Minnesota Sports Forum

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:If free agency completely bombs for the Wolves, what would people think of trading for Dwight Howard? He has obviously fallen off from what he once was but he could still be a very good defensive anchor and rim runner for Rubio. I only ask since an article was published about how his market would be a 2nd round pick if the Hawks need cap room. Wolves could ask for their first rounder back in this scenario as well. I know he is not the name anyone hopes for but he could be a big boost to the defense and has quite a bit of playoff experience.

NO.

NO.

NO.

1. He's on the decline.
2. The NBA is changing... and he doesn't fit in.
3. The Wolves shouldn't be looking to pair KAT with a huge lane-dwelling big... they should be doing the exact opposite. KAT is the prototypical Big for today's NBA. Go smaller. Use KAT as your big who kills plodders like Howard from the outside... and undersized guys like Draymond Green on the inside. Look at the playoffs... Valuncuinas, Kanter, P. Gasol, even Aldridge... they're either getting benched or destroyed by the small-ball game.
4. Howard is a tool. This is almost universally agreed on by former teammates and NBA insiders. He's NOT a leader. Why put that kind of guy around such a young team desperate for veteran leadership?

I still think a defensive-oriented pure Center has merit, but Howard is definitely scratched from that list due to everything you mentioned.

It's why I thought Aldrich was the perfect signing last summer. He has the size and experience to give some valuable minutes against stronger, bigger front lines, yet didn't cost us an arm and a leg. Yet leave it to the Wolves to figure out a way for its veteran role players to badly underachieve.....

I don't know if anyone has mentioned Mike Muscala as a free agent possibility, but he is only 25, shot 3s at over 40% and has pretty good per 36 numbers along with a postive net rating. Also the Minnesota ties might help lure him here. Could be a good sneaky cheap signing, though we would have some competition.

TeamRicky wrote:I don't know if anyone has mentioned Mike Muscala as a free agent possibility, but he is only 25, shot 3s at over 40% and has pretty good per 36 numbers along with a postive net rating. Also the Minnesota ties might help lure him here. Could be a good sneaky cheap signing, though we would have some competition.

Interesting name ai thought he was a RFA it looks like but he isn't. He turns 26 in July. Can he play PF? What would you be willing to pay him?

I liked him better than Payne. I would think he would be a good signing and push Dieng for minutes.

monsterpile wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:I don't know if anyone has mentioned Mike Muscala as a free agent possibility, but he is only 25, shot 3s at over 40% and has pretty good per 36 numbers along with a postive net rating. Also the Minnesota ties might help lure him here. Could be a good sneaky cheap signing, though we would have some competition.

Interesting name ai thought he was a RFA it looks like but he isn't. He turns 26 in July. Can he play PF? What would you be willing to pay him?

Muscala is a stretch-4. I don't know yet what the market will be for him. Belly is getting about 4 Million and Jon Leuer got 10.5 Million. That is a vast range and he'll probably get something between those figures. Atlanta has some salary cap issues, so I don't think they are going to be offering him huge money. Atlanta, not only has Millsap as a free agent, but Ilyasova and Sefolosha too. They tied up a lot already in Howard, Bazemore and Schroder. The team I fear might go high is Brooklyn, not just because they need young talent but because their head coach came from Atlanta. If Brooklyn doesn't prioritize Muscala or he badly would like to play for his hometown team, then we might be able to snatch him in the $5 to 8M range. If Brooklyn goes hard after him and he wants top dollar, he might get Leuer type money.

I'd be fine with Dwight. We need defense at the rim and rebounding and he solves both issues. He's on a short-term deal. I don't care about the attitude issues with Thibs as the coach. Dwight's teams make the playoffs and that's what we need to do. He's a means to an end and he knows how to play the game which is what we need to add to this team. If you can get him for cheap you do it because he's right below the Ibaka/Millsap pipe dream signings when it comes to quality of options to add to this team and I don't think the free agency options that are great are also realistic for the point this team is at. Dwight would be extremely helpful shoring up the defense for the next two years. He's not a guy you build around, but I think he can be an elite role player as he ages which is what we need.

TeamRicky wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:I don't know if anyone has mentioned Mike Muscala as a free agent possibility, but he is only 25, shot 3s at over 40% and has pretty good per 36 numbers along with a postive net rating. Also the Minnesota ties might help lure him here. Could be a good sneaky cheap signing, though we would have some competition.

Interesting name ai thought he was a RFA it looks like but he isn't. He turns 26 in July. Can he play PF? What would you be willing to pay him?

Muscala is a stretch-4. I don't know yet what the market will be for him. Belly is getting about 4 Million and Jon Leuer got 10.5 Million. That is a vast range and he'll probably get something between those figures. Atlanta has some salary cap issues, so I don't think they are going to be offering him huge money. Atlanta, not only has Millsap as a free agent, but Ilyasova and Sefolosha too. They tied up a lot already in Howard, Bazemore and Schroder. The team I fear might go high is Brooklyn, not just because they need young talent but because their head coach came from Atlanta. If Brooklyn doesn't prioritize Muscala or he badly would like to play for his hometown team, then we might be able to snatch him in the $5 to 8M range. If Brooklyn goes hard after him and he wants top dollar, he might get Leuer type money.

They have to pay Hardaway too.

Thanks for the numbers on what you are thinking. Belly is on a bargain contract that's probably not a reasonable one to compare to. Tolliver got 9 million last year. I'll be a little surprised if he gets anything less than 8 million. He might get more than what you would be willing to pay. I was actually pretty surprised Leuer got that kind of money last year.

I like idea of trading for Rob Covington. Good fit next to Wiggins as a 3 & D guy and can start while LaVine rehabs. He had a down year shooting the ball, but was their best wing man and expected to do too much. No doubt Philly will take his 1mil team option on for next season, but I would wonder what it would take to pry him away? Doubt he's part of their long term plans.

KiwiMatt wrote:I like idea of trading for Rob Covington. Good fit next to Wiggins as a 3 & D guy and can start while LaVine rehabs. He had a down year shooting the ball, but was their best wing man and expected to do too much. No doubt Philly will take his 1mil team option on for next season, but I would wonder what it would take to pry him away? Doubt he's part of their long term plans.

What or who would you be willing to give up for Covington? I wouldn't trade our first round pick and the roster players I'd be willing to trade wouldn't be enough to pry him away. I really like Covington, but I don't see a realistic path to get him.