Minnesota Sports Forum

This is the tough question IMO.

I looked at the list of highest paid salaries for the next few seasons, and many are the result of the rising cap last year. Looking at guys like Conley, Barnes, Parsons, Batum, Anderson, Crabbe, Deng, Noah, Biyambo, Fornier, Turner, Mahinmi, Mozgov, Bazemore, etc. I bet every one of those teams would gladly unload those deals.

This is a good measure for what a team COULD do vs what they SHOULD do. I am a firm believer that you pay top dollar for tier 1/tier 2 players, but you need to leave these middling players for other teams to waste their cap space. You go top tier, and then wait to fill out with draft picks and cheaper vets....even real old guys (which some on this board don't like because they don't "align" with our core). If the choice is to sit out FA, or sign a player like Gallinari for $25MM per, then I sit it out.

The argument here is that we can't realistically get one of the top tier FA, which I don't deny. But I also don't make the mistake of cashing in our future flexibility for a trade or something else by adding a high priced guy that won't change our W/L column.

Curious what others think.

Give out big money for less years. You don't have to offer 100 million over 4 years. Some quality players might take 50 over 2 and then the flexibility of the roster remains. You won't get a Millsap or Hayward for that, but you might be able to get that for someone else who can help us win now and then get out of the way in 2 years.

Well I don't think you can just sit it out but you can do something like the Sixers did last year adding Henderson and Sergio while keeping cap space to make some moves. They did pretty well using that space to trade Grant for Illyasova who they flipped for 2 nice 2nd round picks that have more value this year with rosters expanding. They also did what's kahn suggested give guys money on short term deals.

I would like to see them try and target a guy that might not be everyone's first call like Utah did getting Joe Johnson who was huge for them in the playoffs.

Hicks, There are a few recent threads on free agent targets, but the "big names" most folks around here mention are Paul Milsap and Serge Ibaka, followed by JaMychal Green who is restricted. All would presumably be our starting PF if signed. And yeah, they'd all cost a fortune.

Hey Q,
I know we have discussed those couple players. Was more interested in hearing how people would go about it.
But I will disagree that JaMychal Green is a starter for us. No way he is better suited to start over Dieng. He is actually precisely the guy I stay away from. He will likely get $15MM+, and is a mediocre at best 26 year old player. He is not upside....he is simply an average player. That's exactly my pointnin original thread. He simply doesn't move the needle, so why spend the money? Yeah, Ibaka and Milsap would both be great, but I am not convinced we can get either.

1-Milsap
2-Ibaka
3-Green
4-PJ Tucker
5-Gallinari

really like to get one of those 5 at least

then JJ reddick, taj j, Mirotic I guess

PJ Tucker
Jodie Meeks
Taj Gibson

Mr. Brightside wrote:PJ Tucker
Jodie Meeks
Taj Gibson

I don't know if we could quite afford all 3 of those guys but I like all 3 and while they wouldn't be top level guys they would bring some worthwhile qualities to the team.

Nerlens Noel in FA

If We Thought We Had a Chance
Millsap-Just a very good all-around player, but he'd be expensive.
Ibaka-Great fit, but do we want to spend that much money?

Defenders
PJ Tucker-I really love that guy.
Tony Allen-Doubt he'd leave Memphis.
Thabo Sefalosha-A little too one-dimensional for me.

Versatile Two Way Players
James Johnson-Brings passing and defense and we need both.
Joe Ingles-Really versatile glue guy, but he's a restricted free agent, so he's probably expensive.

Reliable PF Depth
Ilyasova-Pretty underrated player IMO. Solid stretch 4.
Gibson-Solid two-way player, like his hustle, history with Thibs.