Lip while I have been thinking of what kind of bigs the Wolves could pursue in FA and/or trade I'm gonna wait and see what happens in the playoffs both for the Wolves and the league in general. Maybe a few weeks from now we will be saying...Drummond? Nope or maybe he won't be attainable as the Nets might be willing to pay a decent salary to keep him because he is a really worthwhile player.
I will say the Wolves are to a point now they need to add one guy to that frontcourt that's done something not a guy that's still mostly potential. Having said that I'm hesitant to add an aging vet just because he did something at one point over a guy that's done something and might turn into more. It feels like some of these bigger guys in the NBA is sorta like pitching in Baseball the margin of whether they are good or not is oddly slim and situational what role they play etc.
I'll also add that there are a decent amount of potentially useful bigs in this FA class and so we might get some sort of idea what Naz is or would be worth. I'll be interested what the Market is for Thomas Bryant coming off a major injury.
Free Agent Targets for March
Re: Free Agent Targets for March
Good thoughts, Monster. I think the Wolves best chance of adding the big that many of us believe they need will be through free agency using all or part of the Wolves MLE, which starts at around $10 per year. I agree with you that the Wolves should not add an aging veteran, which I consider a guy already in his early 30s. At the same time, I think the player should be someone, at a minimum, with (1) an NBA track record as a really good rebounder and (2) more size/strength that we currently get from Vanderbilt or Naz.
Here's my list of unrestricted free agents who I think would fit those two minimum criteria and who will also be under 30 when the season starts and reasonably gettable for the full MLE or less:
1. Justify Nurkic - He would be the best fit in my view. At 6'11, 290, he brings the size the Wolves need and he's also a statistically terrific rebounder. He's a solid defender who will turn 28 just before the season starts. So he's clearly in the prime years of his career. He made $12M last season, which suggests that it's unrealistic to believe he'd sign for an MLE contract starting at $10M. However, his career has been marred by injuries and he'll be coming off a foot injury that ended his season a month or so ago. I think that injury history and recent foot problem probably makes him gettable at the MLE, especially if he's likes the opportunity for playing time and success the Wolves could offer him. A big caution is that the injury issues that would probably make him gettable at the full MLE should also give the Wolves pause in deciding whether to pursue him.
2. Andre Drummond - I see Drummond as the second best fit after Nurkic and probably safer bet from a durability standpoint. At 6'10, 280, he would also provide the size we need in the paint. And he's a one of the best rebounders in the League. He's making $2.4M this season. I don't see him getting offers above or even at the MLE level.
3. I. Hartenstein - Listed at 7'0, 250, he'd provide the size we need even though he's not heavy or strong as Nurkic or Drummond. However, he's also more mobile with better shooting range than Drummond or Nurkic. He'll turn 24 years old next month. So he's still very young with upside. He's not in the same league as Nurkic or Drummond as a rebounder, but his rebounding stats are very good on a per minute basis. He signed with the Clippers for a one-year deal at only $1.7M and didn't do anything this season to suggest that a team would have to break the bank to sign him this offseason. I wanted the Wolves to sign him last offseason and my view remains the same going into this next offseason.
4. Moses Brown - He has great size at 7'2, 250. He's taller and has a longer standing reach than the three I've listed above him. He's also the youngest with the biggest upside at 22 years of age. He's already established himself as an elite rebounder when given playing time. He lacks offensive skills, but the same can be said about Drummond. KAT's remarkable skill set and offensive gif it's put the Wolves in a unique position to start a player like Drummond or possibly Brown simply to add size, rebounding and defense to the lineup. There's plenty of offensive firepower from KAT, Edwards and DLO.
There will be two other free agent bigs who I would much prefer over any of the 4 listed above. They are Mo Bamba and Mitchell Robinson. But there's no chance the Wolves or any other team will be able to sign them for the MLE. Mo Bamba is a restricted free agent and I'd be really surprised if the Magic don't re-sign him to a max deal or something close to it. Even if the Wolves had the cap room to sign him at his likely market value, the Magic would likely match. Mitchell Robinson will be an unrestricted free agent, but the Wolves simply won't have the cap room to sign him either. The only chance the Wolves would have to get either one would be through a sign-and-trade deal. A question for discussion is whether there are any realistic deals not involving KAT or Edwards that the Wolves could make for one or the other and what those deals might be.
Here's my list of unrestricted free agents who I think would fit those two minimum criteria and who will also be under 30 when the season starts and reasonably gettable for the full MLE or less:
1. Justify Nurkic - He would be the best fit in my view. At 6'11, 290, he brings the size the Wolves need and he's also a statistically terrific rebounder. He's a solid defender who will turn 28 just before the season starts. So he's clearly in the prime years of his career. He made $12M last season, which suggests that it's unrealistic to believe he'd sign for an MLE contract starting at $10M. However, his career has been marred by injuries and he'll be coming off a foot injury that ended his season a month or so ago. I think that injury history and recent foot problem probably makes him gettable at the MLE, especially if he's likes the opportunity for playing time and success the Wolves could offer him. A big caution is that the injury issues that would probably make him gettable at the full MLE should also give the Wolves pause in deciding whether to pursue him.
2. Andre Drummond - I see Drummond as the second best fit after Nurkic and probably safer bet from a durability standpoint. At 6'10, 280, he would also provide the size we need in the paint. And he's a one of the best rebounders in the League. He's making $2.4M this season. I don't see him getting offers above or even at the MLE level.
3. I. Hartenstein - Listed at 7'0, 250, he'd provide the size we need even though he's not heavy or strong as Nurkic or Drummond. However, he's also more mobile with better shooting range than Drummond or Nurkic. He'll turn 24 years old next month. So he's still very young with upside. He's not in the same league as Nurkic or Drummond as a rebounder, but his rebounding stats are very good on a per minute basis. He signed with the Clippers for a one-year deal at only $1.7M and didn't do anything this season to suggest that a team would have to break the bank to sign him this offseason. I wanted the Wolves to sign him last offseason and my view remains the same going into this next offseason.
4. Moses Brown - He has great size at 7'2, 250. He's taller and has a longer standing reach than the three I've listed above him. He's also the youngest with the biggest upside at 22 years of age. He's already established himself as an elite rebounder when given playing time. He lacks offensive skills, but the same can be said about Drummond. KAT's remarkable skill set and offensive gif it's put the Wolves in a unique position to start a player like Drummond or possibly Brown simply to add size, rebounding and defense to the lineup. There's plenty of offensive firepower from KAT, Edwards and DLO.
There will be two other free agent bigs who I would much prefer over any of the 4 listed above. They are Mo Bamba and Mitchell Robinson. But there's no chance the Wolves or any other team will be able to sign them for the MLE. Mo Bamba is a restricted free agent and I'd be really surprised if the Magic don't re-sign him to a max deal or something close to it. Even if the Wolves had the cap room to sign him at his likely market value, the Magic would likely match. Mitchell Robinson will be an unrestricted free agent, but the Wolves simply won't have the cap room to sign him either. The only chance the Wolves would have to get either one would be through a sign-and-trade deal. A question for discussion is whether there are any realistic deals not involving KAT or Edwards that the Wolves could make for one or the other and what those deals might be.
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Jester1534
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Re: Free Agent Targets for March
lipoli390 wrote:Good thoughts, Monster. I think the Wolves best chance of adding the big that many of us believe they need will be through free agency using all or part of the Wolves MLE, which starts at around $10 per year. I agree with you that the Wolves should not add an aging veteran, which I consider a guy already in his early 30s. At the same time, I think the player should be someone, at a minimum, with (1) an NBA track record as a really good rebounder and (2) more size/strength that we currently get from Vanderbilt or Naz.
Here's my list of unrestricted free agents who I think would fit those two minimum criteria and who will also be under 30 when the season starts and reasonably gettable for the full MLE or less:
1. Justify Nurkic - He would be the best fit in my view. At 6'11, 290, he brings the size the Wolves need and he's also a statistically terrific rebounder. He's a solid defender who will turn 28 just before the season starts. So he's clearly in the prime years of his career. He made $12M last season, which suggests that it's unrealistic to believe he'd sign for an MLE contract starting at $10M. However, his career has been marred by injuries and he'll be coming off a foot injury that ended his season a month or so ago. I think that injury history and recent foot problem probably makes him gettable at the MLE, especially if he's likes the opportunity for playing time and success the Wolves could offer him. A big caution is that the injury issues that would probably make him gettable at the full MLE should also give the Wolves pause in deciding whether to pursue him.
2. Andre Drummond - I see Drummond as the second best fit after Nurkic and probably safer bet from a durability standpoint. At 6'10, 280, he would also provide the size we need in the paint. And he's a one of the best rebounders in the League. He's making $2.4M this season. I don't see him getting offers above or even at the MLE level.
3. I. Hartenstein - Listed at 7'0, 250, he'd provide the size we need even though he's not heavy or strong as Nurkic or Drummond. However, he's also more mobile with better shooting range than Drummond or Nurkic. He'll turn 24 years old next month. So he's still very young with upside. He's not in the same league as Nurkic or Drummond as a rebounder, but his rebounding stats are very good on a per minute basis. He signed with the Clippers for a one-year deal at only $1.7M and didn't do anything this season to suggest that a team would have to break the bank to sign him this offseason. I wanted the Wolves to sign him last offseason and my view remains the same going into this next offseason.
4. Moses Brown - He has great size at 7'2, 250. He's taller and has a longer standing reach than the three I've listed above him. He's also the youngest with the biggest upside at 22 years of age. He's already established himself as an elite rebounder when given playing time. He lacks offensive skills, but the same can be said about Drummond. KAT's remarkable skill set and offensive gif it's put the Wolves in a unique position to start a player like Drummond or possibly Brown simply to add size, rebounding and defense to the lineup. There's plenty of offensive firepower from KAT, Edwards and DLO.
There will be two other free agent bigs who I would much prefer over any of the 4 listed above. They are Mo Bamba and Mitchell Robinson. But there's no chance the Wolves or any other team will be able to sign them for the MLE. Mo Bamba is a restricted free agent and I'd be really surprised if the Magic don't re-sign him to a max deal or something close to it. Even if the Wolves had the cap room to sign him at his likely market value, the Magic would likely match. Mitchell Robinson will be an unrestricted free agent, but the Wolves simply won't have the cap room to sign him either. The only chance the Wolves would have to get either one would be through a sign-and-trade deal. A question for discussion is whether there are any realistic deals not involving KAT or Edwards that the Wolves could make for one or the other and what those deals might be.
I wonder if there sign in trade possibility for Robinson with the Knicks for Beasley. From past reports from last off-season the Knicks were interested in him. Also with Rosas there he obviously values Beasley because he's traded for him already one.
Re: Free Agent Targets for March
jester1534 wrote:lipoli390 wrote:Good thoughts, Monster. I think the Wolves best chance of adding the big that many of us believe they need will be through free agency using all or part of the Wolves MLE, which starts at around $10 per year. I agree with you that the Wolves should not add an aging veteran, which I consider a guy already in his early 30s. At the same time, I think the player should be someone, at a minimum, with (1) an NBA track record as a really good rebounder and (2) more size/strength that we currently get from Vanderbilt or Naz.
Here's my list of unrestricted free agents who I think would fit those two minimum criteria and who will also be under 30 when the season starts and reasonably gettable for the full MLE or less:
1. Justify Nurkic - He would be the best fit in my view. At 6'11, 290, he brings the size the Wolves need and he's also a statistically terrific rebounder. He's a solid defender who will turn 28 just before the season starts. So he's clearly in the prime years of his career. He made $12M last season, which suggests that it's unrealistic to believe he'd sign for an MLE contract starting at $10M. However, his career has been marred by injuries and he'll be coming off a foot injury that ended his season a month or so ago. I think that injury history and recent foot problem probably makes him gettable at the MLE, especially if he's likes the opportunity for playing time and success the Wolves could offer him. A big caution is that the injury issues that would probably make him gettable at the full MLE should also give the Wolves pause in deciding whether to pursue him.
2. Andre Drummond - I see Drummond as the second best fit after Nurkic and probably safer bet from a durability standpoint. At 6'10, 280, he would also provide the size we need in the paint. And he's a one of the best rebounders in the League. He's making $2.4M this season. I don't see him getting offers above or even at the MLE level.
3. I. Hartenstein - Listed at 7'0, 250, he'd provide the size we need even though he's not heavy or strong as Nurkic or Drummond. However, he's also more mobile with better shooting range than Drummond or Nurkic. He'll turn 24 years old next month. So he's still very young with upside. He's not in the same league as Nurkic or Drummond as a rebounder, but his rebounding stats are very good on a per minute basis. He signed with the Clippers for a one-year deal at only $1.7M and didn't do anything this season to suggest that a team would have to break the bank to sign him this offseason. I wanted the Wolves to sign him last offseason and my view remains the same going into this next offseason.
4. Moses Brown - He has great size at 7'2, 250. He's taller and has a longer standing reach than the three I've listed above him. He's also the youngest with the biggest upside at 22 years of age. He's already established himself as an elite rebounder when given playing time. He lacks offensive skills, but the same can be said about Drummond. KAT's remarkable skill set and offensive gif it's put the Wolves in a unique position to start a player like Drummond or possibly Brown simply to add size, rebounding and defense to the lineup. There's plenty of offensive firepower from KAT, Edwards and DLO.
There will be two other free agent bigs who I would much prefer over any of the 4 listed above. They are Mo Bamba and Mitchell Robinson. But there's no chance the Wolves or any other team will be able to sign them for the MLE. Mo Bamba is a restricted free agent and I'd be really surprised if the Magic don't re-sign him to a max deal or something close to it. Even if the Wolves had the cap room to sign him at his likely market value, the Magic would likely match. Mitchell Robinson will be an unrestricted free agent, but the Wolves simply won't have the cap room to sign him either. The only chance the Wolves would have to get either one would be through a sign-and-trade deal. A question for discussion is whether there are any realistic deals not involving KAT or Edwards that the Wolves could make for one or the other and what those deals might be.
I wonder if there sign in trade possibility for Robinson with the Knicks for Beasley. From past reports from last off-season the Knicks were interested in him. Also with Rosas there he obviously values Beasley because he's traded for him already one.
Jester the Knicks signed Evan Fournier this offseason so old if they would be interested in acquiring Beasley. My guess is they would much rather keep Robinson as they also have a nice young player in Quickly and vets Alec Burks and Derrick Rose.
Lip I would hesitate in eliminating guys over 30 to help with the frontcourt problem. As I look at the list yea none of them are inspiring but I also think there might be a tough sell for some FAs to come here as some guys may not believe in playing next to Towms with Reid and Vanderbilt here as well. I think an older player could actually help upgrade the roster but I would not want to pay a premium for that. What if the Wolves could sign Thad young for a reasonable deal? He could combine with Vanderbilt to shore up the PF spot which is a problem also. Will guess Young is still going to get a healthy chunk of the mid-level so he might be out of my price range so...our point still stands but I think there will be worthwhile older players that could be signed if it's in the combination with another move. What if the Wolves use their midlevel (or make a trade for a PF) on a younger PF type and then they sign a vet min or around that price tue center that can play against the big centers?
I'm definitely interested in Moses Brown but a couple things to consider. 1. I've read some people on Twitter that say he can't guard in the post. I don't know if that true or not but if so that takes away a big part of why we would e signing him in the first place. Another issue is that if Cleveland decides they want to keep him they can make him a RFA coming off his 2-way contract this season. What would the Wolves have to pay to be sure to get him? I don't know what I would be willing to pay Brown.
Hartenstein is a guy that still interests me. He might be the right combo of a guy that's done something won't cost a lot, is young enough to improve somewhat and also be willing to come here and play PF for rotation spot.
Honestly As I look at the FA options I think if the Wolves want to improve the front court especially long term they may need to do that via trade. Of course what would be nice is if they could end up with a long term player to the front court via the draft but that can't be the only move this offseason.