Wolves 2018 Free Agent Thread

[Lipoli390]

There are plenty of moves that COULD be made. Our front office sitting on their hands pursuing bargain bin, clearance rack free agents doesn't do anything for me, though.

Also, not that it's a big deal, Bates-Diop's cap hit this year should be closer to $800K rather than $1.5M.

Cam -- I hear you. But several things seem pretty clear right now about the Wolves front office thinking:

1. The Wolves appear intent on staying under the luxury tax threshold. Thibodeau's comment when asked whether the Wolves would be willing to pay the luxury tax was: "well, you have to be smart about it." That comment coupled with the fact that the Wolves are not vying for free agents who are signing in the $6 - $8 million per year range tells us that the decision to remain under the tax threshold this summer has been made.

2. The Wolves are going to offer Butler the 4-year $110 million max contract extension he's eligible for this summer. I like the idea and hope Butler agrees to it. The contract would not increase our payroll this season. Under the extension, Butler would get about $27.5 million per year, which is a bargain when you consider that Wiggins is getting almost as much. I've always assumed Butler wouldn't extend this summer, but the fact that the Wolves are going to make the offer and seeing the smile on Thibs' face when he talked about his communication with Butler, I'm beginning to think it might happen.

3. The Wolves are going to offer the max extension to KAT. No surprise of course and something this franchise absolutely much do. I have to believe KAT will sign and that he won't take nearly as long as Wiggins did. If he doesn't sign the extension, then the Wolves organization is in worse shape under Thibs than I thought. I just don't believe things are that bad so I think the deal will get done.

4. Thibodeau can't get enough of his former Bulls. He signed Derrick Rose as expected and is reportedly interested in signing Noah and Deng if they're bought out. Actually, I'd be fine if the Wolves signed Noah to the vet minimum. But again, I'm not seeing any needle-moving maneuvers yet this summer and I don't see any on the horizon.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I highly, highly doubt that Jimmy Butler signs that extension. Butler has approximately $80M to gain by waiting to sign a new contract next summer. Not to mention, his very good friend DeAndre Jordan will be a free agent next summer after taking a one-year deal tonight. It'd be great if he took that extension, but I think it's a pipe dream.

And I hear you about the luxury tax. I just don't agree with the team's approach to go after vet-minimum guys only. It lacks creativity and screams cheap to me.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I highly, highly doubt that Jimmy Butler signs that extension. Butler has approximately $80M to gain by waiting to sign a new contract next summer. Not to mention, his very good friend DeAndre Jordan will be a free agent next summer after taking a one-year deal tonight. It'd be great if he took that extension, but I think it's a pipe dream.

And I hear you about the luxury tax. I just don't agree with the team's approach to go after vet-minimum guys only. It lacks creativity and screams cheap to me.

If you sign the MLE into the tax you hard cap the team which would be pretty dumb. That means no more money can be spent over 129 million so you play short handed during the year when you deal with injuries because you literally can't sign anyone. It also kills any chance at buyout players. It just limits your options a lot for someone who's a bench piece and a lot of bench pieces don't work out every year. Oh and it means Glenn is paying 200 million for next year's team to try to keep it together when it's not a contender. That seems like a reasonable sell to your owner.

[Monster]

The bucks signed Illyasova a guy alive been a fan of for years to a 3 year 21 million dollar deal. Last summer he got 6 million. So he got more this summer in a tighter market from a team with some cap concerns. There are gonna be worthwhile players available to sign for less than these deals we are seeing right now. Ed Davis is the closest thing to a bargain I have seen so far but to me what he got was about what i expected for him maybe even a bit more just because there are so many bigs available. There are gonna be guys that have to settle for the vet min and at some point we may be able to get one of them or maybe sweeten the pot with a few hundred thousand more kinda like Cunningham took with NO late last summer. I hope the Wolves have patience espcially if their goal is to stay out of the luxury tax.

[Monster]

Also if Thibs and the Wolves got Jimmy to sign that extension which would be a reduced deal and very reasonable...wow that would be amazing I'll be shocked and amazed if it happens. Lol

[rapsuperstar31]

Also if Thibs and the Wolves got Jimmy to sign that extension which would be a reduced deal and very reasonable...wow that would be amazing I'll be shocked and amazed if it happens. Lol

I agree that I don't believe he signs it. But 110 million is more than enough money to live on for the rest of his his life, he seems like a smart enough person to 1. not blow through all his money, and 2. know that if wants to win signing for a bit less like Durant might work out well going forward. The fact that he is injury prone may work out in our favor in extension talks as well, especially if Cousins only gets a one year deal or less money this off season. If Butler has a bad injury this year he could lose quite a bit of money as well. All that being said, I don't think we will be this lucky and we will end up signing him to a similar deal next off season to what Chris Paul just signed, and that looks like it could get pretty ugly towards the end of his contract if he continues to miss games.

[kekgeek]

There are plenty of moves that COULD be made. Our front office sitting on their hands pursuing bargain bin, clearance rack free agents doesn't do anything for me, though.

Also, not that it's a big deal, Bates-Diop's cap hit this year should be closer to $800K rather than $1.5M.

Cam -- I hear you. But several things seem pretty clear right now about the Wolves front office thinking:

1. The Wolves appear intent on staying under the luxury tax threshold. Thibodeau's comment when asked whether the Wolves would be willing to pay the luxury tax was: "well, you have to be smart about it." That comment coupled with the fact that the Wolves are not vying for free agents who are signing in the $6 - $8 million per year range tells us that the decision to remain under the tax threshold this summer has been made.

2. The Wolves are going to offer Butler the 4-year $110 million max contract extension he's eligible for this summer. I like the idea and hope Butler agrees to it. The contract would not increase our payroll this season. Under the extension, Butler would get about $27.5 million per year, which is a bargain when you consider that Wiggins is getting almost as much. I've always assumed Butler wouldn't extend this summer, but the fact that the Wolves are going to make the offer and seeing the smile on Thibs' face when he talked about his communication with Butler, I'm beginning to think it might happen.

3. The Wolves are going to offer the max extension to KAT. No surprise of course and something this franchise absolutely much do. I have to believe KAT will sign and that he won't take nearly as long as Wiggins did. If he doesn't sign the extension, then the Wolves organization is in worse shape under Thibs than I thought. I just don't believe things are that bad so I think the deal will get done.

4. Thibodeau can't get enough of his former Bulls. He signed Derrick Rose as expected and is reportedly interested in signing Noah and Deng if they're bought out. Actually, I'd be fine if the Wolves signed Noah to the vet minimum. But again, I'm not seeing any needle-moving maneuvers yet this summer and I don't see any on the horizon.

I don't think KAT signs his extension this summer. That is not because anything with thibs but straight financial. If KAT makes All NBA this season again he is eligible for the super max. Where he can be paid 30mil in his 1st year compared to Wiggins 25mil 1st year.

Like I said last season, it is cool Kat got all NBA but it is a killer financially for the wolves

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

There are plenty of moves that COULD be made. Our front office sitting on their hands pursuing bargain bin, clearance rack free agents doesn't do anything for me, though.

Also, not that it's a big deal, Bates-Diop's cap hit this year should be closer to $800K rather than $1.5M.

Cam -- I hear you. But several things seem pretty clear right now about the Wolves front office thinking:

1. The Wolves appear intent on staying under the luxury tax threshold. Thibodeau's comment when asked whether the Wolves would be willing to pay the luxury tax was: "well, you have to be smart about it." That comment coupled with the fact that the Wolves are not vying for free agents who are signing in the $6 - $8 million per year range tells us that the decision to remain under the tax threshold this summer has been made.

2. The Wolves are going to offer Butler the 4-year $110 million max contract extension he's eligible for this summer. I like the idea and hope Butler agrees to it. The contract would not increase our payroll this season. Under the extension, Butler would get about $27.5 million per year, which is a bargain when you consider that Wiggins is getting almost as much. I've always assumed Butler wouldn't extend this summer, but the fact that the Wolves are going to make the offer and seeing the smile on Thibs' face when he talked about his communication with Butler, I'm beginning to think it might happen.

3. The Wolves are going to offer the max extension to KAT. No surprise of course and something this franchise absolutely much do. I have to believe KAT will sign and that he won't take nearly as long as Wiggins did. If he doesn't sign the extension, then the Wolves organization is in worse shape under Thibs than I thought. I just don't believe things are that bad so I think the deal will get done.

4. Thibodeau can't get enough of his former Bulls. He signed Derrick Rose as expected and is reportedly interested in signing Noah and Deng if they're bought out. Actually, I'd be fine if the Wolves signed Noah to the vet minimum. But again, I'm not seeing any needle-moving maneuvers yet this summer and I don't see any on the horizon.

I don't think KAT signs his extension this summer. That is not because anything with thibs but straight financial. If KAT makes All NBA this season again he is eligible for the super max. Where he can be paid 30mil in his 1st year compared to Wiggins 25mil 1st year.

Like I said last season, it is cool Kat got all NBA but it is a killer financially for the wolves

They can design the extension to jump to 30% if he meets the criteria. It doesn't have to be hard stuck at 25% if he signs it now.

[60WinTim]

So here's the Wolves salary situation after releasing Cole and signing Rose to the vet minimum. By my calculation, the Wolves are currently about $7.1 million under the luxury tax threshold with 11 roster spots filled and at least 3 more to fill.

My calculation assumes that Rose's $2.5 million contract only counts slightly more than $1.4 million for luxury tax purposes. It also assumes that we sign Bates-Diop for $1.5 million. I'm not sure about my assumption on the Rose contract only counting $1.5 million against the luxury tax and I'm just guessing on the Bates-Diop contract.

If my calculation is right, I can't see how the Wolves can realistically pay Belly more than about $4.5 million per year and still remain under the luxury tax threshold while filling the two remaining roster spots. I suspect someone will come along and offer more than that to Belly. So the question is this: What do the Wolves have in mind for the $4 million they would otherwise use on Belly? Consequential players like Joe Harris, Will Barton, Ilyasova and Jerami Grant are all signing for between $7 and $8 million per year. So barring a significant trade, I just don't see the Wolves augmenting their roster in any significant way beyond signing their two 2018 draftees. In fact, the Wolves could end up going backwards by losing both Belly and Crawford without any significant players replacing them beyond two totally unproven rookies taken in the low first and low second rounds. I know many like to say we're better off without Crawford. Well, I don't buy that. His offense won games for the Wolves last season. I wasn't sorry to see him go, but losing both he and Belly will hurt what was already a weak Wolves bench.

Your numbers look off to me, Lip.

The 2-year vet min is 1.5126 mil, which will be the number used for calculating salaries towards the luxury tax for any vet minimum FAs signed, which is the amount Rose will get, and probably 2 other FAs who we sign for the vet minimum to fill out the roster to 14 players. As Cam said, the Bates-Diop contract will most likely start at the vet minimum of $838,463. And it sounds like we will stretch the Aldrich buyout over 3 years, lowering his cap hit by almost 1.4 mil this year.

Using spotrac to add it all up for 13 players (ie. including two more vet minimum signings), and assuming the Bazz dead cap money is wrong, the Wolves luxury tax salaries come to $116,381,900. A luxury tax threshold of $123,733,000 leaves the Wolves with $7,351,085 to throw at Belly or his replacement, such as Tolliver, Cunningham, etc.

While not the full MLE, it is a sizable chunk of money to throw at Belly, or someone to take Belly's place. I suspect if the Wolves find someone to throw that money at, they would immediately withdraw the QO for Belly.

[Lipoli390]

So here's the Wolves salary situation after releasing Cole and signing Rose to the vet minimum. By my calculation, the Wolves are currently about $7.1 million under the luxury tax threshold with 11 roster spots filled and at least 3 more to fill.

My calculation assumes that Rose's $2.5 million contract only counts slightly more than $1.4 million for luxury tax purposes. It also assumes that we sign Bates-Diop for $1.5 million. I'm not sure about my assumption on the Rose contract only counting $1.5 million against the luxury tax and I'm just guessing on the Bates-Diop contract.

If my calculation is right, I can't see how the Wolves can realistically pay Belly more than about $4.5 million per year and still remain under the luxury tax threshold while filling the two remaining roster spots. I suspect someone will come along and offer more than that to Belly. So the question is this: What do the Wolves have in mind for the $4 million they would otherwise use on Belly? Consequential players like Joe Harris, Will Barton, Ilyasova and Jerami Grant are all signing for between $7 and $8 million per year. So barring a significant trade, I just don't see the Wolves augmenting their roster in any significant way beyond signing their two 2018 draftees. In fact, the Wolves could end up going backwards by losing both Belly and Crawford without any significant players replacing them beyond two totally unproven rookies taken in the low first and low second rounds. I know many like to say we're better off without Crawford. Well, I don't buy that. His offense won games for the Wolves last season. I wasn't sorry to see him go, but losing both he and Belly will hurt what was already a weak Wolves bench.

Your numbers look off to me, Lip.

The 2-year vet min is 1.5126 mil, which will be the number used for calculating salaries towards the luxury tax for any vet minimum FAs signed, which is the amount Rose will get, and probably 2 other FAs who we sign for the vet minimum to fill out the roster to 14 players. As Cam said, the Bates-Diop contract will most likely start at the vet minimum of $838,463. And it sounds like we will stretch the Aldrich buyout over 3 years, lowering his cap hit by almost 1.4 mil this year.

Using spotrac to add it all up for 13 players (ie. including two more vet minimum signings), and assuming the Bazz dead cap money is wrong, the Wolves luxury tax salaries come to $116,381,900. A luxury tax threshold of $123,733,000 leaves the Wolves with $7,351,085 to throw at Belly or his replacement, such as Tolliver, Cunningham, etc.

While not the full MLE, it is a sizable chunk of money to throw at Belly, or someone to take Belly's place. I suspect if the Wolves find someone to throw that money at, they would immediately withdraw the QO for Belly.

I used the $1.5 million number for Rose in my calculation. As for Bates-Diop, I was assuming Thibodeau would pay him more than the minimum as part of locking him into a multi-year deal as reported. He won't agree to a multi-year deal at the minimum. I hadn't factored in stretching Cole, so if that adds $1.4 million to our luxury tax room, then we have around $5.9 rather than my assumed $4.5 million to throw at Belly. Then we'd have $3 million left to pay the minimum for two more vet minimums to fill out the rest of the roster. I can see Belly signing here for that amount if it were a 4-year deal. But again, the main point is that the Wolves won't be signing an needle-moving FAs this summer barring a trade that clears more salary space.