longstrangetrip wrote:Camden wrote:Just watched the press conference. Man, I hope our two big guys in the FO (Flip and Milt) aren't as dumb as they come across. Milt talked about how Thad's camp made it known that he was going to opt out and Milt talked about how you don't want an asset to leave without getting something for it beforehand. They're talking about Thad like he's an expiring... Well, guys, KG's an expiring too. Their explanation is tomfoolery.
I wish Flip would just say, "I never stopped loving Kevin Garnett and I wanted him here no matter what. I tried to get him from Brooklyn as part of the Minnesota/Cleveland/Kevin Love trade, but they weren't having it so I had to go to my second plan to get Thad Young. I can't get enough KG! He's like the son I always wanted. Ryan, go get me some coffee."
I agree that Milt's comments make no sense at face value, cam. But I'm pretty sure I know what he was doing here ( I think Milt is quite savvy by the way). What most of us know is what the Wolves really feared after watching Thad for 3/4 of a year is that he would opt IN, and suck up $10 million of cap space next year, not opt out. But Thad is a great guy and probably well-liked by the Wolves brass, so they're not going to say that. It would be like saying "Look, Thad can't rebound or play team defense, and he doesn't even score very efficiently. We can't afford to pay $10 million for those results". That would have been hurtful to a guy they sincerely like, and also would have made Flip look stupid for giving up a first rounder a year ago. So instead they took the high road, and painted this as a scenario where they had to get something for a guy that was going to test the market.
Many will argue that Milt was saying what he meant. I really doubt it. Anybody with any business sense knows that Thad's agent was going to tell him to take the $10 million, and try to earn a new contract next year, and Milt and Flip know this.
And if Thad was going to opt-in, then what's the problem in keeping him for next year and trading him next year when teams wouldn't have to worry about the option in the contract?
Here were the scenarios:
Thad opts out:
- Flip tries to bring back on a multi-year deal for less money per year. We sign KG anyways because... nostalgia.
- If the above was unsuccessful, then Thad leaves as an expiring and we sign KG because... nostalgia.
Thad opts in:
- Flip now has a 27-year old scoring forward that can play either forward position, and has the versatility to start or come off the bench. Not only that, but he'll be playing for his next contract. Often times, those players play even hungrier because they know there are dollars on the line. Should he still not fit with the team's movement going forward, he gets dealt at the deadline for a 1st or young prospect. A playoff team would come calling and they wouldn't have to worry about their cap situation since he'd be an expiring.
Why are you acting like that $10M will be better spent? That's another issue I have with people that wanted Thad gone. Who are we realistically going to sign that's a better player than Thad Young? I'll wait for your ideas, if there are any.
