The Nickeil Alexander-Walker (NAW) Thread

[Klomp]

Will/should Naw get consideration for all NBA defensive team? Could Ant and Jaden make it?

NAW is not eligible, because the new games played rule also says it has to be 65 games with at least 20 minutes played. NAW only played 20+ mpg in 54 games.

[minimus]

Is NAW injured? He keeps producing empty stat lines at Olympic games...

P.S. If I were Clark I'd shoot like 1000+ corner three point shot every day. Opportunity might be right there, if not this season, then 2025-26. TSJ should be ready to fill that role of designated PoA defender from the bench, starting from very first game of 2024-25 season.

[Klomp]

Is NAW injured? He keeps producing empty stat lines at Olympic games...

Part of it is his role isn't to be a shot-maker for Canada. He has the fewest shot attempts of the regular guys so far, though he needs to make one. Hard to get in a rhythm when you're fighting for scraps behind SGA, Murray, Barrett, Brooks, even Nembhard.

[minimus]

Is NAW injured? He keeps producing empty stat lines at Olympic games...

Part of it is his role isn't to be a shot-maker for Canada. He has the fewest shot attempts of the regular guys so far, though he needs to make one. Hard to get in a rhythm when you're fighting for scraps behind SGA, Murray, Barrett, Brooks, even Nembhard.

I have heard that Nembhard is not that good...

[minimus]

It looks like this team needs NAW. He has been their most consistent two way player, which is even more evident if you see McDaniels and Conley struggling mightily and NAW/DDV backuping both.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[_AIJ_]

NAW>>Jaden

[winforlose]

NAW>>Jaden

Go back to last years playoffs and say that. Through 21 NAW is better than Jaden, overall Jaden is better than NAW.

P.S, NAW is in a contract year, Jaden is not.

[Klomp]

NAW>>Jaden

Honestly, I think Jaden is at least becoming an interesting discussion for trade talks. I don't know how executives around the league feel about him, but I feel like he could take a step forward on a team with better spacing. And his $23,017,242 should in theory not be as difficult to trade because he might not need to be broken up into multiple pieces.

One of my bigger takeaways in recent games floated by Dane and others as well I believe, is that Randle to this point of the season largely plays as a SF more than a PF in this offense. The problem this creates is that it tends to relegate McDaniels to the corners where he has been inconsistent at best. To date, he is 12-42 (.286) in the corners, in fact.

But once again, I don't see any trades that really make sense.

[winforlose]

NAW>>Jaden

Honestly, I think Jaden is at least becoming an interesting discussion for trade talks. I don't know how executives around the league feel about him, but I feel like he could take a step forward on a team with better spacing. And his $23,017,242 should in theory not be as difficult to trade because he might not need to be broken up into multiple pieces.

One of my bigger takeaways in recent games floated by Dane and others as well I believe, is that Randle to this point of the season largely plays as a SF more than a PF in this offense. The problem this creates is that it tends to relegate McDaniels to the corners where he has been inconsistent at best. To date, he is 12-42 (.286) in the corners, in fact.

But once again, I don't see any trades that really make sense.

Conversations about better or best often miss the real discussion, floor and ceiling. Jaden has shown a low floor, but NAW has shown a low ceiling. Jaden on the other hand keeps threatening us (with a good time ) with superstardom. That might sound dramatic or exaggerated, but he won playoff games basically by himself. Look at ceiling and ask what does it take to raise his floor. If the answer is moving him to another team, than our team has failed.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

I absolutely love NAWs mid range jumpers. Hopefully he can balance between catch-n-shoot threes, mid range and drives. When he is under control in offense he is an ideal backup comboguard

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

[minimus]

Watch on YouTube

[winforlose]

I wonder if anyone from the FO has checked in with NAW about his future. Imagine his number is 20 million and we pay it. The bigger issue is whether he is okay being a 6th man who occasionally finishes a game, versus wanting to bridge into a starting role where he also finishes most games. It might not be a money issue, we might lose NAW to his desired career path (see Tyus Jones.) Then again, he might not want to leave Finch and the Wolves and might be willing to accept more minutes at PG with Ant and Jaden. This is not an opinion statement, I just really hope someone is talking with him and figuring this out.

[BlacJacMac]

I wonder if anyone from the FO has checked in with NAW about his future. Imagine his number is 20 million and we pay it. The bigger issue is whether he is okay being a 6th man who occasionally finishes a game, versus wanting to bridge into a starting role where he also finishes most games. It might not be a money issue, we might lose NAW to his desired career path (see Tyus Jones.) Then again, he might not want to leave Finch and the Wolves and might be willing to accept more minutes at PG with Ant and Jaden. This is not an opinion statement, I just really hope someone is talking with him and figuring this out.

Can we pay it? Derek at Canis doesn't believe we can:

The problem: The Wolves might not be able to afford him, no matter how much they may want to.

Alexander-Walker’s current two-year deal doesn’t give the Wolves his Bird rights, which would have allowed them to exceed the salary cap to keep him. Instead, Minnesota can only offer him 175% of his current contract, which works out to about $7.9 million a year. Considering the leaps he made last season, Alexander-Walker is almost certainly going to command more on the open market—think somewhere in the $15-20 million per year range.

https://www.canishoopus.com/2024/10/19/24271020/minnesota-timberwolves-nickeil-alexander-walker-next-wolves-cap-casualty-cba-naz-reid-2024-2025#:~:text=Alexander%2DWalker's%20current%20two%2Dyear,about%20%247.9%20million%20a%20year.

Same with Austin at Dunking with Woles:

Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, the two-year pact he signed a season ago doesn't allow for "bird rights." The only financial constraint is a maximum contract under the bird rights provision. Alexander-Walker's contract does allow for "early bird rights," but this clause only allows for the Wolves to offer 175 percent of the athletic wing's current contract—roughly $7.9 million.

https://dunkingwithwolves.com/posts/timberwolves-guard-playing-himself-out-minnesota-price-range

[winforlose]

I wonder if anyone from the FO has checked in with NAW about his future. Imagine his number is 20 million and we pay it. The bigger issue is whether he is okay being a 6th man who occasionally finishes a game, versus wanting to bridge into a starting role where he also finishes most games. It might not be a money issue, we might lose NAW to his desired career path (see Tyus Jones.) Then again, he might not want to leave Finch and the Wolves and might be willing to accept more minutes at PG with Ant and Jaden. This is not an opinion statement, I just really hope someone is talking with him and figuring this out.

Can we pay it? Derek at Canis doesn't believe we can:

The problem: The Wolves might not be able to afford him, no matter how much they may want to.

Alexander-Walker’s current two-year deal doesn’t give the Wolves his Bird rights, which would have allowed them to exceed the salary cap to keep him. Instead, Minnesota can only offer him 175% of his current contract, which works out to about $7.9 million a year. Considering the leaps he made last season, Alexander-Walker is almost certainly going to command more on the open market—think somewhere in the $15-20 million per year range.

https://www.canishoopus.com/2024/10/19/24271020/minnesota-timberwolves-nickeil-alexander-walker-next-wolves-cap-casualty-cba-naz-reid-2024-2025#:~:text=Alexander%2DWalker's%20current%20two%2Dyear,about%20%247.9%20million%20a%20year.

Same with Austin at Dunking with Woles:

Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, the two-year pact he signed a season ago doesn't allow for "bird rights." The only financial constraint is a maximum contract under the bird rights provision. Alexander-Walker's contract does allow for "early bird rights," but this clause only allows for the Wolves to offer 175 percent of the athletic wing's current contract—roughly $7.9 million.

https://dunkingwithwolves.com/posts/timberwolves-guard-playing-himself-out-minnesota-price-range

I call BS. We traded for him and acquired his bird rights from Utah. We then resigned him. Unless NAW left as a free agent in between or we waived his rights to get out of a cap hold, we should have his bird rights.

[MN7725]

I wonder if anyone from the FO has checked in with NAW about his future. Imagine his number is 20 million and we pay it. The bigger issue is whether he is okay being a 6th man who occasionally finishes a game, versus wanting to bridge into a starting role where he also finishes most games. It might not be a money issue, we might lose NAW to his desired career path (see Tyus Jones.) Then again, he might not want to leave Finch and the Wolves and might be willing to accept more minutes at PG with Ant and Jaden. This is not an opinion statement, I just really hope someone is talking with him and figuring this out.

Can we pay it? Derek at Canis doesn't believe we can:

The problem: The Wolves might not be able to afford him, no matter how much they may want to.

Alexander-Walker’s current two-year deal doesn’t give the Wolves his Bird rights, which would have allowed them to exceed the salary cap to keep him. Instead, Minnesota can only offer him 175% of his current contract, which works out to about $7.9 million a year. Considering the leaps he made last season, Alexander-Walker is almost certainly going to command more on the open market—think somewhere in the $15-20 million per year range.

https://www.canishoopus.com/2024/10/19/24271020/minnesota-timberwolves-nickeil-alexander-walker-next-wolves-cap-casualty-cba-naz-reid-2024-2025#:~:text=Alexander%2DWalker's%20current%20two%2Dyear,about%20%247.9%20million%20a%20year.

Same with Austin at Dunking with Woles:

Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, the two-year pact he signed a season ago doesn't allow for "bird rights." The only financial constraint is a maximum contract under the bird rights provision. Alexander-Walker's contract does allow for "early bird rights," but this clause only allows for the Wolves to offer 175 percent of the athletic wing's current contract—roughly $7.9 million.

https://dunkingwithwolves.com/posts/timberwolves-guard-playing-himself-out-minnesota-price-range

I call BS. We traded for him and acquired his bird rights from Utah. We then resigned him. Unless NAW left as a free agent in between or we waived his rights to get out of a cap hold, we should have his bird rights.

the only thing i can think of is that the Wolves declined NAW's qualifying offer, that caused them to lose his rights?

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-timberwolves-free-agency-karl-anthony-towns-trade-nickeil-alexander-walker/600286434

By not giving Alexander-Walker a qualifying offer, the Wolves are likely hoping to sign him to multiple years for less money per year than the qualifying offer was worth. But it's a gamble, as the Wolves now do not have the rights to match any offers Alexander-Walker gets elsewhere.

[winforlose]

Can we pay it? Derek at Canis doesn't believe we can:



https://www.canishoopus.com/2024/10/19/24271020/minnesota-timberwolves-nickeil-alexander-walker-next-wolves-cap-casualty-cba-naz-reid-2024-2025#:~:text=Alexander%2DWalker's%20current%20two%2Dyear,about%20%247.9%20million%20a%20year.

Same with Austin at Dunking with Woles:



https://dunkingwithwolves.com/posts/timberwolves-guard-playing-himself-out-minnesota-price-range

I call BS. We traded for him and acquired his bird rights from Utah. We then resigned him. Unless NAW left as a free agent in between or we waived his rights to get out of a cap hold, we should have his bird rights.

the only thing i can think of is that the Wolves declined NAW's qualifying offer, that caused them to lose his rights?

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-timberwolves-free-agency-karl-anthony-towns-trade-nickeil-alexander-walker/600286434

By not giving Alexander-Walker a qualifying offer, the Wolves are likely hoping to sign him to multiple years for less money per year than the qualifying offer was worth. But it's a gamble, as the Wolves now do not have the rights to match any offers Alexander-Walker gets elsewhere.

TC strikes again.

[dschroeder01]

Can we pay it? Derek at Canis doesn't believe we can:



https://www.canishoopus.com/2024/10/19/24271020/minnesota-timberwolves-nickeil-alexander-walker-next-wolves-cap-casualty-cba-naz-reid-2024-2025#:~:text=Alexander%2DWalker's%20current%20two%2Dyear,about%20%247.9%20million%20a%20year.

Same with Austin at Dunking with Woles:



https://dunkingwithwolves.com/posts/timberwolves-guard-playing-himself-out-minnesota-price-range

I call BS. We traded for him and acquired his bird rights from Utah. We then resigned him. Unless NAW left as a free agent in between or we waived his rights to get out of a cap hold, we should have his bird rights.

the only thing i can think of is that the Wolves declined NAW's qualifying offer, that caused them to lose his rights?

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-timberwolves-free-agency-karl-anthony-towns-trade-nickeil-alexander-walker/600286434

By not giving Alexander-Walker a qualifying offer, the Wolves are likely hoping to sign him to multiple years for less money per year than the qualifying offer was worth. But it's a gamble, as the Wolves now do not have the rights to match any offers Alexander-Walker gets elsewhere.

I'm not sure this is right. From Larry Coon:

The basic idea is that a player must play for the same team for three seasons for his team to gain Bird rights (two seasons for Early Bird rights). It can be a single three-year contract, a series of three one-year contracts, or any combination that adds up to three seasons (two for Early Bird).

NAW has 3 uninterrupted seasons in a row with the Wolves (partials count). My understanding is that the Wolves have his Bird Rights no matter how the current contract came about. I get that the current deal is only 2 years, but he ended the season here the previous year. That's 3.

[dschroeder01]

TC strikes again.

Yep, it was a good move to trade for NAW and then resign him for a bargain deal for 2 more years.