Remaining Free Agents of Interest

[Lipoli390]

Here's my list of remaining free agents I'd be interested in for the Wolves:

1. Kelly Oubre (GS, SF, UFA)
2. Justice Winslow (MEM, SF, UFA)
3. Hartenstein (CLE, C, UFA)
4. Lauri Markkanen (CHI, PF, RFA)
5. Frank Kaminsky (PHO, C, UFA)
6. Tacko Fall (BOS, C, UFA)
7. Frank Ntilikina (NYK, PG, UFA)

Oubre and Winslow probably aren't realistic options since I'm not sure we could practically clear the salary space needed to sign them and stay under the luxury tax. We'd probably have to find a team willing to take Prince in exchange for a non-guaranteed contract, probably offering a future 2nd rounder as sweetener.

Kaminsky, Tacko Fall and Frank N would be the easiest to sign with the $4.2M room we have under the luxury tax. But we'd still have to let JMac or Vando go to free up a roster spot. Or keep Bolmaro in Europe for another year. Another possible option would be dealing Culver, Juancho or Layman to a team with cap space for a future 2nd round pick.

Markkanen would is probably the most realistic major move, assuming the Wolves and Lauri can agree on a contract. If they agree, it's a simple matter of agreeing on sign-and-trade terms with Chicago. The Wolves have expiring contracts and three 2022 second puns picks to make that happen. I'm not sure myself about the merits of acquiring him. Cam makes a good case. But Q and Monster have make good arguments against it.

I continue to view Hartenstein as the most intriguing free agent option for the Wolves. I think he's gettable at no more than $5M per year - probably less. We'd still have to clear a roster spot as discussed above.

[Phenom]

Winslow had his rights renounced by Memphis, if I recall correctly so he would have to be signed into space or an exception. If Oubre wasn't renounced by GS he is a sign and trade candidate.

If the Wolves want these players the time is likely now. They just have to be willing to meet a price that each player feels respected even though it's an overpay. Or just stand pat.

[Monster]

Winslow had his rights renounced by Memphis, if I recall correctly so he would have to be signed into space or an exception. If Oubre wasn't renounced by GS he is a sign and trade candidate.

If the Wolves want these players the time is likely now. They just have to be willing to meet a price that each player feels respected even though it's an overpay. Or just stand pat.

I don't think the time is for sure now. No contracts are even officially signed yet I think the moratorium lifts tomorrow. FA started Monday afternoon. I know the timeline moves fast but...some of these guys will need to wait longer before lowering their price. Like you pointed out in another thread there are other teams with cap room which could even be how one of these deals gets done moving players to OKC and a trade exception created for the Bulls. That was a really good point. Depending on how much Markkanen signed for that could be a pretty nice way to add 1 or even 2 players to their roster.

[Lipoli390]

Winslow had his rights renounced by Memphis, if I recall correctly so he would have to be signed into space or an exception. If Oubre wasn't renounced by GS he is a sign and trade candidate.

If the Wolves want these players the time is likely now. They just have to be willing to meet a price that each player feels respected even though it's an overpay. Or just stand pat.

I thought both were renounced, which is why both are listed as unrestricted free agents. I agree with you that the time is now. The biggest question is how much they'd require to sign with Minnesota. They were each making around $14M last season. I think they're at a point where they'll have to accept less. But how much less, especially if it's the Wolves? We're starting with the full MLE of $9.5M, but no roster slots and only $4.2M under the luxury tax threshold if we sign Bolmaro and also sign both Vanderbilt and JMac at their QO levels. With that background, here's my potential path to signing Oubre or Winslow:

1. Keep Bolmaro in Europe for another year, which would increase our room under the luxury tax to $6.5M

2. Trade Juancho and one of our three 2022 2nd round picks to a team with cap space or for a player with a non guaranteed contract, which would increase our luxury tax room to around $13.5M.

3. Use $9.5M of the MLE to sign Oubre or Winslow to a 2 year deal

4. Use the $3.7M biannual exception to sign Hartenstein

[Lipoli390]

My path to a sign-and-trade for Markkanen:

1. Trade Prince, one of our three 2022 2nd-round picks and the $2.5M cash we got from Cleveland to Chicago for Markkanen. I could see the Bulls viewing Prince as a vet who could provide them some valuable 3-point shooting depth this season and then come off the books for more salary flexibility next summer. The 2nd-round pick would be additional sweetener. The cash ... well, it means nothing except apparently to Glen Taylor.

2. Sign Markkanen to a 3-year $42M deal. I don't think Markkanen can expect more than that in this market. Waiting a year as a backup on a team that doesn't want to keep him probably won't enhance his value for free agency next summer.

[Lipoli390]

My dream of landing Frank Kaminsky is coming to an end.

Marc Stein: Frank Kaminsky (@Frank Kaminsky) is re-signing with Phoenix on a one-year deal, according to his agents Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman of @Priority Sports.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

My dream of landing Frank Kaminsky is coming to an end.

Marc Stein: Frank Kaminsky (@Frank Kaminsky) is re-signing with Phoenix on a one-year deal, according to his agents Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman of @Priority Sports.

Heh, you know you're desperate when a tear is shed for losing out on Frank the Tank!

[ALLDAYCHRIS [enjin:19712952]]

Can we trade Prince though? I thought I read a report that said we can't now that we made the Rubio deal official.

[Monster]

Can we trade Prince though? I thought I read a report that said we can't now that we made the Rubio deal official.

He can be traded on his own anytime. The question is whether or not he can be traded with another contract anytime, or on August 17 (that was a date someone said the NBA decided on for these situations because of the shorter offseason) or around 60 days.

[Phenom]

Winslow had his rights renounced by Memphis, if I recall correctly so he would have to be signed into space or an exception. If Oubre wasn't renounced by GS he is a sign and trade candidate.

If the Wolves want these players the time is likely now. They just have to be willing to meet a price that each player feels respected even though it's an overpay. Or just stand pat.

I don't think the time is for sure now. No contracts are even officially signed yet I think the moratorium lifts tomorrow. FA started Monday afternoon. I know the timeline moves fast but...some of these guys will need to wait longer before lowering their price. Like you pointed out in another thread there are other teams with cap room which could even be how one of these deals gets done moving players to OKC and a trade exception created for the Bulls. That was a really good point. Depending on how much Markkanen signed for that could be a pretty nice way to add 1 or even 2 players to their roster.

The reason I would say the time is now is that those players still are angling for their big payday. They didn't find it but will likely hold out for awhile before lowering their demands. Once the demands are lowered the Wolves will be competing with many more teams and probably be overlooked. If the Wolves present a plan to give them close to what they want in a sign and trade they will have a great chance of getting a deal done. The question becomes do the Wolves want to commit high dollars to those players. Knowing that they would have to overpay to get most free agents and knowing that they do not have the ammo to trade for them if they were already under contract, the answer might be yes. The Wolves need to make up their talent gaps somehow.