Happy 40th Birthday KG

[Coolbreeze44]

Noah. Wasn't he top 3 in MVP voting just a couple years ago?

[Monster]

I am probably in the minority, but I want KG back next season. I want his influence to continue with the kids. I want him to be part of the team's dramatic improvement and getting into the playoffs. I want his influence on this team as they make their first playoff run in over a decade.

I want all that.

He seems to have gone radio silent. Perhaps he sees his future influence with the organization slipping away as Taylor went outside of the Country Club to nab a couple of heavy-hitters and appears to be all in as the majority owner for the foreseeable future.

I want him back too....as a player development coach for the bigs.

The last few years KG pretty much goes silent every offseason. The teams he has been on that makes sense. There is plenty of uncertainty even though he does have a good relationship with Thibs. I would think that Layden and Thibs probably have plenty of other things on their mind than talking bout to KG about coming back with the draft and deciding what happens with people they want to employ throughout the organization. Another thing to keep in mind has KG really had a true chance to sit back and process the death of Flip? He is a loyal guy it probably didn't feel too great to see Sam get let go even if he ultimately would agree Thibs is a superior coach. The season has been over what like a month? He has slot to process and if he want to take some more time that's fine with me but I also just assume he will end up coming back.

[Monster]

Long - I doubt we can afford both Deng and Noah, assuming KG and Pek stay on the books. But I guess I don't yet have a good sense of the market under the new cap. If you had to choose between Deng and Noah for roughly the same price, who would you choose? I'm torn. I think I'd lean towards Noah if he's healthy because we could really use more interior defense and I like Noah's passing.

I take Deng no question because he is still a pretty good 2-way player and there is a good chance he will play most of the games. Noah? Who knows. I love Noah as a player (or what he used to be) but I'm not sure how much of that we can expect to see and we already have possible suits in KG and Pek adding Noah seems like and injury trifecta waiting to happen. I hope no matter where Noah ends up he can stay relatively healthy and get back to something close to what he was.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Long - I doubt we can afford both Deng and Noah, assuming KG and Pek stay on the books. But I guess I don't yet have a good sense of the market under the new cap. If you had to choose between Deng and Noah for roughly the same price, who would you choose? I'm torn. I think I'd lean towards Noah if he's healthy because we could really use more interior defense and I like Noah's passing.

Good question, lip...and I see cool leans your way on Noah and monster chooses Deng. I like them both, but I'm with monster on thinking Deng is the better option. He played like a young man in the playoffs this year, while I'm not sure how much Noah has left.

But depending how much they command in the marketplace, I think we can afford both this year. We are at about $63 million before free agency for 13 players (assumes we bring back Rudez and not Tay, and including $3 million for pick #5), and the cap this season is projected to jump to $89 million. That leaves $26 million to sign Deng and Noah, and I think that could get it done. Noah made $13 million last year, but can't be looking for a raise this year as a backup. I think he signs for under $10 million, leaving more than $16 million for Deng who made $10 million last year.

[60WinTim]

There was a tweet from Rudez last week that indicated he will not be back. I doubt Prince returns. So that is 4 open roster spots going into the draft...

I can almost guarantee Deng will take one of those spots. Probably need to add a couple more guards (including a backup PG), and one more big for KG/Pek insurance.

It's really great that one of Bender, Dunn or Hield should be available at #5. Each one fills a need on this team!

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I take Deng for a reasonable amount but I'm leary of spending anything more than 7or 8M for Noah given his injury history and decline in play this past season. I'd rather sign Cole Aldrich.

[Monster]

I take Deng for a reasonable amount but I'm leary of spending anything more than 7or 8M for Noah given his injury history and decline in play this past season. I'd rather sign Cole Aldrich.

I agree with what you say here and I'm not sure I would even go that high on Noah because I am really concerned about his health but I also realize that's not realistic.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

The problem is that KG has been on a very steady downward trajectory in both games played and minutes played for the last number of years. Father Time is relentless, so there is no reason to believe it's going to get any better.

I have no problem with KG being in the mix as a player development coach or special assistant to the GM or whatever. But unless he's willing to play spot minutes off the bench as stop gap PF or C, it makes zero sense for him to return as a player. And even if he was willing to play in that kind of role (doubt he is), it seems like a lot to spend when you could have him on the bench dressed in nice clothes in one of those other roles anyway!

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

The problem is that KG has been on a very steady downward trajectory in both games played and minutes played for the last number of years. Father Time is relentless, so there is no reason to believe it's going to get any better.

I have no problem with KG being in the mix as a player development coach or special assistant to the GM or whatever. But unless he's willing to play spot minutes off the bench as stop gap PF or C, it makes zero sense for him to return as a player. And even if he was willing to play in that kind of role (doubt he is), it seems like a lot to spend when you could have him on the bench dressed in nice clothes in one of those other roles anyway!

KG is under contract for this season so why is this even an issue? If we are paying him 8M this season anyway, I want him on the roster and helping our young talent.

[Monster]

The problem is that KG has been on a very steady downward trajectory in both games played and minutes played for the last number of years. Father Time is relentless, so there is no reason to believe it's going to get any better.

I have no problem with KG being in the mix as a player development coach or special assistant to the GM or whatever. But unless he's willing to play spot minutes off the bench as stop gap PF or C, it makes zero sense for him to return as a player. And even if he was willing to play in that kind of role (doubt he is), it seems like a lot to spend when you could have him on the bench dressed in nice clothes in one of those other roles anyway!

I was thinking the other day that maybe the last couple years especially last year of sitting games and working with the players while not playing helped KG realize he could have a place on the team not as a player. I know he said he never wanted to coach by I would think a role like Gary Trent had last year might suit him. I obviously hard for guys to see the next step after their playing days are done and maybe being basically a development coach isn't a long term thing for KG but maybe a few years in that type of role would be rewarding before he steps into whatever his next chapter will be.

Having said that I do think he could have played more games last year if circumstances were different but still it seems weird that he couldn't run out there for a 6 min stretch a few more games. I mean I know this is serious competition the NBA but it's basketball.

Also on KG's role in ownership I'm sure he will have a shot at being some sort of minority owner of the team in the future unless he does some whacky stuff and the next owner is leary. How much influence would he have? I'm not sure with Flip gone. If Flip was still around KG probably would have been more involved. Now? That's certainly up in the air. I think KG is a guy that if you find the right role for him would be a terrific asset. I'm not sure what that role is but I do hope he and the Wolves organization finds it at some point.