Its Lottery Eve

[Lipoli390]

Monster -- If only we could find some team to give us some value in return for Payne. :(.

We have a couple of interesting and significant question marks that will impact our roster space and cap room for FAs this summer. The first question is whether KG will pick up his player option. I suspect he will because he'w never left money on the table before in his career. But if he surprises us and retires this summer, that would free up an additional $8 million in cap space. The second question mark is Pek. Will he be healed and able to perform at or near the level he was at the season before Flip arrived? If so, then I think we're solid up front and won't need to add more than a big low-price space-eater up front. If not, will he retire? His retirement would free up a roster space and give the Wolves front office a better picture of what we need to add. Unfortunately, it wouldn't free up cap space until next year.

I really don't think KG has anything left in his tank as a player. For that reason, he should retire. His $8 million, combined with the much higher cap starting this year, could put us in the running for an elite FA like Batum or Horford. It would at least ensure our ability to sign someone like Noah.

[Monster]

Monster -- If only we could find some team to give us some value in return for Payne. :(.

We have a couple of interesting and significant question marks that will impact our roster space and cap room for FAs this summer. The first question is whether KG will pick up his player option. I suspect he will because he'w never left money on the table before in his career. But if he surprises us and retires this summer, that would free up an additional $8 million in cap space. The second question mark is Pek. Will he be healed and able to perform at or near the level he was at the season before Flip arrived? If so, then I think we're solid up front and won't need to add more than a big low-price space-eater up front. If not, will he retire? His retirement would free up a roster space and give the Wolves front office a better picture of what we need to add. Unfortunately, it wouldn't free up cap space until next year.

I really don't think KG has anything left in his tank as a player. For that reason, he should retire. His $8 million, combined with the much higher cap starting this year, could put us in the running for an elite FA like Batum or Horford. It would at least ensure our ability to sign someone like Noah.

I think KG and Pek are here for next year. I posted in another thread about Bazz talking about him and he said all the guys (meaning players) were on him to come back. If that's true KG is gonna have to feel he is completely done to say no to coming back when the guys want him back.

As for Pek it's a new bunch of decision makers but Pek still holds the cards and I think he tries and come back for one more go of it and if he can't do it then something gets worked out. I'm skeptical either guy will help the team much on the floor but I'm also skeptical of them not being on the roster. The good news is they make up 2/3rds of an injury exception so there is that.

[Monster]

What happens if Ingram, Simmons, Bender, and Murray are all off the board when the Wolves come up? I personally am not in love with Bobby nor feel Dunn is a step up from Rubio. I love the idea of trading back.

Who is calling the Wolves for #5? What can the Wolves get for it?

Lip, your FA list is great, but you missed one of my hidden gems and that is Gerald Henderson. Would his skill set be ideal for the Wolves?

I don't know if Henderson's skill set is ideal for the Wolves because it would be nice if he was a better 3 point shooter. After watching the playoffs this year I see him being sort of a middle class version of Iggy. He is a step down from Iggy but you get a lot of the same stuff. Tough, defense, attaching, plays bigger than his size etc. I agree he could be a relative bargain for some team. The Blazers don't seem like they will be able to keep all those useful wings this summer.

[Lipoli390]

What happens if Ingram, Simmons, Bender, and Murray are all off the board when the Wolves come up? I personally am not in love with Bobby nor feel Dunn is a step up from Rubio. I love the idea of trading back.

Who is calling the Wolves for #5? What can the Wolves get for it?

Lip, your FA list is great, but you missed one of my hidden gems and that is Gerald Henderson. Would his skill set be ideal for the Wolves?

Slim -- The omission was inadvertent. I've always liked him. I like Monster's take on him as a lighter version of Iggy. I suspect Henderson will re-sign with Portland.

[Monster]

Lip as for Payne to me he doesn't matter much. If we can unload him great. If not and he really sucks a buyout or just flat out cutting him isn't unrealistic. I would have said that if Sam and Milt were in charge but now we have Thibs and Layden here and if the guy can't play he can't play and Glen will eat a few couple million to pay some vet min type player they bring in to play instead of Payne the next 2 years.

Having said that if Payne doesn't have some issue with being coached maybe Thibs could get something out of the guy. Izzo loved the guy and part of that was his ability to be a smart defender etc. trust me I make more of a point here.

It's easy to forget that it was just his 2nd year in the league. He was in a tough spot if he is ONLY a team concept guy (similar to an offensive wing player that really only scores well based on screens and moving without the ball) his first year here were that was a total dumpster fire for 1,569 reasons that are easily chronicled. Last year Sam started out with a defensive team and Payne looked playable on both ends of the floor the first what 20 games? Defense went out the window and Sam and his staff have little to convince me that they are any type of defensive scheme gurus. Payne looked terrible the rest of the year.

In contrast Thibs may be the best defensive mind in the game and is gonna demand doing the right things on the court on both ends. If Payne is good working in a specific framework of a defensive plan maybe he can do that with a guy in Thibs. If Thibs can get Payne to stay in his lane he could be a decent bench guy. He actually has some skills and there is obviously enough physical stuff there.

I'm not expecting anything out of Payne but there is a little intrigue from me there because of Thibs and Payne's history. I know you have had some observations in the past about Payne that has made me question him. Ultimately whatever happens with him doesn't matter but my guess is whether he is coached up or dumped we get more outbid his roster spot this coming year that we did last year which isn't saying a whole lot I suppose. Lol

Edit:

Good grief that was long. I think I have my Payne posting quota for the month...maybe much much longer.

[Monster]

What happens if Ingram, Simmons, Bender, and Murray are all off the board when the Wolves come up? I personally am not in love with Bobby nor feel Dunn is a step up from Rubio. I love the idea of trading back.

Who is calling the Wolves for #5? What can the Wolves get for it?

Lip, your FA list is great, but you missed one of my hidden gems and that is Gerald Henderson. Would his skill set be ideal for the Wolves?

Slim -- The omission was inadvertent. I've always liked him. I like Monster's take on him as a lighter version of Iggy. I suspect Henderson will re-sign with Portland.

Well said Lip. Iggy-light is the way I am going to refer to Henderson this offseason and beyond.

[Lipoli390]

Monster -- I like your take on Payne. The money is small and he does have come talent -- length, athleticism, tenacity and some shooting skill. I've been pretty adamant about wanting to see our their young guys like Bazz and Gorgui get a chance to be coached up by Thibs. You make a good point suggesting the same for Payne.

[Lipoli390]

That should be enough on Payne. :)

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Yeah, Adreain Payne has no value at all in a trade scenario. But I agree with monster that Thibs might be able to do something with him. There aren't many 6'10" athletic guys who play hard, and I'm curious to see if Thibs can get out of him what Flip and Sam couldn't. I was courtside for all the wolves Summer League games last summer, and got a chance to see close up what Payne can do...he looked like the guy we watched at MSU. Thibs knows you can never have enough big man depth, so I'm assuming he is going to try to coach him up rather than trying to move him. My expectations are low, but there are many examples of players who were reborn with a new coach and system.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I like what LST and Monster have proposed. I think there is a lot of depth in the first round, so that if we can get two picks rather than one, its an option to consider. I like Dunn, but I like Baldwin nearly as much and his physical tools are very intriguing (his tests were Westbrook like) and he's already shown 3 and D ability. I think Valentine can be a good glue guy in the NBA who can play both ways and be a very good teammate. McCaw is perhaps the best one on one defender in the draft, and he can shoot 3s and pass. Prince is a good two way player. Luwawu another two way player would be a good pick if he is available later in the lottery. Lots of big options throughout the entire first round from Poeltl, Deyonta Davis,Skal, Sabonis, Ellenson, Chriss, Thon Maker and Cornelie, Onuaku, Qi and Bentil could potentially go in the first and are interesting prospects.

Another reason I'd like to swap 5 for a pick in the 8-12 range and one in the later first is that Thibs seems to find value in the later first. Thibs publicly stated that he wanted to draft Draymond Green and Dieng while he was at Chicago but the GM liked other guys and Bulls took Butler at end of first while Thibs was there, so its quite possible that he had something to do with that pick. Given the depth of the draft, I would trust Thibs to make some very good value picks and increase our odds of getting one or more good players than simply staying at 5.