Josh Green officially traded

[Monster]

I would have liked to have kept Josh Green but it had to be done to get Kuminga. Tim's paying his own players a little more type of negotiation did screw us a bit, since had you signed Ayo to 17 million this year we could have just kept Josh at least until Donte came back. Oh well, while I don't know much about Cody I will be rooting him on since he is on our team.

Connelly has said multiple times that Ayo had higher offers that what he signed here.

Maybe, teams couldn't technically offer anything at that time yet, but we all know teams break the rules all the time. The rumor was Detroit, but they were also linked to Austin Reaves which made the Lakers overpay, Detroit may have also been linked to other guards on the market. My guess is his agent went out and got an estimate of what teams could offer, but not an actual offer.

Personally I'll take Connelly's word for it. I'm also pretty sure there have been some other legit reports that said the same thing.

We liked Josh Green as he is a worthwhile (possibly valuable) rotation player but it seems pretty clear the Wolves are leaning into the young guys and moving Green opens up opportunity for a guy like Clark to actually play plus this move allows the Wolves to sign a 15th player which the couldn't have done if they just kept Green. Lets say they wanted a solid worthwhile rotation wing bring Amir Coffey home or something. I'd guess they sign a big which seems more needed. It seems to me Connelly did reasonably well knowing Green would have some value and he could move him if needed.

I'd also guess they maybe were willing to move Green for a couple potential reasons. 1. Donte recovering well and they felt he was well on his way to being back so they would possibly really only need Green for a few months. 2. Finch talked about he got good reports back from players in Paris about Evans guys saying he can really play he just needs coaching. Obviously the reason they were willing to move Green was to get Kuminga but there might have been some other considerations. They clearly thought Cody Williams has some value too.

[Monster]

Well that is better than waiving and stretching Josh. I am assuming that the team won't pick up Cody's 7.6 million, 4th year option.

I have seen conflicting information about where the Wolves cap stands.

Dane has them 6.275 million under the 2nd apron with JK

Bobby Marks and Yossi have them 400k under with JK

Jonny K thinks the team might add a vet 15th player.

I'm assuming Bobby and Yossi have it right.

I'm seeing they have the same numbers. The 6.27 Dane has on his spreadsheet accounts for the unlikely incentives for McDaniels and Donte. He said in his tweet the Wolves have the 4.5 million below the apron that Marks also says they have after waiving Konchar. They have enough space they could get crazy and sign a fully guaranteed guy and still have enough money to sign another one later if they wanted to waive someone.

[BeenLurkin]

Does anyone else see a pretty close analogy to the NAW experience when it comes to Cody?

The close relation (brother/cousin) of a legit NBA superstar. Living in their shadow, highly recruited or drafted but not immediatly finding their role. Traded as a “throw in” or salary adjustment type of move to the Timberwolves and having a chance to reset their career trajectory.

I’ve seen this before and hopefully it can be a similar arc this time, Cody could be the long term Kuminga. Kuminga could leave after proving himself and Cody could naturally fill that spot. They are similar body types and their games are super aggressive.

[Q-is-here]

Does anyone else see a pretty close analogy to the NAW experience when it comes to Cody?

The close relation (brother/cousin) of a legit NBA superstar. Living in their shadow, highly recruited or drafted but not immediatly finding their role. Traded as a “throw in” or salary adjustment type of move to the Timberwolves and having a chance to reset their career trajectory.

I’ve seen this before and hopefully it can be a similar arc this time, Cody could be the long term Kuminga. Kuminga could leave after proving himself and Cody could naturally fill that spot. They are similar body types and their games are super aggressive.

That's quite the stretch but this is the season of unbridled hope and optimism I guess.

[Monster]

Does anyone else see a pretty close analogy to the NAW experience when it comes to Cody?

The close relation (brother/cousin) of a legit NBA superstar. Living in their shadow, highly recruited or drafted but not immediatly finding their role. Traded as a “throw in” or salary adjustment type of move to the Timberwolves and having a chance to reset their career trajectory.

I’ve seen this before and hopefully it can be a similar arc this time, Cody could be the long term Kuminga. Kuminga could leave after proving himself and Cody could naturally fill that spot. They are similar body types and their games are super aggressive.

That's quite the stretch but this is the season of unbridled hope and optimism I guess.

NAW that season in Utah had already moved towards the path that he ended up continuing with the Wolves. Maybe Williams found something down the stretch late last season that gets him towards being an NBA player. He is way younger than NAW and is much less likely to see the floor than NAW who was basically handed a job by the lack of competence from Nowell. Finch had also coached him before. Do we have any former Utah or Colorado coaches on staff? He is a flyer and he may have the length of Kuminga but I think he weighed less than Jaden coming out of college sooo.

[Phenom]

Well that is better than waiving and stretching Josh. I am assuming that the team won't pick up Cody's 7.6 million, 4th year option.

I have seen conflicting information about where the Wolves cap stands.

Dane has them 6.275 million under the 2nd apron with JK

Bobby Marks and Yossi have them 400k under with JK

Jonny K thinks the team might add a vet 15th player.

I'm assuming Bobby and Yossi have it right.

I'm seeing they have the same numbers. The 6.27 Dane has on his spreadsheet accounts for the unlikely incentives for McDaniels and Donte. He said in his tweet the Wolves have the 4.5 million below the apron that Marks also says they have after waiving Konchar. They have enough space they could get crazy and sign a fully guaranteed guy and still have enough money to sign another one later if they wanted to waive someone.

Ok I must have misread Bobby's xtweet

[TheFuture]

Personally, I would have told Kuminga to take a vet min, or beat it. If he said no, then I just sign another flyer at the vet min. Sat with Green here, see how the year went with cohesion, injuries, Donte, development of Clark, TSJ, Evans, and utilized the ability to aggregate Green, Donte, all the others in a few months for what would then be an obvious move/need.

People act like this is a good move, but I see it as furthering our handcuffs next year and this year. What if Donte doesn't come back? What if he does, and just walks? What if Kuminga sucks and opts in? What if he plays well and we can't afford him by the rules? What if TC just walks?

[BeenLurkin]

Lots of what ifs….what IS is a season potentially saved by finding a 5th starter that by all accounts is motivated to be here and was highly sought after by the players and ownership. Let’s continue to trust TC until he actually fucks us. He seems to have pulled a lot of rabbits out of a lot of hats so far. As far as JKs player option, you just tell him he isn’t gonna start or play guaranteed minutes and he won’t come back, he only came here to play as many minutes as possible to rehab his image for his next contract.

[TheFuture]

Lots of what ifs….what IS is a season potentially saved by finding a 5th starter that by all accounts is motivated to be here and was highly sought after by the players and ownership. Let’s continue to trust TC until he actually fucks us. He seems to have pulled a lot of rabbits out of a lot of hats so far. As far as JKs player option, you just tell him he isn’t gonna start or play guaranteed minutes and he won’t come back, he only came here to play as many minutes as possible to rehab his image for his next contract.

Your last point is why I think it's absolutely stupid. Move a player who you potentially CAN keep moving forward at a lower salary, that has shown no issues assuming his role, and you retain his salary for an actual needle moving trade later. All to acquire a player that everybody knows is out to prove himself, on a team that is completely remodeling, and if it goes well, he is gone for nothing. There are no salary rights up to expectation.

I like a world where you let Green play his role. Mid-season you can roll with him and donte, or start playing with their salaries and minors in aggregated trades. Maybe, sign both him and donte to contracts moving forward, which is much easier with their combined 27mil. Say Josh at 6-10 mil going forward, Donte at 12-16. With room to negotiate.

Now, you're staring dead at not being able to maneuver at all. With 2 mil more of excess salary for 3 years.

Couldn't fill a PF slot this year? It looks less promising with the same no picks, and lower matching salary counts.

You could sell Green. I don't think you can sell Williams or Kuminga. 29 teams already spoke on one.

[60WinTim]

Green wasn't doing diddlysquat for the Wolves this year. He was one of 3 guys fighting to be the number one amongst the bench fodder! And Donte's return will only make it worse. The top 10 players are already set. Green was farting around with Bones and Evans to be the first guy used in garbage time.

And it's a bit premature to assume JK is only here for one year. It could be less! Or it could be more -- the Wolves will likely have the full MLE at their disposal which might satisfy JK for another year or two, depending on how this season goes.