Woj: Wolves talking 4 year contracts with Dieng and Shabazz

[Lipoli390]

I'd call Gorgui's deal a bargain for the Wolves in the current NBA market. Cody Zeller just signed a 4 year deal for $56 million. That's $56 million for Cody Frick'n Zeller. So I can't complain about Gorgui's deal. He's very solid, multi-skilled and still getting better. He rebounds, blocks shots, shoots well from mid-range, passes really well and hustles all the time. He has a tremendous work ethic and is all business. He's captain of my all non-Wes Johnson team. He's also physically resilient. As we wait for Ricky's return and see guys going down around the League, it highlights the importance of having players who stay healthy. Gorgui, KAT, Wiggins and LaVine all seem to be physicall resilient.

I haven't seen any reports of any deal yet with Bazz. Unlike Gorgui, I don't see him as a guy we should be intent on extending. However, I like that he can both score and rebound and I like his hustle and worth ethic. So whether it makes sense to extend him depends on how much it costs. I'd do up to 10 years $40 million. My sense is we won't extend Bazz. Gorgui's is clearly one of Thibs' favorites as we learned when Thibs praised him in preseason for contributing a lot of things that don't show up in the box score. I think Thibs likes Bazz too, but not nearly as much and for good reason.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I am happy about the Gorgui signing. I think he would have gotten better offers on the open market and we got him at a pretty reasonable price, especially since the cap is going up this coming offseason.

As for Bazz, I don't see him as a real good fit here long term and he made it clear that he wants to start so I think Thibs is thinking $4.5-7 mill a season and Bazz and his agent are probably wanting $10-12 Million. Good chance nothing gets done.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I'm cool with the Dieng deal. Good for him. Good for the Wolves.

It's fair... hence, movable if need be down the line. Hopefully, he gets even better and it becomes a very good deal.

I saw a bit about the Gobert comparison earlier... dude is LEGIT defensively as Q said. And he continues to improve offensively. I think his contract is very fair, too... relatively speaking.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Excellent day for Thaydon...made all the moves the majority of us here would have made.

1) Signed Gorgui for 4 years at a very attractive price...gives us at least some chance of signing our Young Three down the road, while keeping a serviceable C/PF

2) Elected not to extend Muhammad and Payne...both likely gone after this year. Hard working, likable guys, but missing certain aspects Thibs covets.

[Monster]

I saw a tweet that said that Bazz and the Wolves were far apart so he would head into RFA. Like Lip said I would do around 10 million per for Bazz maybe even a bit higher since the mid level will be 8 million and will go up. Bazz probably wants more and is eying a possible starting spot as well. Even if he improves his all around game Bazz might be a 6th man but I can't blame the guy for wanting more than what he may have here and the Wolves who knows what number they were willing to go to and I can't blame them for not wanting to go to high for a guy that will be a bench player and might now fit with the team long term. I think the wolves and Thibs do like him though it's just there is a breaking point there. If this team could add a young player a rugged lengthy SF who is also a small ball PF that can hit 3's would be terrific. Those types have been somewhat easy to unearth lately either by drafting them or signing cheap from another team. Anyway it will be interesting to see how things play out with Bazz. I wouldn't be surprised if he is a guy some team would give up a bit of something (2nd rounder) to get him and therefore he sure to have him on the roster since he would be a RFA. I'm not expecting a trade but I wouldn't be surprised either.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Whew.

They didn't extend Muhammad.

[Coolbreeze44]

I wonder if this will affect Bazz's playing time. How much should you invest in a guy who probably isn't going to be part of the fold going forward? At a minimum they won't feel obligated to get the guy a certain number of minutes.

[Monster]

I wonder if this will affect Bazz's playing time. How much should you invest in a guy who probably isn't going to be part of the fold going forward? At a minimum they won't feel obligated to get the guy a certain number of minutes.

It's something to consider but basically a lot of that is left up to Bazz. How well does he perform in practice and in games and doing what they want him to do? If he is playing welll doing what they want he will play. If not...yeah there is less desire to put him in there. For Bazz he has plenty of reason to work hard and perform to make that next contract wherever it is. I'd assume he probably has some sort of idea that if he does what the coaching staff wants that will help him get where he wants to go which seems likely is to another team in one way or another. If he develops into a somewhat legit 2-way player (talking a true best case scenario for him) that also hits 3's he would be useful here but also would command a ton of money on the open market. The bottom line for him this season is on wing there are limited options so the guy is gonna play but Rush certainly could limit how many minutes Bazz plays as well. Rush seems like he is older than he is because of his injuries but is 31 he could be a guy that stays with the team for a few years as a solid vet bench guy.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I wonder if this will affect Bazz's playing time. How much should you invest in a guy who probably isn't going to be part of the fold going forward? At a minimum they won't feel obligated to get the guy a certain number of minutes.

It's something to consider but basically a lot of that is left up to Bazz. How well does he perform in practice and in games and doing what they want him to do? If he is playing welll doing what they want he will play. If not...yeah there is less desire to put him in there. For Bazz he has plenty of reason to work hard and perform to make that next contract wherever it is. I'd assume he probably has some sort of idea that if he does what the coaching staff wants that will help him get where he wants to go which seems likely is to another team in one way or another. If he develops into a somewhat legit 2-way player (talking a true best case scenario for him) that also hits 3's he would be useful here but also would command a ton of money on the open market. The bottom line for him this season is on wing there are limited options so the guy is gonna play but Rush certainly could limit how many minutes Bazz plays as well. Rush seems like he is older than he is because of his injuries but is 31 he could be a guy that stays with the team for a few years as a solid vet bench guy.

I just hope Muhammad doesn't start playing selfishly chasing his next contract.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I saw a tweet that said that Bazz and the Wolves were far apart so he would head into RFA. Like Lip said I would do around 10 million per for Bazz maybe even a bit higher since the mid level will be 8 million and will go up. Bazz probably wants more and is eying a possible starting spot as well. Even if he improves his all around game Bazz might be a 6th man but I can't blame the guy for wanting more than what he may have here and the Wolves who knows what number they were willing to go to and I can't blame them for not wanting to go to high for a guy that will be a bench player and might now fit with the team long term. I think the wolves and Thibs do like him though it's just there is a breaking point there. If this team could add a young player a rugged lengthy SF who is also a small ball PF that can hit 3's would be terrific. Those types have been somewhat easy to unearth lately either by drafting them or signing cheap from another team. Anyway it will be interesting to see how things play out with Bazz. I wouldn't be surprised if he is a guy some team would give up a bit of something (2nd rounder) to get him and therefore he sure to have him on the roster since he would be a RFA. I'm not expecting a trade but I wouldn't be surprised either.

$10 Million for Bazz is way too much. Rush got $4 million. Belly got less than $4 million (yeah I know it was before cap blew up) Cole got $7 mill (he's a big and should get a little more than typical backup)

I honestly don't see Bazz as any more valuable than Rush or Belly. In fact I don't think his style is as conducive for team ball as the other guys and I think I'd rather just sign a replacement in free agency for $4-6 mill a year or groom a young wing to take Bazz's minutes. If we can trade Bazz and get something positive back, I'm all for it.