Last Remaining Free Agents of Interest

[Lipoli390]

There are still some free agents that might make sense for the Wolves. However, with Bolmaro apparently poised got sign, the Wolves won't have any open roster spots unless they decline to sign either Vanderbilt or JMac. I think it would be foolish not to sign Vanderbilt. And if they don't sign JMac, then the Wolves will have to sign or trade for another PG. I was hoping the Wolves could have unloaded Culver, Layman or Juancho for a 2nd round pick on draft night. I'm not sure the Wolves can deal any of those three without attaching at least a future 2nd round pick. In any event, here are the remaining free agents I might be interested in adding to the Wolves roster this summer:

1. Paul Millsap -- A veteran PF who could slot in next to KAT and provide veteran leadership. Given Millsap's age and his significant defensive decline last season, I'd still sign Vanderbilt.

2. Isaiah Hartenstein -- I like his potential and size. But I wouldn't sign him as an alternative to signing Vanderbilt.

3. DeMarcus Cousins -- He's not a great defender and not the player he used to be before his Achilles injury, but he's still good as we saw in the playoffs and he'd be an interesting addition as a starter next to KAT.

4. Tacko Fall -- We need size and he's the biggest body out there. He'd also come very cheap.

5. Harry Giles -- Maybe the elite potential is still there in spite of his knee issues and what we've seen from him so far.

6. Avery Bradley -- With Millsap as my top target among remaining free-agent bigs, Bradley would be my prime target for backup PG unless we're completely confident in JMac, Nowell and Edwards backing up DLO in the lead guard role. I think I'd be comfortable relying on the guys we have if not for DLO's durability issues. Bradley would be a nice addition. On the other hand, I'm not sure Bradley really moves the needle.

7. Dennis Smith Jr. -- He would be the buy-low guy with great upside. It would be a play for the future more than an effort to shore up the team for a playoff run this next season, although he could have a breakthrough season and become a net positive backup PG with the potential to be much more.

8. Josh Hart -- I'm not particularly keen on adding him to our already overcrowded backcourt, but it might make sense if we end up dealing Beasley in a major deal for some like Myles Turner.

While I'd think about adding one of these eight free agents, I'd be more inclined to simply move ahead with the guys we have. I don't think any of them are worth foregoing Vanderbilt or JMac who are young and talented and can likely be signed to very team-friendly multi-year deals. And I don't think any of these free agents is worth giving up future draft assets to clear roster spots or salary.

So in the end, I come back to waiting until next summer when we'll have more salary and roster flexibility and also have a better idea of how good our foundation is.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I was putting together a mental list of remaining free agents and I think you accumulated most of the names that I had as well.

Another name that could end up being significant to a team is Garrison Mathews. Mathews is a high energy, knockdown three-point shooter entering his third year in the league. The Wizards unearthed him, but were forced to renounce him this summer in order to finalize the Russell Westbrook-Spencer Dinwiddie multi-team trade. Some team will inevitably sign him for the minimum or just over and he'll outplay that deal with ease.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Assuming the Wolves are out on Lauri Markkanen due to his asking price as well as the compensation requested by the Bulls, the following would be a winning off-season, in my opinion. Keep in mind Minnesota is approximately eight-million below the luxury tax threshold with cap holds on their own restricted free agents.

- Sign Paul Millsap to a two-year, $12.1-million deal with a player option. ($5.9-million in 2021-2022)

- Sign Jarred Vanderbilt to a three-year, $12.3-million deal with a team option. ($3.8-million in 2021-2022)

- Rescind Jordan McLaughlin's qualifying offer.

- Sign Dennis Smith Jr. to a one-year, $1.8-million deal. That number represents the veteran minimum for a player with his NBA experience.

From my autodidactic understanding of the CBA, contract structures, and cap holds, I think this is attainable from a numbers standpoint. Rumor has it that Millsap would be open to signing with the Atlanta Hawks or Golden State Warriors for the taxpayer mid-level exception, or roughly $5.9-million. While those teams likely present a better chance at post-season contention, Minnesota would be able to offer a starting job on an up-and-coming team as well as a second year.

I'm also leaning towards preferring a project like Smith Jr. over McLaughlin because of perceived potential. I think Smith Jr. still has a chance to be a starting caliber guard on the right team or a valuable guard off the bench. I say that while acknowledging that I'm a believer in McLaughlin. The physical and athletic differences between the two are the deciding factors for me.

[Lipoli390]

Cam -- Not a bad plan, but by all accounts it the Wolves are going to sign Bolmaro and that means we wouldn't have enough roster spots to implement your plan. Renouncing JMac would make room for either Millsap or Dennis Smith Jr., but not both. Moreover, the Wolves are only around $5M under the luxury tax threshold assuming they sign Bolmaro and sign Vanderbilt at the QO amount.

Renouncing JMac and signing Dennis Smith sounds realistic because I think we could sign him for less than $5M and still sign both Bolmaro and Vanderbilt without exceeding the luxury tax threshold. But I don't think we can sign Millsap if we also sign Bolmaro and Vanderbilt because I don't think we could pay him enough under the luxury tax. Regarding the choice between JMac and Smith, I'm on the fence. I think I'd prefer to keep JMac because I know what we'd be getting. I'm just not sure about Dennis Smith. He seems to have issues between the ears.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Yes, that is correct about roster spots. I'm still of the mindset that bringing Leandro Bolmaro over this summer doesn't improve the team next season and would rather wait another year. I do realize that is unlikely, however.

[Lipoli390]

Yes, that is correct about roster spots. I'm still of the mindset that bringing Leandro Bolmaro over this summer doesn't improve the team next season and would rather wait another year. I do realize that is unlikely, however.

I share your preference for keeping Bolmaro in Europe for another year. But we both realize that's unlikely. Rosas appears to be almost as excited about Bolmaro as David Kahn was about Ricky.

[FNG]

Yes, that is correct about roster spots. I'm still of the mindset that bringing Leandro Bolmaro over this summer doesn't improve the team next season and would rather wait another year. I do realize that is unlikely, however.

I share your preference for keeping Bolmaro in Europe for another year. But we both realize that's unlikely. Rosas appears to be almost as excited about Bolmaro as David Kahn was about Ricky.

I'm with you two guys that I would prefer to see Bolmaro stay in Europe another year, but he's definitely coming over...Eurohoops.net says he will join the team this week. I have my doubts about him and also don't think his ultimate position is PG, but I also have to admit I'm intrigued...we'll have to see.

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1237917/leandro-bolmaro-reportedly-moving-to-minnesota/

One opinion I don't share with you two is an interest in taking a chance on Dennis Smith. I had such high hopes for him watching his extraordinary athleticism at NC State, but he has proven to be an unbelievably inefficient scorer...both in college and in four years in the pros. Can there be a lower TS% than 47.6% for any active NBA player? I can see why you guys (and perhaps others here) are intrigued, but I don't want to be the third team to realize he just doesn't have the head to be successful in basketball...something you can't teach. I'd prefer to stay with the unexciting but steady JMac or take a flyer on Wright IV than take a chance on Smith.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Admittedly, my interest in Dennis Smith Jr. is almost completely reliant on the eye test and the belief that at some point his physical gifts and basketball skill will turn into real production. So far, I agree that hasn't been the case throughout his career. Jordan McLaughlin's 2019-2020 production is all Minnesota needs from a backup point guard, but I see Smith Jr.'s ceiling as considerably higher.

[Monster]

Assuming the Wolves are out on Lauri Markkanen due to his asking price as well as the compensation requested by the Bulls, the following would be a winning off-season, in my opinion. Keep in mind Minnesota is approximately eight-million below the luxury tax threshold with cap holds on their own restricted free agents.

- Sign Paul Millsap to a two-year, $12.1-million deal with a player option. ($5.9-million in 2021-2022)

- Sign Jarred Vanderbilt to a three-year, $12.3-million deal with a team option. ($3.8-million in 2021-2022)

- Rescind Jordan McLaughlin's qualifying offer.

- Sign Dennis Smith Jr. to a one-year, $1.8-million deal. That number represents the veteran minimum for a player with his NBA experience.

From my autodidactic understanding of the CBA, contract structures, and cap holds, I think this is attainable from a numbers standpoint. Rumor has it that Millsap would be open to signing with the Atlanta Hawks or Golden State Warriors for the taxpayer mid-level exception, or roughly $5.9-million. While those teams likely present a better chance at post-season contention, Minnesota would be able to offer a starting job on an up-and-coming team as well as a second year.

I'm also leaning towards preferring a project like Smith Jr. over McLaughlin because of perceived potential. I think Smith Jr. still has a chance to be a starting caliber guard on the right team or a valuable guard off the bench. I say that while acknowledging that I'm a believer in McLaughlin. The physical and athletic differences between the two are the deciding factors for me.

I was as intrigued with Dennis Smith Jr about as much as anyone when he came out in the draft. When I consider him compared to McLaughlin I'm keeping McLaughlin for these reasons/considerations.

1. I prefer the guy that's shown he can be a solid NBA player over a guy that hasn't and his potential I don't even know what path there is to get there. What are the chances that DSJ becomes a starter? 6th man type? How does he accomplish that?

2. The athletic difference between these 2 guys isn't that massive. Thief wingspan is about the same and McLaughlin is pretty athletic. Would I give DSJ an advantage there? Sure but I personally don't think it's that significant.

3. McLaughlin is about a year and a half older than DSJ.

4. How long do we have to wait for DSJ to break out into whatever he will be? Meanwhile I feel reasonably confident that McLaughlin can help the Wolves this year and possibly for a few years. Imagine a TJ McConnell type that is better 3 point shooter. That's a valuable player. It's not certain that McLaughlin is that guy but I like the chances of that compared to DSJ becoming...something.

5. McKinnley Wright is another guy that has some sort of upside at the PG position that the Wolves already have and with his defensive chops that intrigues me.

6. Bolmaro people aren't sure about him but it's possible that he is better than DSJ even this year. The bar isn't that high. Bolmaro is bigger, plenty athletic and at 20 years old has more upside at this point.

I'm all for looking for guys like DSJ as possible projects (I think the right team should give him a shot) but I simply wouldn't let go of McLaughlin to add him for this roster.

As for signing Millsap I wonder if the Wolves would be willing to basically do one of those additional partially non-guaranteed years to add guaranteed money to the life of the contract for Millsap.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I think Josh Hart is the best player left.

But i dont see a path to get him in MN. He's a restricted FA, right? Nor do I think the Wolves are a good landing spot for him.