Etan Thomas to Thunder; Atkins and Wilkins to Timberwolves

[benji]

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Minnesota Timberwolves picked up point guard Chucky Atkins from Oklahoma City on Monday in exchange for veteran center Etan Thomas and four second-round draft picks next year.

Minnesota also got Oklahoma City guard Damien Wilkins in the deal. Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn, who has been busy reshaping the roster he inherited from Kevin McHale, said the swap gives the team flexibility when it comes to the roster.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4359294

I was hoping Quentin Richardson would be involved.

I like how the Thunder gobbled up even more draft picks.

[Mayerhendrix]

What do the Timberwolves get out of it? Chucky Atkins, really? Wilkins is mediocre but I'd rather keep the four second-round draft picks in hopes that one of them becomes capable of holding out on an NBA roster.

[Lamrock]

Are you fucking kidding me? The trade is already in OKC's favor without the picks. Its ridiculous how many teams love to give away their picks to the Thunder.

[J@3]

Chucky Atkins is still playing?

[Calamaro]

Well, Minnesota have a lot of young players. They didn't need those picks anyway. And they got Atkins in return.
Without a doubt this is Kahns' best trade so far.

[Andrew]

I was hoping Quentin Richardson would be involved.

Give it time. Another trade can't be far off.

[hova-]

Wilkins' and Atkins' contracts are expiring. Same goes for Quentin Richardson. I don't know if any player of the 2010 FA market wants to go to the T-Wolves but they really do a good job right now clearing space. Their payroll will be at 26M$ next season (guaranteed contracts) and could be up to 38M$ max. (only if they pull their options on Love, Brewer and Pecherov as well as Songaila pulling his own player option). So this leaves them between 30M$ and 20M$ to go for FAs. Not that bad at all.

I don't see how anybody likes this trade so much for the Thunder. Ethan Thomas is a solid player but not more. And 2nd round picks are hard to use correctly.

[Andrew]

You never know, though. From memory, the Bulls could've had Paul Millsap in the second round if they hadn't traded away a second round pick that year.

[Mayerhendrix]

Or if you consider the Jazz, who (barring injuries this year) have been a dominant team in the Western Conference the past few years built primarily off of a core of 2nd round players.