Wolves Offseason Forward Options

[Monster]

I agree!

I don't know, I think we have some desperation setting in!

Bagley -- sure.
Lyles -- maybe.
Yabusele -- no thanks.

lol. Yes, desperation is taking hold in our message board. Hopefully Tim Connelly is not overcome by the same feelings of desperation.

I personally think based on what this board wants Yabusele should be much higher on the list of players people want. He didn't work with the Knicks but after he went to Chicago he put up similar numbers to what he did with the Sixers the year before. Idk maybe it's because people think he will get to much for what he provides? He did turn down his 5.5 million player option.

[Phenom]

I don't know, I think we have some desperation setting in!

Bagley -- sure.
Lyles -- maybe.
Yabusele -- no thanks.

lol. Yes, desperation is taking hold in our message board. Hopefully Tim Connelly is not overcome by the same feelings of desperation.

I personally think based on what this board wants Yabusele should be much higher on the list of players people want. He didn't work with the Knicks but after he went to Chicago he put up similar numbers to what he did with the Sixers the year before. Idk maybe it's because people think he will get to much for what he provides? He did turn down his 5.5 million player option.

Important to note that he waived it just to get out of New York, not necessarily because he thought he'd get more on the open market.

[Monster]

Apologies if I missed if this has been posted already. Here is the explanation of where the Wolves stand now.

https://x.com/i/status/2072132985051124126

So missed a couple things in my last salary cap update. (Sorry, this stuff is confusing.)

- LaMelo Ball had a 15% trade bonus on his $40.77M salary. But because he can't earn beyond 25% of the salary cap, he only gets part of that 15% trade bonus -- pushing his salary up to 25% of the $165M cap, which is $41.25M . So Ball gets about a $500k trade bonus. And that's $500k deeper into the luxury tax for the Wolves.

- Jaden McDaniels has an "unlikely incentive" in his contract for $1.07M next season. But that whole incentive counts against the luxury tax aprons -- because it could happen.

- Donte DiVincenzo also has an unlikely incentive in his contract for $750k, which also counts against the tax aprons. (Really pushing the limits of unlikely here.)

They're small things, but big enough so the Wolves do not have the full tax MLE to use -- the tool they were going to use to offer a free agent up to $6.1M . But now Minnesota does not have $6.1M of space beneath the 2nd apron, where they are hard-capped.

Including the Ball trade bonus, the Wolves have two open roster spots to fill and $8.1M in space beneath the 2nd apron. But after the unlikely incentives for McDaniels ($1.1M) and DiVincenzo ($750k), that's $6.3M beneath the 2nd apron with two roster spots to fill.

That is basically just space for two minimum contracts in free agency. Any other type of roster addition would need to come via trade.

[Lipoli390]

Windy said there is indication Lebron would consider signing with a team for a 4m vet minimum.

If LeBron wants to compete and have a real chance to win, the Wolves should be above the Warriors, especially in the West. LeBron doesn't feel like a good fit in Miami. Cleveland is a fine fit, it comes down to how he feels between the 2 rosters.

Then there are the other 6-8 teams that have reached out. Its hard to say how the Wolves stack up without knowing but they should fare well against the popular 3 teams.

I agree, Phenom. The question of course is how much LeBron values winning another championship versus social/personal comfort and the final storybook narrative of his career. The Warriors seem like the top choice if his main priority is personal/social comfort. Golden State offers him a moderate climate, as well as the chance to play with friends and a contemporary fellow icon in Steph Curry. Cleveland would seem like the best choice for final narrative - going home one last time - and they will also have a decent shot at coming out of the East. If his priority is winning a championship the Wolves are right up there in the top tier of teams with championship potential and should be realistically in the running to land him. Here’s a list of teams that should be high on LeBron’s list if winning a championship is his top priority: (1) Minnesota, (2) Miami, (3) Cleveland, (4) Boston, (5) New York, (6) OKC, (7) San Antonio, (8) Denver, (9)Houston, (10) Detroit. I honestly don’t see more than these 10 teams that would have any attraction to LeBron if his priority is winning.

Even if winning a championship is his top priority, I doubt it’s his only priority. Therefore, I don’t think he’d view the Knicks as an attractive destination because they just won a ring. There’s no cache or storybook ending for his career going to a team that just won a ring without him. I don’t see anything else - storyline or special attraction - that would make Detroit, Houston, Denver, OKC or Boston especially attractive to LeBron. Cleveland is LeBron’s home town. Miami has Giannis, Pat Riley and history (unfinished business). San Antonio has Wemby, which could fit a “pass the baton” narrative. Those are the only viable competitors as I see it unless LeBron is entirely about winning more championships to match MJ’s six in which case the Knicks, OKC and Boston stand out along with San Antonio as strong contenders.

The following are the things that I think make the Wolves a leading contender for LeBron if winning is his primary but not sole priority and assuming the money doesn’t matter:

(A) The additions of LaMelo and Ayo, along with Ant and Jaden (who are all in or entering their prime) after beating Denver with a hobbled Ant and previously making the West Finals two consecutive years gives LeBron a solid basis for viewing the Wolves as a contender that would not depend on him but that he could play a major role helping. That PF slot is just waiting for him.

(B) If his priority is winning, I would think he wants to win two more to match MJ’s six titles. Let not forget that his place in history and rivalry with MJ likely matters a lot to him. Unlike some of the other top contenders, the Wolves’ core is young and poised for a multi-year run at one or more championships. The same can’t be said for Cleveland with their reliance on James Harden, or Toronto with their reliance on Kawhi or even Miami with Giannis.

(C) By all accounts, LeBron really likes Ant and might relish the opportunity to come here, mentor him and sort of pass the torch. Relatedly, I would think LeBron would like the idea of mentoring young elite talent like Ant, Ball and Jaden. That could be an added attraction for LeBron.

(D). While the story associated coming here wouldn’t be as compelling as returning to Cleveland, it has some cache - “LeBron bringing the Wolves franchise their first ever championship after decades of missteps and misery.” Is it more compelling than returning to Miami for “unfinished business” and a patch it all up reunion with the iconic Pat Riley? I don’t know. LeBron might also love the shock value of coming here because it’s the last thing anyone would have expected him to do.

[kekgeek]

Ant burner instagram just posted a bowling score picture with the names Jack (Ant), Himelo (Lamelo), UNC (LeBron) and Team 23 on it.

Take that as you will

[AussieWolf3]

Dane Moore brought an absolute dream scenario to my attention which is that Keegan Murray would be perfect on this team

I've had my eye on him for wolves as well, and to be fair it's certainly not happening. But I think that's the perfect option, having 2 forwards who are very similar defensively and you can kind of toggle them between PF and SF, which get even more exciting if Ant taps into his ceiling and you have 3 highly switchable wings.

I don't even know how the team could make this trade happen, but that's the archetype I'd target. Yes you end up on the small side of things but I think it's a worthwhile trade off

[Phenom]

Jack Borman posted a list of remaining options after Harris signed with the Spurs:

LeBron
Kuminga
Rui
Kenrich
SloMo
Olynyk
Nance Jr
Watford
Yabu
Batum
KLove

I'd add Lyles into the mix. Vando could hit the open market.

I'm curious now where finances stand around the league now, specifically for the guys at the top of the list.

Correct me if I am wrong but the Lakers will need to renounce Rui to make all their moves happen unless he can be signed and traded for one of their new guys. I'm assuming that will ruin the math on all their deals somehow.

I'm trying see who has money left. I'm not sure if there is a one stop shop to see what's left.

The Bulls have the room mid-level 9.4m. They have a lot of 4s including rookie Caleb Wilson. If they signed Rui it could open up a trade with the Wolves.
Detroit has money depending on Duren but spent a bag on Collins.
The Nets? They have Julius which may or may not matter.
Who is going to pay Rui?

[TheGrey08]

Ant burner instagram just posted a bowling score picture with the names Jack (Ant), Himelo (Lamelo), UNC (LeBron) and Team 23 on it.

Take that as you will

Saw this too. Kinda interesting. I have no doubt Ant is trying to recruit him.

[Q-is-here]

Jack Borman posted a list of remaining options after Harris signed with the Spurs:

LeBron
Kuminga
Rui
Kenrich
SloMo
Olynyk
Nance Jr
Watford
Yabu
Batum
KLove

I'd add Lyles into the mix. Vando could hit the open market.

I'm curious now where finances stand around the league now, specifically for the guys at the top of the list.

Correct me if I am wrong but the Lakers will need to renounce Rui to make all their moves happen unless he can be signed and traded for one of their new guys. I'm assuming that will ruin the math on all their deals somehow.

I'm trying see who has money left. I'm not sure if there is a one stop shop to see what's left.

The Bulls have the room mid-level 9.4m. They have a lot of 4s including rookie Caleb Wilson. If they signed Rui it could open up a trade with the Wolves.
Detroit has money depending on Duren but spent a bag on Collins.
The Nets? They have Julius which may or may not matter.
Who is going to pay Rui?

Yeah, I think you just see who's left once the music stops so to speak and snag the best fit.