Options Exercised

[Klomp]

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that the team has exercised the fourth-year option on guard Wayne Ellington, and the third-year options for forwards Lazar Hayward and Wes Johnson.

[Esohny]

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that the team has exercised the fourth-year option on guard Wayne Ellington, and the third-year options for forwards Lazar Hayward and Wes Johnson.

How does this benefit the team? Especially Lazar and Ellington.

[Krapinsky]

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that the team has exercised the fourth-year option on guard Wayne Ellington, and the third-year options for forwards Lazar Hayward and Wes Johnson.

How does this benefit the team? Especially Lazar and Ellington.

They don't make much more than the league minimum.

[Saltine]

Lazars current pay -> $1,097,520 -> third year option; $1,174,080
Wes current pay -> $4,006,080 -> third year option $4,285,560
Wayne current pay -> $1,154,040 -> fourth year option $2,083,042

Not much of a change...

[cpfsf]

We couldn't possibly ask for a better 14th / 15th option. I kind of wanted to place this move under the who cares category, but why do we need Hayward again?

[Klomp]

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that the team has exercised the fourth-year option on guard Wayne Ellington, and the third-year options for forwards Lazar Hayward and Wes Johnson.

How does this benefit the team? Especially Lazar and Ellington.

Either cheap bench options or cheap salaries that can be used in a trade.

[B Calrissian]

How does this benefit the team? Especially Lazar and Ellington.

Either cheap bench options or cheap salaries that can be used in a trade.

2mil doesn't seem cheap for a 3rd string SG that shouldn't see any court time and 2mil in capspace would've been better for a trade.

[EddyCool]

2mil doesn't seem cheap for a 3rd string SG that shouldn't see any court time and 2mil in capspace would've been better for a trade.

Any trade that's significant enough for us to worry about, that would have that $2 MM hang in the balance, wouldn't be held up because a team doesn't want a shooter with a year+ on his rookie contract.

Better to have him than not; he can shoot, and Martell has a history of injuries.

[B Calrissian]

2mil doesn't seem cheap for a 3rd string SG that shouldn't see any court time and 2mil in capspace would've been better for a trade.

Any trade that's significant enough for us to worry about, that would have that $2 MM hang in the balance, wouldn't be held up because a team doesn't want a shooter with a year+ on his rookie contract.

Better to have him than not; he can shoot, and Martell has a history of injuries.

I didn't said it would hold up a trade but 2mil in saving can turn into an instant 4mil savings for teams over the lux. saving 4mil >>>>>> paying 2mil for Ellington

[Klomp]

How does this benefit the team? Especially Lazar and Ellington.

Either cheap bench options or cheap salaries that can be used in a trade.

2mil doesn't seem cheap for a 3rd string SG that shouldn't see any court time and 2mil in capspace would've been better for a trade.

Not if you need to match salaries.

[Worm Guts]

Cap space is better, you don't need to match salaries then, just absorb it.

[B Calrissian]

2mil doesn't seem cheap for a 3rd string SG that shouldn't see any court time and 2mil in capspace would've been better for a trade.

Not if you need to match salaries.

Not if you are under the cap. Like worm guts said - just absorb it.

[shrink]

Just to make sure that everyone is clear, these options were picked up for the 2012-13 season, not next season.

[Klomp]

Cap space is better, you don't need to match salaries then, just absorb it.

If you have the cap space to absorb it, sure. But we are also looking at extending Love, Beasley, and Randolph too. After that, we either won't have much cap space or won't have any at all. I'd rather have two developing young guys on cheap deals that are easy to deal than having to fill your roster with over-the-hill nobodies like Miami had to.

[Esohny]

Cap space is better, you don't need to match salaries then, just absorb it.

If you have the cap space to absorb it, sure. But we are also looking at extending Love, Beasley, and Randolph too. After that, we either won't have much cap space or won't have any at all. I'd rather have two developing young guys on cheap deals that are easy to deal than having to fill your roster with over-the-hill nobodies like Miami had to.

Are they developing? Ellington regressed in his 2nd year, and Hayward didn't really play, even on a terrible team.

[Foye]

We couldn't possibly ask for a better 14th / 15th option. I kind of wanted to place this move under the who cares category, but why do we need Hayward again?

Hayward > Ellington

[shrink]

The question boils down to whether you could trade these guys, at this price, to a team for cap space.

It's hard to make predictions on such young players, but certainly we could find a taker for Wes for cap space (plus an asset). Hayward and Ellington? They are cheap, but teams generally want to use their salary on rotation guys. We'll see this coming season whether they can be rotation guys.

[C.lupus]

What has Lazar shown in his 419 NBA minutes to warrant picking up his option? Also, wouldn't expiring contracts have more trade value than a contract with an extra year for deep bench players?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Krapinsky]

What has Lazar shown in his 419 NBA minutes to warrant picking up his option? Also, wouldn't expiring contracts have more trade value than a contract with an extra year for deep bench players?

Inquiring minds want to know.

I think the problem is he was only given 419 minutes. If all NBA teams went by this logic then only 1/2 of NBA rookies would get picked up.

For example, I think he can be a Jared Dudley type player. Jared Dudley didn't show anything in his first year either.

But alas, Wolves fan will always find something to complain about, no matter how trivial.

[The J Rocka]

I thought Lazar looked solid when he played the few minutes that he did. Give him some more playing time and he'll be able to contribute more to the best of his abilities.