Report: Blazers and Wolves discussed 'major deal,' talks dead
The Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves were in discussions Friday on what would have been considered a "major deal," according to a report from Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
Shortly after, Bonnel followed up by reporting that talks had been initiated by Minnesota but were "dead." Darren Wolfson of KSTP also cited a Wolves official who said "nothing is going on," and Minnesota-based Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press told followers on Twitter to "stand down."
The Observer's report did not include the names of any players but noted that the deal would have revolved around cap space. That would seem to indicate that the Blazers, who are well below the salary cap and could clear as much as $19.8 million in cap space if necessary, would have taken on salary from the Wolves, who are over the cap and are into a hard-capped situation.
With Bonnell using the term "major deal," the salaries that may have fit the bill from Minnesota include Nikola Pekovic, Kevin Martin, and former No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett. Pekovic has three years and $35.8 million remaining on his deal, while Martin will earn $7.1 million this season and holds a $7.4-million player option for 2016-17. Bennett, meanwhile, will earn $5.8 million this season, and there's a team option on his contract for $7.3 million next season that his team would have to exercise by Oct. 31 of this year.
While the Blazers wouldn't have had much use for Pekovic or Martin in a rebuilding season, teams with ample cap space occasionally take on salary in order to secure draft-pick compensation for their trouble.
Bennett would have been a different story and fits Portland's offseason strategy of adding players with upside and hoping a couple of them work out. Bennett has struggled through two seasons - with conditioning, medical issues, injuries, vision, and general basketball effectiveness - but he's still 22 and took some minor strides forward in 2014-15.
If nothing else, the stalled talks suggest the Wolves continue to search for a way to unload some salary ahead of the start of the season.