Free Agency Day 1 GDT

[Lipoli390]

Free agent G Fred VanVleet has agreed on a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets, @KlutchSports CEO Rich Paul and agent Erika Ruiz tell ESPN. Rockets land ex-Raptors All-Star in his prime at 29 years old.

Wow, that's a nice bag. I can't recall any undrafted players getting so much a year. Has there been any undrafted players who have gotten a bigger bag?

What is Houston's next step to be competitive? I could see them turning to Towns. They could absorb most of the salary, send some young cheaper players and have quite a few draft picks coming from Brooklyn. They even own a couple Wolves seconds I think.

Seems more clear with each move that TC is totally committed to running it back next season. He’s building the team’s depth around it score and KAT is obviously part of that core. But TC did say he’d trade anyone if he gets an offer that knocks his socks off. What could Houston offer for KAT that you believe would knock TC’s socks off?

[Phenom]

I haven't heard if we officially guaranteed Jordan McLaughlin. I heard one beatwriter said it was expected, but I don't think its been publically confirmed. If JMAC is guaranteed, then is free agency done for the Wolves as I think we have 15 rostered players. Anyone else confirm this. Garza and Ryan, I think are signed for two-ways. Do we have a third two-way to offer?

I think there will be some good players who will be taking a minimum salary to stay in the NBA. I was hoping we'd have a spot left to snag someone like Mo Bamba or Jaxson Hayes on a minimum deal.

Doogie said they picked it up.

So with Garza and Ryan. Teams can offer them an NBA contract but the wolves can match it (meaning a player would need to be cut). My guess is they will wait to see if Garza gets a contract, if he does the sign him to the main roster and Clark gets the 2-way, if no contract Garza gets the 2-way and Clark gets the nba contract. They do have another 2-way also though.

So for the most part I think the wolves are done.

Out: Rivers, Prince, Nowell, knight
In: Milton, Brown, Clark, Miller

We should take a step back and ask ourselves whether the Wolves are any better next season with this four-player swap. Clark won’t play because of his Achilles surgery. Miller likely won’t play because he’s a raw 19 year old. He’s a long term asset. Prince is better than Brown. Milton is MUCH better than Rivers or Nowell in my view. I don’t expect much from Troy Brown. In my view, Milton is the key. How good can he be and what will his role be?

It will also be a full season from Conley and NAW and hopefully more synergy overall from Rudy and his teammates. I feel Brown will be on and off just the same as TP was. It is then paramount that Finch has a better offensive game plan coming into training camp. I see real opportunity to step forward.

[KG4Ever]

Free agent Josh Richardson has agreed on a two-year deal with the Miami Heat, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Richardson returns to the franchise that drafted him in 2015.

I just learned he signed a minimum contract with Heat with a player option. That's insane! I would have loved to have signed Josh for minimum (sorry TBJ) as I love his game and you can't beat the price. Supposedly, Spo and Riley recruited him hard. Oh, well I still love what TC did today.

[FNG]

I haven't heard if we officially guaranteed Jordan McLaughlin. I heard one beatwriter said it was expected, but I don't think its been publically confirmed. If JMAC is guaranteed, then is free agency done for the Wolves as I think we have 15 rostered players. Anyone else confirm this. Garza and Ryan, I think are signed for two-ways. Do we have a third two-way to offer?

I think there will be some good players who will be taking a minimum salary to stay in the NBA. I was hoping we'd have a spot left to snag someone like Mo Bamba or Jaxson Hayes on a minimum deal.

Doogie said they picked it up.

So with Garza and Ryan. Teams can offer them an NBA contract but the wolves can match it (meaning a player would need to be cut). My guess is they will wait to see if Garza gets a contract, if he does the sign him to the main roster and Clark gets the 2-way, if no contract Garza gets the 2-way and Clark gets the nba contract. They do have another 2-way also though.

So for the most part I think the wolves are done.

Out: Rivers, Prince, Nowell, knight
In: Milton, Brown, Clark, Miller

We should take a step back and ask ourselves whether the Wolves are any better next season with this four-player swap. Clark won’t play because of his Achilles surgery. Miller likely won’t play because he’s a raw 19 year old. He’s a long term asset. Prince is better than Brown. Milton is MUCH better than Rivers or Nowell in my view. I don’t expect much from Troy Brown. In my view, Milton is the key. How good can he be and what will his role be?

Fair question, Lip. Of course it depends on whether we can stay healthy...it always does. But assuming we stay reasonably healthy, I see us as marginally better than the team that finished 6-3. And that sounds pretty good to me!

[Monster]

Free agent Josh Richardson has agreed on a two-year deal with the Miami Heat, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Richardson returns to the franchise that drafted him in 2015.

I just learned he signed a minimum contract with Heat with a player option. That's insane! I would have loved to have signed Josh for minimum (sorry TBJ) as I love his game and you can't beat the price. Supposedly, Spo and Riley recruited him hard. Oh, well I still love what TC did today.

Yeah that would have been a nice move but I’m sure there was a pull to go back to Miami and that team was just in the finals. What’s a vet min amount for a guy like him with 8 years in the league? Gotta be around 3 million.

Connelly has found guys in the past that hadn’t broke through yet. Maybe TBJ is one of those guys. And when I say break through I’m talking about becoming a valuable rotation guy sorta like Prince is. Look at a guy like Georges Niang. Dude just signed for over 8 million a year for being a competent basketball player that’s really good at shooting.

[KG4Ever]

Monte Morris was traded to Detroit for a second round pick. Interesting, as TC engaged Washington in trade talks for Morris earlier. Apparently TC was not offering much (perhaps Prince, or Prince and one second rounder). While I like Morris, I like Shake Milton just as much, and we got him on a cheaper deal, with an option for another year and didn't have to give up any picks. If we ever want to add Morris in the future, it sounds like it wouldn't take much to get him. He's an unrestricted free agent next year.

[Monster]

Monte Morris was traded to Detroit for a second round pick. Interesting, as TC engaged Washington in trade talks for Morris earlier. Apparently TC was not offering much (perhaps Prince, or Prince and one second rounder). While I like Morris, I like Shake Milton just as much, and we got him on a cheaper deal, with an option for another year and didn't have to give up any picks. If we ever want to add Morris in the future, it sounds like it wouldn't take much to get him. He's an unrestricted free agent next year.

Washington probably didn’t want Prince they would rather have nobody. Meanwhile Detroit keeps picking up useful players for nothing and did it last offseason also. Meanwhile the Wolves probably didn’t want to just take back Morris because as you outlined they ended up getting shake cheaper (like half the price) and I think there is a chance he is a better player than Morris…or a better player for the Wolves anyway. Even if he slightly worse than Morris the lower cost and the option to keep him or move on next year is added value.

[Phenom]

Wow, that's a nice bag. I can't recall any undrafted players getting so much a year. Has there been any undrafted players who have gotten a bigger bag?

What is Houston's next step to be competitive? I could see them turning to Towns. They could absorb most of the salary, send some young cheaper players and have quite a few draft picks coming from Brooklyn. They even own a couple Wolves seconds I think.

Seems more clear with each move that TC is totally committed to running it back next season. He’s building the team’s depth around it score and KAT is obviously part of that core. But TC did say he’d trade anyone if he gets an offer that knocks his socks off. What could Houston offer for KAT that you believe would knock TC’s socks off?

If TC accepted a trade from Houston I would be pretty excited about the prospects he identifies from them and what he could do with those Brooklyn picks and Houston picks/pick swaps. They have Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, Tari Eason, Jae'Sean Tate, Alperun Sengun. Could be 3 of them for Towns and Moore. Add in Brooklyn 2024 & 2026 FRP and the Rockets 2028 or 2029 FRP. I'm not sure if TC would be into something like that but it would create breathing room in the tax and restore a good deal of flexibility.

[Q-is-here]

Monte Morris was traded to Detroit for a second round pick. Interesting, as TC engaged Washington in trade talks for Morris earlier. Apparently TC was not offering much (perhaps Prince, or Prince and one second rounder). While I like Morris, I like Shake Milton just as much, and we got him on a cheaper deal, with an option for another year and didn't have to give up any picks. If we ever want to add Morris in the future, it sounds like it wouldn't take much to get him. He's an unrestricted free agent next year.

Washington probably didn’t want Prince they would rather have nobody. Meanwhile Detroit keeps picking up useful players for nothing and did it last offseason also. Meanwhile the Wolves probably didn’t want to just take back Morris because as you outlined they ended up getting shake cheaper (like half the price) and I think there is a chance he is a better player than Morris…or a better player for the Wolves anyway. Even if he slightly worse than Morris the lower cost and the option to keep him or move on next year is added value.

I am a little surprised we didn't end up with Monte Morris given our need for a really good backup/borderline starting PG and his link to TC. Oh well, we'll see how things shake out!

[KG4Ever]

Wow, that's a nice bag. I can't recall any undrafted players getting so much a year. Has there been any undrafted players who have gotten a bigger bag?

What is Houston's next step to be competitive? I could see them turning to Towns. They could absorb most of the salary, send some young cheaper players and have quite a few draft picks coming from Brooklyn. They even own a couple Wolves seconds I think.

Seems more clear with each move that TC is totally committed to running it back next season. He’s building the team’s depth around it score and KAT is obviously part of that core. But TC did say he’d trade anyone if he gets an offer that knocks his socks off. What could Houston offer for KAT that you believe would knock TC’s socks off?

Sounds like Jon K is confirming the running it back. I love it. I think the Wolves have better depth than anytime I can recall. They also have plenty of players that I expect we could see improvement. Ant and Jaden have been improving yearly and hopefully this trend continues and KAT and Rudy could both bounce back with better years. I like the Wolve's chances next year and if our roster is healthy and the young guys show improvement, we should be in the hunt.