Timberwolves 2017 Offseason rumors

[Willihammer]

Sounds like the Irving talks are pretty much over and the Wolves and Wiggins are close to a max extension.

https://clutchpoints.com/timberwolves-owner-glen-taylor-confident-andrew-wiggins-extension-will-get-done/

Man, I sure hope Wiggins is worth the investment.

 

I don't know much about the NBA cap rules. Would this deal stop us locking up KAT?

[bluechipper]

 

Sounds like the Irving talks are pretty much over and the Wolves and Wiggins are close to a max extension.

https://clutchpoints.com/timberwolves-owner-glen-taylor-confident-andrew-wiggins-extension-will-get-done/

Man, I sure hope Wiggins is worth the investment.

 

I don't know much about the NBA cap rules. Would this deal stop us locking up KAT?

No it wouldn't effect KAT any. Teams can go over the cap locking up there own players, they just have to pay a tax.

[Mr. Brooks]

Well I guess they are gambling big that Wiggins develops the defensive side of his game.

Hope it works out.

[kab21]

 

Sounds like the Irving talks are pretty much over and the Wolves and Wiggins are close to a max extension.

https://clutchpoints.com/timberwolves-owner-glen-taylor-confident-andrew-wiggins-extension-will-get-done/

Man, I sure hope Wiggins is worth the investment.

 

I don't know much about the NBA cap rules. Would this deal stop us locking up KAT?

They won't have any issues resigning their own players such as KAT (and hopefully Butler - unlikely though). The problem that will continually plague the Wolves is how do they add depth once they are capped out (next offseason). This could be a similar situation that the Clippers faced every year. How do the Wolves add competent role players using the exceptions and draft? Some teams found role players at the bottom of the draft and on cheap FA deal and were able to extend their competitive window for several seasons.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Welp, Kyrie appears to be Boston-bound, and I'm kind of pissed. This trade makes absolutely no sense at all. I wasn't 100% counting on Kyrie being a twolf someday, but this just makes me mad because it's so stupid.

 

Trading your 2nd best piece to your only competition in the East? Puhleaze, girlfriend.

[kab21]

 

Welp, Kyrie appears to be Boston-bound, and I'm kind of pissed. This trade makes absolutely no sense at all. I wasn't 100% counting on Kyrie being a twolf someday, but this just makes me mad because it's so stupid.

Trading your 2nd best piece to your only competition in the East? Puhleaze, girlfriend.

I don't remember if I proposed this trade here but this is exactly the trade that makes sense. Lebron is leaving CLE next offseason so their option is to make one last stand against a superior GSW team or downgrade a little and pick up a very valuable rebuilding piece.

[kab21]

Looking at this further Cleveland did really, really well. They might not have gotten worse next season considering that they also landed the really versatile Crowder but they landed a really high pick and a lottery ticket (Zizic) along with something like 29M in luxury tax savings. They weren't good enough to beat GSW before and they still aren't but they aren't completely screwed if (rather when) Lebron leaves next offseason.

 

The still makes sense for the Celtics since they were faced with either giving Thomas a near max deal next summer or having to reorganize their team. Kyrie is a much easier choice to give a max deal in two seasons. The Nets picks could be HUGE though but they have a lot of really young potential on the team. The tough thing to project (just like the Wolves) is how all of these pieces will fit together since there has been a lot of moves.

[Taildragger8791]

 

Looking at this further Cleveland did really, really well. They might not have gotten worse next season considering that they also landed the really versatile Crowder but they landed a really high pick and a lottery ticket (Zizic) along with something like 29M in luxury tax savings. They weren't good enough to beat GSW before and they still aren't but they aren't completely screwed if (rather when) Lebron leaves next offseason.

 

The still makes sense for the Celtics since they were faced with either giving Thomas a near max deal next summer or having to reorganize their team. Kyrie is a much easier choice to give a max deal in two seasons. The Nets picks could be HUGE though but they have a lot of really young potential on the team. The tough thing to project (just like the Wolves) is how all of these pieces will fit together since there has been a lot of moves.

 

I think this move is basically acknowledging that theyr'e going to have to blow it all up in 2018. They still gave themselves a good chance to compete for this year, then they're set up well to shed a lot of contracts (LeBron, Shumpert, Frye, Thomas) and have some tradeable assets to work with (Love, JR Smith, Tristan Thompson, Crowder). Giving Thomas the max won't even be their problem to debate. Much better spot to be in than the last time LeBron left.

[kab21]

 

I think this move is basically acknowledging that theyr'e going to have to blow it all up in 2018. They still gave themselves a good chance to compete for this year, then they're set up well to shed a lot of contracts (LeBron, Shumpert, Frye, Thomas) and have some tradeable assets to work with (Love, JR Smith, Tristan Thompson, Crowder). Giving Thomas the max won't even be their problem to debate. Much better spot to be in than the last time LeBron left.

They may not even have to blow it up after this trade (with Thomas leaving). Getting the Nets picks and Zizic could be HUGE for them.

[Taildragger8791]

 

They may not even have to blow it up after this trade (with Thomas leaving). Getting the Nets picks and Zizic could be HUGE for them.

 

Maybe, and being in the LeBron-less East will certainly help them stay relevant if they want to try. But I don't see how to make the leftover pieces fit without him there to stir the drink. There's no true PG or dominant wing players left, just a bunch of bigs and a random collection of so-so shooters and scorers. Not sure they'll have enough cap room to add outside star power.

 

They don't have to strip it down to the studs but I could see them moving any older players or sizeable contracts of value to try and restructure the roster around a new approach.

[bluechipper]

Cleveland won this trade I think, but it's probably a win-win. They are still the favorites in the East, and they really helped their future, even if Lebron leaves. That Nets pick is huge. The 2018 draft is LOADED.

[kab21]

So the Kyrie trade may yet fall through due to Thomas's physical (known issues...) and Wiggins might not sign a max extension. 

What the hell happened with Wiggins?  I still expect a max deal extension to happen even if they wait until next season but this has a bit of drama so far (fired agent - declined? max deal).

[Mr. Brooks]

I think they declined the max offer because the old agent negotiated it, so legally he'd get the cut.

 

I think they have to tear it up and start over for the new agent to get the cut.

Though if its similar, I'd expect the old agent to sue, rightfully.

[kab21]

 

I think they declined the max offer because the old agent negotiated it, so legally he'd get the cut.

I think they have to tear it up and start over for the new agent to get the cut.
Though if its similar, I'd expect the old agent to sue, rightfully.

Yes, but the question has to be 'Why was the old agent fired?'. How much flexibility is there in a max contract? Would Wiggins have to wait until next offseason to avoid paying both agents?

[bluechipper]

The Wolves are bringing back Shabazz Muhammad. This is very good news, and it's made even better because he'll only be making the veteran's minimum.

 

He probably would've gotten a $40M deal or something if he were a free agent the previous offseason.

[kab21]

I commented on this elsewhere but he isn't really good at most basketball skills and the things he is good at aren't a great fit due to the number of ball needy players that are better than him. But the Wolves absolutely need competent NBA players to fill out the 9-12 spots on the roster. They are just a couple of injuries away from relying heavily on never have been's or never will be's. Bazz is a legit NBA player. He just isn't very good.

[biggentleben]

 

I commented on this elsewhere but he isn't really good at most basketball skills and the things he is good at aren't a great fit due to the number of ball needy players that are better than him. But the Wolves absolutely need competent NBA players to fill out the 9-12 spots on the roster. They are just a couple of injuries away from relying heavily on never have been's or never will be's. Bazz is a legit NBA player. He just isn't very good.

 

Just crazy that he came back for vet minimum when teams like the Pacers desperately need a guy just like him.

[kab21]

 

Just crazy that he came back for vet minimum when teams like the Pacers desperately need a guy just like him.

Agree. I might rag on his inadequacies as a player but he does fit better on other teams. I really thought that he would be getting 5-8M/yr from some team. 

[Pardon My Dinger]

I too am not a huge Bazz guy, but I feel way better about the roster with him on it.

[biggentleben]

Was listening to an interesting discussion today as I waited to do a radio hit. They were discussing the TWolves bringing back Bazz, and one of the comments made was that the team intends to use a lot more of Wiggins keying the offense, and that would mean that the roster depth really allows for Bazz to be used in a role as an offensive guy off the bench while Wiggins or Butler gets a break as Butler would likely move to the point forward role if Wiggins was out in the way this evaluator saw the lineup working, with Crawford focusing more as the shooter role, not the slasher/creator role.

[Vanimal46]

Ricky Rubio has a man bun and a wicked AWESOME beard now. Carry on with your day. 

 

[Pardon My Dinger]

Ricky Rubio has a man bun and a wicked AWESOME beard now. Carry on with your day.

 

Well, that ain't gonna fly in Salt Lake.

[kab21]

Carmelo to OKC for basically nothing. The Knicks will end up with cap room sooner and get rid of the distraction known as Carmelo. OKC becomes an interesting team. Interesting as in how to they put these things together to simply be the top western conf contender to the Warriors. They are better but still not good enough and they almost certainly can't be planning to bring back both RW and PG due to the luxury tax even if they would resign.

[Vanimal46]

So..... Is there anything left in the Eastern conference besides LeBron? Is it going to be like the AL this year where there's 3 good teams, 2 decent teams, and the rest garbage?

[Ben Noble]

 

So..... Is there anything left in the Eastern conference besides LeBron? Is it going to be like the AL this year where there's 3 good teams, 2 decent teams, and the rest garbage?

 

The Twins are one of these two decent teams, right? RIGHT?!? 

[Pardon My Dinger]

The East won't have three good teams. They might have two...like, maybe. They are a conference without a contender. As far as the West goes...welcome to the Thunderdome. 

 

...and the Wolves got boned a bit by the Melo trade. A once manageable division just became a lot harder to top. I'd say we've still got the best 3-6 year outlook of any team, though. 

 

 

[Vanimal46]

 

The East won't have three good teams. They might have two...like, maybe. They are a conference without a contender. As far as the West goes...welcome to the Thunderdome. 

 

...and the Wolves got boned a bit by the Melo trade. A once manageable division just became a lot harder to top. I'd say we've still got the best 3-6 year outlook of any team, though. 

 

No kidding.... There's probably like, what, 12 good teams in the West and 1 in the East? A sports league will never do it, but this is a prime example to eliminate conferences all together and go with the 16 best teams overall for the playoffs. 

It's going to be silly when the #8 seed in the east has 45+ losses. 

[Pardon My Dinger]

Looking into it a little further...

 

Nine Eastern Conference All Stars are returning to the East. Nine. The West scooped up, Jimmy Buckets, Melo, Millsap, PG13, Brook Lopez, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, etc...

 

Those moving from the West to the East: Gordon Hayward and a big loud fart noise. 

[Vanimal46]

 

Carmelo to OKC for basically nothing. The Knicks will end up with cap room sooner and get rid of the distraction known as Carmelo. OKC becomes an interesting team. Interesting as in how to they put these things together to simply be the top western conf contender to the Warriors. They are better but still not good enough and they almost certainly can't be planning to bring back both RW and PG due to the luxury tax even if they would resign.

 

I'm not the greatest basketball mind.... But Westbrook needs the ball 24/7, Carmelo needs the ball 24/7, and I assume Paul George needs the ball a lot too. Can't imagine this is going to work out well, unless the NBA changes the rules and allows the Thunder to play with 2 basketballs. 

[biggentleben]

 

Looking into it a little further...

 

Nine Eastern Conference All Stars are returning to the East. Nine. The West scooped up, Jimmy Buckets, Melo, Millsap, PG13, Brook Lopez, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, etc...

 

Those moving from the West to the East: Gordon Hayward and a big loud fart noise. 

 

But you should see that fart noise on defense. Can really clear the boards!