Killboard wrote:
Well, I dont think an upgrade at the PG position was a need. Actually the PG position was the only position where the wolves had a competent young veteran locked. Ricky wasnt a needle mover in the sense of make the playoffs by himself, but he wasnt the reason why we sucked all those years neither. He proved to be a plus player in both sides of the floor several seasons where he was surrounded by a lot of marginal NBA players. The first round pick dont make up the fact we wasnt able to get depth at the wings this offseason, which is a real killer IMO. And Im not agree with his extension, I think he will recieve similar offers to his current salary since he hasnt developed a shot to put him in the next level. If he wasnt happy here for the role Thibs gave him to start the season, thats on Thibs. Rubio was loyal and a high effort player all his time here.
As it stands now unless Wiggins is moved or Butler isn't extended, Minnesota isn't going to be able to pay a PG or even a PF what they are now. The summer of 2019 would have had Butler, Towns and Rubio all looking to get paid while Wiggins would have been making around 30 million a year himself. You're going to be handing another ~60 million to Towns and Butler and at that point you've spent ~90 million of the cap, there's not going to be really that much room to pay the rest of the 9-12 players on the active roster and that's where that #1 pick in 2018 comes into play, a rookie contract player being in the rotation instead of a near minimum contract player taking that spot. This is all taking place without even mentioning Dieng may not be able to be traded and his 15-16 million is still on the books(now 105 million for 4 players).
Killboard wrote:Regarding Wiggins, I think he will only improve. If he will be worth a max contract is another whole topic and Im not really sure. He seems to be an outlier in some regards but you cant put money on that. Wished the wolves would have waited like the spurs did with Kawhi if he wasnt ready to sign for 20M per season, or traded him for high level role players. The general rule says if you arent sure about a player is worth a max contract, then you shouldnt offer it.
If Minnesota is considering trading Wiggins then trading him after he's under contract is easier then trading him without the extension because he would have some say in where he goes because he could refuse to sign an extension with the team he's trying to be traded to. Even if Wiggins becomes a good/efficient scorer he'd make Butler at 30 million basically an overpaid defensive player and that would hurt the team also.
I just think this team will be vastly different the summer of 2019 and the OKC pick this summer will need to be a rotation player by that season(season 2 for that player). The player drafted this summer will be very important to the franchise.
