Big O wrote:I'm guessing KG would have played more last year if we were in the playoff hunt. His season ending injury never seemed legit. I think it was all about giving the pups more playing time and a soft tank.
What about when we were using Rudez and Smith out of necessity?
Trying out the bottom of the bench to see if there was anything worth keeping and a soft tanking...
I think they did give Smith plenty of minutes when they could to see what they had in him. Rudez some of those minutes were necessity and sometimes down the stretch he was matched up against players he wasn't such a bad matchup for anyway. Keep in mind Payne barely played so it's not like they were so bad off in the front court they desperately need KG to play 10 minutes every 3 nights or something. Like I've said one way or another we have been duped two years in a row. It's probably a culmination of reasons KG didn't play but the old HOFer that when he is on the floor Still can play has to PROVE to me he is still gonna suit up for a worthwhile chunk of games before I plan on him being part of much of anything. Like I said before I would say the same thing if it was a Turiaf type player.
Here are my thoughts about KG and his future role here. I don't know what to think about his long layoff last year. Part of me thinks he was hurting, but could have played if the games meant anything. It's not unlikely Glen/Milt/Sam sat him down and said "you can play if you want, but we're not going anywhere this year, and we'd prefer that you rest that knee so that maybe you can give us more next year when it counts" I don't know...just my best guess.
As for next year, I see two likely possibilities:
1) If KG really was not that hurt this season, I think Thibs would love to use him much like Sam did at the start of last season. He has played for Thibs in Boston and knows what he likes to do on defense, and Thibs would love to have a veteran like him on the court with the young pups. That would be really good news for the Wolves from a big man depth standpoint...Gorgui and Belly would look awfully good coming off the bench.
2) If KG decides during the off-season that he just can't do it anymore, I would expect him to take a buyout and retire. There are certainly aspects of KG's behavior that I haven't liked over the years, but ultimately I think he has a lot of personal pride, and wouldn't feel good about taking $8 million for doing nothing. Pride only goes so far though and he knows he has a contract, so I wouldn't expect him to walk away for nothing. A buyout for a portion of his contract would be good for both parties if he can't go.
A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
I actually see a player option as a more powerful position for the player than a standard contract. I'm just speculating about what's going to happen, but it seems to me that KG holds all the cards here. He can opt in, and even if he can't play, and collect his $8.5 million. If it turns out he truly can't play, a buy out would help the Wolves because it would save them some millions and open up a roster spot. But you may be right...KG may decide this summer that he can't play, and that it wouldn't be right to extract those millions from a team he is still loyal to. That would be the classy move, much the same as what Michael Cuddyer just did when he walked away. But the way the media fawned over him for doing that, you can tell it isn't common for an athlete to walk away from a pile of money. But frankly I could see KG walking away from his $8.5 million more than I can envision Pek walking away from his 12.
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
I actually see a player option as a more powerful position for the player than a standard contract. I'm just speculating about what's going to happen, but it seems to me that KG holds all the cards here. He can opt in, and even if he can't play, and collect his $8.5 million. If it turns out he truly can't play, a buy out would help the Wolves because it would save them some millions and open up a roster spot. But you may be right...KG may decide this summer that he can't play, and that it wouldn't be right to extract those millions from a team he is still loyal to. That would be the classy move, much the same as what Michael Cuddyer just did when he walked away. But the way the media fawned over him for doing that, you can tell it isn't common for an athlete to walk away from a pile of money. But frankly I could see KG walking away from his $8.5 million more than I can envision Pek walking away from his 12.
Are you sure he has a player option? I don't see anything about contracts in searching around that says he has a player option.
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
I actually see a player option as a more powerful position for the player than a standard contract. I'm just speculating about what's going to happen, but it seems to me that KG holds all the cards here. He can opt in, and even if he can't play, and collect his $8.5 million. If it turns out he truly can't play, a buy out would help the Wolves because it would save them some millions and open up a roster spot. But you may be right...KG may decide this summer that he can't play, and that it wouldn't be right to extract those millions from a team he is still loyal to. That would be the classy move, much the same as what Michael Cuddyer just did when he walked away. But the way the media fawned over him for doing that, you can tell it isn't common for an athlete to walk away from a pile of money. But frankly I could see KG walking away from his $8.5 million more than I can envision Pek walking away from his 12.
Are you sure he has a player option? I don't see anything about contracts in searching around that says he has a player option.
I think you're right, monster...just a straight contract with one more year. Either way, I think the Wolves and KG negotiate a buyout if they don't think he can contribute.
KG has made more in his career than any other player in the NBA. http://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings/earnings/ And other than Kobe it isn't close. If he isn't going to play next year I hope he has the pride to not accept another pay check...
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
I actually see a player option as a more powerful position for the player than a standard contract. I'm just speculating about what's going to happen, but it seems to me that KG holds all the cards here. He can opt in, and even if he can't play, and collect his $8.5 million. If it turns out he truly can't play, a buy out would help the Wolves because it would save them some millions and open up a roster spot. But you may be right...KG may decide this summer that he can't play, and that it wouldn't be right to extract those millions from a team he is still loyal to. That would be the classy move, much the same as what Michael Cuddyer just did when he walked away. But the way the media fawned over him for doing that, you can tell it isn't common for an athlete to walk away from a pile of money. But frankly I could see KG walking away from his $8.5 million more than I can envision Pek walking away from his 12.
Are you sure he has a player option? I don't see anything about contracts in searching around that says he has a player option.
I think you're right, monster...just a straight contract with one more year. Either way, I think the Wolves and KG negotiate a buyout if they don't think he can contribute.
I'd rather see the Wolves buy out Pek's contract. He is much less likely to contribute than KG.
Big O wrote:KG has made more in his career than any other player in the NBA. http://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings/earnings/ And other than Kobe it isn't close. If he isn't going to play next year I hope he has the pride to not accept another pay check...
Hopefully, he still has a good amount of money left, enough to be part of any new ownership group. I trust KG to want to keep the franchise in Minnesota. Kaplan not so much.
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
Camden wrote:A buyout for a player option? Why would the Wolves do that? If he's done, he needs to step away and leave that money on the table. He just made $8.5M this year for playing minimally. That was more than enough for his services. No need to cut him a check for walking away at 40-years old. That would be ridiculous.
I actually see a player option as a more powerful position for the player than a standard contract. I'm just speculating about what's going to happen, but it seems to me that KG holds all the cards here. He can opt in, and even if he can't play, and collect his $8.5 million. If it turns out he truly can't play, a buy out would help the Wolves because it would save them some millions and open up a roster spot. But you may be right...KG may decide this summer that he can't play, and that it wouldn't be right to extract those millions from a team he is still loyal to. That would be the classy move, much the same as what Michael Cuddyer just did when he walked away. But the way the media fawned over him for doing that, you can tell it isn't common for an athlete to walk away from a pile of money. But frankly I could see KG walking away from his $8.5 million more than I can envision Pek walking away from his 12.
Are you sure he has a player option? I don't see anything about contracts in searching around that says he has a player option.
I think you're right, monster...just a straight contract with one more year. Either way, I think the Wolves and KG negotiate a buyout if they don't think he can contribute.
I'd rather see the Wolves buy out Pek's contract. He is much less likely to contribute than KG.
I've said it a few times but I think Pek will try and play next year if he just can't do it I think they look at doing something for him to move on. Let's realize that Pek's situation is different than KG in a a number of ways.
