http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/235630/Saunders-Believes-Brewer-Too-Vauable-To-TradeFlip Saunders is telling teams that Corey Brewer is too valuable to trade. Is anyone buying that he's not just trying to drive up the price with unrealistic claims?
"He's just too valuable to us to move" - Flip Saunders
Do statements like this make Flip Saunders come across as difficult to deal with? It's hard to even suggest that considering the haul he got for Kevin Love, but is it in a rebuilding team's best interest to drag out every deal with nothing guaranteed but a lengthy brutal negotiation?
Corey Brewer is one of the most movable asset a team could imagine. A 3 point shooting durable wing that thrives in transition all on a fair contract. Most of the teams in the league have a use for a Corey Brewer. Conversely from the Wolves' Perspective there's no incentive to sell fast. After all you only just traded for his successor, a younger, more talented version of the coveted player. Let Andrew Wiggins learn some veteran tricks and understanding of the system from Brewer and then you can sell him off later when Wiggins is ready to take over the spot.
By making statements like the above does Saunders scare potential suitors away from the tables by posturing before the negotiations even begin? Is his conservative, ring out every penny, approach to team building effective or would they benefit from a more open minded decision maker?
:Edit: Somebody around here has that quote about how dealing with Saunders is like playing chess with a Pigeon who craps all over the board and screams that "he wins!". I feel the same way.