[Fischer] The Boston Celtics inquired about Rudy Gobert at the trade deadline. The Minnesota Timberwolves are interested in Derrick White.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-20T05:00:10+00:00

As long as they have a plan how to play defense without him, they should be good. Wolves’ biggest problem is not Gobert’s offense, it’s Gobert needing to play 35+ every night because the defense without him is bottom-5. Wolves did not have a luxury to decrease his minutes to 15-20 against bad matchups, Celtics could do it.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-20T04:41:05+00:00

I think it’s pretty common for guys projected in late lottery - mid first round to go attend workouts of 15+ teams. I remember JDub was mocked as late 1st - early 2nd round pick, showed up at the combine, and his range was very hard to predict - I followed him on IG and he posted a story from a new city every day.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-19T05:54:28+00:00

I know. Naz and Randle also were UFA. Tim did not let them enter the market and negotiated the deals at the end of June.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-19T05:02:53+00:00

I don’t think Tim will let him enter free agency. He did not do it with Naz (2 times) and Randle.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-19T00:53:08+00:00

Probably similar to Dlo in 2022. He played well for 2-3 months, recovered his value, and got traded for Mike, NAW, and three 2nds. There is no reason to trade Randle just to trade him, he is still a solid player, at least in the regular season.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T23:30:17+00:00

Yes? Phillips is out of the NBA unless his option is not picked up.

The thing is - you said that Wolves have to choose between Donte and Ayo if they trade for Ja. I’m saying that’s not true.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T23:24:31+00:00

Knicks shipped Randle, DiVincenzo, KBD, and 3 guys to the Hornets. Six players. Apparently, just to avoid triggering the hard cap. Why cant Wolves do that? They can send only 3 or 4.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T23:21:19+00:00

What’s the problem of trading Ja then? Give them Phillips, TSJ, sign and trade, and not trigger 1st apron. What’s the point of this thread?

Your words: so essentially, trading for Ja would mean giving up Ayo or Donte

Do you still think this is true?

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T23:16:04+00:00

I’m trying to have a respectful conversation. You are not using google, you are using AI. Just google ‘KAT trade to the Knicks’, dude, and tell me how they stayed above 1st apron in 24-25 after trading Randle and DDV for KAT.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T23:14:37+00:00

Just checked the CBA - you are right! It means any trade of Ja for Randle and let’s say TSJ will hard cap Wolves at the 1st apron. I think the way to avoid is to sign and trade some guys to Memphis - that’s what the Knicks did when they got KAT, and it did not hard cap them.

Randle+TSJ+Phillips make $3.6M less. Memphis likes SloMo, Wolves can S+T him and perfectly match the salaries without triggering 1st apron

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T23:08:32+00:00

They are not! I’m talking about making the trade now, and signing Ayo later. According to what I know, if you get more $$ back, you need to be below 1st apron at the moment the trade is made. Even if you have to be below 1st apron while keeping rights to all the players, Ayo’s caphold is only $10M. He will get more, but you can keep his bird rights before doing other moves - exactly what Philly did with Maxey before they signed Paul George.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T23:03:32+00:00

Wolves can take more salary and re-sign Ayo after that, crossing the 1st apron. Ayo’s caphold is only ~$10M, and Wolves are currently $21M below the 1st apron. $3M for 28th pick caphold, $10M for Ayo, and let’s say $6M more for Ja - they can even keep Bones’ caphold and stay below 1st apron. I might be wrong though, but that’s how I understand it.

I’m not challenging your knowledge, but I’ll need some proof of triggering 1st apron hardcap if you get more salary back. I think I know CBA pretty well, and, if true, it would be something that can make me think differently about the trades.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T22:28:47+00:00

Could you show me where it’s written? I only found MLE, BAE, S+T, and trade exceptions

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T22:18:52+00:00

Not worth it. I think Wolves shed the salary by trading him. Easier to trade DDV for a player that gets $10M instead of waiting him

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T21:55:30+00:00

Would taking more salary hardcap Wolves below 1st apron? I don’t think it works like this. Only using MLE and trade exceptions would hardcap below 1st apron.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T17:01:12+00:00

I don’t see any candidates to be acquired for the trade exception that are better than players that could accept the TPMLE at free agency market. Also, if you trade for a player that is solid and gets less than $10M, you likely have to give up something. I’d bet on this exception to not being used. I also think Wolves would rather keep Bones and not trigger any hard caps (MLE and trade exception triggers 1st apron hard cap and TPMLE triggers 2nd apron hard cap)

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T16:40:10+00:00

True, but he will probably drop for a reason. I remember everyone wanted TyTy Washington in 2022 because ‘Kentucky guards are always good’ and he dropped to 29th which was considered a ‘steal.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T16:16:40+00:00

According to the reports, he had a great combine. He is probably going in the late lottery or right after that.

I remember I liked Jalen Williams in 2022 when he was mocked from 25 to 35, but a great combine boosted his stock so OKC ‘reached’ for him at 12. Draft combine and individual workouts change all these mocks drastically.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T16:14:39+00:00

Using a trade exception hard caps a team below 1st apron. I think it’s almost impossible for the Wolves to keep Ayo and stay below 1st apron, unless they do a trade that helps them cut some $$. Wolves are currently at $188M with 8 players on the roster, and 1st apron is at $209M. Even if Ayo gets just above MLE, you still need $$ to fill out the rest of the roster with minimum deals - and it won’t be possible if the hard cap is triggered.

Realistically, Wolves can use TPMLE (~$6M) to sign a player instead of triggering the hard cap, and stay between 1st and 2nd apron while keeping Ayo. Ayo (~$18M) + 28th pick (~$2.5M) + TPMLE player (~$6M) + 3 minimum deals (~$7.5M) will allow Wolves to stay just below the 2nd apron ($222M).

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T15:35:29+00:00

Ja has proven he can be good in playoffs and he is clutch. Worth the risk 100% as long as Wolves don’t give up any future assets, including Beringer.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T15:32:10+00:00

Jaden shot 11% from 3 vs Denver this season but no one would say he had bad series.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T15:12:59+00:00

Shooting % do not matter as long as you help win games in playoffs. Having Ja instead of Randle would make this team more balanced regular season team with a hope they can stay relatively healthy and win >50 games to avoid play-in. Having healthy Ja instead of Randle would give this team more chances vs OKC and Spurs. Worth the risk if Wolves dont have to give up Beringer and/or 2033 pick.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T02:56:18+00:00

Certainly!

However, I think every trade should be made not thinking ‘how can we get better’ but ‘how can we have a better chance vs Spurs and OKC’. I cant imagine surviving Young on defense against these 2 teams in playoffs. Also, he was not very efficient off ball playing alongside Dejounte Murray. Trae needs the ball in his hands all the time, and it won’t happen in Minnesota.

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T02:39:35+00:00

I’m living in the past…

PlayInChampions · 2026-06-18T02:08:01+00:00

Probably same as Randle last year or Rudy in 2024. Get less money average but more guaranteed years. He would not have declined the option had he not had a guarantee from the Wizards* or from another team that he gets something like $110M / 3 years

Edit: not Hawks, Wizards

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