Minnesota Sports Forum

He won't get him, but apparently just checking in to say hi will suffice for us

khans2k5 wrote:

slimcalhoun27 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Westbrook fills the hole we have on this team and while I'm not a huge fan if they'd take Wiggins I'd do it. Culver is a good fit next to Russ and same with Covington.

Hi contract is 38mil, 41mil, 43mil, and 45mil over the next 4 years. That it nasty especially for a guy who will be 35 by the end of this.

Who cares how much money he makes? He at least plays most of the games, puts up insane stats and plays hard. Who else are you spending that money on that's actually better than him? We're the freaking Timberwolves. He'd be the best PG this franchise has ever had paired with the second best big man this franchise has ever had. Wiggins is making 27, 29, 31, 33 in that same time span. Who's the MLE player you combine with Wiggins to get better production than Russ? Seriously where is all this money going? Everyone wants us to keep our cap flexibility and then nobody ever comes here. He's a top 5 PG in the league. What are you saving it for?

Agreed. It think this forum enjoys the "fantasy" of it all more than anything. The fantasy that players are better than they are, the fantasy that players are magically going to improve dramatically, the fantasy proposed trades that are all over this board come the trade deadline when we suck again, the fantasy of draft scenarios when we miss the playoffs AGAIN and that their player they love will change everything, the fantasy that top players will sign here, the fantasy that we'll be good or at least improve the record the next year (you are already seeing that in the last week...based on what, I don't know).

Reality for being a Wolves fan is harsh, so people create these fantasies to maintain their fandom and upbeatness, which is too bad, we deserve more

Heat would be my bet on the team that gets him. They are on a win now mode. Spo has handled big personalities like lebron/wade before so you know he can deal with russ/jimmy and have their respect.

They have dragic and james johnson as a starting point. Thats a combined 34m of expiring deal to offer. Maybe add a waiters and its 2025 1st round pick and that is a starting point.

Okc wont get as much pick and value for russ like they did for pg due to age and salary. 34m if expiring, a rotation guy in waiters and another 1st round pick is worthwile in my view.

khans2k5 wrote:

slimcalhoun27 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Westbrook fills the hole we have on this team and while I'm not a huge fan if they'd take Wiggins I'd do it. Culver is a good fit next to Russ and same with Covington.

Hi contract is 38mil, 41mil, 43mil, and 45mil over the next 4 years. That it nasty especially for a guy who will be 35 by the end of this.

Who cares how much money he makes? He at least plays most of the games, puts up insane stats and plays hard. Who else are you spending that money on that's actually better than him? We're the freaking Timberwolves. He'd be the best PG this franchise has ever had paired with the second best big man this franchise has ever had. Wiggins is making 27, 29, 31, 33 in that same time span. Who's the MLE player you combine with Wiggins to get better production than Russ? Seriously where is all this money going? Everyone wants us to keep our cap flexibility and then nobody ever comes here. He's a top 5 PG in the league. What are you saving it for?

Then you Khans are the only one in this board who is down to be lavish enough to reach and go get a superior player. This holding onto players like Wiggins or Rubio while he was here loyalty, we can't spend on a good player but hand out money to mediocre players concept has to die and hopefully Rosas will do just that.

I'm good with spending the money on Russ, I agree he is dynamic and a top tier player. But this franchise and most don't agree. Rosas has absorbed a turd, tough to polish that.

Glad someone actually would want him on this board Khans, appreciate your insight.

I'm not even a big fan of Westbrook, but it is extremely difficult to pair Towns with another star around his age on these second deals. The real window to add that player is in 4 years when Wiggins or in this case Russell would drop off our books anyways. In the short term those guys in Towns' age group just aren't available. DLO was our shot because of a unique circumstance and he picked GS. We need someone to keep Towns interested in this franchise for the next 4 years or he will want out and join up in greener pastures. Westbrook puts us in the top 4 with a chance if Towns makes the next step he needs to.

(I also just think the resale value of Westbrook is far superior to anything we could get out of Wiggins and co.)

Basically people here are suggesting Westbrook is basically just worth some trash contracts. If that's all it takes to get him is salary cap relief that's gonna be some insane value (for what they give up) for a couple years for whoever gets him. The reality is there will be a few teams interested and eventually the bidding war will begin. OKC is going to get some decent assets for him. The guy averaged a triple double the past 3 years. Sure maybe he padded the stats a bit but that's STILL freaking insane. Miami just paid the price in terms of assets and contract to lock up Butler. There are gonna he teams willing to pay something of value to get Westbrook.

monsterpile wrote:Basically people here are suggesting Westbrook is basically just worth some trash contracts. If that's all it takes to get him is salary cap relief that's gonna be some insane value (for what they give up) for a couple years for whoever gets him. The reality is there will be a few teams interested and eventually the bidding war will begin. OKC is going to get some decent assets for him. The guy averaged a triple double the past 3 years. Sure maybe he padded the stats a bit but that's STILL freaking insane. Miami just paid the price in terms of assets and contract to lock up Butler. There are gonna he teams willing to pay something of value to get Westbrook.

I agree. He's taken a lot of shit for his advanced stats but the guy draws a lot of attention on the court. He will fetch more than a bunch of bad contracts.

For me it depends on what/how much we'd need to give up to get him. I'm sure we've all noticed that the Wolves have not been accumulating high-value assets over the past 5 years. We don't have extra 1st or even second round picks. I'm a believer in Okogie, but he was the 20th pick in the 2018 draft and did nothing in his rookie season to enhance his value. Culver was highly regarded in this year's draft, but he hasn't even played an NBA summer league game yet and his combined 70% free throw shooting and 30.6% 3-point shooting as a college sophomore aren't compelling selling points in today's NBA.

I just don't think we have the assets to get Westbrook. If we do, it would mean giving up more than I'd be willing to give up given what we have when considering Westbrook's age as well as the length and cost of his contract.

khans2k5 wrote:
Who cares how much money he makes? He at least plays most of the games, puts up insane stats and plays hard. Who else are you spending that money on that's actually better than him? We're the freaking Timberwolves. He'd be the best PG this franchise has ever had paired with the second best big man this franchise has ever had. Wiggins is making 27, 29, 31, 33 in that same time span. Who's the MLE player you combine with Wiggins to get better production than Russ? Seriously where is all this money going? Everyone wants us to keep our cap flexibility and then nobody ever comes here. He's a top 5 PG in the league. What are you saving it for?

My first reaction was ehhh, stay away from Russ and instead be a 3rd team.. but damn that's a compelling argument. And I've never been much of a Westbrool fan, but I've come off that stance a bit. He care, play so hard and just brings it. Hmmm, maybe if it's the right deal and it doesn't cost too much young talent.