Minnesota Sports Forum

Apparently the Wolves are $872,920 under the luxury tax threshold with one open roster spot. If the Wolves were to sign a minimum vet player to fill the 15th roster slot, the team would be $796,258 over the threshold. So close but yet so far. They're paying Vanderbilt $4 million this season. If they could have structured his contract to pay him a little over $3.2M this season, the Wolves would have luxury tax room to sign a minimum salary player like Hartenstein if he become available. I guess Vanderbilt was unwilling to sign for that amount.

I know I'm in the minority here, but Minnesota should have been willing to go into the luxury tax this off-season for meaningful additions with the knowledge that they could make adjustments at the trade deadline and get below that threshold by the end of the year. This roster definitely needs another true big that can play quality minutes. The roster is probably not going to change at this point, but I'd jump on Isaiah Hartenstein or Harry Giles whenever one of them gets inevitably cut from the Clippers.

I'm still surprised Dallas and Minnesota didn't make a deal given the plethora of C/PFs on Dallas's roster.

Camden wrote:I know I'm in the minority here, but Minnesota should have been willing to go into the luxury tax this off-season for meaningful additions with the knowledge that they could make adjustments at the trade deadline and get below that threshold by the end of the year. This roster definitely needs another true big that can play quality minutes. The roster is probably not going to change at this point, but I'd jump on Isaiah Hartenstein or Harry Giles whenever one of them gets inevitably cut from the Clippers.

I'm now with you in what might still be the minority. Watching the team in preseason so far has, in my view, underscored the need for a true quality big. So I think it's worth adding some like Giles or Hartenstein even though it would put the Wolves about $800K over the luxury tax threshold. As you noted, the Wolves could avoid any luxury-tax payments or penalties by getting below the threshold on or before the February trade deadline. I think there will always be an opportunity to trade Layman's $3.9M salary for a minimum salary later this season. I'm hoping the Clippers cut Hartenstein instead of Giles, but I'd sign either one. Otherwise, I think the Wolves need to seriously consider dealing Beasley for Myles Turner, which I think is doable. I think Beasley plus a couple 2nd-round picks might be enough, although we might need to give up a lottery-protected 1st instead. I'm not anxious to make a deal like that because I like having an 3-point marksman like Beasley on this team. I also like that Beasley is fast and athletic, which means he can play the up-tempor, full-court style that Finch has implemented.

I'll note that the Timberwolves could make the contract for a free agent addition -- perhaps Isaiah Hartenstein or Harry Giles -- non-guaranteed through January 10th and then cut ties if this team falls off track or if said player is ineffective in his role. That in itself could be all they need to do to duck back below the luxury tax threshold, though there are alternate options such as trading or stretching/waiving the expiring contract of Jake Layman by the end of the year. Really, there's little excuse to have not signed either big in my mind. Hartenstein especially should have never made his way to Los Angeles on a training camp deal.

Camden wrote:I'll note that the Timberwolves could make the contract for a free agent addition -- perhaps Isaiah Hartenstein or Harry Giles -- non-guaranteed through January 10th and then cut ties if this team falls off track or if said player is ineffective in his role. That in itself could be all they need to do to duck back below the luxury tax threshold, though there are alternate options such as trading or stretching/waiving the expiring contract of Jake Layman by the end of the year. Really, there's little excuse to have not signed either big in my mind. Hartenstein especially should have never made his way to Los Angeles on a training camp deal.

I agree, Cam. The Wolves absolutely should have signed Hartenstein or Giles before they both ended up in LA. And as you know from all my posts pining for Hartenstein the past couple months, he would have been my choice between the two. I suspect the Clippers will keep Hartenstein over Giles, in which case I'd want the Wolves to sign Giles. You're right about the various mechanisms the Wolves can use to avoid the luxury tax.

I have to believe that someone in the Wolves front office wanted to sign Hartenstein. It would be interesting to know if Rosas was alone in not wanting to sign him. Rosas never got comfortable with the notion that you still need size to succeed in the NBA.

Is it just me or do we have the most depth we've had...well really ever. I'm struggling to decide who should get regular minutes off the bench. Feels like Balmaro is ready, but who's minutes does he take? Feels like he will find a way in. Honestly I'm not worried about missing out on Hartebstein to be a warm body at number 15 on the bench. I do like him and would love it if Rosas was able to swing it before he left to give us a enough cap space don't get me wrong...but man I'm just feeling so much glass half empty out of people now. I get why, but this feels different this year...I'll get off my soap box now :)

P.S. Simmons is making stupid money. We will really be in salary cap hell if we trade for him without giving up Russell. Let's roll with these guys and see what we got

P.S. Simmons is making stupid money. We will really be in salary cap hell if we trade for him without giving up Russell. Let's roll with these guys and see what we got

cpg29 wrote:Is it just me or do we have the most depth we've had...well really ever. I'm struggling to decide who should get regular minutes off the bench. Feels like Balmaro is ready, but who's minutes does he take? Feels like he will find a way in. Honestly I'm not worried about missing out on Hartebstein to be a warm body at number 15 on the bench. I do like him and would love it if Rosas was able to swing it before he left to give us a enough cap space don't get me wrong...but man I'm just feeling so much glass half empty out of people now. I get why, but this feels different this year...I'll get off my soap box now :)

I share your excitement about this team's depth, but Isaiah Hartenstein would have a pretty good argument to be in Minnesota's nightly rotation. The addition of Hartenstein would have also allowed Chris Finch to play Naz Reid with Karl-Anthony Towns more, which is something he has repeatedly supported. Not to mention, what do the Wolves do if either Towns or Reid find themselves in foul trouble? Again, there's a legitimate argument for why Hartenstein would have been a significant addition. That's why it's mind-blowing to me that he ended up settling for a camp offer when the Wolves probably should have been offering him a multi-year deal.