I Still Know What They Should Do This Summer: Minnesota Timberwolves

[loserX]

Hi all: we've done threads like this the past few years and gotten to see some really good ideas and creativity, so here's one for now. (Will we do all the teams? Maybe! If there's a team you'd like to see, feel free to suggest, or start your own thread!)

The idea: for the team listed, plan out their offseason as you see it: trades, draft, free agency. Obviously at this time there is a LOT of uncertainty about what the rest of the season/offseason will hold, but we can use some assumptions, and if you're here it means that like me you don't have a lot else going on

Today's team is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Well, full-on renovations are underway. After pushing down one road to approach the playoffs, the Wolves abruptly changed course and pulled off two of the biggest moves of the deadline, moving Covington for youth and Wiggins for Russell. They sure grabbed some headlines, but there's still plenty of work to be done. How would you tackle it?

ROSTER
K-A Towns.........29,430,000.....31,610,000.....33,790,000.....35,970,000
D'Angelo Russell...28,649,250.....30,013,500.....31,377,750
James Johnson... 16,047,100 (PO)
Jarrett Culver..... 6,104,280..... 6,395,160 (TO)... 8,109,063 (TO)
Jake Layman....... 3,761,085.... 3,940,184
Josh Okogie....... 2,651,040..... 4,087,904 (TO)
Jacob Evans....... 2,017,320..... 3,641,263 (TO)
Omari Spellman... 1,988,280..... 3,588,845 (TO)
Jarred Vanderbilt. 1,663,861 (ung)
Jaylen Nowell...... 1,517,981 (ung).. 1,782,621 (ung).. 1,930,681 (TO)
Naz Reid........... 1,517,981 (ung).. 1,782,621 (ung).. 1,930,681 (ung)
Cole Aldrich*...... 685,340

Total of above for 2020-21: $96,033,518
*Aldrich's contract is "dead money"; it sits on the cap but cannot be traded or otherwise removed.
RFAs: Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez
UFAs: Evan Turner

Draft picks: assuming current draft order, Minnesota would have the #3 and #16 (Brooklyn) pick in the 2020 draft, and the #33. Their 2021 first rounder is owed to the Warriors (top-3 protected, unprotected in 2022). They have no second rounder in 2021 but will have an extra one in 2022 (more favourable, PHI/DEN).

There are some options here: what should the Wolves do?

Questions to consider:

We Have a Houston Problem: Last season the team brought in executive Gersson Rosas, who made very clear that he wanted to build a roster in the style of his previous team, the Houston Rockets. That process began with acquiring Russell and two young shooters in Beasley and Hernangomez (both RFAs Rosas openly wants to re-sign)...but this team is still a long way from being the Rockets. What other players should this team look for? What does this mean for youngsters like Okogie and Culver, who have shown promise at other parts of the game but have struggled with their shooting?

Non Stop: Even with Covington and Dieng on the team last year, this roster had no end of problems trying to stop opposing teams from scoring. Part of that comes from being young and may change with development and coaching...and part is on the shoulders of the players involved. And what happens if a staunch defender like Okogie is deemed to be "not Houston enough" and shipped out, as Keita Bates-Diop was? Towns is admittedly one of the biggest culprits; can the team find forwards that fit with him? Overall: how can the Wolves add defence to the roster in a way that integrates with Rosas' desire to have everyone shoot?

So...if you ran the Timberwolves, what would you do?

(And be specific! "Adding young shooters" is *everyone's* plan these days...what names should the team be targeting in trade/draft/free agency?)

[Trader_Joe]

Quick attempt.. land the best perimeter defender in the draft, and I like Okoro for them.
Keep cap holds on Beasley and Hernangomez to re-sign them, but for reasonable deals. Neither should be getting over $5/6m per year I would not think. Say 4/25 for each?

Trade:
J.Johnson (exp), #15 via BRK, Okogie, more as needed
for
A.Gordon

MLE: not sure I like any targets for them
BAE: Connaughton
Vet min targets: Napier and Carroll (both played with Russell) and Willy Hernangomzez for the bro thing.

Russell / Culver / Napier
Beasley / Connaughton / J.Evans
Okoro / Layman / Carroll
A.Gordon / J.Hernangomez / Spellman
Towns / W.Hernangomez

[slos]

Quick attempt.. land the best perimeter defender in the draft, and I like Okoro for them.
Keep cap holds on Beasley and Hernangomez to re-sign them, but for reasonable deals. Neither should be getting over $5/6m per year I would not think. Say 4/25 for each?

Trade:
J.Johnson (exp), #15 via BRK, Okogie, more as needed
for
A.Gordon

MLE: not sure I like any targets for them
BAE: Connaughton
Vet min targets: Napier and Carroll (both played with Russell) and Willy Hernangomzez for the bro thing.

Russell / Culver / Napier
Beasley / Connaughton / J.Evans
Okoro / Layman / Carroll
A.Gordon / J.Hernangomez / Spellman
Towns / W.Hernangomez

Beasley turned down a 3/30 from Denver and then he went to Minny for an impressive 20/5/2 in 13 games. Hernangomez at 4/25 is fair enough, but Beasley's market is closer to double this money.

[Trader_Joe]

Quick attempt.. land the best perimeter defender in the draft, and I like Okoro for them.
Keep cap holds on Beasley and Hernangomez to re-sign them, but for reasonable deals. Neither should be getting over $5/6m per year I would not think. Say 4/25 for each?

Trade:
J.Johnson (exp), #15 via BRK, Okogie, more as needed
for
A.Gordon

MLE: not sure I like any targets for them
BAE: Connaughton
Vet min targets: Napier and Carroll (both played with Russell) and Willy Hernangomzez for the bro thing.

Russell / Culver / Napier
Beasley / Connaughton / J.Evans
Okoro / Layman / Carroll
A.Gordon / J.Hernangomez / Spellman
Towns / W.Hernangomez

Beasley turned down a 3/30 from Denver and then he went to Minny for an impressive 20/5/2 in 13 games. Hernangomez at 4/25 is fair enough, but Beasley's market is closer to double this money.

Ok, I'm just not sure I'd break the bank for him and question his fit with Russell,
Maybe then look at MLE options if he's priced out. Justin Holiday, GR3, wouldn't cost the whole MLE.

[rugbyrugger23]

That Aldrich dead money has too many commas.

[loserX]

That Aldrich dead money has too many commas.

Wasn't my only typo either. I need glasses and/or sleep. Fixed, thanks!

[HartfordWhalers]

My first question is what is the value of Culver?

A team with:
Russell
Beasley
_____
_____
Towns

seems the setup, and I do like Hermangomez in more of a 6th man style role at the 4. This could look like:
Russell / ???
Beasley / Okogie
_____
Johnson / Hermangomez
Towns / Johnson

I think I would want to move Culver, but that is all just if the value is there.

In theory, Minnesota can go big: Minn pick, Nets pick, Culver / Johnson as expiring filler and make a big offer for something (Oladipo?) I would be looking to keep your own pick and make a small offer, and try to get a solid starting sf. But who? Not sold on my options.

15 and Johnson for Aaron Gordon?
15 and Johnson for Oubre?
Johnson and Culver for Barnes?

I'm not really sold on the plan so far, so having trouble finishing it.

But it looks like the perfect team to offer Bazemore a small contract.

[walton1029]

...

[rugbyrugger23]

This totally feels like the draft Wolves finally move up draft slot. If I recall, they have never improved their draft slot on lotto day. None the less, the top of the draft board does not fit them well. They don’t need Wiseman, or a guard (really deep there). Maybe they see Edwards as an upgrade to Beasley long term, but that would still require them drafting talent at redundant positional overlap.

That probably is a long winded way of saying the obvious — Wolves are considering any and all consolidation trades.

JJ + Culver and/or Okogie + 2020 FRP + #16 is on the table for any team that can make an offer. Wolves can add project youth as well like Spellman, Vanderbilt, and Evans.

The consolidation trade I have posted many times because I LOVE his fit is acquiring Ben Simmons. Not sure Wolves can cobble together the assets that would interest Philly (or 3rd team to get 76ers a win-now player).

I have posted many Wolves trades here. Some similar to the above for Oubre Jr (favorite target), A. Gordon and Winslow.

All in all, Wolves need a 3D wing — a young version of Covington (not sure why they just didn’t keep him). They need to hope Culver progresses. And they really need to hope the Russell and Towns duo isn’t a franchise killer.

[loserX]

I suspect we may see a lot of the Johnson+assets for Aaron Gordon; he checks a lot of boxes for Minnesota in that he's

- athletic
- defensively capable
- likely to be better on offence playing off guys like KAT and DAR in a Houston-lite system than he was in Orlando
- about the right age range
- actually available

But since that is going to be a common route, I'll skip over my first choice of just copying it and do something very different:

TRADE

Agreed to before draft, completed in new contract year:

Wolves trade James Johnson, Jarrett Culver, Jake Layman, protected future 1st? for Buddy Hield, Nemanja Bjelica
Kings trade the opposite

Kings, preparing to re-sign Bogdanovic, avoid any other potential restlessness from Buddy (and doubling up on big salaries at one position), chopping his extension and bringing back a prospect who still has some potential to be a long-term partner for Fox. Layman is worth a look at forward, and I feel like a protected pick might not be a dealbreaker for Minny.

Wolves wanted Houston-like players, and get two of them: a sharpshooter at the 2, and a replacement for Johnson at the 4 who can do the things this system will ask him to do.

DRAFT

#3 - Obi Toppin - possible PF of the future, capable of playmaking and shooting from outside, considered to have good character and work ethic, which this team could use
#15 - Devin Vassell - some risk here, but with potential to be a plus at defence and 3-point shooting, a great fit if he pans out
#33 - the best PG-playable prospect available. Maybe Immanuel Quickley?

FREE AGENCY

Res-sign Beasley and Hernangomez using their Bird rights. The team could use a veteran playmaker off the bench, so use the MLE to sign DJ Augustin if he'll come. Then offer the BAE to Vince Carter if he's willing to leave Atlanta: he has a great reputation for mentoring young players, and this team is desperately going to need that in order to avoid becoming a country club for Towns and Russell. (And Carter's style is a lot less...um...Jimmy Butler-ish than Jimmy Butler's.) This team isn't big on centres but if they can find an improvement over Naz Reid for a reasonable cost it wouldn't be a bad idea (or play Bjelica there in gimmick lineups).

ROSTER

Towns/Reid/Spellman
Toppin/Bjelica/Hernangomez
Okogie/Vassell/Carter
Hield/Beasley
Russell/Augustin/Quickley

Well, didn't really address the defence much, except putting it in the hands of rookies. Still, this team is starting to look like the Houston offence the organization seeks, bombing from everywhere!

Can you do a better job? I'm willing to bet a lot of money that you can

[jayu70]

. Then offer the BAE to Vince Carter if he's willing to leave Atlanta: he has a great reputation for mentoring young players, and this team is desperately going to need that in order to avoid becoming a country club for Towns and Russell. (And Carter's style is a lot less...um...Jimmy Butler-ish than Jimmy Butler's.)
[u]ROSTER{/u]

Towns/Reid/Spellman
Toppin/Bjelica/Hernangomez
Okogie/Vassell/Carter
Hield/Beasley
Russell/Augustin/Quickley

Vince Carter has already indicated he's retiring.
Even if he isn't, He specifically wanted to be in Atlanta because of the proximity to the NBA and TNT Studios.
Vince is no longer a SF, can't keep up, he's been playing PF.

[aguiar95]

This is what I would try to do:

- Draft Toppin (#3), Nesmith (#16), Oturo (#33). Since you don't have the 21 1st, you can't miss on this draft.
- Spend the MLE on D. Melton (on-ball defender and facilitator for the bench squad).
- Re-sign Beasley to 60M/4y.
- Waive Vanderbilt and Nowell.
- Trade Hernangomez for a future 2nd (don't fit in my plans).

Russell (31)/Melton (24)/McLaughlin
Okogie (22)/Beasley (28)/Evans
Culver (24)/Nesmith (20)/Layman
Toppin (26)/Johnson (18)/Spellman
Towns (33)/Oturo (14)/Reid

I was tempted to trade Culver, but since I'm not a Wolves fan, I'm not sure how they feel about Culver and his value, can he play as an on-ball defender? I'm assuming not so I signed Melton for the bench. As for the other guys (Layman and co.) I have no clue what to make of them. Since I drafted Oturo, Nesmith and Toppin and they are my guys, I'm giving minutes to them. If they want to play HOU basketball, Culver and Okogie have to hit at least 33% from deep.

[Richard4444]

Wolves has 9 players under contract for $93M (excluding Non Guaranteed Vanderbilt and Nowell.

93M (9 players)
07M (Juan)
15M (Malik)
12M (FRPs)

They are going to own 127M to a 13 players roster.

Cap space will get much lower next season. It will be tough to small market teams to get revenue with no public. We still dont know what will be the solution to luxury tax problem (if the revenue and salary cap drops 30%, the majority of the teams will pay luxury for sure).

I think they will limit themselves to a 130-135M payroll if they dont decide to make sacrifices to stay under taxes (waiving Juan and trading down FRPs).

Its not a good time do add salaries from trades, especially for before pandemic contracts. Its better to keep the roster young and develop Culver and FRPs.

[loserX]

. Then offer the BAE to Vince Carter if he's willing to leave Atlanta: he has a great reputation for mentoring young players, and this team is desperately going to need that in order to avoid becoming a country club for Towns and Russell. (And Carter's style is a lot less...um...Jimmy Butler-ish than Jimmy Butler's.)
[u]ROSTER{/u]

Towns/Reid/Spellman
Toppin/Bjelica/Hernangomez
Okogie/Vassell/Carter
Hield/Beasley
Russell/Augustin/Quickley

Vince Carter has already indicated he's retiring.
Even if he isn't, He specifically wanted to be in Atlanta because of the proximity to the NBA and TNT Studios.
Vince is no longer a SF, can't keep up, he's been playing PF.

Thank you for the info! Good to know.

I'm not really worried about the position, I just wanted to add a character guy, and whoever it is will probably only be playing nostalgia minutes anyway. I want a voice in the locker room who is going to be listened to, who can teach the kids about commitment and the sacrifices one needs to make to win. Carter seemed like the best choice, but from what you've told me is out of the running.

How about a Courtney Lee or DerMarre Carroll or Chris Tolliver instead.

[lordjeff05]

I’d resign Beasley and Juancho, trade a pick and James Johnson for Oubre, draft Saddiq Bey and call it a day.

[babyjax13]

Okoro seems like a natural choice if they keep their pick. They really need defense, and he could give it to them. So I will operate under the assumption that they are willing to move down in order to solidify a good defensive cast around Towns/D'Angelo.

Trade 1:
Minnesota trades: 2020 MIN 1st (3), James Johnson, 2020 BYK 1st (16)
Minnesota receives: Aaron Gordon, 2020 CHI 1st (7)
Minnesota moves down a bit in the draft, but overall clarifies their team quite a bit.

Chicago trades: 2020 CHI 1st (7), Tomas Satoransky
Chicago receives: 2020 MIN 1st (3), James Johnson
Chicago moves up in the draft, and gets of Satoransky's last year. While he's not a bad contract, I assume with the third pick they are looking at a complimentary piece to Coby White and Zach Lavine, and IMO that is either Ball or Avdija.

Orlando trades: Aaron Gordon
Orlando receives: Tomas Satoransky, 2020 BYK 1st (16)
Orlando gets a nice playmaking guard/wing and another mid-first. Two shots at this point in the draft should be nice, especially for their new front office, which has a better track record of drafting than prior Orlando regimes, and I assume is looking forward to putting their mark on the team.

Free Agency:
In free agency I'd retain Beasley and Hernangomez, offer something reasonable and match just about anything for them.
Depth Chart
Towns 34/Reid 10/Spellman 4
Gordon 32/Hernangomez 16/Spellman
Okoro 24/Culver 14/Hernangomez 10
Beasley 30/Okogie 18/Evans
Russell 34/Culver 14

Something like that.

[giberish]

With DLo/Beasley/Towns starting at Pg/Sg/C Minny really needs defense and size at the forwards. I like Culver's defensive potential so I'll keep him, even though he's a bit small for what the team needs at SF (at least for now, as he fills out he could work there full-time). So Culver's playing backup Sg minutes as well as some SF minutes. At this point I don't see a role for Okogie. IMO he's too small for Minny's SF spot and doesn't have the skill to work at either guard.

I see PF as the biggest need for the team, with Orlando as the best trade target since they've got Gordon/Isaac/Aminu/their 1st from last year who all should be playing PF.

Plan A (best-case, probably too good to be true)

Trade: Okogie, Johnson, 2020 1st (#1 or at least very high) for Isaac, Aminu

Orlando trades away from their PF stockpile presumably to take a high-upside guard to pair with Fultz long-term (Edwards?). I'm sure they'd strongly prefer not to deal Isaac but maybe they like someone enough to make the deal.

Draft: (I don't have a good feel for the draft at all) #16 - Saddiq Bey, #33 - Tyrell Terry

FA - I'm going to use $$ as based on pre-virus finances. I have no idea what the actuall situation this offseason will look like, but obviously these numbers would have to be scaled accordingly.

Beasley - 4/$70M. Hernangomez - 3/$24M. Napier - 2/$10M

Russell/Napier/Terry
Beasley/Culver/Nowell
Hernangomez/(Culver)/Lyman/Bey
Isaac/Aminu
Towns/Spellman/Reid

(I think Spellman's better then Reid and will beat him out in training camp for the backup C spot)

Plan B (more plausible)

Trade Okogie/Johnson/#16 to Orlando for Gordon

Rather then keep forcing Gordon out of position Orlando gets some value for him. Possibly this turns into a multi-team deal as orlando tries for other win-now help.

Draft: #5-7 Avdija (I guess?) #33 Tillie

FA - same

Russell/Napier
Beasey/Culver/Nowell
Hernangomez/Avdija/(Culver)/Lyman
Gordon/(Hernangomez)/Tillie
Towns/Spellman/Reid

Note - If Orlando doesn't want/need Okogie in either deal I'd look to deal him to Dallas for Brunson (then you don't need to resign Napier).

[R-DAWG]

The goal of the team is maximizing Towns/Russel. Say what you want about either guy, but those are two players who made the all-star team during their rookie contract and, in theory, are just entering their primes. They have weaknesses for sure, but the goal needs to be surrounding them with high IQ guys who can shoot and defend.

Minnesota is in a good position with their draft capital, likely looking at a top 5 pick, plus pick #16 along with pick #33. Obi Toppin would fit their roster like a glove as a high IQ guy who can space the floor, even if he upside is somewhat limited relative to other top prospects.

Malik Beasley is interesting. Minnesota might have caught a break here as cap space is expected to be limited this summer due to the pandemic shutdown. Before the shutdown, a guy like Beasley getting an offer sheet for 4 years $60MM was realistic. That same 4 year deal could end up being 20-40% less this summer. Beasley fits in nicely as a 3rd scorer/shooter, although his defense could leave a lot to be desired.

Minnesota also has a large $16MM expiring contract (James Johnson) to play with and the full MLE.

Players I would target: Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley. Quality vets who have been quality locker room guys and contributors on winning teams. They also fit on the court with their defense and ability to knock down open shots, albiet not at an elite level.

Russell
Beasley
Crowder
Toppin
Towns

Very similar to the lineup the Blazers run with 2 scoring guards and a scoring big man plus 2 3 and D interchangeable forwards. Towns/Russel could be on par, talent wise, with Lillard/McCollum and Bealsey = Nurkic.

[Texas Chuck]

My contribution is to say that giberish is on the track I would take and I don't have a better version of what he posted.

[Slava]

They aren't going anywhere without a roster at least capable of being a league average defense and you need to add at least two extremely impactful defenders to counter balance the awfulness of Russell and Towns at that end.

I have no idea where they get those kinds of players.