Minnesota Timberwolves: Choose Your Own Path

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Good stuff, monster. And I just move from the best available to the next best, in my opinion. Lauri Markkanen made a lot of sense to me early on, but like I've said in other threads that avenue was blocked after the Patrick Beverley trade -- and I'm not in any way upset about it. Then Paul Millsap made a lot of sense for all the reasons why championship contenders are chasing him. Both of those guys are looking very unlikely even though they were probably tough gets to begin with. Now I see Jarred Vanderbilt and Isaiah Hartenstein as the two next best bigs on the market with Harry Giles on deck -- albeit on a tier below the other two names.

Is there anyone else either available as a FA or maybe on the fringes of another team that intrigues you at all to take a flyer on? Maybe even not for this roster but another team?

That's tough because you never know for sure what transactions a team might make, and who might end up being available, but if I was going to take a stab at who would interest me, my list appears as follows:

- Garrison Mathews (Washington, UFA)
- Armoni Brooks (Houston)
- Alize Johnson (Brooklyn)
- Dennis Smith Jr. (Detroit, UFA)

- Reggie Perry (Brooklyn, UFA)
- Tyler Bey (Dallas, UFA)
- Aamir Sims (New York)

I broke the list into two parts as the first group is more NBA-ready than the second.

[Monster]

Good stuff, monster. And I just move from the best available to the next best, in my opinion. Lauri Markkanen made a lot of sense to me early on, but like I've said in other threads that avenue was blocked after the Patrick Beverley trade -- and I'm not in any way upset about it. Then Paul Millsap made a lot of sense for all the reasons why championship contenders are chasing him. Both of those guys are looking very unlikely even though they were probably tough gets to begin with. Now I see Jarred Vanderbilt and Isaiah Hartenstein as the two next best bigs on the market with Harry Giles on deck -- albeit on a tier below the other two names.

Is there anyone else either available as a FA or maybe on the fringes of another team that intrigues you at all to take a flyer on? Maybe even not for this roster but another team?

That's tough because you never know for sure what transactions a team might make, and who might end up being available, but if I was going to take a stab at who would interest me, my list appears as follows:

- Garrison Mathews (Washington, UFA)
- Armoni Brooks (Houston)
- Alize Johnson (Brooklyn)
- Dennis Smith Jr. (Detroit, UFA)

- Reggie Perry (Brooklyn, UFA)
- Tyler Bey (Dallas, UFA)
- Aamir Sims (New York)

I broke the list into two parts as the first group is more NBA-ready than the second.

A couple of the guys on your list I thought were intriguing in SL action Simms and Alize Johnson. Perry was kinda meh and I watched parts of like 3 games.

Bey...I had forgotten how that dude rebounds. I'm intrigued.

[FNG]

I have to admit I was not aware of Isaiah Hartenstein before you guys started talking about him, but after learning more about him, I agree he would be a great add to this roster. And I agree that as much as I like JMac, I would prefer to add some size and toughness in Vando and Hartenstein. Somebody mentioned he might have some character issues, but the only thing I find on that issue is some consider him overly cocky. I have no problem with that...a wide body 7 footer with some skills and a lot of confidence seems to be just what we are looking for.

My question is the same one I asked about Millsap. Is this just board talk about who we would like to add, or are there some reports that Rosas is actually interested in him? I note that there were three teams in Vegas to watch his individual workout, and the Wolves weren't one of them.

[Lipoli390]

I have to admit I was not aware of Isaiah Hartenstein before you guys started talking about him, but after learning more about him, I agree he would be a great add to this roster. And I agree that as much as I like JMac, I would prefer to add some size and toughness in Vando and Hartenstein. Somebody mentioned he might have some character issues, but the only thing I find on that issue is some consider him overly cocky. I have no problem with that...a wide body 7 footer with some skills and a lot of confidence seems to be just what we are looking for.

My question is the same one I asked about Millsap. Is this just board talk about who we would like to add, or are there some reports that Rosas is actually interested in him? I note that there were three teams in Vegas to watch his individual workout, and the Wolves weren't one of them.

Monster and I have been the ones touting Hartenstein. I haven't seen any reports of Wolves interest in him. Maybe Monster has, but i don't think so. I was the one who mentioned attitude issues. I was referring to the cockiness you noted, but also reports of bad body language (pouting) when things don't go his way and blaming teammates. Those are the things that trouble me. But I'm not overly concerned and still think the Wolves should sign him if possible. I love his combination of size, skills and mobility. Mostly, we need size and he would give us some.

[Monster]

I have to admit I was not aware of Isaiah Hartenstein before you guys started talking about him, but after learning more about him, I agree he would be a great add to this roster. And I agree that as much as I like JMac, I would prefer to add some size and toughness in Vando and Hartenstein. Somebody mentioned he might have some character issues, but the only thing I find on that issue is some consider him overly cocky. I have no problem with that...a wide body 7 footer with some skills and a lot of confidence seems to be just what we are looking for.

My question is the same one I asked about Millsap. Is this just board talk about who we would like to add, or are there some reports that Rosas is actually interested in him? I note that there were three teams in Vegas to watch his individual workout, and the Wolves weren't one of them.

Monster and I have been the ones touting Hartenstein. I haven't seen any reports of Wolves interest in him. Maybe Monster has, but i don't think so. I was the one who mentioned attitude issues. I was referring to the cockiness you noted, but also reports of bad body language (pouting) when things don't go his way and blaming teammates. Those are the things that trouble me. But I'm not overly concerned and still think the Wolves should sign him if possible. I love his combination of size, skills and mobility. Mostly, we need size and he would give us some.

FWIWThere was a report at some point that the Wolves had shown some interest in Hartenstein but that may have been early in FA and the interest may not have been anything remotely significant. It's maybe worth noting that Rosas would have been with the Rockets when they drafted Hartenstein in the 2nd round so he would have some familiarity with him.

My sense is Hartenstein is holding out for the most money he can get (and a good opportunity) and if the Wolves offered Vanderbilt 3 million a year I kinda doubt they are going to go even that high for Hartenstein so my guess they are out on him at basically anything much over the vet min which is fine with me at this point. Keep in mind that Denver signed him to a vet min deal last year. There could be another Hartenstein type guy out there the Wolves could sign for the vet min with even a partially non guaranteed portion of the deal.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Don't forget we still have a bundle of second rounders and three different expiring deals we can send out (Prince, Layman, and Okogie) to make a trade for a big. I'm hoping that's the route we take since there will likely not be enough cap room to sign a decent big man FA (outside of Vando).

[Lipoli390]

Don't forget we still have a bundle of second rounders and three different expiring deals we can send out (Prince, Layman, and Okogie) to make a trade for a big. I'm hoping that's the route we take since there will likely not be enough cap room to sign a decent big man FA (outside of Vando).

Q - Do you have any bigs in mind as good, realistic trade targets? Another trade option would be trading one of the three you mentioned and a 2nd-round pick for a non-guaranteed contract to create luxury tax space for a free agent big like Millsap or even Hartenstein.

[mrhockey89]

Give me A please. If the goal is a championship, we need more championship level players. Despite Simmons cold streak in the playoffs, he is a championship level player (just needs to get out of his own way a bit). I am a McDaniels fan, and losing a couple 1sts isn't fun. Russell can be hot, but we have others that can shoot. The Wolves lineups in options B/C don't lead us to a championship in my opinion...however a lineup looking similar to this might...

Beverly/Simmons
Beasley
Edwards
Simmons
KAT

That looks intimidating to me on both ends of the floor...and those 2022/2024 picks won't even be close to top 4.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Give me A please. If the goal is a championship, we need more championship level players. Despite Simmons cold streak in the playoffs, he is a championship level player (just needs to get out of his own way a bit). I am a McDaniels fan, and losing a couple 1sts isn't fun. Russell can be hot, but we have others that can shoot. The Wolves lineups in options B/C don't lead us to a championship in my opinion...however a lineup looking similar to this might...

Beverly/Simmons
Beasley
Edwards
Simmons
KAT

That looks intimidating to me on both ends of the floor...and those 2022/2024 picks won't even be close to top 4.

I'm not totally against this route and your reasoning somewhat lines up with mine, but I disagree on the timing. I think we need to see more of this current group before totally shaking it up.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Don't forget we still have a bundle of second rounders and three different expiring deals we can send out (Prince, Layman, and Okogie) to make a trade for a big. I'm hoping that's the route we take since there will likely not be enough cap room to sign a decent big man FA (outside of Vando).

Q - Do you have any bigs in mind as good, realistic trade targets? Another trade option would be trading one of the three you mentioned and a 2nd-round pick for a non-guaranteed contract to create luxury tax space for a free agent big like Millsap or even Hartenstein.

Dallas is a team I keep coming back to with their surplus of bigs. I'd be interested in Kleber, Powell, and WCS in that order. All would require a trade of some sort to acquire. Not sure we could pry Wendell Carter away from Orlando, but that's another name I'd be interested in.