2023 Free Agency

[Klomp]

Contracts, in a salary capped world, should not be flexible. It seems like it would be more fair if the contract you sign is what your cap number is and will be. And if you hit a Supermax bonus, that should be paid to you, but outside of the cap structure.

As it stands now, the Supermax rule benefits the player and penalizes the team. Having the bonus be "uncapped" would solve that problem.

Now obviously, this can only apply to the Supermax. Otherwise teams would fill contracts with relatively easy to hit bonuses to circumvent the cap.

It's only a thing because rookie extensions are signed a year early. The contract isn't really flexible. They are based on what happens during the life of the rookie contract, which is why it feels flexible.

I'm just saying there is a big difference between 216 and 260. Especially when making your budget.

Smart teams would work their budget planning around the 260...if they get extra money, sweet. If not, you're no worse off than you thought you'd be.

[KGdaBom]

There sure is a lot of Wolves hate from Wolves fans. It is depressing.

I wouldn't say hate,people have different view points on players i.e. Towns & Gobert and the teams outlook but would safely say all and I mean all us Wolves fans in the end just want the team to be good and to finally win a title. Now how we get their is up to a debate which I think is the whole point in even posting on a site like this.

Yeah, for sure.

I’d say it’s probably not the debate that is grating but rather how the debate is conducted. It’s possible to disagree and have tact - maybe even achieve a little more understanding even - but it seems like some people like to dig their heels in and get a bit edgy about it.

I appreciate what you have to say, but it qualifies as flat out hate to me. It seems several persons here despise our own players. At least judging by what they post about them they do. This hate seems to be primarily directed at KAT and to a lesser degree Gobert. Part of that hate is based on them having large contracts, but the reason they have large contracts is they earned them through stellar play.

[KGdaBom]

It's only a thing because rookie extensions are signed a year early. The contract isn't really flexible. They are based on what happens during the life of the rookie contract, which is why it feels flexible.

I'm just saying there is a big difference between 216 and 260. Especially when making your budget.

Smart teams would work their budget planning around the 260...if they get extra money, sweet. If not, you're no worse off than you thought you'd be.

I like BlackJacMac's idea. With Supermax bonus don't count it against the cap for the original team. If/When the player changes teams full salary counts against the cap. Now this might curtail changing teams a little bit, but it will allow more money into the player pool so I'm pretty sure the NBAPA would be in favor of it. It would very much help the teams in budgeting so I think they'd be in favor of it also.

[younggunsmn]

I wouldn't say hate,people have different view points on players i.e. Towns & Gobert and the teams outlook but would safely say all and I mean all us Wolves fans in the end just want the team to be good and to finally win a title. Now how we get their is up to a debate which I think is the whole point in even posting on a site like this.

Yeah, for sure.

I’d say it’s probably not the debate that is grating but rather how the debate is conducted. It’s possible to disagree and have tact - maybe even achieve a little more understanding even - but it seems like some people like to dig their heels in and get a bit edgy about it.

I appreciate what you have to say, but it qualifies as flat out hate to me. It seems several persons here despise our own players. At least judging by what they post about them they do. This hate seems to be primarily directed at KAT and to a lesser degree Gobert. Part of that hate is based on them having large contracts, but the reason they have large contracts is they earned them through stellar play.

This conversation popping up over and over makes me sad.
I do not understand the rationale of posters consistently getting so triggered and upset over criticism of our players coaches and GM.

The distinction I draw is between people saying negative things about the players/coaches/front office, and people attacking other posters for those negative opinions.

The first is what this place is here for. It's a social media forum to be critical/positive about professional sports.
The second is what I find unacceptable/reprehensible, and it grows like a cancer anytime this franchise makes bad/controversial decisions or experiences failure.

Attack/defend your post, not the poster. This should be a cardinal rule for everyone.
Debate their ideas not their tones. Don't assume their motivations.
Don't throw around serious heavy handed terms like hate for trivial garbage like opinions about basketball players.
They can't hear you and they don't need your help.

It makes me sick when posters go the extremes of trying to gaslight other posters that there is something wrong with them for holding negative opinions. These are the same people crying about everything they don't like being misinformation and trying to cancel everything they disagree with including the ironic Fire the Gm/coach thread we've had here for pretty much everyone other than Flip Saunders for 15+ years running.
At the heart of it is a deep insecurity and inability to handle negativity.
It takes all kinds in life.
Being in a constantly negative headspace is harmful, but the truth also doesn't care if you are positive or negative.
The key to navigating the upsides and downsides of life is to always have your eye out for the truth, wherever that takes you.

KAT has had a lot of success and good times here. He's also had a lot of struggles, especially in the playoffs.
His contract, taking up 35% of the cap is a big issue. All these things are true.
I don't see any name calling or personal attacks here against him or any other player.
A poster wanting to move on from a player or coach or GM doesn't make him/her a hateful person, it just means they see a different path forward for their team.

Keeping this team together after this year will be very expensive and difficult, KAT and Gobert will combine for 96 million next year.
We will be about 20 million into the tax and over the very punitive 2nd tax threshold before even thinking about re-signing 2 of our top 7 players, Conley and Anderson. Trading KAT or Gobert this offseason is a legit talker.

[younggunsmn]

I'm just saying there is a big difference between 216 and 260. Especially when making your budget.

Smart teams would work their budget planning around the 260...if they get extra money, sweet. If not, you're no worse off than you thought you'd be.

I like BlackJacMac's idea. With Supermax bonus don't count it against the cap for the original team. If/When the player changes teams full salary counts against the cap. Now this might curtail changing teams a little bit, but it will allow more money into the player pool so I'm pretty sure the NBAPA would be in favor of it. It would very much help the teams in budgeting so I think they'd be in favor of it also.

I think they need to greatly narrow the requirements for the supermax.
First (once) or 2nd team (twice) All-NBA only for the 30% max for players year 0-6.
Top 3 in the MVP vote only for the 35% max.
Also finals or conference finals MVP, so there is an actual reward attached to team achievement.

Part of the problem is that KAT didn't earn that 35% max, not even close in my opinion.
He may not even be the 2nd most important player on his own team anymore.
3rd team All-NBA is only a top 15 player for that year. You are talking about 15 players potentially earning supermaxes each year.
That's terrible, and a recipe for disaster over time.

[m2002brian]

Smart teams would work their budget planning around the 260...if they get extra money, sweet. If not, you're no worse off than you thought you'd be.

I like BlackJacMac's idea. With Supermax bonus don't count it against the cap for the original team. If/When the player changes teams full salary counts against the cap. Now this might curtail changing teams a little bit, but it will allow more money into the player pool so I'm pretty sure the NBAPA would be in favor of it. It would very much help the teams in budgeting so I think they'd be in favor of it also.

I think they need to greatly narrow the requirements for the supermax.
First (once) or 2nd team (twice) All-NBA only for the 30% max for players year 0-6.
Top 3 in the MVP vote only for the 35% max.
Also finals or conference finals MVP, so there is an actual reward attached to team achievement.

Part of the problem is that KAT didn't earn that 35% max, not even close in my opinion.
He may not even be the 2nd most important player on his own team anymore.
3rd team All-NBA is only a top 15 player for that year. You are talking about 15 players potentially earning supermaxes each year.
That's terrible, and a recipe for disaster over time.

Also, with all-nba now being positionless, he wouldn’t have been all-nba ever under the same rules.
Being an elite shooting center when the nba is going away from bigs was just a loophole to being voted all-nba two times. Now instead of being a top 3 center / pf he would have to be a top 15 player.

Btw, if the current all-nba voting system was in place last season, ANT would have been all-nba 3rd team.

[KGdaBom]

Yeah, for sure.

I’d say it’s probably not the debate that is grating but rather how the debate is conducted. It’s possible to disagree and have tact - maybe even achieve a little more understanding even - but it seems like some people like to dig their heels in and get a bit edgy about it.

I appreciate what you have to say, but it qualifies as flat out hate to me. It seems several persons here despise our own players. At least judging by what they post about them they do. This hate seems to be primarily directed at KAT and to a lesser degree Gobert. Part of that hate is based on them having large contracts, but the reason they have large contracts is they earned them through stellar play.

This conversation popping up over and over makes me sad.
I do not understand the rationale of posters consistently getting so triggered and upset over criticism of our players coaches and GM.

The distinction I draw is between people saying negative things about the players/coaches/front office, and people attacking other posters for those negative opinions.

The first is what this place is here for. It's a social media forum to be critical/positive about professional sports.
The second is what I find unacceptable/reprehensible, and it grows like a cancer anytime this franchise makes bad/controversial decisions or experiences failure.

Attack/defend your post, not the poster. This should be a cardinal rule for everyone.
Debate their ideas not their tones. Don't assume their motivations.
Don't throw around serious heavy handed terms like hate for trivial garbage like opinions about basketball players.
They can't hear you and they don't need your help.

It makes me sick when posters go the extremes of trying to gaslight other posters that there is something wrong with them for holding negative opinions. These are the same people crying about everything they don't like being misinformation and trying to cancel everything they disagree with including the ironic Fire the Gm/coach thread we've had here for pretty much everyone other than Flip Saunders for 15+ years running.
At the heart of it is a deep insecurity and inability to handle negativity.
It takes all kinds in life.
Being in a constantly negative headspace is harmful, but the truth also doesn't care if you are positive or negative.
The key to navigating the upsides and downsides of life is to always have your eye out for the truth, wherever that takes you.

KAT has had a lot of success and good times here. He's also had a lot of struggles, especially in the playoffs.
His contract, taking up 35% of the cap is a big issue. All these things are true.
I don't see any name calling or personal attacks here against him or any other player.
A poster wanting to move on from a player or coach or GM doesn't make him/her a hateful person, it just means they see a different path forward for their team.

Keeping this team together after this year will be very expensive and difficult, KAT and Gobert will combine for 96 million next year.
We will be about 20 million into the tax and over the very punitive 2nd tax threshold before even thinking about re-signing 2 of our top 7 players, Conley and Anderson. Trading KAT or Gobert this offseason is a legit talker.

I believe most of what you are saying is directed at me. I still stand by my opinion. It goes way beyond criticism. It's despising them and considering them without worth. Just this morning I see JJJ>>>>>KAT in trade value. I have seen Brian going off on him as a negative for our team. This is a guy who has put up numbers unheard of in NBA history. Yeah he makes a lot of money. IMO he deserves it. I'm not saying these posters are bad people, but I have my right to say their constant belittling of our players makes me sad. Just like you have your right to say my calling out these persons makes you sad/sick.

[younggunsmn]

KG, you are far from the worst offender and what you say is mild by comparison to others.

I disagree most strongly with your use of the term hate.

To be honest JJJ does have much more trade value than KAT, he took a huge leap last year and is an elite defensive player.
It would simply be a lot more constructive for you to say that you disagree, you really believe in KAT and think he has a bright future here.

I don't think KAT's contract would be a big talker if we had not added Gobert because we would still be in a really good position financially for the next 3 years. KAT's simply the only one of those 2 who is going to have any trade value going forward.

Personally, I don't think KAT is a good enough offensive player to justify his supermax contract, given his defensive deficiencies.
He could change that by having a really good year.
I also don't think it was fair to him to ask him to move over and sacrifice alot of his space on the floor to Gobert, it's made it more difficult to repeat his past success.
He earned that contract and those All-NBA awards as a center and the only real big on the floor.
Even if he puts up a 60%+ TS% again on high volume, it will be very difficult to ever approach 10 rebounds and 2 blocks with Gobert next to him.
We added Gobert to take some of the pressure off of KAT on the defensive end, in the process we also devalued a bit KAT's ability to contribute to the team.
KAT has been the player making the biggest sacrifice trying to make the Gobert acquisition work, and I don't think that I've fairly acknowledged that.

[m2002brian]

Doesn’t say something if the team is asking KAT to sacrifice his game? That maybe, regardless of the stats, his game wasn’t equating to winning. Much like he had to sacrifice when Butler was here, and it ultimately was one one of his and the teams better years (since 2005). Acknowledging that he isn’t a first option, and maybe not even a second on a championship winning team. If that is the case, can you replace 75% of the offensive production and get back more defense? And can you do that for 50-70% of the cost?

Wouldn’t someone like Keegan Murray be a better 3rd option? 40% 3pt shooter, 50% fg overall. Scoured as a smart and capable defender.

[younggunsmn]

Doesn’t say something if the team is asking KAT to sacrifice his game? That maybe, regardless of the stats, his game wasn’t equating to winning. Much like he had to sacrifice when Butler was here, and it ultimately was one one of his and the teams better years (since 2005). Acknowledging that he isn’t a first option, and maybe not even a second on a championship winning team. If that is the case, can you replace 75% of the offensive production and get back more defense? And can you do that for 50-70% of the cost?

I think we were close before. I think we definitely win that Memphis series with Conley instead of Russell for instance.
I'm just saying that we are asking less of him now than we were before that contract was signed.

He has to get back to being an elite, efficient 2nd option on offense.
One who can get a tough bucket and score against a good defense as well as a bad one.
Eliminate the offensive fouls and make smart and quick decisions with the ball.

His defense against Jokic was encouraging the last 4 games of that series. He just needs to repeat that with less fouling.
Because we gave Jokic more trouble defensively than any other team he faced in the playoffs, and KAT was key to that.
Maybe we play KAT on the other team's big if he is a good offensive player, and let Gobert roam more often.

We lost that series, we may have also found a few other things.
But KAT needs to be much much better offensively than he was in that series for us to have big time success.
If you look at the stats, he was the one guy who really underperformed expectations.

[younggunsmn]

I also think there's something a little more valuable to shot creation for an offensive player.

It's a heckuva lot easier to be a catch and shoot 3+D player or a lob catching and putback dunking big, than it is being the guy asked to create offense for himself and others.
That's why the guys who can do that are the guys who make the big money.

One of our big weaknesses last year was that for most of the year, Ant was our only guy who could really do that.
KAT returning to being that kind of player is a big key to us going to the next level.
If we trade him, who are you getting that replaces that ability?
The kind of triple threat who can drive, shoot, and pass?

Our highest ceiling, by far, is the one that maximizes both KAT and Ant.
I still believe that.

And the one thing that makes me hopeful about running it back is having a full season of Mike Conley.
I think he's a huge difference maker, both in his play and his leadership.

[Klomp]

I also think there's something a little more valuable to shot creation for an offensive player.

It's a heckuva lot easier to be a catch and shoot 3+D player or a lob catching and putback dunking big, than it is being the guy asked to create offense for himself and others.
That's why the guys who can do that are the guys who make the big money.

One of our big weaknesses last year was that for most of the year, Ant was our only guy who could really do that.
KAT returning to being that kind of player is a big key to us going to the next level.
If we trade him, who are you getting that replaces that ability?
The kind of triple threat who can drive, shoot, and pass?

This is definitely a significant piece, and something that people quickly gloss over in regards to Towns.

[m2002brian]

I also think there's something a little more valuable to shot creation for an offensive player.

It's a heckuva lot easier to be a catch and shoot 3+D player or a lob catching and putback dunking big, than it is being the guy asked to create offense for himself and others.
That's why the guys who can do that are the guys who make the big money.

One of our big weaknesses last year was that for most of the year, Ant was our only guy who could really do that.
KAT returning to being that kind of player is a big key to us going to the next level.
If we trade him, who are you getting that replaces that ability?
The kind of triple threat who can drive, shoot, and pass?

Our highest ceiling, by far, is the one that maximizes both KAT and Ant.
I still believe that.

And the one thing that makes me hopeful about running it back is having a full season of Mike Conley.
I think he's a huge difference maker, both in his play and his leadership.

That is true. Creation of shots for self or others is important. Some of that has been removed from kats game with the transition to PF and teams realizing they can put smaller guys on him and he can’t take advantage.
Remember when the 6’9” Kevon Looney absolutely owned him?

[younggunsmn]

I also think there's something a little more valuable to shot creation for an offensive player.

It's a heckuva lot easier to be a catch and shoot 3+D player or a lob catching and putback dunking big, than it is being the guy asked to create offense for himself and others.
That's why the guys who can do that are the guys who make the big money.

One of our big weaknesses last year was that for most of the year, Ant was our only guy who could really do that.
KAT returning to being that kind of player is a big key to us going to the next level.
If we trade him, who are you getting that replaces that ability?
The kind of triple threat who can drive, shoot, and pass?

Our highest ceiling, by far, is the one that maximizes both KAT and Ant.
I still believe that.

And the one thing that makes me hopeful about running it back is having a full season of Mike Conley.
I think he's a huge difference maker, both in his play and his leadership.

That is true. Creation of shots for self or others is important. Some of that has been removed from kats game with the transition to PF and teams realizing they can put smaller guys on him and he can’t take advantage.

Very good point. This is an adjustment both KAT and Finch need to make going forward.
I think Finch has a lot to work on with his offense,
We need better sets for when Gobert is on the floor.
And we need to create more movement to give KAT and Ant better angles to attack instead of working from the top of the key or in isolation so much.

[TimberKat]

I like BlackJacMac's idea. With Supermax bonus don't count it against the cap for the original team. If/When the player changes teams full salary counts against the cap. Now this might curtail changing teams a little bit, but it will allow more money into the player pool so I'm pretty sure the NBAPA would be in favor of it. It would very much help the teams in budgeting so I think they'd be in favor of it also.

I think they need to greatly narrow the requirements for the supermax.
First (once) or 2nd team (twice) All-NBA only for the 30% max for players year 0-6.
Top 3 in the MVP vote only for the 35% max.
Also finals or conference finals MVP, so there is an actual reward attached to team achievement.

Part of the problem is that KAT didn't earn that 35% max, not even close in my opinion.
He may not even be the 2nd most important player on his own team anymore.
3rd team All-NBA is only a top 15 player for that year. You are talking about 15 players potentially earning supermaxes each year.
That's terrible, and a recipe for disaster over time.

Also, with all-nba now being positionless, he wouldn’t have been all-nba ever under the same rules.
Being an elite shooting center when the nba is going away from bigs was just a loophole to being voted all-nba two times. Now instead of being a top 3 center / pf he would have to be a top 15 player.

Btw, if the current all-nba voting system was in place last season, ANT would have been all-nba 3rd team.

Yes, make the "super" as a bonus and don't count toward cap is a good way. Totally agree we need higher standards for supermax. I am surprised none of these ideas make its way into the new agreements.

Towns got the supermax, rather you feel he deserves it or not, is not his fault. It's the current rule.

I don't see Ant make 3rd team last year. There was definitely 15 players ahead of him.

[Rookie-Mistake]

Bol.
Bring.

Sent from my SM-G991B using RealGM mobile app

[minimus]

Doesn’t say something if the team is asking KAT to sacrifice his game? That maybe, regardless of the stats, his game wasn’t equating to winning. Much like he had to sacrifice when Butler was here, and it ultimately was one one of his and the teams better years (since 2005). Acknowledging that he isn’t a first option, and maybe not even a second on a championship winning team. If that is the case, can you replace 75% of the offensive production and get back more defense? And can you do that for 50-70% of the cost?

I think we were close before. I think we definitely win that Memphis series with Conley instead of Russell for instance.
I'm just saying that we are asking less of him now than we were before that contract was signed.

He has to get back to being an elite, efficient 2nd option on offense.
One who can get a tough bucket and score against a good defense as well as a bad one.
Eliminate the offensive fouls and make smart and quick decisions with the ball.

His defense against Jokic was encouraging the last 4 games of that series. He just needs to repeat that with less fouling.
Because we gave Jokic more trouble defensively than any other team he faced in the playoffs, and KAT was key to that.
Maybe we play KAT on the other team's big if he is a good offensive player, and let Gobert roam more often.

We lost that series, we may have also found a few other things.
But KAT needs to be much much better offensively than he was in that series for us to have big time success.
If you look at the stats, he was the one guy who really underperformed expectations.

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Yes, I agree. Towns needs to be much smarter with ball in his hands. He has already proved that he can shoot, drive and pass. But he still has not figured out yet WHEN he should shoot, drive or pass.

[minimus]

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Is Theo Maledon still a FA? Would you bring him on min.deal?

[Neeva]

Bol.
Bring.

Sent from my SM-G991B using RealGM mobile app

Didn’t Connelly draft him?

[Domejandro]

Please no Bol Bol. The dude is a horrific net-negative when he is on-the-court.

I am not exaggerating when I call him a bottom five player in the NBA.