SHAMS BOMB: KAT to Knickerbockers, Randle/Big Ragu to Minnesota

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
#32
Is this the anti-Hali-Domas trade?
I don't think it will be a lose/lose deal unless there are injuries involved.

KAT is soft, but he's also a floor spacing big and will be surrounded by defensive wings in NYC. I think if anything, this is the Knicks trying to emulate a bit of what Boston does with long, switchable two way wings and a big that lets them play 5 out. Randle also wasn't likely to start for the revamped Knicks and I don't know that his game is ideal as a sixth man/big time bench scorer.

For the Timberwolves I think Randle balances their starting 5 a bit more and his passing will be a welcome addition. I'm not sure where DiVincenzo fits in. If he was unhappy with the thought of a reduced role in NYC, I'm not sure he'll be happier in Minny where he's also very likely to come off the bench, unless they want to go without a traditional PG and start him instead of Conley.
 
#33
I don't like this for Minnesota at all. You just went to the WCF under a 22-year-old Edwards.. but then you decide to blow it up by trading KAT? KAT was a great complimentary #2 big next to ANT because he's an elite 3pt shooter and he's also shown that he can score at a high level if needed. He's a bit passive, but that's his only downfall on offense.

On the other hand, Randle is a ball-dominant PF who chucks up 3s. He's a much better playmaker and passer than KAT, but that means taking the ball away from ANT. Unless you think they can play through each other, that'd be the only way it works. But their floor spacing gets significantly worse, especially with a center like Gobert.

Maybe you can buy into DDV finally being consistent, but I don't really know. We saw the bad of him here in Sacramento when he tried to force himself to fit in, and it landed him on a 1-year prove it deal. If his playoff series against indiana wasn't a fluke, then he'll be a good addition to the T-Wolves. But he's pretty much a journey-man player at this point...

At least run it back with the ANT-KAT duo one more time to see how it works out. ANT took a huge leap this past year and I think it was a mistake to think they couldn't win it all the way with that team.

The T-Wolves are apparently saving $26.5million in payroll and tax penalties for this upcoming season by making this trade. That's the real motivating factor here...
 
#34
People saying Randle is a better passer... huh?

It's minimal, if at all. KAT is right there as one of the best non PG passers in the NBA. And he's just flat out a better offensive player in all facets.

Like I said, great for us. This makes Minny quite a bit worse, which might help open a door for us
 
#36
People saying Randle is a better passer... huh?

It's minimal, if at all. KAT is right there as one of the best non PG passers in the NBA. And he's just flat out a better offensive player in all facets.

Like I said, great for us. This makes Minny quite a bit worse, which might help open a door for us
I would point out that Randle is not a good defensive player. KAT plays soft, but is still better on defense. I think this trade hurts Minnesota.

I had the WC kind of raked as
Tier 1 - OKC
Tier 2 - Minnesota
Tier 3 - Dallas, Denver
Tier 4 - Sacramento, Phoenix

I think this trade moves Minnesota down with the Kings and the Suns.
 
#37
I would point out that Randle is not a good defensive player. KAT plays soft, but is still better on defense. I think this trade hurts Minnesota.

I had the WC kind of raked as
Tier 1 - OKC
Tier 2 - Minnesota
Tier 3 - Dallas, Denver
Tier 4 - Sacramento, Phoenix

I think this trade moves Minnesota down with the Kings and the Suns.
Yeah I think it's pretty clearly money related. Because you don't take a squad that just made the wcf, knocked out the champs with an ascending 22 year old superstar and make a drastic team shift otherwise
 
#42
probably already mentioned amongst all these threads but read Knicks had to wave Marcus Morris and Chuma Okeke in this trade. I have no interest in Morris but does Okeke have any value to the Kings especially with Lyles being injury prone.
 
#44
This move only hurts the Timberwolves in a match up against Denver otherwise I'm not sure they got much worse if at all with DDV being added. Randle as you 6th man is pretty nasty and I think Naz can do a lot of what KAT did.

Twolves potentially saving Calvin Booths career/making him look good with this move.
 
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hrdboild

Moloch in whom I dream Angels!
Staff member
#46
DDV getting kicked out of the Villanova Superfriends Knicks is probably more noteworthy than the exchange of two scoring big guys which neither team (or fan base) seemed all that enamored with anymore. Minnesota's identity is built around Gobert and Edwards at this point and Randle was an afterthought on the Knicks since he couldn't stay healthy. It's probably a good thing for both KAT and Randle to get a fresh start somewhere else.

Speaking of Randle's health, I'm going to declare him the biggest winner of this trade for escaping the Tom Thibodeau rotation of death with both knees (more or less) intact.
 

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
#54
The Knicks got the best player in this trade, but if DDV can play the way he did last season I think he more than bridges the difference between Randle and KAT. I don't know how likely it will be that the Detroit pick conveys (it almost certainly won't this season) so I think the winners and losers here will really come down to fit. Randle gives Minny a more aggressive attacker on offense, but he's also going to eat up space and clog things a bit for Ant.

We'll see.
 
#55
This move only hurts the Timberwolves in a match up against Denver otherwise I'm not sure they got much worse if at all with DDV being added. Randle as you 6th man is pretty nasty and I think Naz can do a lot of what KAT did.

Twolves potentially saving Calvin Booths career/making him look good with this move.
The Knicks got the best player in this trade, but if DDV can play the way he did last season I think he more than bridges the difference between Randle and KAT. I don't know how likely it will be that the Detroit pick conveys (it almost certainly won't this season) so I think the winners and losers here will really come down to fit. Randle gives Minny a more aggressive attacker on offense, but he's also going to eat up space and clog things a bit for Ant.

We'll see.
Yea i'd be a lot more worried about Randle's fit with Ant than people seem to be with DeMar coming over here