Minnesota Sports Forum

We’ve advanced to the 2nd round and have a team that seems to have the talent and coaching to make it to the NBA finals and possibly win a championship. I didn’t think this group would work but TC and Finch had a vision and once again it looks like they were right. There were some flaws in this roster that caused us to lose games we should have won, causing us to have a lower playoff and less home court. But the Laker series has me close to wanting to keep this team together over the long haul. If we advance past the 2nd round, I’ll be all-in on bringing almost everyone back for another run next season assuming we can squeeze under the 2nd apron, which I think we can do if Randle and Naz are willing to take a bit less than they can get elsewhere.

I just ran the numbers and it looks like we can bring back all our current guys except NAW and Ingles and come in just a few hundred thousand dollars below the projected $207.9 million second apron threshold IF Naz and Randle are willing to take a bit less than they can probably command in free agent market. I don’t see Naz exercising his $15 million option since it’s substantially below his market value. But even if Randle exercises his $30 million option, we could give Naz a new contract starting at around $25 million and end up barely below the 2nd apron threshold. Another alternative would be both Randle and Naz agreeing to a new multi-year deal starting at around $27 million.

I’m assuming we exercise our team options on both Minott and Garza’s and also sign both our two draft picks (##17 and 31). Our payroll by my calculations would be $207.3 million with a 15-man roster the same as this season but without Joe and NAW and with two new rookies. I would envision Clark and TSJ competing for NAW’s minutes. We could get a little more cap room to maneuver by releasing Minott and Garza and replacing them with one minimum level vet for a 14-man roster. Bottom line is that we can probably keep the band together for another run next season if we want to, assuming Randle and Naz want to stay here and are comfortable giving up some money.

I hope they do, including NAW. Reid is a fan favorite, but he is so one dimensional and not worth what you said at 27mil a year. In my opinion, he should be offered closer to 15-17mil per year over 4 years. And he would be stupid to walk away from MN because they absolutely love him and it is his best option for outside $.

Offer Randle 25mil per over 4.

NAW 8-10 per over 4.

Hit in the draft at PG/C.

Conley and Rudy contracts will fall off soon enough.

I maintain that by not trading NAW at the deadline, it is TCs intention to bring him back, if for nothing else, to be an asset if TJ or JC take a hold of that role.

I don’t think it's any question that the plan is to keep Naz and Ju. The question will just be is if some team wants to make huge offers that actually forces the Wolves to walk away.

The silver lining is that there isn't a lot of cap space so most teams that would have interest and be willing to overpay will need to do a sign and trade, so the Wolves are in a position to get something back.

Phenom wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 6:21 am I maintain that by not trading NAW at the deadline, it is TCs intention to bring him back, if for nothing else, to be an asset if TJ or JC take a hold of that role.

I don’t think it's any question that the plan is to keep Naz and Ju. The question will just be is if some team wants to make huge offers that actually forces the Wolves to walk away.

The silver lining is that there isn't a lot of cap space so most teams that would have interest and be willing to overpay will need to do a sign and trade, so the Wolves are in a position to get something back.

What do you think Naz and NAW are realistically worth?

Lip, The most important word in your post is "if".

Most of us are on a high right now and rightfully so. Now what IF we go on to lose in the 2nd round? Or what IF we win and then get swept in the WCF? My guess is most of us would want some changes as our mood will be a lot different than it is today.

So I'm going to let this play out first before forming an opinion on the roster going into next season!

TheFuture wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 12:57 am I hope they do, including NAW. Reid is a fan favorite, but he is so one dimensional and not worth what you said at 27mil a year. In my opinion, he should be offered closer to 15-17mil per year over 4 years. And he would be stupid to walk away from MN because they absolutely love him and it is his best option for outside $.

Offer Randle 25mil per over 4.

NAW 8-10 per over 4.

Hit in the draft at PG/C.

Conley and Rudy contracts will fall off soon enough.

How much is fan favoritism worth?

Reid knows he could be a starter on other teams. And, more importantly, knows he could make starter money on another team. He might give a slight discount... but even that's a lot to ask. "Hey Reid, take less money... AND... play less for us."

I'm less optimistic he's resigning than I was earlier in the season. He's only 25 so he's in the "Gotta get mine" stage in his career. He can do that better elsewhere.

TheFuture wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 7:19 am

Phenom wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 6:21 am I maintain that by not trading NAW at the deadline, it is TCs intention to bring him back, if for nothing else, to be an asset if TJ or JC take a hold of that role.

I don’t think it's any question that the plan is to keep Naz and Ju. The question will just be is if some team wants to make huge offers that actually forces the Wolves to walk away.

The silver lining is that there isn't a lot of cap space so most teams that would have interest and be willing to overpay will need to do a sign and trade, so the Wolves are in a position to get something back.

What do you think Naz and NAW are realistically worth?

I'm not sold on the 30 million per year of Naz but I would guess 4/100. NAW is making, what 4.5 this year. Would 4/40 be enough? Maybe not. I think if we are talking 20 per year it becomes a sign and trade scenario but that would require a big leap of faith from a team. Nickeil has had great stretches but they have been capped at stretches. Same with Naz but his stretches are probably more valuable.

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 8:30 am

TheFuture wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 12:57 am I hope they do, including NAW. Reid is a fan favorite, but he is so one dimensional and not worth what you said at 27mil a year. In my opinion, he should be offered closer to 15-17mil per year over 4 years. And he would be stupid to walk away from MN because they absolutely love him and it is his best option for outside $.

Offer Randle 25mil per over 4.

NAW 8-10 per over 4.

Hit in the draft at PG/C.

Conley and Rudy contracts will fall off soon enough.

How much is fan favoritism worth?

Reid knows he could be a starter on other teams. And, more importantly, knows he could make starter money on another team. He might give a slight discount... but even that's a lot to ask. "Hey Reid, take less money... AND... play less for us."

I'm less optimistic he's resigning than I was earlier in the season. He's only 25 so he's in the "Gotta get mine" stage in his career. He can do that better elsewhere.

He is only 25 and could still have a lot of starting roles here as Rudy winds down.

Phenom wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 8:38 am

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 8:30 am

TheFuture wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 12:57 am I hope they do, including NAW. Reid is a fan favorite, but he is so one dimensional and not worth what you said at 27mil a year. In my opinion, he should be offered closer to 15-17mil per year over 4 years. And he would be stupid to walk away from MN because they absolutely love him and it is his best option for outside $.

Offer Randle 25mil per over 4.

NAW 8-10 per over 4.

Hit in the draft at PG/C.

Conley and Rudy contracts will fall off soon enough.

How much is fan favoritism worth?

Reid knows he could be a starter on other teams. And, more importantly, knows he could make starter money on another team. He might give a slight discount... but even that's a lot to ask. "Hey Reid, take less money... AND... play less for us."

I'm less optimistic he's resigning than I was earlier in the season. He's only 25 so he's in the "Gotta get mine" stage in his career. He can do that better elsewhere.

He is only 25 and could still have a lot of starting roles here as Rudy winds down.

That's easy for us to say.

But, it's just not the norm for a solid, respected player at that age to compromise both his current and future earnings and endorsements and just playing time like that.

Not saying that it can't happen... but it's not very common for a 25-year-old pro athlete to pass up more money and more playing time for multiple seasons.

Phenom wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 8:37 am

TheFuture wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 7:19 am

Phenom wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 6:21 am I maintain that by not trading NAW at the deadline, it is TCs intention to bring him back, if for nothing else, to be an asset if TJ or JC take a hold of that role.

I don’t think it's any question that the plan is to keep Naz and Ju. The question will just be is if some team wants to make huge offers that actually forces the Wolves to walk away.

The silver lining is that there isn't a lot of cap space so most teams that would have interest and be willing to overpay will need to do a sign and trade, so the Wolves are in a position to get something back.

What do you think Naz and NAW are realistically worth?

I'm not sold on the 30 million per year of Naz but I would guess 4/100. NAW is making, what 4.5 this year. Would 4/40 be enough? Maybe not. I think if we are talking 20 per year it becomes a sign and trade scenario but that would require a big leap of faith from a team. Nickeil has had great stretches but they have been capped at stretches. Same with Naz but his stretches are probably more valuable.

Both Naz and NAW are question marks on how good can they be starting full time and playing against starters also. I agree, NAW had a great start to the year. Has been up and down since, Naz started poorly if I remember correctly then came on late.

As a starter you got to be more consistent. Although you will get more minutes and more opportunity to succeed, the downside is more opportunity to struggle too.

Saying that I love both guys, would love to see both back if we can. However we do have some young depth especially at wing to lose NAW. TSJ, Clark, etc...

Ju has proven himself but is also older. Naz has the potential upside too. IDK, it'll play itself out likely during the rest of the playoffs.