Swap with 76ers adds bodies plus leverage

The move would leave the Wolves with expiring contracts and a stockpile of future picks to keep or trade.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: July 9, 2008 - 11:25 AM

Print this story

WOLVES

The Timberwolves will land a first-round pick and two players from Philadelphia, if a deal widely reported on multiple websites and acknowledged by a source with knowledge of the trade goes through today.

NBA teams can sign free agents and complete trades when a nine-day transactions moratorium ends today.

The 76ers wanted to clear additional salary-cap space so they can sign unrestricted free-agent forward Elton Brand to a reported five-year, $82 million contract. To do so, Philadelphia will trade young forward/guard Rodney Carney, veteran center Calvin Booth and a conditional future first-round pick from Utah to the Wolves for a salary-cap trade exemption obtained when the team traded center Mark Blount to Miami last season, and possibly a second-round pick.

The Wolves absorb the expiring contracts of Booth ($1.14 million) and Carney ($1.65 million, with a team option for 2009-10) in exchange for a first-round pick Utah traded to Philadelphia last winter for Kyle Korver.

That pick gives the Wolves' three additional future first-round draft selections: From Boston (top-three protected in 2009), Miami (top-10 protected in 2009) and now Utah (believed to be top-15 protected in 2009).

The Wolves owe the Los Angeles Clippers a first-round pick (top 10 protected through 2011) from a 2005 trade that brought Marko Jaric to Minnesota.

The Wolves' accumulation of draft picks provides them assets they could use now or later to acquire a player. The Wolves will need point-guard help if they don't re-sign unrestricted free agent Sebastian Telfair and could obtain a backup to starter Randy Foye with one of those extra first-round picks or expiring salary slots as trade bait.

A team such as Memphis has a glut of guards after last month's draft-night trade sent O.J. Mayo's rights from the Wolves to the Grizzlies for Kevin Love.

Teams can sign free agents and complete trades beginning today, but the Wolves' negotiations with Telfair and restricted free agents Ryan Gomes and Craig Smith likely will continue.

Gomes' agent said he expects discussions with other teams to extend into next week. Smith's agent said Tuesday he is hopeful he will have an offer sheet from another team to take to the Wolves by the end of this week. The Wolves then would have seven days to match the offer or relinquish Smith.

Booth's agent told the Associated Press his client's "contract" would be traded to Minnesota today. That might mean Booth will never wear a Wolves uniform, and instead, his contract could be either absorbed as a price paid for the future first-round pick or dealt to another team.

Carney, a third-year swingman from the University of Memphis whom Chicago drafted 16th overall in 2006, would give the Wolves an athletic prospect at positions already filled by Mike Miller and Corey Brewer, or his expiring contract could be used in another trade. Carney averaged 5.8 points and 14.8 minutes in 70 games for Philadelphia last season.