So What's Your Plan? The Offseason Roster Construction Thread

[Wolvesfan21]

I agree Doper, although I'd still keep Rudy, but in a somewhat reduced role, similar to how he was used in the playoffs.

Otherwise, I think we need to turn the page on Julius and Naz, slide Jaden to the starting PF role next to Rudy, slide Ant to the starting 3, promote Clark to our starting 2 (he'd be a token sub 30 MPG starter in the Lou Dort 3 & D mode), and DDV to the starting 1. Then I'd either trade for, draft, or sign via free agency our bench bigs.

Conley would be demoted to our 3rd string PG with Dillingham becoming DDV's backup until he's ready to start someday.

PG - DDV, Dillingham, Conley
Wing 1 - Ant, DDV
Wing 2 - Clark (token starter), Shannon
PF - Jaden, TBD (Miller? Draft pick? Free agent signing?)
C - Rudy, TBD (Looney? Draft pick?)

I think this opens the door for Jaden to be a much more effective all-around force, as he is no longer exhausting as much energy as a wing stopper, although he'd still be on the ball at times. It also shifts more of our offense from frontcourt guys like Julius and Naz to perimeter players like Shannon and Dillingham.

With two straight WCF appearances, Tim Connelly has accrued enough political capital to potentially take a step back in order to take two steps forward. That means placing some bets on existing younger talent and the draft while not completely tearing everything down around Ant and Jaden.

What I've been wondering about Clark is does he have a decent enough handle and passing (drive and kick / vision/IQ) to be a starter? Possibly. I was wondering myself how he'd look long term as a starter. I'm not quite sold on DDV's ability also as a starter. He seems to be out of control too often driving the ball / turning it over.

What I am concerned about is simply too many turnovers. But could it work? Maybe. Can they improve in those areas also with time? Sure.

I don't think Clark has to be great at handling and driving, although you should know that he turned the ball over a total of 8 times in the regular season, which is crazy. Remember he played over 500 minutes and started 4 games, so it's not on a small sample size. The dude knows his role and doesn't do stupid shit out there.

Here is the other really interesting thing about Clark. He had a free throw rate (free throws divided by regular shot attempts) that was the same as Ant's and better than any other bench player. So for a guy that hardly sees the ball on offense, he has a real knack from drawing fouls and proved he can make the open 3 too.

I don't know, to me Jaylen Clark is almost a laboratory-built role player for the Wolves: 1) elite POA defense, 2) rarely turns the ball over, 3) super efficient scorer because he makes 3s and draws fouls. Sounds like a guy that would come in handy against OKC, does he not???

As for DDV being the starting PG, it's not ideal, but I want to see Dillingham earn the job and really have high hopes in his trajectory.

I think you might be right on about Clark, he for sure in his somewhat limited time shown he simply plays winning basketball.

[TheFuture]

If we traded Rudy, I could see something like this:


Gobert to Charlotte for Nurkic, Mark Williams and Grant Williams.

Don't love the return, but it does get us off the Gobert money.

That makes no sense for Charlotte. They would not want Rudy given they are rebuilding. Also, Mark Williams is a very good young center and they had decided to trade him for Knecht and draft picks. We'd have to provide a comparable package to get Mark Williams and we would just keep Rudy or find a third team.

I wouldn't do that trade, I'd keep Rudy for that return.

Mark Williams is not a "very good young center".

[60WinTim]

I just had a brilliant idea that I think is allowed under the CBA!

Let's say NAZ wants a 3 year 75 mil extension (25 mil per year). I think they can have NAZ opt in on his 15 mil option, and sign an extension at 2 year 60 mil starting in 26'-27. It still works out in total to 75 mil over 3 years. NAZ gets his money, the Wolves avoid the 2nd apron, and even have the taxpayer MLE to work with this offseason!

This assumes Randle opts in. The Wolves could still look to use him as a trade chip either in the offseason or at the trade deadline.

[60WinTim]

I just had a brilliant idea that I think is allowed under the CBA!

Let's say NAZ wants a 3 year 75 mil extension (25 mil per year). I think they can have NAZ opt in on his 15 mil option, and sign an extension at 2 year 60 mil starting in 26'-27. It still works out in total to 75 mil over 3 years. NAZ gets his money, the Wolves avoid the 2nd apron, and even have the taxpayer MLE to work with this offseason!

This assumes Randle opts in. The Wolves could still look to use him as a trade chip either in the offseason or at the trade deadline.

I stand corrected on my previous post. Doogie had a half-hour interview with Bobby Marks yesterday to discuss some of the Wolves options. He throws cold water on FNG's idea of trading our draft picks for future picks. He also lays out the scenario where NAZ opts in on his player option AND signs an extension: it would be 4 years at 87 mil, which does not seem unreasonable to me. His other option is to opt out and then sign a much bigger extension, or test free agency. Testing free agency is usually not great for players -- they tend to do it when they KNOW what kind of offers will be out there. And that money is not readily available this offseason, but will be much more available next offseason.

Apparently, NAZ is thinking he's gonna get "The BAG" now. I sure hope not, at least not with the Wolves. There are two things I know -- don't pay NAZ "The BAG", and don't rely on a Rudy/Randle/NAZ trio next year...

https://kstp.com/minnesota-sports/watch ... berwolves/

[FNG]

I just had a brilliant idea that I think is allowed under the CBA!

Let's say NAZ wants a 3 year 75 mil extension (25 mil per year). I think they can have NAZ opt in on his 15 mil option, and sign an extension at 2 year 60 mil starting in 26'-27. It still works out in total to 75 mil over 3 years. NAZ gets his money, the Wolves avoid the 2nd apron, and even have the taxpayer MLE to work with this offseason!

This assumes Randle opts in. The Wolves could still look to use him as a trade chip either in the offseason or at the trade deadline.

I stand corrected on my previous post. Doogie had a half-hour interview with Bobby Marks yesterday to discuss some of the Wolves options. He throws cold water on FNG's idea of trading our draft picks for future picks. He also lays out the scenario where NAZ opts in on his player option AND signs an extension: it would be 4 years at 87 mil, which does not seem unreasonable to me. His other option is to opt out and then sign a much bigger extension, or test free agency. Testing free agency is usually not great for players -- they tend to do it when they KNOW what kind of offers will be out there. And that money is not readily available this offseason, but will be much more available next offseason.

Apparently, NAZ is thinking he's gonna get "The BAG" now. I sure hope not, at least not with the Wolves. There are two things I know -- don't pay NAZ "The BAG", and don't rely on a Rudy/Randle/NAZ trio next year...

https://kstp.com/minnesota-sports/watch ... berwolves/

This is worth listening to...thx for posting, Tim. I'm not sure I heard Marks say trading our picks for future capital was a bad idea, but maybe I missed it. What I heard him say was that with the current CBA, adding talent through the draft is critical. He might package our two picks to move up to grab a better player that we could control for a few years, but he would not use them to get a short term guy like Durant. And while I agree that adding talent through the draft is important, I continue to believe that picks will be more valuable for us in future year than this one while we're already trying to find minutes for a handful of young guys.

As he talks about how little money there is for free agents this year, it's pretty clear that the Wolves are largely in the driver's seat when it comes to Ju, Naz and even NAW. But as he mentions that there likely to be much more money available for free agents next year. Isn't the smart move for Naz and Ju then to opt in (at 15 and 31, I believe), and bet on themselves to have a good year and cash in in 2026? I really think Julius wants to stay here and will try to get a longer deal (maybe Naz also, but maybe not as much if he's not going to start), and that might allow the Wolves to lock him up at something closer to 4/100. I recognize that there are several here who just don't want him back at any cost. I'm not in that camp.

[60WinTim]

I just had a brilliant idea that I think is allowed under the CBA!

Let's say NAZ wants a 3 year 75 mil extension (25 mil per year). I think they can have NAZ opt in on his 15 mil option, and sign an extension at 2 year 60 mil starting in 26'-27. It still works out in total to 75 mil over 3 years. NAZ gets his money, the Wolves avoid the 2nd apron, and even have the taxpayer MLE to work with this offseason!

This assumes Randle opts in. The Wolves could still look to use him as a trade chip either in the offseason or at the trade deadline.

I stand corrected on my previous post. Doogie had a half-hour interview with Bobby Marks yesterday to discuss some of the Wolves options. He throws cold water on FNG's idea of trading our draft picks for future picks. He also lays out the scenario where NAZ opts in on his player option AND signs an extension: it would be 4 years at 87 mil, which does not seem unreasonable to me. His other option is to opt out and then sign a much bigger extension, or test free agency. Testing free agency is usually not great for players -- they tend to do it when they KNOW what kind of offers will be out there. And that money is not readily available this offseason, but will be much more available next offseason.

Apparently, NAZ is thinking he's gonna get "The BAG" now. I sure hope not, at least not with the Wolves. There are two things I know -- don't pay NAZ "The BAG", and don't rely on a Rudy/Randle/NAZ trio next year...

https://kstp.com/minnesota-sports/watch ... berwolves/

This is worth listening to...thx for posting, Tim. I'm not sure I heard Marks say trading our picks for future capital was a bad idea, but maybe I missed it. What I heard him say was that with the current CBA, adding talent through the draft is critical. He might package our two picks to move up to grab a better player that we could control for a few years, but he would not use them to get a short term guy like Durant. And while I agree that adding talent through the draft is important, I continue to believe that picks will be more valuable for us in future year than this one while we're already trying to find minutes for a handful of young guys.

As he talks about how little money there is for free agents this year, it's pretty clear that the Wolves are largely in the driver's seat when it comes to Ju, Naz and even NAW. But as he mentions that there likely to be much more money available for free agents next year. Isn't the smart move for Naz and Ju then to opt in (at 15 and 31, I believe), and bet on themselves to have a good year and cash in in 2026? I really think Julius wants to stay here and will try to get a longer deal (maybe Naz also, but maybe not as much if he's not going to start), and that might allow the Wolves to lock him up at something closer to 4/100. I recognize that there are several here who just don't want him back at any cost. I'm not in that camp.

On the value of draft picks thing... I did take liberty and infer what he was saying about the value of draft picks. He noted the how the Wolves have 2 picks they wouldn't normally have had this year. And, not just for the Wolves, but for any good team with bigger contracts, how important is to hit on draft picks so as your roster turns over due to players leaving for bigger money in free agency, you have a pipeline of quality players on rookie contracts ready to fill in.

For the Wolves, we have that problem with our bigs, and we need to beef up our pool of young bigs. This draft presents a nice opportunity to do so.

[60WinTim]

So, here is ex-Wolf Austin Rivers talking about the Timberwolves. He's a bit hung up on ANT's post game comments, but he makes some great points about what the Wolves need this offseason. His #1 item is to get a playmaking guard alongside ANT so teams have a harder time loading up on ANT. I've lamented several times that Mike Conley cannot fill that role, and Finch was foolish to use him as he did.

I know I am looking for a big at #17, but maybe a playmaking guard falls to #17 in the draft. As others have mentioned, Donte may not have the chops for that kind of role. Dilly might, but he likely will not be ready as early as next year to fill that role. Or maybe there is trade that pans out with either Randle, or a sign-and-trade of NAZ. Anyway, I thought Austin had a couple of good insights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDrdkuX9p9s

[rapsuperstar31]

With San Antonio getting the 2nd pick in Dylan Harper and already have good young guard in Castle, I wonder how much more you would have to add to a Fox for Randle trade if Randle opts in and agrees to extend in San Antonio. Randle is three years older than Fox so it doesn't really help them to get younger, but it does give them a great fit next to Wemby while they will have two great young guards. Fox is clutch and can break the paint, but at 27 he has only made the playoffs one time which is a bit of a concern.

[60WinTim]

With San Antonio getting the 2nd pick in Dylan Harper and already have good young guard in Castle, I wonder how much more you would have to add to a Fox for Randle trade if Randle opts in and agrees to extend in San Antonio. Randle is three years older than Fox so it doesn't really help them to get younger, but it does give them a great fit next to Wemby while they will have two great young guards. Fox is clutch and can break the paint, but at 27 he has only made the playoffs one time which is a bit of a concern.

That's damn intriguing, RAP! Fox is also in the final year of his contract, so I assume the Wolves would need an extension agreement with Fox, too.

[FNG]

You guys are much higher on Fox than I am. He’s not much bigger than Rob, and not as good a shooter. And while I’m higher on Rob than many here, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he turns out to be much better than Fox. My preference is to see what we have with Rob rather than trading our starting PF to obtain his replacement.