NBA - Main

KAT gone

it's looking more and more like a KAT trade is on the horizon.

Trading KAT only sheds salary if they trade him for expiring contracts or to a team way under the cap that can take him into space without sending back salary.

But those kind of trades don't make sense for a team that's trying to contend.

2nd apron for a team that doesn't even have an outside shot at a ring just isn't feasible. Someone is getting traded

they're at essentially 190m going into this upcoming off season, with Kyle not signed

i get Rudy's value isn't great, but i'm not trading KAT unless it's bringing back a second scorer

because ANT can be a 1, KAT is a 2, and Jaden can be a third guy on a great team

ANT/Rudy/Jaden + role players just isn't good enough

The problem with paying big bucks for high-quality role players you need your actual stars to be SUPERstars. And this is double so when you're investing $77m into two defense first guys like Gobert/McDaniels. You need superstar offensive production from Ant/KAT because there will no other great offensive pieces to surround them with when you have that much cap tied up to 4 players.

Problem is Ant and KAT are not superstars. Ant can probably get there in due time, but KAT? He's 27 years old and not even a top 25 player.

Morris/Covington/Mann + 2 picks for KAT?

u/CazOnReddit you're absolutely right about KAT (or maybe Rudy) being moved and likely sooner than later---if this Wolves team doesn't take the jump this season. We'll know more after this season. Conley is a free agent too along with SlowMo. So this is a one season window right here. They're going all in this season and we're gonna find out where they stand. Lots of pressure, including on Finch...his job security is likely also in the balance.

Harden/KAT/____ three team trade incoming ^((/s...?))

Or the team just pays the tax for 1 year, restructures Goberts contract then can duck the tax in consecutive years. New ownership is not afraid to pay for quality players. They are wanting a new arena and will assuredly ask for public money. They are not about to cheap out now.

KAT gone next year anyways

I get teams that can be a legit top-tier contender making moves to willingly put themselves in the second apron. Like the Suns taking on the Beal contract this summer makes sense, same with the Celtics and the moves they made. They are legit top-tier contenders. However, definitely not a good idea for the T-Wolves. They don't graduate into fringe contender territory by going into the second apron, much less become a legit top-tier contender.

A KAT or Gobert trade has to be on the horizon.

Also, the second apron and the penalties associated with it (namely the fact your pick locks at the end of the first round 7 years after you exceed the second apron, and every time thereafter you exceed the second apron) is a joke and ruins not just teams that go for it to try and gun for a championship (Suns, Celtics, and if this rule existed before the Warriors and Clippers), but also teams that draft their core and extend their core pieces (Denver). It's a joke and only benefits ownership across the league that are and want to remain cheap.

KAT fits the timeline a lot better than Rudy

Would it be crazy to put KAT in a lineup with Scoot, Sharpe, and Ayton? Yes.

Would it be entertaining? YOLO.

All this for another first round exit is crazy

KAT you are a knick.