No Plans to Use MLE

[Klomp]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins ... page=2&c=y

Kevin McHale, the vice president of basketball for the Wolves, said the team has a $5.8 million mid-level exception they could use for signing one or more free agents. But McHale said he doesn't have any plans to spend that money, because he doesn't see anybody available that could help the team more than the players they have on the present roster.

[TheFranchise21]

Not surprising. I don't see a significant need to use it. Save the cap room for 2010.

[4ho5ive]

yea i didnt see us wasting it (after bringing back all our FA's) this year.

[TMo519]

Good move, don't just sign someone to sign someone.

[shrink]

This is why I love the posters on this board -- reasonableness.

I'm sure if someone posts this information at Rubechat, it will set off an avalanche of bashes on McHale, Taylor, and probably a few posts argueing how we should combine the MLE with Brian Cardinal to get Josh Smith.

Anyway the informed and financially responsible view that the regular posters have here is what keeps bringing me back. Thanks.

[dunkonu21]

We shouldn't use our MLE til we are ready to contend.


The reason I say that is because in this day in the NBA, the MLE is gonna get you the James Posey type like NOH and there is no reason to do that unless it is our last need to fill. That's not gonna be the case for a while.

[deeney0]

We shouldn't use our MLE til we are ready to contend.

I'd amend this to say we shouldn't use the MLE until we've used the cap space. If we use the cap space on a young guy, and it's disappeared, but the team is still a year or two away from competing - then it starts to become O.K. to start signing the role players you can get with the MLE. But right now, MLE just effs with our ability to sign Al Jefferson's cohort down the road.

[JMillott]

I actually think they'd have been much better off using the MLE to go after a Delonte West or Louis Williams then they were in keeping Telfair and Craig Smith. I think they were smart to keep Ryan Gomes but they had better options then Telfair and Smith.

[skorff26]

I actually think they'd have been much better off using the MLE to go after a Delonte West or Louis Williams then they were in keeping Telfair and Craig Smith. I think they were smart to keep Ryan Gomes but they had better options then Telfair and Smith.

yeah there are better quality than smith and telfair out their BUT they would have cost us a lot more money AND smith and telfair really wanted to be here, so with that being said their weren't any better options than smith and telfair

[shrink]

I actually think they'd have been much better off using the MLE to go after a Delonte West or Louis Williams then they were in keeping Telfair and Craig Smith. I think they were smart to keep Ryan Gomes but they had better options then Telfair and Smith.

yeah there are better quality than smith and telfair out their BUT they would have cost us a lot more money AND smith and telfair really wanted to be here, so with that being said their weren't any better options than smith and telfair

I agree. Delonte West would have probably cost us what Telfair and Smith cost combined. Moreover, I suspect the hold up on the West contract in CLE is that he's not only demanding full MLe money, but he wants more than two years, which neither CLE nor MIN would want to give. Smith and Telfair may be a little inferior (and I'm not saying the gap is very great), but they are bargain contracts that help our bottom line, or can be used in trade. Moreover, these guys know our system, which should be helpful with so many new faces on the team. If they had gotten big contracts, I'd agree with you JMillott, but I think the price makes them better picks. I guess we'll see what contract Delonte West ends up with.

[JMillott]

I was thinking more in line with Louis Williams then Delonte West anyway but I think either of them could've been had for 5 years and 25 million dollars. West would in my opinion easily be worth that contract and make Rashard McCants 100% tradeable, Williams is going to far exceed his new contract with how he plays on the court, the 76ers just locked up a damn good player on the cheap through his mid 20's.

[JMillott]

Don't get me wrong I think McHale and company have done a very credible job this summer and are closer to being a good team then most NBA fans might believe. I just think Telfair isn't a very good player and Smith is just reduntant when they have Jefferson and Love.

[karch34]

I'm not surprised and I think it's a good move for all the reasons stated. If there was someone that made us significantly better for the MLE then I'd be for it, but that's not the case so really no need to use it.

I have a higher opinion of Telfair and think what he got is very good compared to what else was out there and what it would've cost. I think Smith is redundant with what we have. However, Smith is a productive player at an inexpensive contract. Worst case scenario is he's a great trade chip if someone becomes available at the deadline.

I think the only other move is going to be a 3rd PG on a minimum contract.

[Krapinsky]

This is a good thing. It's hard to think of any mid-level contract that ended up being a good deal for a team.

There just isn't a big difference between players that get paid the mid level and players liek Smith/Gomes/Telfair. More times than not, the extra money at the expense of future cap flexibility is not worth it.