Re: Bring Them All Back?
Posted: Mon May 26, 2025 1:11 pm
Pelton on ESPN has an article on 25 free agents this summer. and had this to say on our free agents.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/453 ... more-stars
Tier 1: All-Stars with options unlikely to move and Randle is listed 4th.
After some early growing pains, Randle's strong close to the regular season and his monster first two playoff rounds were key to the Timberwolves returning to the Western Conference finals. Wrapping up an extension he signed with the New York Knicks in 2021, Randle has a $29.5 million player option that he has outperformed. Minnesota and Randle have multiple options for how to handle it. He could decline the option and sign a long-term deal in free agency or exercise it in conjunction with another extension, which would give the Timberwolves more spending power as they deal with two other free agents in my top 25 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid).
Tier 5: Top reserves and fringe starters, Naz 17 and NAW 21st are both in this list as well as our home town guy Tyus at 25 so I will add what he says about him.
A year removed from being named Sixth Man of the Year, Reid actually averaged more points, rebounds and assists this season, albeit on slightly weaker efficiency. Reid has had a major impact as a third big man, but he probably would be stretched defensively as a starter. That and the lack of cap space should help the Timberwolves navigate Reid's $15 million player option. The sides could agree to exercise the option then build a long-term extension off it to keep the fan favorite in Minnesota.
A screaming value on a two-year, $9 million deal signed as a restricted free agent two years ago, Alexander-Walker is in line for a big raise. He averaged a career-high 25.3 MPG as the Timberwolves' third guard, defending lead ball handlers and shooting 38% from 3-point range. Alexander-Walker isn't quite good enough as a distributor to serve as a full-time point guard, and he has slumped beyond the arc in the playoffs, but he should more than double his previous salary.
Adding Jones on a minimum contract didn't prove the coup the Suns had hoped for last summer. He produced as expected, shooting 41% on 3-pointers and posting his usual high assist-to-turnover (4.7), yet he couldn't help Phoenix's offense deliver on its potential. For all their talent, the Suns were barely better than league average in offensive rating, and Jones started just four games after the All-Star break. He might need to sign another short-term contract to rebuild his value. One interesting option: Could Jones return to his hometown Timberwolves if Alexander-Walker heads elsewhere?
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/453 ... more-stars
Tier 1: All-Stars with options unlikely to move and Randle is listed 4th.
After some early growing pains, Randle's strong close to the regular season and his monster first two playoff rounds were key to the Timberwolves returning to the Western Conference finals. Wrapping up an extension he signed with the New York Knicks in 2021, Randle has a $29.5 million player option that he has outperformed. Minnesota and Randle have multiple options for how to handle it. He could decline the option and sign a long-term deal in free agency or exercise it in conjunction with another extension, which would give the Timberwolves more spending power as they deal with two other free agents in my top 25 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid).
Tier 5: Top reserves and fringe starters, Naz 17 and NAW 21st are both in this list as well as our home town guy Tyus at 25 so I will add what he says about him.
A year removed from being named Sixth Man of the Year, Reid actually averaged more points, rebounds and assists this season, albeit on slightly weaker efficiency. Reid has had a major impact as a third big man, but he probably would be stretched defensively as a starter. That and the lack of cap space should help the Timberwolves navigate Reid's $15 million player option. The sides could agree to exercise the option then build a long-term extension off it to keep the fan favorite in Minnesota.
A screaming value on a two-year, $9 million deal signed as a restricted free agent two years ago, Alexander-Walker is in line for a big raise. He averaged a career-high 25.3 MPG as the Timberwolves' third guard, defending lead ball handlers and shooting 38% from 3-point range. Alexander-Walker isn't quite good enough as a distributor to serve as a full-time point guard, and he has slumped beyond the arc in the playoffs, but he should more than double his previous salary.
Adding Jones on a minimum contract didn't prove the coup the Suns had hoped for last summer. He produced as expected, shooting 41% on 3-pointers and posting his usual high assist-to-turnover (4.7), yet he couldn't help Phoenix's offense deliver on its potential. For all their talent, the Suns were barely better than league average in offensive rating, and Jones started just four games after the All-Star break. He might need to sign another short-term contract to rebuild his value. One interesting option: Could Jones return to his hometown Timberwolves if Alexander-Walker heads elsewhere?
, but 15-20 sure.