summer or before the deadline you see 100+ posts with potential trades and none of them become true. I don’t think I ever guessed a trade – we all expected Dlo to come in February 2020, but I personally thought the offer would be based around Covington and picks, not Wiggins. 2 years ago, I thought Wolves might try to get Al Horford, Nance, or Markkanen for Rubio expiring contract and picks, but they got Prince. Last year I expected a minor trade, something like Prince sign-and-trade for Powell, but *something* bigger happened. I’m still giving it a shot now, and, in case Wolves trade for one of these players, I will take full credit for it.

I explained the necessity of backup PG [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/timberwolves/comments/1316nnj/potential_free_agents_this_summer_part_1_and_2/). Wolves can sign a backup PG in free agency but they would rather not commit for more than 1 year since in 2024 their top 4 players will be making \~$155 M.

# Trade assets

The Wolves are not trading Gobert, they are not trading KAT unless Bridges or Brown are on the table. You can make 50+ more posts about it. Just not happening.

**Taurean Prince**. TP is a good rotational NBA player but definitely not irreplaceable. He is above average 3pt shooter, but not a player you would run plays for (not like they did for Beasley). He can put the ball on the floor, but you would rather not let him do it. He is a decent multi-positional defender, but you neither want him on the main ball-handler nor against a post player. NAW’s ascension made TP expendable, and if the team can trade Prince for a backup PG, they will likely do it. Prince also has a non-guaranteed contract until the end of June, which makes him a more ‘valuable’ asset since other teams can just cut him if they don’t need him. \[I think they will have to push his guaranteed date by 1-2 weeks but I’m not sure\].

**Wendell Moore Jr.** NBA is ruthless, a player will likely be out of the rotation if he doesn’t show he is ready to contribute right away or substantial progress during the first year. Moore might have potential in this league, but if he stays, he will be a 14-15th man without any chance of playing unless 5-6 players get hurt. The Wolves did not have a lot of garbage time during the last season, but even when Moore played he did not show anything outside of the Grizzlies game. In the end, if you lose a competition to non-guaranteed Austin Rivers, you are probably not good enough. However, there is still value in a second-year player, and there can be a team that is willing to take a look at a former Duke star. Moore shot 41% from 3 during his last year in college including 50% from corners – if he just shoots well, he will be at least a rotational player in this league.

**Kyle Anderson.** Very unlikely unless someone offers a player that makes the team better – Tyus Jones, for example. Without Kyle Wolves would not be able to mitigate KAT’s absence, they are definitely not trading him for picks or worse players.

**NAW’s or Naz’s sign-and-trade**. Very unlikely, I would bet both of them will stay. Even if Naz leaves it probably would happen without sign-and-trade.

**Picks.** 53rd this year (close to zero value), 2024 2nd least favorable of WAS and MEM (close to zero value), 2025 2nd Utah’s pick (decent value), 2026 2nd least favorable of MIA, IND, SAS (close to zero value), 2026 2nd Utah’s pick (decent value), 2028 2029 2030 2nd Minnesota’s pick (decent value).

2nd round picks are not very valuable in NBA, but, as we saw during the deadline, a package of 2nds can get you a rotational player. Right now, the Wolves have access to eight 2nd round picks.

Potential trade targets:

*1.* My favorite option: **Delon Wright**

*Delon Wright for Wendell Moore Jr., Taurean Prince, and any 2nd round pick*

Comment: Delon Wright is a great option that would fit Wolves’ roster very well. He is a 6’5 2-way guard, a great playmaker, an absolute defensive menace and [steal-machine](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/c-X8_Z5-EwY), and someone who can finish games if a team needs to get a stop. The reason I prefer Wright over Morris is that Morris’s game is very similar to Conley, while Wright is a different player. Defensive lineup Wright-Ant-NAW-McDaniels-Rudy if you need a stop in the clutch can be a [force](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg2-RU0k9dc). The Wizards had a 26-24 record when Wright played and 9-23 without. While it can be a coincidence, Wright seems to be a player that contributes to winning without much impact on the box score, like Josh Hart in NY. Including Moore in the trade can help the Wolves to save $1.8 M (\~ to one minimum deal), which can be huge to stay away from the tax even if they keep NAW and Naz. 37 playoff games experience is also a nice addition to this roster.

Wizards are in a very weird position with 2 out of 3 of their ‘mid’ trio having a player option. They don’t even have a GM yet! The Wizards don’t really have very talented young players to develop – Davis looks like a bust, Avdija and Kispert are good role players at best. They probably should pivot to tanking, trade Beal for a young player and picks, trade Porzingis, and let Kuzma go, but they will likely run it back overpaying for Kuzma and drafting in the top 10. I don’t see them being interested in Prince because they have a lot of wings, but I see them using this trade to ‘shed’ the salary by cutting Prince and acquiring Moore and 2nds, especially if they get one of the Thompson brothers or a guard from the draft.

2. Tim Connelly’s favorite option: **Monte Morris**

*Monte Morris for Wendell Moore Jr., Taurean Prince, and two 2nd round picks*

Comment: Morris is a great option as a bench guard. He is younger than Wright and is a better shooter (39% career from 3), but worse on defense. Morris, if traded, can be a cheap starting PG of the future, when the Wolves will be investing >$150 M in top-4 players. 5.4 AST/TO ratio – second best in the league after Tyus, exactly what you need from a PG playing alongside ball-dominant wings and bigs. In addition, Morris is the same age as Towns but already played in 48 playoff games. Wizards’ fans also [think](https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtonwizards/comments/12uivu8/what_kind_of_trade_value_do_delon_wright_and/) either Morris or Wright is gone for 2nds.

3. **Payton Pritchard**

*Payton Pritchard and Luke Kornet (or Mike Muscala) for Taurean Prince*

Comment: Pritchard seems to be a good backup PG option, but he does not get a lot of opportunities this season because of Brogdon. In the last regular season game, Pritchard got a [monstrous triple-double](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0MYtmbCm9Q), however, he is still out of the playoff rotation. Boston definitely would not mind getting one more rotational wing, but perhaps they can get more for Pritchard. In case Naz is re-signed, the Wolves can acquire Kornet and cut him (non-guaranteed deal) or get Muscala and keep him as a backup stretch 4/5 if Naz is gone. This trade would also save some money for the Wolves and allow them to get reinforcements from the open market without paying the tax. [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/timberwolves/comments/135tcb5/prince_trade_idea_three_way_trade_between_wolves/) is one more variation of the trade by u/ImmediateWeb9

4. Minnesota sports dream #1: **Tyus Jones**

*Tyus Jones and Luke Kennard for Mike Conley and Taurean Prince*

*Tyus Jones for Taurean Prince, Wendell Moore Jr., and all the 2nds*

*Tyus Jones for Kyle Anderson*

Comment: Looks sweet to get Mike back to Memphis and Tyus back to Minnesota, but it’s not happening. Memphis will likely use Tyus’s contract and picks to get a good 2-way wing. If Jones is traded here without including Conley, I don’t see how the Wolves avoid the tax while keeping NAW and Naz.

5. Minnesota sports dream #2: **Ricky Rubio**

*Ricky Rubio and 2nd for Taurean Prince*

Comment: Let’s trade Rubio for TP again and get one more 2nd! Not happening, Rubio looked like a shell of himself this season and has 2 more guaranteed years.

**6.** **TJ McConnell**

*TJ McConnell for Taurean Prince and Wendell Moore Jr.*

Comment: Indiana has Hali and Nembhard, and will likely get one more guard from the draft. They are mostly focused on developing their young players (they also have three 1st round picks) and perhaps will be happy to just shed the salary of TJ (by acquiring and cutting Prince). McConnell is a good veteran bench PG, but I’m not sure if the Wolves want to commit to any guaranteed salary in the 2024-25 season.

**7.** **Cameron Payne**

*Cameron Payne for Taurean Prince*

Comment: Cam Payne did not have a great regular season and is struggling in playoffs, but he is still someone who can come from the bench and score points. This season he has 8 assists per 36 (better than McLaughlin) and a 2.7 AST/TO ratio. Payne is quite an inconsistent player, but he had [big games](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ud_r8zqv_g) this season.

by PlayInChampions