Ratliff

[C.lupus]

I also disagree with the notion of trading Gomes (a known commodity) or Telfair or Smith (too young to properly evaluate) at this point, especially for picks. We have what, 4 first round picks in the next two years? I say sign these three to relatively cheap, 3-year deals. Give them a year or two to gel with Brewer, Foye, and McCants while drafting solely for skill - and hopefully either someone we have or someone we draft can be the star compliment to Al.

I agree 3-year deals is the way to go. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past and lock up role players to long-term deals after one season of service. Three years gives you time to evaluate them and, if they don't work out, then they are expiring sooner.

I would like to keep all three IF it doesn't hurt us financially. Otherwise, Smith would be my first choice to go - mainly because I think he would get the least amount of playing time of the three.

RC - I missed McHale's "too young" comment. When did he say that?

[theGreatRC]

-= original quote snipped =-

RC - I missed McHale's "too young" comment. When did he say that?

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/13514081.html

[C.lupus]

OK, I remember that article. I thought he might have said something more recently. The team has turned it around recently and, as you so eloquently wrote, has matured also. He might be singing a different tune these days.

[shrink]

I would like to keep all three IF it doesn't hurt us financially. Otherwise, Smith would be my first choice to go - mainly because I think he would get the least amount of playing time of the three.

I'm like this too. In terms of trading, to me its, Craig Smith >> Telfair = Gomes

I want to point out though that we are talking about restricted free agents at the end of this season. That's it.

NOT trading them does not insure we get them next year. If they continue to play well on our weaker team, they may price themselves out of our ability to retain them. All the rights we have here is the right to match -- it doesn't give us the ability or financial wherewithal to do so. We can choose to not trade them, and still lose them for next season.

Trading them also does not mean its impossible that we can't get them back next Fall either. If we were to deal Ryan Gomes to Phoenix, the odds are that they would not add the salary to keep him, and the highest bidder would get his services.

I think the fact that Smith, Gomes, and Telfair are restricted free agents means we need to look at trading them a little differently than other players we have locked up. Even if we don't trade these guys, they are far from guaranteed to be here next season, and we lose them for nothing.

[karch34]

Very good points, Shrink. I do think that with them being restricted we are in a better situation though, since we can match and it's unlikely they'd be offered more than the MLE. However, someone could be offering more years than we'd want to commit to.

Gomes and Telfair have to stay as far as I'm concerned. I like Smith a lot and want to keep him as well, but the other two rank ahead of him in priority.

[MilMinMan]

in another post of self-promotion, i just started a mini-series on what i think telfair, gomes and craiggers will run on the market.

http://www.canishoopus.com