Speculation? - Varejao to T'Wolves For Derrick Williams and Luke Ridnour

[Dave K]

Well if they are trying to dump him and we get a first to take him and ridnour, I think we would take that gamble. Worst case he becomes Antawn 2.0.. That is an asset, and a first from Minny for a second is also an asset. I am all about assets...

we dont always do anything with our assets. Like JJ for Casspi. Or letting Antwan walk for nothing. Werent we able to do something with shaq too? but didnt?


also, Ive been pounding the 'trade av' button for a year and a half now, annd I realize that DWILL is a big and needs time to develop, but this deal Im not sure I would do.

[MoFlo]

He might become a viable three in a few years, if he works his ass off on all aspects of being a perimeter player. It's possible. It's more important for him to listen to everything Rick Adelman, a player's coach who has nearly a .600 winning percentage in the NBA, has to say. He's one of the easy guys to play for and win. He could also start figuring it out that he is a power forward and doesn't have to drift to the perimeter like a puss.

If you are ready to make this trade without a single moment for pause, ask yourself if you have ever heard a single coach talk about Anderson Varejao the way Rick Adelman -a player's coach and a winner- has talked about Williams after only one frustrating year. Varejao is in his prime and is a defensive big man. Every team needs one of those. Do the Cavs need a guy without a position who doesn't listen to advice from his coach? Not without at least two first rounders coming back, they don't.

Completely agree.

It speaks volumes that Minnesota was shopping Williams, a guy who nearly everybody (if not everybody) regarded as the 2nd best player in the 2011 Draft, so heavily at the 2012 draft & even before, after just 1 season.

[Tornicade]

Kahn has been shopping that 2nd pick since they won it in the lotery last year. Its not really a surprise. Minnesota has been on the draft pick dole for 7 years and want to get older not younger at this point.

Kevin Love - 5th pick- trade acquired.
Rick Rubio - 5th pick
Wesley Johnson 4th pick- Traded for cap space.
Johnny Flynn 6th pick - Traded
OJ mayo 3rd - traded
Corey Brewer 7th - traded
Bradon roy 6th- Traded - signed back

etc

so it doesnt really speak volumes at al. its busines as normal for minnesota who was shopping that pick before they even selected him

[RappSoda]

That's what happens when you get a baseless rumor thread....take a joke...

Bah humbug.

Seriously, though, it was a moderately heated conversation.

[Lottery God]

He might become a viable three in a few years, if he works his ass off on all aspects of being a perimeter player. It's possible. It's more important for him to listen to everything Rick Adelman, a player's coach who has nearly a .600 winning percentage in the NBA, has to say. He's one of the easy guys to play for and win. He could also start figuring it out that he is a power forward and doesn't have to drift to the perimeter like a puss.

If you are ready to make this trade without a single moment for pause, ask yourself if you have ever heard a single coach talk about Anderson Varejao the way Rick Adelman -a player's coach and a winner- has talked about Williams after only one frustrating year. Varejao is in his prime and is a defensive big man. Every team needs one of those. Do the Cavs need a guy without a position who doesn't listen to advice from his coach? Not without at least two first rounders coming back, they don't.

At the sane though, a team like the Cavs that is buiding for the future, in my opinion, should not be looking at what a player is right now so much as what a player will become several years from now. It's not ideal to have an almost 10-year gap in age between the players who make up your core. You can't always fix that, but I think that Varejao has the prestige to haul in a young talent and/or a high pick.

I don't think that Varejao's value to the team as a player and as a trade asset will be anywhere near where it is today in five years when what a player can do for this team will really count.

I think that Williams will be outperforming Varejao within the next few years if he manages to figure things out. Really, he fits better as a stretch four than he does at the three, and, with a standing reach of over 9 feet and a weight of the high 240s when he was a PF isn't really undersized for the PF position at all especially if he were ti let his body fill it to his natural PF size. He's also fast for a PF. Other than that, it's just about getting him to buy into tge OF, banger who just happens to be able to drain it from outside mentality. I think he could be a better shooting David West if he plays his cards right.

Long story short, if we could convert Willians back into a PF, I'd pull the Varejao deal.

[Randolphkeys]

At the sane though, a team like the Cavs that is buiding for the future, in my opinion, should not be looking at what a player is right now so much as what a player will become several years from now. It's not ideal to have an almost 10-year gap in age between the players who make up your core. You can't always fix that, but I think that Varejao has the prestige to haul in a young talent and/or a high pick.

I don't think that Varejao's value to the team as a player and as a trade asset will be anywhere near where it is today in five years when what a player can do for this team will really count.

My post disagrees with none of what you wrote here, in fact what you wrote has been discussed for so long its an assumption at this point. I'm not arguing that Varejao cannot be traded. I'm arguing that offers are made on Varejao constantly and there is no reason to jump at the first rumor if the payoff isn't worth it.

I think that Williams will be outperforming Varejao within the next few years if he manages to figure things out. Really, he fits better as a stretch four than he does at the three, and, with a standing reach of over 9 feet and a weight of the high 240s when he was a PF isn't really undersized for the PF position at all especially if he were ti let his body fill it to his natural PF size. He's also fast for a PF. Other than that, it's just about getting him to buy into tge OF, banger who just happens to be able to drain it from outside mentality. I think he could be a better shooting David West if he plays his cards right.

Long story short, if we could convert Willians back into a PF, I'd pull the Varejao deal.

Here's the problem, you just described the player Minnesota thought they were drafting over a year ago. You see him as a stretch four. So did Adelman, so did Kahn, so did everyone but Williams. He has it in his head that he is a small forward. The Wolves seem to have more faith that Chase Budinger has a better chance at succeeding as a small forward. As long as Williams is more interested in transforming himself into something new, he isn't doing what is best for the team. He isn't a guy who follows what the coach asks. Read this quote from Williams:

"I believe I can be a good player in this league and I never doubt myself. That's a good thing about myself. I don't doubt myself in anything."

If the Cavs give up a player who is in his prime and ready to be a top twenty bigman, which PER stats say Varejao was last year, it shouldn't be for a guy who is going to need four years to figure out how to do what the coach wants and play the role a coach wants. It should be for picks, not a guy who already flamed out once. That was how we ended up with Drew Gooden and Sasha Pavlovic.

[Douglar]

Ironically, the Cavs got Gooden as part of the deal that got them Varejao.

[Randolphkeys]

Ironically, the Cavs got Gooden as part of the deal that got them Varejao.

That did occur to me. It also proves that the better building block in a trade for Varejao would be the picks and rookies rather than the principle player who has already burned a bridge with his old team.

[Snowblind]

I agree with Keys on that if Williams would realize he is a 4, he would be so much better off. Like others have said he would be a young David West, paired with a young cp3-esque pg in Kyrie. That being said, I doubt this trade happens. Could be good for the rebuild though.

[Douglar]

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/08/13/1...blockID=775157

Don't put any stock in the recent Internet rumor suggesting the Timberwolves and Cavaliers are talking about a deal involving Wolves forward Derrick Williams and guard Luke Ridnour, and Cavs big man Anderson Varejao. A Wolves team executive said no such conversations have taken place.