Wolves 2018 Free Agent Thread

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Paying luxury tax this year would be foolish. Signing a bench doesn't put us up there with GS and Houston. Get a guy who can help you be the 3 seed and stay below the luxury line. If we pay the tax this year you can kiss Jimmy goodbye because we wouldn't be able to afford him.

[thedoper]

No way Taylor pays the lux tax this year. Totally out of character from what I've seen from the guy. The only way Taylor would pay the lux tax is if we were legitimate contenders, that's not happening this year and then that would set us up for the repeater tax when Towns and Butler are facing extensions.

[Monster]

If you can get/keep good reasonably priced players to help you take the next step do that even if you pay the lux tax. We aren't talking about signing Ryan Anderson to a 20 million dollar a year deal we are talking about 5-6 million a year guys at most.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I understand and appreciate the opposing opinions and viewpoints, and you guys are 100% correct that the luxury tax is something to be aware of, but I disagree that those free agent pieces -- building a bench -- doesn't move the needle for this team. We've discussed time and time again that this core will not be in true contending form until Towns and Wiggins take that next step -- or two -- in their personal progressions. However, this team did show they were capable of being a top-four seed despite having very, very little production from reserves and eventually plummeted once Jimmy Butler went down to injury. Sure, we lost our best overall player, but the more glaring problem was that it made an already weak bench a thousand times more of a liability. We were too thin to recover from an injury, and at full health we were too thin to rely on our bench holding a lead let alone closing a gap. With a suitable bench, we put ourselves in the top-four seeds almost undoubtedly and that's without any progression from our guys.

[thedoper]

I understand and appreciate the opposing opinions and viewpoints, and you guys are 100% correct that the luxury tax is something to be aware of, but I disagree that those free agent pieces -- building a bench -- doesn't move the needle for this team. We've discussed time and time again that this core will not be in true contending form until Towns and Wiggins take that next step -- or two -- in their personal progressions. However, this team did show they were capable of being a top-four seed despite having very, very little production from reserves and eventually plummeted once Jimmy Butler went down to injury. Sure, we lost our best overall player, but the more glaring problem was that it made an already weak bench a thousand times more of a liability. We were too thin to recover from an injury, and at full health we were too thin to rely on our bench holding a lead let alone closing a gap. With a suitable bench, we put ourselves in the top-four seeds almost undoubtedly and that's without any progression from our guys.

I think improving the team depth is a great idea. I just think there's no way that Taylor pays the luxury tax at this point to do that. Your moves would likely solidify us in the top 4 or 5 in the west. Taylor is not going to come out of the cryogenic chamber to write a cheque for that purpose.

[60WinTim]

One thing to keep in mind is the advent of two-way contracts likely keeps us at 14 roster spots.

OKG and KDB will cost roughly 3 mil together. A vet minimum contract to Rose will only count about 1.5 mil. That leaves 8.5 mil to fill 3 more spots.

The Qualifying Offers we extend will give us a indication of what we might do in free agency. I really don't see us spending the entire MLE...

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

If you can get/keep good reasonably priced players to help you take the next step do that even if you pay the lux tax. We aren't talking about signing Ryan Anderson to a 20 million dollar a year deal we are talking about 5-6 million a year guys at most.

Under the repeater tax those 5-6 million dollar deals all more than double so it does matter (2.5x is the starting point for repeaters). So that 5 million dollar deal just cost Taylor 12.5 million next season. So this year going in the tax is not a financial problem, but next summer with Jimmy and Towns up for deals and coming off a tax season would mean big changes would need to be made (I.e. Losing one of Wiggins/Towns/Butler). You're talking about a 20 million dollar raise for Towns and Butler each. That turns into 50 million alone in taxes for just those two deals and 100+ million in combined cost for 2 players.

[Monster]

If you can get/keep good reasonably priced players to help you take the next step do that even if you pay the lux tax. We aren't talking about signing Ryan Anderson to a 20 million dollar a year deal we are talking about 5-6 million a year guys at most.

Under the repeater tax those 5-6 million dollar deals all more than double so it does matter (2.5x is the starting point for repeaters). So that 5 million dollar deal just cost Taylor 12.5 million next season. So this year going in the tax is not a financial problem, but next summer with Jimmy and Towns up for deals and coming off a tax season would mean big changes would need to be made (I.e. Losing one of Wiggins/Towns/Butler). You're talking about a 20 million dollar raise for Towns and Butler each. That turns into 50 million alone in taxes for just those two deals and 100+ million in combined cost for 2 players.

I know all that. So we are pretty much going bargain bin hunting this offseason and hope the guys we have/added to the roster improve? Just to be clear I'm not actually against that but I think we should be looking to add at least one player with the mid-level money but not the whole thing. What if we got a player like Avery Bradly or maybe KCP (I don't think we would get them but..) for the mid level would you be against that? I'm genuinely asking because I am curious what you are envisioning going forward this offseason. I feel like I am being more aggressive than some here. It feels weird! :)

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

If you can get/keep good reasonably priced players to help you take the next step do that even if you pay the lux tax. We aren't talking about signing Ryan Anderson to a 20 million dollar a year deal we are talking about 5-6 million a year guys at most.

Under the repeater tax those 5-6 million dollar deals all more than double so it does matter (2.5x is the starting point for repeaters). So that 5 million dollar deal just cost Taylor 12.5 million next season. So this year going in the tax is not a financial problem, but next summer with Jimmy and Towns up for deals and coming off a tax season would mean big changes would need to be made (I.e. Losing one of Wiggins/Towns/Butler). You're talking about a 20 million dollar raise for Towns and Butler each. That turns into 50 million alone in taxes for just those two deals and 100+ million in combined cost for 2 players.

I know all that. So we are pretty much going bargain bin hunting this offseason and hope the guys we have/added to the roster improve? Just to be clear I'm not actually against that but I think we should be looking to add at least one player with the mid-level money but not the whole thing. What if we got a player like Avery Bradly or maybe KCP (I don't think we would get them but..) for the mid level would you be against that? I'm genuinely asking because I am curious what you are envisioning going forward this offseason. I feel like I am being more aggressive than some here. It feels weird! :)

What I hope is we use the MLE on a wing and stay under the tax. What I think is gonna happen is they will try to get Belly and Rose for the MLE combined and our draft picks will be the only new additions to last years team. A lot of people won't think that's enough, but it's more important to stay under the tax this season than ever. My ideal is get Hezonja and let him just be a younger Jamal. I just don't see it happening. We got tax capped a year sooner than I thought we were going to be so a wrench has definitely been thrown in the plans. The Dieng deal is just an absolute killer given his production. At this point I would be willing to dump a future first with him, but I don't know if that's on the table any more. As much as I want to make a move we just can't hit the tax this year if we want any hope at a continued big 3 of Butler/Wiggins/Towns.

[Monster]

If you can get/keep good reasonably priced players to help you take the next step do that even if you pay the lux tax. We aren't talking about signing Ryan Anderson to a 20 million dollar a year deal we are talking about 5-6 million a year guys at most.

Under the repeater tax those 5-6 million dollar deals all more than double so it does matter (2.5x is the starting point for repeaters). So that 5 million dollar deal just cost Taylor 12.5 million next season. So this year going in the tax is not a financial problem, but next summer with Jimmy and Towns up for deals and coming off a tax season would mean big changes would need to be made (I.e. Losing one of Wiggins/Towns/Butler). You're talking about a 20 million dollar raise for Towns and Butler each. That turns into 50 million alone in taxes for just those two deals and 100+ million in combined cost for 2 players.

I know all that. So we are pretty much going bargain bin hunting this offseason and hope the guys we have/added to the roster improve? Just to be clear I'm not actually against that but I think we should be looking to add at least one player with the mid-level money but not the whole thing. What if we got a player like Avery Bradly or maybe KCP (I don't think we would get them but..) for the mid level would you be against that? I'm genuinely asking because I am curious what you are envisioning going forward this offseason. I feel like I am being more aggressive than some here. It feels weird! :)

What I hope is we use the MLE on a wing and stay under the tax. What I think is gonna happen is they will try to get Belly and Rose for the MLE combined and our draft picks will be the only new additions to last years team. A lot of people won't think that's enough, but it's more important to stay under the tax this season than ever. My ideal is get Hezonja and let him just be a younger Jamal. I just don't see it happening. We got tax capped a year sooner than I thought we were going to be so a wrench has definitely been thrown in the plans. The Dieng deal is just an absolute killer given his production. At this point I would be willing to dump a future first with him, but I don't know if that's on the table any more. As much as I want to make a move we just can't hit the tax this year if we want any hope at a continued big 3 of Butler/Wiggins/Towns.

Thanks for the response. I still think Rose can be brought back for the minimum. He is making plenty of money from Adidias just staying in the league. It's worth remembering the vet min is not a small amount of money it's just over 2.3 million for a guy with 10 or more years experience and over $800,000 of that is paid by the league. I read up on that and basically the league supplements the vet min contract so any player on one of those contracts doesn't cost a team more than a 2 year vet min player.

I think you just meant not spending more than the mid level for both just as a basic constraint for not going over the tax but they don't need to use any of the mid-level for Belly if they bring him back. They could just save that in case they wanted to pay someone that they wanted that took a buyout later. Jon K said in The Athletic that Thibs and the Wolves do really like Belly (regardless of the minutes he received or didn't receive) but they are bracing for the possibility his price could be outside of what they can or want to pay. It only takes a couple teams or just one to want him more than they do. We can only wait and see.

Dieng and his contract is a killer which is unfortunate. I think a year from now he will be easier to move and we might not have to give up an asset like a first rounder. On the other hand maybe there is some sort of deal that could work out alright. I've been thinking...people ripped the Lakers (rightly so) for having to give up Russell to unload Mosgov. Right now I'm not sure how much value Russell has (I've kinda been a fan of his talent and who knows that they are going to do with him) and the Lakers got back #27 which they used to take Kuzma. That's looking like a pretty good trade for the Lakers. The Nets actually gave up some 2nd rounders (I think they had a bunch) to get rid of Mosgov. If Dieng can't be moved (I doubt it and now The Nets are less of an option) If Belly leaves Dieng might end up needing to actually play some worthwhile basketball for this team this season. There will be cheap bigs available even for the vet min that we could add but I still think Dieng can actually give this team something as a player. The other consideration is Dieng as a salary match to add a good player that wants out and traded to the Wolves. Sure it sounds like a dream scenario but a couple years ago who saw CP3 wanting to get moved to the Rockets?