Next Up: The Options

[60WinTim]

I got what I wanted in the draft: two bigs. Seems like neither of them will contribute next season. So onto the next phase: the team/player options.

With Rocco being a 2-way, the Wolves will have 14 guaranteed contracts, assuming Randle and NAZ are back. On Saturday, NAZ is extension eligible. But we are already being told he will opt out, which means he wants a bigger bag than what he can get on an extension. So, I do not expect anything interesting on Saturday.


That brings us to Option Day on Sunday. Here are the decisions to be made:

Julius Randle - does he merely pick up his option? Or does he work out an extension. Picking up an option tells me he is a trade chip, either this offseason or at the trade deadline. But an extension implies he is here for the long term, and might have an adverse effect on NAZ...

Josh Minott - seems like the Wolves would pick up his option for next season. But if the Wolves are strapped for roster spots, they could not pick up his option. Although, picking up an option and using him a trade is possibility.

Luka Garza - the Wolves adding 2 bigs in the draft would seem like bad news for Garza. But if those bigs are unlikely to contribute next season, maybe Garza hangs on for one more year. Garza would not seem to have much value in a trade like Minott might have.

Jesse Edwards and Triston Newton - this is also the deadline for 2-way offers. Hard to say if Jesse will be back with Rocco coming on board.

Bones Hyland - it will be interesting if we put a QO on Bones. I think the Wolves only do it if they are willing to commit a roster spot for him. (I don't know if Sunday is his deadline)

And then Monday hits with a couple more Options:

Naz Reid - I guess we know he's not picking up his player option.

Leonard Miller - with two more cheap years and playing a position needing depth, it seems likely the Wolves would not release him, thus guaranteeing his salary for next season.


So, who do you think will no longer be on the roster by July 1st?

[Phenom]

There is shaping up to be a handful of big money teams next offseason. Could Naz bet on himself and opt in but not extend? Same with Julius?

[Monster]

I had thought Garza was more of a non guaranteed player so they didn't have to decide this month but now I see Sportac has it as an option like you have here. I'm a big fan of Garza but I think I might let him go at this point. I still believe in his shooting but the results haven't been there from 3 for 2 years. He is not a great defensive rebounder and he doesn't offer strong defense. Could the Wolves sign some other similar younger players with some experience but fits the roster better or get a vet guy that could help better? He hasn't even played 1000 minutes in the NBA in 4 years it's not like he is some dude that's got a chunk of experience etc. I would rather keep Minott as I think there is still a shot he is useful although if he doesn't get some sort of role this year he is gonna be looking elsewhere which I don't blame him.

Randle and Naz are the real questions. I guess ultimately we just wait and see. I just don't know what Randle will prioritize. So the Wolves think they can move him to improve the roster? Do they think they have another way to improve the roster like a NAW sign and trade? It's gonna be an interesting off-season and the draft was not boring.

[60WinTim]

On NAW, I read that Atlanta is interested. They are 30 mil below the luxury tax. The can use the MLE, but that still leaves them with 16 mil to work with. They also have a large trade exception, so could also take in NAW at roughly MLE type money via a sign and trade with the Wolves. Probably for a 2nd rounder.

[Monster]

On NAW, I read that Atlanta is interested. They are 30 mil below the luxury tax. The can use the MLE, but that still leaves them with 16 mil to work with. They also have a large trade exception, so could also take in NAW at roughly MLE type money via a sign and trade with the Wolves. Probably for a 2nd rounder.

There was a report that Orlando had been interested but idk if that's still the case or not.

[FNG]

I think we all mostly agree that while there is great upside with the two teenage centers we drafted, they are not ready to backup Rudy this season. So unless TC has a plan to bring in a legitimate backup center, I think Luka will be back.

[Q-is-here]

Now I'm back to wondering if new ownership will be patient and allow Connelly a two or three year window to remake the roster around Ant and Jaden while allowing the vets like Rudy and Conley to just age out as they take increasingly reduced roles. Sure, they want to stay competitive, but might be willing to take a half step back and give guys like Dillingham more of an opportunity to grow on the job.

[Lipoli390]

Now I'm back to wondering if new ownership will be patient and allow Connelly a two or three year window to remake the roster around Ant and Jaden while allowing the vets like Rudy and Conley to just age out as they take increasingly reduced roles. Sure, they want to stay competitive, but might be willing to take a half step back and give guys like Dillingham more of an opportunity to grow on the job.

I wonder too and hope so. TC said in his post-season presser that the successful teams are the ones that are patient and that patience is all too rare in professional sports. If our new owners like and respect TC, they’ll take what he said to heart and let him decide what to do and on what timetable. And I’m not sure its would be even a half-step if we simply bring back everyone except NAW. It would be the same team that went to the Conference Finals but with more experience playing together, likely improvement from Ant, Jaden and Naz, and what I anticipate being positive contributions from TSJ and Clark having more time on the court. I’m still unsure of Dilly for next season.

[Lipoli390]

Great thread, Tim. I was thinking of starting a similar thread but you teed it up better than I would have. I think you framed our remaining offseason challenges and choices perfectly.

[Lipoli390]

A few thoughts:

1. We can’t realistically keep Naz, Randle and NAW without going over the second apron and TC has made it clear they intend to stay under that threshold. Therefore, it seems clear at least one of those three will not be back next season.

2. I don’t’ believe we can keep Naz if we sign Randle to a multi-year extension. If Randle exercises his $31M option, we wouldn’t be able to pay Naz more than around $25 million next season without exceeding the 2nd apron. That might be just enough money to keep him and I can see Naz staying because he likes it here with the understanding that he’d become our starting PF after next season. However, if we sign Randle to a multi-year extension, then I think Naz will sign elsewhere. As much as he likes it here, I don’t see him staying in what would likely be a 6th man role beyond Randle. Therefore, if Randle says he’s not going to exercise his option, we should focus on finding a sign-and-trade for him to avoid just letting him walk as a free agent. If we can’t find a reasonable deal for him, then letting him walk would ensure Naz stays and probably put us below the 1st apron, which would allow us to use the full non-taxpayer MLE.

3. I think our top trade priority should be acquiring a backup defensive center. I’d look to a NAW or Randle sign-and-trade to make that happen - possibly throwing in Garza, Minott or Miller.

4. I think our secondary priority should be signing a decent backup PG in free agency - maybe one of the Jones brothers. We probably couldn’t pay more than the vet minimum. However, if we let Randle walk or sign-and-trade him for less salary we might be able to pay the taxpayer or non-taxpayer MLE depending on how low we can drive our payroll with respect to Randle.

5. A NAW sign-and-trade only makes sense if Randle walks or is signed-and-traded for a player whose salary is substantially less than Randle’s opt in. NAW might get yield a better return than Randle in a sign-and-trade. So one thought is to let Randle walk and then do a NAW sign-and-trade with Atlanta for Capela.