[Trade Rumor] Derrick Williams available

Haymitch · Nov 19, 2013

We all kind of knew that, but it's still something to watch if for no other reason than Minnesota is a big competitor of ours out in the West. They look pretty damn good so far and I don't want to see them get any stronger.

Rumor: Kings interested in possible Derrick Williams trade

This is not something likely go down in the near future if it goes down at all, so just put this in your “things that could happen after Christmas or close to the deadline” file.

We’ve told you before that the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to trade Derrick Williams. Flip Saunders and the rest of the front office wants to win now — part of the “keep Kevin Love happy and in Minnesota” campaign — and they know a veteran will help them more in that regard than the inefficient Williams.

So who makes a viable trading partner that would role the dice on an athletic tweener forward who struggles to create his own shot or defend well? Maybe the Sacramento Kings, as thrown out there by Chad Ford in a chat at ESPN (credit to Tom Ziller at Sactown Royalty for finding this):

From everything I can gather, he’s available. It’s just about finding the right deal. Head coach Rick Adelman would prefer another veteran big to fill out the rotation. I think GM Flip Saunders wants a little more value. I know the Kings have a lot interest in Williams and might have the right combination of veterans to make a deal (Jason Thompson? Chuck Hayes?).

It’s going to take more than Chuck Hayes. Thompson is interesting but that’s a steep price for Sacramento to pay, there would have to be other pieces in there to make that work.

Still, just something to watch. There are teams still sold on the potential of Williams and think in a better system he could be a good rotation player. One will eventually bite and make an offer the Timberwolves like, and the Kings may well be that team.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....ck-williams-trade/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs
Click to expand...

And this from a week ago, saying that Sheved might also be available:

Report: Minnesota willing to move Derrick Williams, Alexey Shved for veterans

Derrick Williams and Alexey Shved are reportedly on the market but this is all about Kevin Love.

If that sounds strange, follow along here. Minnesota is entering a “win now” phase and they are off to a nice 5-3 start this season thanks to their expected strong offense and a better than expected defense. They look like a playoff team if they can stay healthy.

But that is not enough. This note from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports — in a story primarily about how the Knicks are selling Carmelo Anthony on how they will go after Love in 2015 — includes this interesting tidbit about the Timberwolves efforts to keep Love in house and how that may impact the roster.

Kevin Love is on deck to be recruited to New York in 2015, and that’s among the reasons the Timberwolves are so determined to make deals to climb deep into the playoffs these next two years. Young Minnesota players Derrick Williams and Alexey Shved are available in deals for veterans to help these T’wolves now, league executives told Yahoo Sports.

Thanks to the legacy of David Kahn (who refused to give him a five year max contract extension), Love can opt out in the summer of 2015 and almost certainly will. It’s no secret around the league that Love has had his frustrations with the Timberwolves and he is seen as a guy who could bolt. He will be the marquee free agent of 2015 and likely will have the Knicks, Lakers and maybe even Bulls among others knocking on his door.

Minnesota finally kicked Kahn to the curb last summer and brought in Flip Saunders as the head of basketball operations with the goal of repairing the organization’s relationship with Love and building a winner that will make him want to stay.

Winning will be the key. Minnesota can offer one more year and larger raises than all the other 2015 suitors, but what really makes it hard for Love to leave Minnesota is if he thinks he is walking away from a contender or potential contender. In two years, can this core with Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic grow into something that can challenge the Spurs, Thunder, Clippers and Warriors out West?

Saunders knows he needs more, hence the idea of moving good young players in Williams and Shved for guys more ready to help now.

Minnesota is getting out of the player development, “we’re happy to be up-and-comers” role and into something more serious. With that could come some interesting player movement in the next couple years.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....e-derrick-williams-alexey-shved-for-veterans/
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Bill Worrell · Nov 19, 2013

I think he be good if he got a starting role.... that being said i dont think hes better that T-Jones boy is focus right now MOREY GET JEFF GREEN PLEASE!

Patience · Nov 19, 2013

I hope they make the trade for Chuck Hayes. I would love to see Chuck back in Adelman's system on a winning team.

J.R. · Nov 19, 2013

At least the Cavs didn't manage to screw that up (in 2011)

da_juice · Nov 19, 2013

Hasn't he been available for a few years now?

Not sure why the Kings want another PF.

dobro1229 · Nov 19, 2013

Williams has been available for a long time.

Kings interested in Williams.... uhhh... somethings never change. How many mediocre PF's can you have on one team? Also how many bad contracts can you have on one team for only decent players with no true star player???

And before someone mentions how the Rockets should trade for him.... Dont.

This player makes 3.2 mil this year, and 3.3 next year-
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barnema02.html

This player makes 5 mil this year, 6 next year. and 8 million the year after(qualifying offer)-
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willide02.html

And trading for Derrick Williams solidifies the Rockets into a core group. It will be next to impossible for them to bring in another impact player with his salary clogging up the books for future deals.

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