Tyus Jones agrees to a deal with the Grizzlies (wolves can match)

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Rosas could be thinking

Plan A

We get capsoace

Plan B

The grizzlies might release melton because that's 3 young pgs on the grizzlies roster. Then sign him to a deal.

Win win

[Lipoli390]

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
Among reasons for not matching on Jones: Minnesota is pursuing max cap space in 2020 free agency. Without space this summer, Wolves were a finalist for D'Angelo Russell. They'll work to get back into market with real flexibility next year.

2020 isn't exactly a great class for free agents.

That's interesting. Even without Teague, the Wolves payroll will be over $100 million assuming they exercise their options on Okogie and Diop and not much under $100 million if they don't. And that's without cap holds for any players or draft picks. So if the strategy is truly to maximize cap space in 2020, then Rosas will have to trade Wiggins, Gorgui or Covington for contracts that that expire the end of this next season. I just don't see how the Wolves trade Wiggins or Gorgui for an expiring match without also giving up significant long-term assets like a future 1st round pick along with Culver, Okogie or Diop (possibly two of those three).

[WildWolf2813]

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
Among reasons for not matching on Jones: Minnesota is pursuing max cap space in 2020 free agency. Without space this summer, Wolves were a finalist for D'Angelo Russell. They'll work to get back into market with real flexibility next year.

2020 isn't exactly a great class for free agents.

Still great to have cap space, can always absorb contracts and obtain future assets in the process.

In other words, do what teams like OKC and Memphis are doing, but a year behind them. Cool.

If we're in the asset collecting business, we're also in the business of not really trying to compete.

I hope Culver's ready to be the leader of this team in 3 years because he might have to be.

[Lipoli390]

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
Among reasons for not matching on Jones: Minnesota is pursuing max cap space in 2020 free agency. Without space this summer, Wolves were a finalist for D'Angelo Russell. They'll work to get back into market with real flexibility next year.

2020 isn't exactly a great class for free agents.

Still great to have cap space, can always absorb contracts and obtain future assets in the process.

In other words, do what teams like OKC and Memphis are doing, but a year behind them. Cool.

If we're in the asset collecting business, we're also in the business of not really trying to compete.

I hope Culver's ready to be the leader of this team in 3 years because he might have to be.

The Wolves won't have much cap space in 2020 unless they somehow get a team to take Wiggins, Gorgui or Covington in exchange for a contract (or contracts) that expire the end of this next season. I can see that possibly happening if Covington is the guy the Wolves trade. But I don't see that happening with Wiggins or Gorgui unless the Wolves give up significant assets. I guess there's always a chance that Wiggins or Gorgui has a great season that greatly enhances their trade value. But what are the odds of that? Honestly, I don't see cap-clearing for 2020 as a smart, realistic strategy for the Wolves.

[Monster]

Pursuing a max slot and actually getting it (and putting it as a really high priority) are 2 different things. The reality is that Tyus deal limits what you can spend both this year and beyond. I wouldn't get caught up in the idea they are working under the idea that they will have a max slot available next offseason. I think it's about being flexible enough to have a seat at the table if there is another guy available then. It's more possible for 2020 than this season especially if they are willing to move Covington for assets. Stretching Dieng could even be a possibility. Who knows they may just want to resign a guy or 2 they added this year and if so they are gonna need some flexibility to do that. Ultimately if you don't think player X is worth his contract and you want to be able to sign possible future players you don't sign player X.

[Lipoli390]

Pursuing a max slot and actually getting it (and putting it as a really high priority) are 2 different things. The reality is that Tyus deal limits what you can spend both this year and beyond. I wouldn't get caught up in the idea they are working under the idea that they will have a max slot available next offseason. I think it's about being flexible enough to have a seat at the table if there is another guy available then. It's more possible for 2020 than this season especially if they are willing to move Covington for assets. Stretching Dieng could even be a possibility. Who knows they may just want to resign a guy or 2 they added this year and if so they are gonna need some flexibility to do that. Ultimately if you don't think player X is worth his contract and you want to be able to sign possible future players you don't sign player X.

I wasn't necessarily thinking max slot. It's simply the fact that the Wolves won't have any meaningful cap flexibility unless they rid themselves one of their big three contracts (other than KAT), which means Wiggins, Dieng or Covington. My point is that the decision to not match the offer for Tyus makes sense as a part of a strategy "to pursue max cap space in 2020" (not my words) only as a prelude to ridding the payroll of one of those three bigger contracts. Simply declining to match Tyus in isolation won't provide meaningful cap flexibility in 2020.

[worldK]

A case of happy that he got paid but glad it wasn't by us. 8m a year for a backup pg is the kind of deal a rebuilding team with only 1 all star and 2 bad contracts needs to avoid.

Rosas went for a home run in pursuing dlo but settled for minimum deals once he did not get him. I think thats the way to go.

Its only when you have 2-3 certified all star talents that you can start giving midlevel money to rotation guys to add depth to your team. That or you have an emerging superstar on rookie deal that you have control of. Otherwise, its smarter to retain cap flexibility and wait for an opportunity to add that star talent on your roster.

[mrhockey89]

Yeah, I think Rosas probably was fine with Tyus and wouldn't consider our offer a "low ball" one, but just didn't see him worth as much as Memphis offered. It is what it is. I am a big Tyus fan, but he took a bit of a step back last year after a couple nice seasons of steady improvement.

Tyus finished up April with a 17.0 A/T ratio, I'd say he finished strong!

He also shot 30% from 3 and carried under a 15% usage rate in April. When you don't look to score, you aren't going to turn the ball over a ton. He's a great caretaker PG, but needs creators and scorers around him. That's why he was paired often with Crawford (the year before last) or Rose - those guys would ultimately make plays and take shots when something needed to be created.

I don't know...knowing our luck, he'll suddenly find his shooting stroke in Memphis and become an elite backup worth every penny of his salary and then some. Wouldn't be surprised in the least.

I'll admit I was being a bit tongue in cheek, but didn't he break a NBA record for highest A/TO ratio or something this past year though?

I'm fine with matching or not matching on the contract. I felt like if we matched, we could have easily moved him in a year anyway. but keeping cap flexibility even wider is never a bad thing for a team looking for creative ways to improve. I could see them thinking of it as opening cap space for a trade for D'Angelo Russell next year.

[Monster]

Jon K reported in his story on the athletic that he Wolves offered Tyus a 4 year deal starting 4.2 million a season. He said that sources said the 4th year was non-guaranteed. I can't blame Tyus for not taking that offer. I personally can't blame the Wolves for not offering much more than that.

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

A case of happy that he got paid but glad it wasn't by us. 8m a year for a backup pg is the kind of deal a rebuilding team with only 1 all star and 2 bad contracts needs to avoid.

Rosas went for a home run in pursuing dlo but settled for minimum deals once he did not get him. I think thats the way to go.

Its only when you have 2-3 certified all star talents that you can start giving midlevel money to rotation guys to add depth to your team. That or you have an emerging superstar on rookie deal that you have control of. Otherwise, its smarter to retain cap flexibility and wait for an opportunity to add that star talent on your roster.

Exactly. I'm happy he got paid and glad it wasn't us. I think the reported offer we made was about right. Good job rosas