Wolves Free Agent Focuses
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 6:14 pm
We have a couple earlier threads dealing with free agency. But with the 2017 official free agent signing period around the corner, I thought I'd start a fresh free agent thread to get the latest perspectives on what we're all thinking the Wolves should do and, perhaps, what they will do.
I've already given my perspective on what we should do in other threads. First, I think we should focus our approximately $22 million in cap space entirely on signing rotation bench players not starters. We have a nice starting lineup with the addition of Butler, but we have a very weak bench. We could pursue a FA like Kyle Lowry, which would include dumping Rubio in a trade that brings no significant players in return. But as I've mentioned before, Lowry would likely cost at least $10 million per year more than Ricky, which would leave us with only around $12 million to fill in and upgrade our bench. In my view, that would be a terrible use of our limited resources. Second, in adding rotation bench players, we should give first priority to 3-point shooters who can also play defense -- the so-called 3&D guys. Finally, we should prioritize signing players who are 30 and under to ensure they're in or entering their prime and that they'll have some longevity with the team.
Now, turning to which free agents we should pursue, I included my list in another thread. Thibs should strive to sign two of the following four:
WINGS
1. At the top of that list is Milwaukee's Tony Snell. I think he'd be a perfect fit for this teams for several reasons. First, he's an excellent 3-point shooter who hit 40.6% of his threes last season and 37.3% over his career. Second, he's a very solid defender, which makes him a true 3&D guy. Third, he's still only 26 years old. Finally, Snell played for Thibs and with Butler in Chicago, so there's a degree of familiarity that makes Snell him a particularly good fit for us. He's a restricted free agent, but the Bucks are about $10 million under the luxury tax threshold, which means we might be able to make an offer the Bucks won't feel comfortable matching. He made $2.3 million last season. I'm guessing his market value is around $50 million - $12.5 million per year over 4 years.
2. Next on my list is Joe Ingles. At age 30, he's at the top of my age range, but I think he'd be a great fit here for our rotation. He's a terrific 3-point shooter, converting on 44% of his threes last season and 40% over his career. He's also tough, a good defender and a pretty good ball-handler as we all saw in this year's playoffs. Like Snell, he's a restricted free agent. Utah's payroll is currently at around $80 million, so they're not in danger of hitting the luxury tax threshold even if they end up re-signing Hayward. But retaining Ingles might not be a priority for the Jazz given their likely focus on retaining Hayward and George Hill. Other teams will no doubt be interested in Ingles, so he won't come cheap. He made $2.1 million last season. I see his market value at around $48 million -- $12 per year over 4 years.
PGs
3. My top PG target would be the Spurs Pattie Mills. He's a terrific 3-point shooter who is in his prime at age 29. He comes from a winning culture and would be a great backup PG to Ricky as well as a guy who could be on the floor instead of Ricky in crunch time if we need more three-point shooting. He's an unrestricted FA. I would think the Spurs would love to keep him, but they have their sights set on signing Chris Paul and will be concerned about reserving cap space for him. I think we'd need to strike quickly to get Mills while the Spurs are still in pursuit of Paul. Mills made $3.6 million last season. I would think he'd cost at least $10 million per year.
4. My second choice for backup PG would be Darren Collison. He's 30 years old, which puts him at the top of my age range, but he's still quick and clearly has lots of miles left on his tread. He's a terrific 3-point shooter, albeit at the low volume. He hit 41.7% of his threes last season and 38% over his career. Collison made $5.2 million last season. He might be gettable for around $8-10 million per year.
So these are the four I'd focus on initially with the intent of signing one of the two wings and one of the two PGs. That would give us 2 very solid rotation players to go with Belly and Tyus. Our rotation would be 9 deep. Then we could use the room exception and minimum contracts to fill in the rest of the bench with guys like Casspi.
I've already given my perspective on what we should do in other threads. First, I think we should focus our approximately $22 million in cap space entirely on signing rotation bench players not starters. We have a nice starting lineup with the addition of Butler, but we have a very weak bench. We could pursue a FA like Kyle Lowry, which would include dumping Rubio in a trade that brings no significant players in return. But as I've mentioned before, Lowry would likely cost at least $10 million per year more than Ricky, which would leave us with only around $12 million to fill in and upgrade our bench. In my view, that would be a terrible use of our limited resources. Second, in adding rotation bench players, we should give first priority to 3-point shooters who can also play defense -- the so-called 3&D guys. Finally, we should prioritize signing players who are 30 and under to ensure they're in or entering their prime and that they'll have some longevity with the team.
Now, turning to which free agents we should pursue, I included my list in another thread. Thibs should strive to sign two of the following four:
WINGS
1. At the top of that list is Milwaukee's Tony Snell. I think he'd be a perfect fit for this teams for several reasons. First, he's an excellent 3-point shooter who hit 40.6% of his threes last season and 37.3% over his career. Second, he's a very solid defender, which makes him a true 3&D guy. Third, he's still only 26 years old. Finally, Snell played for Thibs and with Butler in Chicago, so there's a degree of familiarity that makes Snell him a particularly good fit for us. He's a restricted free agent, but the Bucks are about $10 million under the luxury tax threshold, which means we might be able to make an offer the Bucks won't feel comfortable matching. He made $2.3 million last season. I'm guessing his market value is around $50 million - $12.5 million per year over 4 years.
2. Next on my list is Joe Ingles. At age 30, he's at the top of my age range, but I think he'd be a great fit here for our rotation. He's a terrific 3-point shooter, converting on 44% of his threes last season and 40% over his career. He's also tough, a good defender and a pretty good ball-handler as we all saw in this year's playoffs. Like Snell, he's a restricted free agent. Utah's payroll is currently at around $80 million, so they're not in danger of hitting the luxury tax threshold even if they end up re-signing Hayward. But retaining Ingles might not be a priority for the Jazz given their likely focus on retaining Hayward and George Hill. Other teams will no doubt be interested in Ingles, so he won't come cheap. He made $2.1 million last season. I see his market value at around $48 million -- $12 per year over 4 years.
PGs
3. My top PG target would be the Spurs Pattie Mills. He's a terrific 3-point shooter who is in his prime at age 29. He comes from a winning culture and would be a great backup PG to Ricky as well as a guy who could be on the floor instead of Ricky in crunch time if we need more three-point shooting. He's an unrestricted FA. I would think the Spurs would love to keep him, but they have their sights set on signing Chris Paul and will be concerned about reserving cap space for him. I think we'd need to strike quickly to get Mills while the Spurs are still in pursuit of Paul. Mills made $3.6 million last season. I would think he'd cost at least $10 million per year.
4. My second choice for backup PG would be Darren Collison. He's 30 years old, which puts him at the top of my age range, but he's still quick and clearly has lots of miles left on his tread. He's a terrific 3-point shooter, albeit at the low volume. He hit 41.7% of his threes last season and 38% over his career. Collison made $5.2 million last season. He might be gettable for around $8-10 million per year.
So these are the four I'd focus on initially with the intent of signing one of the two wings and one of the two PGs. That would give us 2 very solid rotation players to go with Belly and Tyus. Our rotation would be 9 deep. Then we could use the room exception and minimum contracts to fill in the rest of the bench with guys like Casspi.