Minnesota Sports Forum

Looking at the free agent class, there are plenty of bigs out there that could help us.

Who should we go after?

If we are willing to spend serious money: I'd say Horford

If not, I'd focus on these guys:

1. Mahinmi (With the grooming of Turner to take over center, he may consider leaving Indy). I have heard speculation of 12-14 M a year, though I think that could be low. Would be a good young defensive anchor.
2. Cole Aldrich; I don't know what his market value would be, but he's a potentially cheap option who might want to come home. I think he'd fit real well in the rotation here.
3. Mozgov: He might be another cheap option, who I think Thibs could get the most out of. He looked to be a breakout player but never really fit in well in Cleveland.
4. Noah: The whole question for me is will he come here on a discount or on a short term deal. Too risky to tie up big money in him. If healthy he'd be a great defensive anchor.
5. Pachulia: Good defender, who I'd like if we could get a cheap deal.
6. Jordan Hill: Scrappy player who I think could be a fit here and come cheaply.
7. Seraphin: Cheap young guy, who is talented but raw. Thibs might be able to turn him into a decent player.
8. Hibbert: He's considered washed up, but was once a force defensively who could score. Thibs might be able to resurrect his career and he's still in his 20s (29).
9. Nene: Aged vet, but can rebound and play defense.
10. Brandon Bass: Very efficient scoring big.
11, Jon Leuer: Underrated player who can shoot from the outside and rebound.
12. Kris Humphries: Good rebounder and he's been working on an outside shot (though its not great yet), who could give us some depth.

I think Biyombo and Ezeli will cost us too much, but if not they are good players.

This is where a second round pick would have been nice. Bolomboy was my target and the Jazz got more height, athletic and loaded at PF-C on the cheap

I say go after Cole Aldrich, he's a rich man's Lou Amondson and a poor man's Jonas Valanciunas

The problem with buying second round picks as opposed to trading for them is you pretty much guarantee that guy a roster spot when a lot of second round picks end up busting out pretty quick. You can't ask Glenn to drop a million plus for a pick that you might cut before the season. There's plenty of undrafted guys close to the talent and production of second round picks to bring in to potentially fill the hole.

Mahinmi or Jordan Hill is who I'd go after.

Enough of the Cole Aldrich talk. There's a reason he has hardly played on good teams. I want a proven bench big. If that means spending more cash, so be it. Aldrich is the typical conservative signing. This is a new regime. I'd like to think they'll be more aggressive.

I think there is less that a 10% chance Noah comes here. Other teams are preparing to throw the kitchen sink at him, it sounds like.

Mr. Brightside wrote:Mahinmi or Jordan Hill is who I'd go after.

Enough of the Cole Aldrich talk. There's a reason he has hardly played on good teams. I want a proven bench big. If that means spending more cash, so be it. Aldrich is the typical conservative signing. This is a new regime. I'd like to think they'll be more aggressive.

I think there is less that a 10% chance Noah comes here. Other teams are preparing to throw the kitchen sink at him, it sounds like.

I like Mahinmi, but we're not going to pay him as much to back up KAT as Indy pays him to start. I think Ricky's right...after a nice 2016 season, he's in line to get at least $12-14 million per year or more. I don't think backup center will be our first priority this summer, so I suspect we will only allocate funds to get someone more like Hill or Aldrich. If Cole is good enough to give the Clippers 13 effective minutes off the bench, he's good enough to back up KAT.

Agree LST. And since it seems like kg and pek aren't going anywhere, thibs better get 10 minutes each out of them.

I actually think Hibbert could work with Kat if the price was right. Thanks for bringing him up Ricky

I like Jon Leuer. He seems like he always ends up rising to the top when given any kind of opportunity. He isn't a beast but he is big and athletic enough to not get owned on the boards and in the paint even if he plays C. Offensively he can hit 3's and if people close out on him he can put it on the floor. He would be a fun fit next to any of Towns, Dieng or Bjelica.

Give me someone who can run and rebound. I think our calling card is gonna be pace offensively and shut down defensively so we need guys who can end possessions with defensive rebounds and guys who can get up and down the floor. I like Faried, but I don't think we have the pieces to get him anymore at a good deal for us.