Updated Wolves Post-Draft Salary Situation

[Lipoli390]

I took another look at the Wolves salary situation relative to the luxury tax threshold. Here’s where things stand:

First, the reports I’ve seen have the luxury tax threshold coming in at $165M, which is higher than the $162M initially projected. That’s good news.

Second, the Wolves currently have 10 players under contract (including JMac but not Knight) at a total payroll of $147,443,912. The Wolves will invariably sign Miller. I’m assuming he’ll sign for around $1.5M. That would put the Wolves payroll at $148,943,912 for 11 roster players. If the Wolves want to sign NAW and he costs around $4M, then the most the Wolves could pay one of the free agents they covet while filling 14 roster spots and staying under the luxury tax threshold would be around $8.5M. That would leave just enough to sign two vet minimum players to fill out the 13th and 14th roster spots with no room to spare.

What does all this mean for the Wolves pursuit of its free agent targets? It means they can’t have both Bruce Brown and NAW because it looks like Brown’s market value is right around the full $12.4M MLE. I think it leaves the door open to signing DiVincenzo and keeping NAW. Donte chose to forego his option of around $4.5M. So he’s certainly expecting significantly more and must have had good intelligence from his agent that his market value was significantly higher than that amount. My hunch is that the Wolves can sign him for around $8.5M. I think he’s see the Wolves as a great opportunity to be on a winning team and get significant playing time given Conley’s age and injury history. He should also see an opportunity to eventually become Conley’s successor not too far down the road. I don’t see him getting a full MLE offer from anyone, but I could be wrong.

Along with drafting MIller and retaining Naz, if the Wolves sign Donte at $8.5M and then re-sign NAW I’d call this a really successful summer for TC.

[Monster]

This is pretty minor but I wonder if the Wolves will want to keep a little money available so no team can offer a vet min salary to Garza and to some extent they can’t match it or have a roster spot to do so. I would think they may also prefer to keep a roster spot open in can some undrafted or other guy impresses and they can sign them for the vet min. Dane Moore suggested that muller will probably get a bit more than your estimate for Miller because he expects Miller to sign a 4 year deal. Ultimately what the Wolves have left is more about what they spend with the mid level and on NAW. We will find out soon enough.

[KG4Ever]

Why Divicenzo? He will be on his fourth team soon and he was traded away by Milwaukee to get a washed up Ibaka, played at Sac for less than a year and now one year at Golden State. He has shot only 42% for career and 36% from threes and his threes were only respectable this year as the spacing that playing next to Curry, Klay and Poole will help boost. He didn't play well in playoffs. I'd rather chase other targets and even prefer NAW over him.

[Monster]

Why Divicenzo? He will be on his fourth team soon and he was traded away by Milwaukee to get a washed up Ibaka, played at Sac for less than a year and now one year at Golden State. He has shot only 42% for career and 36% from threes and his threes were only respectable this year as the spacing that playing next to Curry, Klay and Poole will help boost. He didn't play well in playoffs. I'd rather chase other targets and even prefer NAW over him.

I believe the advanced stats most years have him as a good defender despite his size. He also adds some passing and ability to playmake a bit. Basically he does a little over everything. The issue with him is he has been injured and that’s a big reason why he has moved around. I’m not pounding the table for him even if I like him but I can see why the Wolves and other teams would want him.

[KG4Ever]

Why Divicenzo? He will be on his fourth team soon and he was traded away by Milwaukee to get a washed up Ibaka, played at Sac for less than a year and now one year at Golden State. He has shot only 42% for career and 36% from threes and his threes were only respectable this year as the spacing that playing next to Curry, Klay and Poole will help boost. He didn't play well in playoffs. I'd rather chase other targets and even prefer NAW over him.

I believe the advanced stats most years have him as a good defender despite his size. He also adds some passing and ability to playmake a bit. Basically he does a little over everything. The issue with him is he has been injured and that’s a big reason why he has moved around. I’m not pounding the table for him even if I like him but I can see why the Wolves and other teams would want him.

I get that he has some skills, but he disappeared during the playoffs and I wasn't even aware of his injury issues. I think paying over $10M for him is too rich for my liking, considering there are plenty of other options out there to improve the roster.

[FNG]

I like DV, but I think the reality of the situation is this. If TC has any intention of having our core 4 plus SloMo in 2024-5, he has to be mindful of the impact of any free agent he signs now. The way I look at it is this: will this free agent help us in 24-25 more than KAT or Rudy. I’m hoping TC thinks the answer is no, and that he is very judicious about any multi year contracts he enters into this summer.

[Lipoli390]

I like DV, but I think the reality of the situation is this. If TC has any intention of having our core 4 plus SloMo in 2024-5, he has to be mindful of the impact of any free agent he signs now. The way I look at it is this: will this free agent help us in 24-25 more than KAT or Rudy. I’m hoping TC thinks the answer is no, and that he is very judicious about any multi year contracts he enters into this summer.

That’s a legitimate way to view it and something that I’ve thought about. On the other hand, the margin for keeping both Rudy and KAT beyond next season and staying below the second apron is so small under any realistic circumstances that keeping those two is really all about next season. Therefore, I see the logic in going all in to get the best free agent possible to have the best shot at winning next season.

[FNG]

Very true, Lip…TC will have to be a magician to execute the plan I lay out. Many moving pieces. Maybe he’s already had off the record conversations with Conley and jadens agents, so he has some kind of idea what their price tags might be in 2 years. But I agree…if he’s given up on keeping the band together (minus Naz), getting the best free agents he can this summer makes sense.