The Market for Free Agents

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Lol. Just trying to see who on here is out of high school and/or understands the concept of research. And tell me honestly the Steve Dils reference didn't Kill.

I think you'll find that the vast majority of folks here are well out of high school and some probably even have you beat for history (and research). Hell, LST has waxed nostalgically about watching Elgin Baylor as a Laker - a Minneapolis Laker!

I just find it amusing how all your Minnesota sports history references are crowded around a 10-15 year period of time.

Yep, Elgin was my favorite player as a kid, although I only got to watch him for one year before the Lakers moved to LA :furious: .

But my Laker ties go back before Elgin even. Every Tuesday morning I have breakfast with a group of 16 guys, and one of our more senior guys is former Laker Charley Mencel (who went by Chuck Mencel when he was with the Lakers and at the U of M). I never saw him play because after playing two years for the Lakers while I was just a toddler, he had to skip two years to fulfill his ROTC military service commitment...and he decided not to move with the team to LA when he completed his commitment, opting instead to keep his family in Mpls. Can you imaging an NBA player making that decision today (Kevin Durant: "Sorry Thunder...I don't want to move to Oklahoma...I'm staying here in Seattle!). It all worked out for Charley though, as he had a very successful business career after he left the NBA. The StarTrib named his jump shot as the best ever this year, and he still looks like he can fill it up at age 83!

That's awesome LST. Charley is one of the reasons it's called the Greatest Generation.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

I get jasons point, but I disagree. KG, Pek and Payne are all worthless. Even if "healthy", KG and Pek won't play serious minutes, nor will they play an abundance of games. And Payne should be cut, plain and simple. That means that KAT, Dieng and Bjelica are the only players we can rely on at the PF/C spot moving forward. Counting on those other players is foolish at this point. That means we have room for guys we know can contribute at the PF/C spot.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I get jasons point, but I disagree. KG, Pek and Payne are all worthless. Even if "healthy", KG and Pek won't play serious minutes, nor will they play an abundance of games. And Payne should be cut, plain and simple. That means that KAT, Dieng and Bjelica are the only players we can rely on at the PF/C spot moving forward. Counting on those other players is foolish at this point. That means we have room for guys we know can contribute at the PF/C spot.

I honestly think they shut down Pek because they were tanking and that he'll be ready for camp.
Like I said on another thread, KG can play 240 seconds at a time, perfect for end of quarters. And he only has one year left.
Payne can be dealt to another team for a wing that that team is equally sick of, maybe someone like Kendall Marshall.
At this point, Belly's career can go two directions: He either gets stronger and plays the 4, or gets faster and plays the 3. I prefer the 3, but what do I know? Him at the 4 might work.

And I have to say: Overall your view is very negative. You may want to get a hobby that brings you more joy. I am not the boss of you. Just consider it. You are right in that they were a 29 win team and still have work to do, but it's not as bad as you think it is.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

I get jasons point, but I disagree. KG, Pek and Payne are all worthless. Even if "healthy", KG and Pek won't play serious minutes, nor will they play an abundance of games. And Payne should be cut, plain and simple. That means that KAT, Dieng and Bjelica are the only players we can rely on at the PF/C spot moving forward. Counting on those other players is foolish at this point. That means we have room for guys we know can contribute at the PF/C spot.

I honestly think they shut down Pek because they were tanking and that he'll be ready for camp.
Like I said on another thread, KG can play 240 seconds at a time, perfect for end of quarters. And he only has one year left.
Payne can be dealt to another team for a wing that that team is equally sick of, maybe someone like Kendall Marshall.
At this point, Belly's career can go two directions: He either gets stronger and plays the 4, or gets faster and plays the 3. I prefer the 3, but what do I know? Him at the 4 might work.

And I have to say: Overall your view is very negative. You may want to get a hobby that brings you more joy. I am not the boss of you. Just consider it. You are right in that they were a 29 win team and still have work to do, but it's not as bad as you think it is.

Negative.....really? Man, nothing gets by you. You are certainly one of the more insightful folks on this board. The part about Pek playing is pure genius. In fact, I will go a step further and say that perhaps the Wolves have "shut him down" the past 3 seasons (149 games missed), and are making up the foot/ankle issues just so we can get him back in his prime this upcoming season.

Seriously....I have no "joy loss" about the Wolves. Your status of the Wolves is a never-ending commentary about how stacked this team is at the PF/C spot, thus you comment how silly it is to add someone else at that spot. My point is....WE ARE NOT. Do we have a lot of bodies...clearly. Any of them worth keeping or playing....very few. You keep mentioning guys like KG, Payne and Pek as contributors....which again, they are NOT (at least not with any sense of consistency). You want to take that as negative....that's fine. I see this as one of the premier areas the Wolves need to improve if they want to be a better team moving forward. It's fine you disagree. I love the Wolves outlook overall.

Anyone have any suggestions on hobbies I can pick up that will bring me more joy? I am overwhelmed with non-joy because of jason's lack of approval. My self-esteem is crushed....

[Monster]

I get jasons point, but I disagree. KG, Pek and Payne are all worthless. Even if "healthy", KG and Pek won't play serious minutes, nor will they play an abundance of games. And Payne should be cut, plain and simple. That means that KAT, Dieng and Bjelica are the only players we can rely on at the PF/C spot moving forward. Counting on those other players is foolish at this point. That means we have room for guys we know can contribute at the PF/C spot.

I honestly think they shut down Pek because they were tanking and that he'll be ready for camp.
Like I said on another thread, KG can play 240 seconds at a time, perfect for end of quarters. And he only has one year left.
Payne can be dealt to another team for a wing that that team is equally sick of, maybe someone like Kendall Marshall.
At this point, Belly's career can go two directions: He either gets stronger and plays the 4, or gets faster and plays the 3. I prefer the 3, but what do I know? Him at the 4 might work.

And I have to say: Overall your view is very negative. You may want to get a hobby that brings you more joy. I am not the boss of you. Just consider it. You are right in that they were a 29 win team and still have work to do, but it's not as bad as you think it is.

Negative.....really? Man, nothing gets by you. You are certainly one of the more insightful folks on this board. The part about Pek playing is pure genius. In fact, I will go a step further and say that perhaps the Wolves have "shut him down" the past 3 seasons (149 games missed), and are making up the foot/ankle issues just so we can get him back in his prime this upcoming season.

Seriously....I have no "joy loss" about the Wolves. Your status of the Wolves is a never-ending commentary about how stacked this team is at the PF/C spot, thus you comment how silly it is to add someone else at that spot. My point is....WE ARE NOT. Do we have a lot of bodies...clearly. Any of them worth keeping or playing....very few. You keep mentioning guys like KG, Payne and Pek as contributors....which again, they are NOT (at least not with any sense of consistency). You want to take that as negative....that's fine. I see this as one of the premier areas the Wolves need to improve if they want to be a better team moving forward. It's fine you disagree. I love the Wolves outlook overall.

Anyone have any suggestions on hobbies I can pick up that will bring me more joy? I am overwhelmed with non-joy because of jason's lack of approval. My self-esteem is crushed....

I suggest you get on down to your local Hobbytown.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I get jasons point, but I disagree. KG, Pek and Payne are all worthless. Even if "healthy", KG and Pek won't play serious minutes, nor will they play an abundance of games. And Payne should be cut, plain and simple. That means that KAT, Dieng and Bjelica are the only players we can rely on at the PF/C spot moving forward. Counting on those other players is foolish at this point. That means we have room for guys we know can contribute at the PF/C spot.

I honestly think they shut down Pek because they were tanking and that he'll be ready for camp.
Like I said on another thread, KG can play 240 seconds at a time, perfect for end of quarters. And he only has one year left.
Payne can be dealt to another team for a wing that that team is equally sick of, maybe someone like Kendall Marshall.
At this point, Belly's career can go two directions: He either gets stronger and plays the 4, or gets faster and plays the 3. I prefer the 3, but what do I know? Him at the 4 might work.

And I have to say: Overall your view is very negative. You may want to get a hobby that brings you more joy. I am not the boss of you. Just consider it. You are right in that they were a 29 win team and still have work to do, but it's not as bad as you think it is.

Negative.....really? Man, nothing gets by you. You are certainly one of the more insightful folks on this board. The part about Pek playing is pure genius. In fact, I will go a step further and say that perhaps the Wolves have "shut him down" the past 3 seasons (149 games missed), and are making up the foot/ankle issues just so we can get him back in his prime this upcoming season.

Seriously....I have no "joy loss" about the Wolves. Your status of the Wolves is a never-ending commentary about how stacked this team is at the PF/C spot, thus you comment how silly it is to add someone else at that spot. My point is....WE ARE NOT. Do we have a lot of bodies...clearly. Any of them worth keeping or playing....very few. You keep mentioning guys like KG, Payne and Pek as contributors....which again, they are NOT (at least not with any sense of consistency). You want to take that as negative....that's fine. I see this as one of the premier areas the Wolves need to improve if they want to be a better team moving forward. It's fine you disagree. I love the Wolves outlook overall.

Anyone have any suggestions on hobbies I can pick up that will bring me more joy? I am overwhelmed with non-joy because of jason's lack of approval. My self-esteem is crushed....

I'm not into it myself, but I've heard stamp collecting brings people a lot of joy.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I get jasons point, but I disagree. KG, Pek and Payne are all worthless. Even if "healthy", KG and Pek won't play serious minutes, nor will they play an abundance of games. And Payne should be cut, plain and simple. That means that KAT, Dieng and Bjelica are the only players we can rely on at the PF/C spot moving forward. Counting on those other players is foolish at this point. That means we have room for guys we know can contribute at the PF/C spot.

I honestly think they shut down Pek because they were tanking and that he'll be ready for camp.
Like I said on another thread, KG can play 240 seconds at a time, perfect for end of quarters. And he only has one year left.
Payne can be dealt to another team for a wing that that team is equally sick of, maybe someone like Kendall Marshall.
At this point, Belly's career can go two directions: He either gets stronger and plays the 4, or gets faster and plays the 3. I prefer the 3, but what do I know? Him at the 4 might work.

And I have to say: Overall your view is very negative. You may want to get a hobby that brings you more joy. I am not the boss of you. Just consider it. You are right in that they were a 29 win team and still have work to do, but it's not as bad as you think it is.

Negative.....really? Man, nothing gets by you. You are certainly one of the more insightful folks on this board. The part about Pek playing is pure genius. In fact, I will go a step further and say that perhaps the Wolves have "shut him down" the past 3 seasons (149 games missed), and are making up the foot/ankle issues just so we can get him back in his prime this upcoming season.

Seriously....I have no "joy loss" about the Wolves. Your status of the Wolves is a never-ending commentary about how stacked this team is at the PF/C spot, thus you comment how silly it is to add someone else at that spot. My point is....WE ARE NOT. Do we have a lot of bodies...clearly. Any of them worth keeping or playing....very few. You keep mentioning guys like KG, Payne and Pek as contributors....which again, they are NOT (at least not with any sense of consistency). You want to take that as negative....that's fine. I see this as one of the premier areas the Wolves need to improve if they want to be a better team moving forward. It's fine you disagree. I love the Wolves outlook overall.

Anyone have any suggestions on hobbies I can pick up that will bring me more joy? I am overwhelmed with non-joy because of jason's lack of approval. My self-esteem is crushed....

OK, lets go thru this one by one.

1. Let's say you're right. Let's say Pek and KG are an absolute abomination. They are never going to walk again much less play, because we all know that once you're injured, you're injured, and you might as well shoot 'em like a horse and that decision should be made by a guy on a message board, sort of like a one person death-panel for really tall guys. Well, guess what? They're there, and they're not going anywhere for AT LEAST 12 months.
2. I'm have no desire to keep Payne, but why just dump him and pay his salary when they can trade him for a sixth wing. I have no illusions about what they can get for him. It will be Ndubi-Ebi-level production.
But it is still better than keeping him on the cap or giving up a pick to get rid of him.
3. Never said STACKED. Always careful to say "best position". AND ONCE AGAIN, let's say they had 11 guys who had "no best position". OK. They are not offloading ELEVEN GUYS. This is not the last week of NFL training camp.
4. You "love the Wolves overall outlook"?!?!? Why would you? How many games do you think they are winning 5-on-3, IF things are truly that bad? What's the plan here? KAT and Dieng play 48 minutes for 82 games and Adam Silver gives the team with the dunk champ 20 additional wins?
5. I was also careful to say "not the boss of you". It's not my board. But if you see no way forward for Pek and KG you may just want to take the year off.