Minnesota Sports Forum

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 7:42 am**

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 7:04 am Version 8.0

POA Wing Defenders
Dorian Finney-Smith - $13.4M, $13.4M, $13.4M (Player Option)
Isaac Okoro - $11.8M
Matisse Thybulle - Unrestricted Free Agent (Last year's salary = $11.5M)
Derrick Jones Jr. - $10.5M
Caleb Martin - $10M, $9.4M (Player Option)
Jaylen Wells - $2.3M, $2.5M, (Team Option)

Positionless Swiss Army Knife
LeBron James - Unrestricted Free Agent ($52.6M) - Planning on leaving the Lakers
Jonathan Kuminga - Unrestricted Free Agent ($24M) - Team option declined by Atlanta
Harrison Barnes - Unrestricted Free Agent ($19M) - UPDATE - Returning to San Antonio for $8M
Rui Hachimura - Unrestricted Free Agent ($18.3M)
Naji Marshall - $9.4M
Kyle Anderson - Unrestricted Free Agent ($9.2M)
Jeremy Sochan - Unrestricted Free Agent ($7.7M)
Kenrich Williams - Unrestricted Free Agent ($7.1M) - Team Option declined by OKC
Dean Wade - Unrestricted Free Agent ($6.6M) - UPDATE - Signed by the Sixers for $9.8M per year
Nicolas Batum - Unrestricted Free Agent ($5.9M) - Team Option declined by LAC

Stretch Power Forward/Centers
Kelly Olynyk - Unrestricted Free Agent ($13.4M)
Guerschon Yabusele - Unrestricted Free Agent ($5.5M)
Kevin Love - Unrestricted Free Agent ($4.2M)
Sandro Mamukelashvili ($2.3M) UPDATE - Signing with LAL for $13M per year
Jock Landale - Unrestricted Free Agent ($2.3M) - UPDATE - Returning to Atlanta for $14M

Traditional Power Forward
P.J. Washington - $19.8M, $21.4M, $22.9M, $24.6M
Jonathan Isaac - Unrestricted Free Agent ($15M) - UPDATE - Waived and re-signed by Orlando for $2.4M cap hit
Marvin Bagley III - Unrestricted Free Agent ($2.6M) - UPDATE - Signed with Denver for $3.5M
Precious Achiuwa - Unrestricted Free Agent ($2.1M) UPDATE - Returning to Kings for $5.75M per year

Wing Shooter/Scorer
Khris Middleton - Unrestricted Free Agent ($33.3M)
Kevin Huerter - Unrestricted Free Agent ($17.9M) UPDATE - Returning to Detroit for $9M per year
Kelly Oubre Jr. - Unrestricted Free Agent ($8.4M) - UPDATE - Signed with Pacers for $8.5M

Looking at our lack of bulk/girth, Yabusele is an interesting free agent candidate. He had a nice season with the Sixers two years ago and then fizzled with the Knicks before being traded to the Bulls and finishing the season hitting the 3-ball again. I certainly wouldn't start him, but may be a decent bench piece that can set big screens and run a lot of pick and pop.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 7:59 am**

What if Beringer is ready for real minutes? He could play backup PF minutes too. #frenchwall lol

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:01 am**

With some of these guys getting decent about of money to be backups...Kyle Anderson at the vet min as a vet rotation guy is starting to look more appealing.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:11 am**

Monster wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 7:59 am What if Beringer is ready for real minutes? He could play backup PF minutes too. #frenchwall lol

He's already tagged to be Rudy's full-time backup, so right there is 16-18 MPG. Almost the ONLY reason we are searching for another PF is because Joan and Rudy seem untenable offensively together. Defensively Joan has all the athletic gifts needed to guard Cs and PFs.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:32 am**

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 9:46 pm The more I think about it, Kendrich Williams doesn’t make any sense for us. He’s 6’7, 210 with a 6’7.25 wingspan. He’s just a backup SF who can hit threes. Josh Green is actually bigger, more athletic and can also hit threes. If the thinking here is that we’re too small with Jaden at PF, then we shouldn’t be targeting Kenrich.

I don’t see any rotation bigs we can get without giving up TSJ and none of them are good enough or essential enough to pay that price. I think we could get Jovic or Patrick Williams without giving up TSJ, but I don’t want their contracts in exchange for Josh unless we can get at least one first round pick and one 2nd back. Even then, I’m not so sure.

So I keep coming back to Marvin Bagley at the vet minimum or a portion of our taxpayer MLE. Mo Wagner comes to mind as well. He can hit threes and rebound. He’s also around 7’ 245 pounds. Sign one or the other and Jeremy Sochan.

Lip, there are several issues with putting Jaden at the 4, and rebounding is one of them...but much more goes into rebounding than physical attributes. I'm not totally sold on Williams (although not totally opposed either) but he would be a big upgrade in rebounding over Jaden or Green. Rebounds per 36:

Williams: 7.9
Jaden: 4.8
Green: 5

We need a starting PF who can defend, rebound and hit 3-pointers at the league average. PJ Washington is a name that would fit, but I think he might cost more than we are willing to give up.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:33 am**

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:11 am
Monster wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 7:59 am What if Beringer is ready for real minutes? He could play backup PF minutes too. #frenchwall lol
He's already tagged to be Rudy's full-time backup, so right there is 16-18 MPG. Almost the ONLY reason we are searching for another PF is because Joan and Rudy seem untenable offensively together. Defensively Joan has all the athletic gifts needed to guard Cs and PFs.

Let's say Beringer is actually effective at doing what we reasonably expect him to be good at...at what point is him playing a few minutes next to Rudy even with the offensive issues a whole lot worse than some of these backup options? Obviously I still feel like I'm being a bit optimistic about expecting Beringer to have too much of a significant role for a team looking to really compete but yeah. It's not like Precious Achiuwa was gonna space the floor either. How have a lot of other options that would on your list but a lot of them also don't have a whole lot of size.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:46 am**

The question to ask now is this: Why hasn't TC pulled the trigger on a trade or free-agent signing to fill our front court void? My answer has four parts:

1. First, I doubt it's because TC has decided to open the season with the current roster without adding another front-court rotating player. TC certainly sees what we all see - i.e., a lack of depth and physical strength up front. I don't think TC is content to start the season with an identifiable significant hole in the team's roster.

2. Second, I doubt it's because TC has been making offers and being repeatedly turned down. I'm sure he kicked the tires on John Collins, but it would have taken a sign-and-trade to get him since he was out of reach financially as a FA. Same goes for Tobias Harris and Dean Wade. Those guys were simply beyond our financial reach and putting together some sort of sign-and-trade is really hard, especially as it pertains to unrestricted free agents.

3. Third, I doubt TC has been offering TSJ in any trade offers because if he had I think a deal would have been done.

4. Finally, I think nothing has happened yet mainly because TC has his sites set on other options that aren't ripe enough to materialize. I see several options TC has prioritized that need more time to ripen before they can happen. Here's my list:

a) LeBron James. I suspect TC has seen this coming for a while we should have no doubt that TC is pursuing LeBron very aggressively and has him as his top priority. I think the Spurs took themselves out of LeBron contention yesterday when they signed Tobias Harris. I know the pundits and oddsmakers still have the Warriors way out ahead of the Wolves as LeBron's likely destination but the moment the Wizards said they're not trading Anthony Davis I think the odds of LeBron going to Golden State went way down close to zero - unless LeBron isn't really prioritizing winning.

b) PJ Washington. I don't think he was gettable until yesterday when Dallas acquired Aldama. I suspect TC was waiting for that and. that he's now talking about a Josh Green package for PJ. Unfortunately, I think TSJ would have to be included in our outgoing package.

c) Ri Hachimura or Jonathan Kuminga. I suspect these are TC's two backup options if they can't sign LeBron or pull off a trade for PJ.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:59 am**

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:46 am The question to ask now is this: Why hasn't TC pulled the trigger on a trade or free-agent signing to fill our front court void? My answer has four parts:

1. First, I doubt it's because TC has decided to open the season with the current roster without adding another front-court rotating player. TC certainly sees what we all see - i.e., a lack of depth and physical strength up front. I don't think TC is content to start the season with an identifiable significant hole in the team's roster.

2. Second, I doubt it's because TC has been making offers and being repeatedly turned down. I'm sure he kicked the tires on John Collins, but it would have taken a sign-and-trade to get him since he was out of reach financially as a FA. Same goes for Tobias Harris and Dean Wade. Those guys were simply beyond our financial reach and putting together some sort of sign-and-trade is really hard, especially as it pertains to unrestricted free agents.

3. Third, I doubt TC has been offering TSJ in any trade offers because if he had I think a deal would have been done.

4. Finally, I think nothing has happened yet mainly because TC has his sites set on other options that aren't ripe enough to materialize. I see several options TC has prioritized that need more time to ripen before they can happen. Here's my list:

a) LeBron James. I suspect TC has seen this coming for a while we should have no doubt that TC is pursuing LeBron very aggressively and has him as his top priority. I think the Spurs took themselves out of LeBron contention yesterday when they signed Tobias Harris. I know the pundits and oddsmakers still have the Warriors way out ahead of the Wolves as LeBron's likely destination but the moment the Wizards said they're not trading Anthony Davis I think the odds of LeBron going to Golden State went way down close to zero - unless LeBron isn't really prioritizing winning.

b) PJ Washington. I don't think he was gettable until yesterday when Dallas acquired Aldama. I suspect TC was waiting for that and. that he's now talking about a Josh Green package for PJ. Unfortunately, I think TSJ would have to be included in our outgoing package.

c) Ri Hachimura or Jonathan Kuminga. I suspect these are TC's two backup options if they can't sign LeBron or pull off a trade for PJ.

Yeah, makes sense, Lip. Dallas also drafted Morez Johnson, so they very likely may be moving on from PJ. TC is likely interested and just trying to get the best price.

Like everyone, I'm intrigued by the LeBron possibility. I heard something on a pod yesterday though that makes it seem unlikely. They said that if he were to leave his family behind, he would want to go to a team that both has a chance to win but also has vets he can socialize with...he's more than 15 years older than most of the Wolves he would be hanging with! I don't think the Warriors can compete, but I suspect LeBron does. I still see him going to GS to play with his buddies Curry and Draymond.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 9:00 am**

FNG wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:32 am
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 9:46 pm The more I think about it, Kendrich Williams doesn’t make any sense for us. He’s 6’7, 210 with a 6’7.25 wingspan. He’s just a backup SF who can hit threes. Josh Green is actually bigger, more athletic and can also hit threes. If the thinking here is that we’re too small with Jaden at PF, then we shouldn’t be targeting Kenrich.

I don’t see any rotation bigs we can get without giving up TSJ and none of them are good enough or essential enough to pay that price. I think we could get Jovic or Patrick Williams without giving up TSJ, but I don’t want their contracts in exchange for Josh unless we can get at least one first round pick and one 2nd back. Even then, I’m not so sure.

So I keep coming back to Marvin Bagley at the vet minimum or a portion of our taxpayer MLE. Mo Wagner comes to mind as well. He can hit threes and rebound. He’s also around 7’ 245 pounds. Sign one or the other and Jeremy Sochan.
Lip, there are several issues with putting Jaden at the 4, and rebounding is one of them...but much more goes into rebounding than physical attributes. I'm not totally sold on Williams (although not totally opposed either) but he would be a big upgrade in rebounding over Jaden or Green. Rebounds per 36:

Williams: 7.9
Jaden: 4.8
Green: 5

We need a starting PF who can defend, rebound and hit 3-pointers at the league average. PJ Washington is a name that would fit, but I think he might cost more than we are willing to give up.

It's hard for Jaden to get many rebounds if he's guarding De'Aaron Fox or SGA out on the perimeter.

I can guarantee you the Wolves front office looked very closely at the few times Jaden has played PF. Two seasons ago there was a stretch of 6 games in February with Naz and Jaden started at the 5 and 4 respectively because both Rudy and Randle were out. In that 6-game stretch Jaden averaged 20PPG/8.8 RPG/3.2 APG....Mmmm, seems to be the type of line a lot of us would love to see from Jaden this upcoming season!

And guess who else started during that stretch? Jaylen Clark at the 2 with Ant at the 3. NAW and Conley alternated as starting PGs.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 9:04 am**

FNG wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:32 am
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 9:46 pm The more I think about it, Kendrich Williams doesn’t make any sense for us. He’s 6’7, 210 with a 6’7.25 wingspan. He’s just a backup SF who can hit threes. Josh Green is actually bigger, more athletic and can also hit threes. If the thinking here is that we’re too small with Jaden at PF, then we shouldn’t be targeting Kenrich.

I don’t see any rotation bigs we can get without giving up TSJ and none of them are good enough or essential enough to pay that price. I think we could get Jovic or Patrick Williams without giving up TSJ, but I don’t want their contracts in exchange for Josh unless we can get at least one first round pick and one 2nd back. Even then, I’m not so sure.

So I keep coming back to Marvin Bagley at the vet minimum or a portion of our taxpayer MLE. Mo Wagner comes to mind as well. He can hit threes and rebound. He’s also around 7’ 245 pounds. Sign one or the other and Jeremy Sochan.
Lip, there are several issues with putting Jaden at the 4, and rebounding is one of them...but much more goes into rebounding than physical attributes. I'm not totally sold on Williams (although not totally opposed either) but he would be a big upgrade in rebounding over Jaden or Green. Rebounds per 36:

Williams: 7.9
Jaden: 4.8
Green: 5

We need a starting PF who can defend, rebound and hit 3-pointers at the league average. PJ Washington is a name that would fit, but I think he might cost more than we are willing to give up.

Anyone who’s into the stats wanna look into POA defenders rebounds per 36, I’m curious if 5 or so a game is good or bad. I would guess being in the attacker all the time doesn’t lead to being in rebounding position super frequently?

If Jaden’s role changes we shouldn’t expect his stats to be static either. If he is in the PF role and is closer to the basket and expecting a rebound or shot alteration his athleticism should bring his rebounding numbers up?

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