Minnesota Sports Forum

Just watched Dane break this down. Basically we don't HAVE to trade someone to stay under the second apron UNLESS Ant makes the all NBA-team, in which case we blow past the second apron. Mmmmm. Not sure anyone is going to be celebrating Ant not making the all NBA team, so sort of damned if we do, damned if we don't.

Now if Ant doesn't make the All-NBA team, we'd still have to let SloMo, Conley, TBJ, and little Mac walk and replace with vet minimum guys to stay under the second apron. That's a starter, a 6th/7th man, and a 9th/10th man, all to be replaced by guys on either rookie contracts or vet minimums.

I'm still a bit confused by all the scenarios, so if anyone else is more of a cap-ologist, feel free to chime in!

Not my money. Telosa is going to pay for all of it.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 4:37 pm Just watched Dane break this down. Basically we don't HAVE to trade someone to stay under the second apron UNLESS Ant makes the all NBA-team, in which case we blow past the second apron. Mmmmm. Not sure anyone is going to be celebrating Ant not making the all NBA team, so sort of damned if we do, damned if we don't.

Now if Ant doesn't make the All-NBA team, we'd still have to let SloMo, Conley, TBJ, and little Mac walk and replace with vet minimum guys to stay under the second apron. That's a starter, a 6th/7th man, and a 9th/10th man, all to be replaced by guys on either rookie contracts or vet minimums.

I'm still a bit confused by all the scenarios, so if anyone else is more of a cap-ologist, feel free to chime in!

It's way too premature to make estimates now, no matter what the media guys say. Remember when most of us thought we HAD to trade KAT or Rudy back at the draft because of the financial implications?

Here are a few thoughts:

- The estimates for the 2024-25 season are just that, estimates. Recent history suggests the actual numbers will be a bit higher.
- How good this team is this year, and who are the biggest contributors, will be as much a factor in what happens next offseason as the financial implications.
- The first 2024-25 transaction is coming up quickly! The Wolves must choose whether to pick up next year's team option for Moore by the end of this month. My money says they will pass...
- Garza, Minott, Miller and/or Clark could prove to be cost-effective role players for this team next year, and possibly make Naz expendable for avoiding the 2nd apron.
- I wouldn't assume Troy Brown will be out. He could prove to be a reasonable replacement for Slo-Mo.
- If we struggle in the first half of the season, a big trade at the trade deadline becomes more likely. But that isn't going to happen!

I'm not the board capologist, but I think that trying to squeeze under the second apron may be more limiting to roster construction than accepting going over the second apron for one year and paying Conley and SloMo, assuming their asking prices aren't real high. I'm hoping Conley accepts something in the $5-8M range per year given his age and hopefully his desire to finish here and SloMo accepts a contract similar to the one he has now given his age and hopefully his desire to finish here. I'm not sure if we'd bring JMAC back next year but we might want to if he plays well, but I think he's a near minimum contract so it probably doesn't matter.

On a side note, the Wolves picked up Moore's option for the 2024-25 season. That commits another 2.5 mil to the salaries for next year...

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 5:22 pm I'm not the board capologist, but I think that trying to squeeze under the second apron may be more limiting to roster construction than accepting going over the second apron for one year and paying Conley and SloMo, assuming their asking prices aren't real high. I'm hoping Conley accepts something in the $5-8M range per year given his age and hopefully his desire to finish here and SloMo accepts a contract similar to the one he has now given his age and hopefully his desire to finish here. I'm not sure if we'd bring JMAC back next year but we might want to if he plays well, but I think he's a near minimum contract so it probably doesn't matter.

Yes, but…. It really comes down to how well the Wolves perform this season. If the Wolves at least make the Conference Finals, then it will probably make more sense to keep the current squad, including Slo Mo, together for next season and exceed the 2nd apron. But anything short of a trip to the Conference Finals means the Wolves should (and probably would) move Rudy, KAT, Naz or Jaden to stay under the apron. If the Wolves fall short of making the Conference finals, it makes no sense to stick with the core of high priced players around Ant that put us over the 2nd apron. I think it would be idiotic to trade Naz or Jaden. Hence, as we’ve thoroughly discussed on this Board, trading Rudy or KAT (maybe both) would be the only sensible move for a team that would otherwise exceed the second apron without even making the conference finals.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 6:13 pm

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 5:22 pm I'm not the board capologist, but I think that trying to squeeze under the second apron may be more limiting to roster construction than accepting going over the second apron for one year and paying Conley and SloMo, assuming their asking prices aren't real high. I'm hoping Conley accepts something in the $5-8M range per year given his age and hopefully his desire to finish here and SloMo accepts a contract similar to the one he has now given his age and hopefully his desire to finish here. I'm not sure if we'd bring JMAC back next year but we might want to if he plays well, but I think he's a near minimum contract so it probably doesn't matter.

Yes, but…. It really comes down to how well the Wolves perform this season. If the Wolves at least make the Conference Finals, then it will probably make more sense to keep the current squad, including Slo Mo, together for next season and exceed the 2nd apron. But anything short of a trip to the Conference Finals means the Wolves should (and probably would) move Rudy, KAT, Naz or Jaden to stay under the apron. If the Wolves fall short of making the Conference finals, it makes no sense to stick with the core of high priced players around Ant that put us over the 2nd apron. I think it would be idiotic to trade Naz or Jaden. Hence, as we’ve thoroughly discussed on this Board, trading Rudy or KAT (maybe both) would be the only sensible move for a team that would otherwise exceed the second apron without even making the conference finals.

I agree with most of what you said, except for the part about trading Rudy or KAT, but not Naz. I hope we don't trade any of the three, and if we have win a playoff series or more or win over 50 games, I think they all return. However, until Naz plays better defense and is a plus player, he'd be my first choice to trade if any are traded and Garza could soak up those minutes.

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Sat Oct 28, 2023 1:46 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 6:13 pm

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 5:22 pm I'm not the board capologist, but I think that trying to squeeze under the second apron may be more limiting to roster construction than accepting going over the second apron for one year and paying Conley and SloMo, assuming their asking prices aren't real high. I'm hoping Conley accepts something in the $5-8M range per year given his age and hopefully his desire to finish here and SloMo accepts a contract similar to the one he has now given his age and hopefully his desire to finish here. I'm not sure if we'd bring JMAC back next year but we might want to if he plays well, but I think he's a near minimum contract so it probably doesn't matter.

Yes, but…. It really comes down to how well the Wolves perform this season. If the Wolves at least make the Conference Finals, then it will probably make more sense to keep the current squad, including Slo Mo, together for next season and exceed the 2nd apron. But anything short of a trip to the Conference Finals means the Wolves should (and probably would) move Rudy, KAT, Naz or Jaden to stay under the apron. If the Wolves fall short of making the Conference finals, it makes no sense to stick with the core of high priced players around Ant that put us over the 2nd apron. I think it would be idiotic to trade Naz or Jaden. Hence, as we’ve thoroughly discussed on this Board, trading Rudy or KAT (maybe both) would be the only sensible move for a team that would otherwise exceed the second apron without even making the conference finals.

I agree with most of what you said, except for the part about trading Rudy or KAT, but not Naz. I hope we don't trade any of the three, and if we have win a playoff series or more or win over 50 games, I think they all return. However, until Naz plays better defense and is a plus player, he'd be my first choice to trade if any are traded and Garza could soak up those minutes.

If we win 50 games and win only one playoff series, I sure hope we don’t keep both Rudy and KAT because keeping them will put us over the 2nd apron unless we trade Naz or deplete our rotation, which would likely mean regressing the next season. Naz is too talented to let go in favor of keeping two max salary veteran centers who can’t combine with Ant and Jaden for more than one playoff series win. Naz will likely continue to improve and his vintage aligns perfectly with Ant and Jaden. I’ve never liked the idea of trading KAT, but if we can’t win more than one playoff series this season, I’d swap KAT before I’d consider trading Naz.

I really didn't think we'd get him to sign for the full 5 years without a player option, so pumped about this news!

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 28, 2023 10:49 am

KG4Ever wrote: ↑Sat Oct 28, 2023 1:46 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 6:13 pm

Yes, but…. It really comes down to how well the Wolves perform this season. If the Wolves at least make the Conference Finals, then it will probably make more sense to keep the current squad, including Slo Mo, together for next season and exceed the 2nd apron. But anything short of a trip to the Conference Finals means the Wolves should (and probably would) move Rudy, KAT, Naz or Jaden to stay under the apron. If the Wolves fall short of making the Conference finals, it makes no sense to stick with the core of high priced players around Ant that put us over the 2nd apron. I think it would be idiotic to trade Naz or Jaden. Hence, as we’ve thoroughly discussed on this Board, trading Rudy or KAT (maybe both) would be the only sensible move for a team that would otherwise exceed the second apron without even making the conference finals.

I agree with most of what you said, except for the part about trading Rudy or KAT, but not Naz. I hope we don't trade any of the three, and if we have win a playoff series or more or win over 50 games, I think they all return. However, until Naz plays better defense and is a plus player, he'd be my first choice to trade if any are traded and Garza could soak up those minutes.

If we win 50 games and win only one playoff series, I sure hope we don’t keep both Rudy and KAT because keeping them will put us over the 2nd apron unless we trade Naz or deplete our rotation, which would likely mean regressing the next season. Naz is too talented to let go in favor of keeping two max salary veteran centers who can’t combine with Ant and Jaden for more than one playoff series win. Naz will likely continue to improve and his vintage aligns perfectly with Ant and Jaden. I’ve never liked the idea of trading KAT, but if we can’t win more than one playoff series this season, I’d swap KAT before I’d consider trading Naz.

Well, I hope Naz improves but I won't assume he will. In any case, I don't want Rudy or KAT traded unless we get an equal star back. Its unlikely to happen as teams want to value them as damaged goods. I think we need to see Ant and Jaden take another step and TC has surrounded those two with as good a supporting cast as they will probably ever see. If we fail to have success, I'd rather look to upgrade our head coach, than trade away All-NBA talent for pennies on the dollar.

Despite the tough loss against Toronto, I'm still quite optimistic that we will get the ship righted and we will have a successful enough season to keep the band together.