TRADE: KAT to NYK | Randle+ Divencenzo to MIN

[SleepingHero]

As stunning as this feels, on further reflection it's not much of a shocker after all. It was OBVIOUS that Minny had to trade KAT and get whatever they could, because the salary jump was impossible to handle -- and his was such a bloated salary that it was hard to see them getting talent in return.

You're 100% right here. I remember right after elimination we had ARod and several other Wolves execs leaking that they were looking into trading KAT but because they made the WCF that its hard to justify it at the current moment. That to me was a signal that they'll give it 1 more season with this current core and run it back. There was definitely an expiration date with this current version of the Wolves and KAT made the most sense to be dangled but what they got in return was puzzling to me.

So the fact that the Wolves are getting Randle, DiVicenco, and a pick seems like a huge win to me. I'm not a big fan of Randle, but he's productive, and DD is very useful, The pick will also be of value (unless it melts into nothingness due to protections).

Randle really makes no sense on this MIN team. The spacing between him and Gobert is putrid. He is a mega iso player that enjoys barreling down the lane spamming spin move after spin move to get to the basket. How does that look with Gobert eating up all the space in the middle? And if they are forced to play Reid instead of Gobert, then MIN defense takes a dive according to the numbers. To me that addition alone amplifies all of MIN weaknesses and diminishes their strengths.

Divencenzo is a great get though. Much needed shooting at a position of need. Kind of buries their lotto pick that they just got but who cares on a team that was supposed to be vying for the finals next year.

It will be interesting to see KAT's game value when he is used in a different setting. (My personal bias: he is suffering from a lethal case of "Center Who Wants to Be a Guard" that seems permanent.) But if anyone can get more out of him, I'd think Thibs might be the guy with his no-nonsense approach.

I'm with you here though ultimately. Thibs had the opportunity to coach KAT in Minny for 3 years and the defense was bottom 5 in the league each year. But now Thibs has probably his dream win rotation with Hart/OG/Bridges. That trio alone might be enough to hide KAT from whatever.

Still, KAT struggled the entire playoffs being weakside help and got faked out of his shoes from Luka's passing ability. You can't really hide that no matter the wing defenders you put around him.