Wolves offseason thread

[Monster]

Here is some news I wasn't aware of. It looks like the Wolves spending ability is more limited than I thought.

https://twitter.com/dwolfsonkstp/status/989542132460421122?s=21

"Another interesting note from @BobbyMarks42, @colezwicker, and other cap experts: the #Twolves will have only $5.4M of the $8.6M midlevel exception to spend. Using the full exception would hard-cap them."

I read Bobby Marks article on espn insider and so this is true. If you are like me and aren't sure what hard capped meant here is an article that lays it out.

https://basketball.realgm.com/article/241253/CBA-Encyclopedia-Hard-Cap

The good news is that this likely limits how much the Wolves will spend on midlevel players which helps the cap space later on if the deals they would have signed were multiyear deals. The bad news is they have less money to offer. Marks said the concerns about playing time is something the Wolves end to address for players coming in. He actually said he thought Crawford could get something near what he would be giving up if he opts our of his player option. I kinda doubt it but he isn't an idiot so...there is hope I guess?

Back to some good news. The Wolves only have so much to offer. Sometimes that means you keep from spending your money and forces you to find more creative ways or have more patience. At times Thibs and Layden have showed incredible patience to get what they want or just keep from making a move if it wasn't to whatever threashhold they set. That's been good but also they signed some guys for market contracts that aren't cheap in Dieng Teague and Taj. Taj was worth the money Teague somewhere close and Dieng is now a bad deal. Also Holdinf our to get Bazz back was in its own level a disaster all the way around. Adding Rose looks good though...so far. Can the Wolves jump on just the right vet with the mid-level that they have early? Can they bring back and add some young worthwhile players? Can they maybe sign a vet min guybthat nobody else really wanted and get something out of them? Even if you are rightfully pessimistic there is still plenty of paths for this team to improve the roster.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

The hard cap doesn't really matter. A decent chunk of teams are hard capped every year. You have to stay within a certain margin for trades when you are over the cap anyways. It just means you can't go over the apron at any point. We have 15.5 million in cap holds as well. There's gonna be enough room to make moves using the full MLE and Bi-annual exception.

[thedoper]

Exciting times for sure. This offseason will really be the eyeopener in how Thibs views those complimentary pieces. It's these small moves that make the difference between the elite teams and the run of the mill playoff teams. Every good team has a core, the great teams find those role players to fill in the gaps.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think there are two approaches to consider this offseason. One is an incremental approach that basically looks at shoring up the bench, with the priority being upgrading our bench wings. Otherwise, retain the same starting 5 for the purpose of continuity.

A more aggressive approach would be looking at our starting unit and deciding who really is part of our core. It might only be KAT and Butler. In that case, a more severe overhaul could be considered. That doesn't mean the other three starters are traded, but may be one goes to the bench, one gets traded, and one stays a part of the starting unit....or some combination therein.

I lean more toward the latter approach. I think the current starting unit, even with an improved bench has a ceiling of about 50 or 52 wins.

[thedoper]

I think there are two approaches to consider this offseason. One is an incremental approach that basically looks at shoring up the bench, with the priority being upgrading our bench wings. Otherwise, retain the same starting 5 for the purpose of continuity.

A more aggressive approach would be looking at our starting unit and deciding who really is part of our core. It might only be KAT and Butler. In that case, a more severe overhaul could be considered. That doesn't mean the other three starters are traded, but may be one goes to the bench, one gets traded, and one stays a part of the starting unit....or some combination therein.

I lean more toward the latter approach. I think the current starting unit, even with an improved bench has a ceiling of about 50 or 52 wins.

I think that if trading Wiggins at this point could give you an upgrade, we could move beyond 50-52 wins. But there are a couple of huge factors at play there: 1. Jimmy never plays 82. 2. What can we get for Wiggins this early into his contract?

I'd be fine with a couple more years around 50 wins (although I think our trio would peak out higher than that) and really finding where the limits of KAT and Wiggins progress is at. I don't think we will ever move beyond that win number if KAT doesn't learn how to defend, and I am wary of trusting Jimmy's body as part of a duo with KAT.

[Monster]

The hard cap doesn't really matter. A decent chunk of teams are hard capped every year. You have to stay within a certain margin for trades when you are over the cap anyways. It just means you can't go over the apron at any point. We have 15.5 million in cap holds as well. There's gonna be enough room to make moves using the full MLE and Bi-annual exception.

From what's I understand unless the Wolves make some sort of unexpected move they cannnot use the full mid-level this year because of the hard cap. A full mid-level deal is more than they can spend because of the hard cap. I get most of the NBA cap stuff but the hard cap I do find confusing.

[Coolbreeze44]

The least excited I've been about this team in a long time. It's going to be very, very difficult to take the next step.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Unlike most, Im ok with our starting unit and willing to try and make a deeper run next year with added depth.

Dieng should be moved. Its clear that KAT will never be a good defender, but Ive seen enough in the playoffs to think that he can at least be an average one. However, we cant affort to have C that is soft and slowfooted back up KAT.Ideally, I would like a tough guy type to hammer guys in the paint and set some monster screens even if they are illegal.

UFA: Baynes

Hopefully Crawford opts and we sign Rose to a team friendly deal to be the 6th man. Tibs shoed he is willing to play small ball with Butler or Wiggs as the PF. So we need a floor spacer.

UFA: Joe Harris or Wayne Ellington or Troy Daniels (Cheapest)

I like Bjelly, but Id let him go because there is no point for him to be here if Thibs doesnt want to play unless its an emergency. The rockets series was tailor-made for him, yet he continued to throw out TAJ. I also think Amile can bring us some grit and maybe Brown can be some added depth as a SG/SF

Most importantly KAT + Wiggs

Wiggs needs some strength training for those hands. They are weak as hell. I still think he showed very good 2 way potential in the playoffs and the 2nd half of the season. And those types of guys who can drop 20 ppg are a rarity in the NBA these days. And a whole lot of 3 pt shooting. Hanlen needs to prepare him for his new role as a 3 and D type instead of watching MJ and Kobe films all summer.

KAT needs to get tougher. he was constantly getting pushed to the 3 pt line when defended by guys half his size. And more time figuring out his defensive responsibilities as a C in Thibs system.

[Monster]

Unlike most, Im ok with our starting unit and willing to try and make a deeper run next year with added depth.

Dieng should be moved. Its clear that KAT will never be a good defender, but Ive seen enough in the playoffs to think that he can at least be an average one. However, we cant affort to have C that is soft and slowfooted back up KAT.Ideally, I would like a tough guy type to hammer guys in the paint and set some monster screens even if they are illegal.

UFA: Baynes

Hopefully Crawford opts and we sign Rose to a team friendly deal to be the 6th man. Tibs shoed he is willing to play small ball with Butler or Wiggs as the PF. So we need a floor spacer.

UFA: Joe Harris or Wayne Ellington or Troy Daniels (Cheapest)

I like Bjelly, but Id let him go because there is no point for him to be here if Thibs doesnt want to play unless its an emergency. The rockets series was tailor-made for him, yet he continued to throw out TAJ. I also think Amile can bring us some grit and maybe Brown can be some added depth as a SG/SF

Most importantly KAT + Wiggs

Wiggs needs some strength training for those hands. They are weak as hell. I still think he showed very good 2 way potential in the playoffs and the 2nd half of the season. And those types of guys who can drop 20 ppg are a rarity in the NBA these days. And a whole lot of 3 pt shooting. Hanlen needs to prepare him for his new role as a 3 and D type instead of watching MJ and Kobe films all summer.

KAT needs to get tougher. he was constantly getting pushed to the 3 pt line when defended by guys half his size. And more time figuring out his defensive responsibilities as a C in Thibs system.

I think Ellington is gonna be too expensive and have a lot of options with playing time. I agree we may have to let Belly gonif the price tag gets too high. I think Thibs will play him but I agree sometimes he didn't play him enough. I understand some of why he didn't play in that series. Some other guys actually played well including Dieng.

I think the Wolves should involve Drew Hanlen more. I think he has a good plan for Wiggins and it could help him more in season.

[Lipoli390]

The least excited I've been about this team in a long time. It's going to be very, very difficult to take the next step.

I agree, Cool. And I thought that even before learning in this thread that we can only spend up to $5.4 million of our MLE. We won 48 games with what was a very healthy squad all season relatively speaking. Note that Butler missing 20 games this season is the norm for him, not an aberration. When a guy averages 67 games a season in his early to mid-20s, you can't expect more from him as he turns 29 and beyond. Further, when healthy, Butler's a terrific player, but he's not a great player or superstar. Taj had a career year and I don't think it's realistic to expect him to do as well next season as he turns 33. We have a pretty poor mix of players and, in my view, a mediocre head coach at best for this team and the current NBA. So yes, I'm pessimistic.