2022 Free Agency

[shrink]

What do you think of Hartenstein, and what do you think he’d cost?

I’m looking for size here, but could we play a true center next to KAT, and not make him mad?

[winforlose]

What do you think of Hartenstein, and what do you think he’d cost?

I’m looking for size here, but could we play a true center next to KAT, and not make him mad?

His lack of distance shooting (30 attempts is a minuscule sample size,) means V8 has to move to the bench. In a pinch it could work, but V8 guarding wings is the ideal as his length bothers them. Also having KAT, V8, and a 3rd big increases our rebounding, and makes it easier to switch inside to defend. If we defend the paint easier our guards can stay on the perimeter more and hopefully give up fewer open 3s (especially from the corners.) He isn’t the worst guy we could add, but he also isn’t high on my list for a starter. As a backup I am more interested, but again there are others guys on my list.

Also, KAT has been matched up on fours by Thibs, Ryan, and Finch. He wanted to get out on the perimeter and guard more which is why we run high wall. KAT has already sort of transitioned to the PF in some ways, this would just make it more official.

[Magoose]

What do you think of Hartenstein, and what do you think he’d cost?

I’m looking for size here, but could we play a true center next to KAT, and not make him mad?

I like him a lot and had thought of him as a cheap option if size is needed against the physical bigs. Also I think he's still room to grow.
Question is how much he's looking for obviously. Other than that I don't think there is a smart/obtainable option in FA for us.

[wolves_89]

I'd start by making offers to Clippers free agents Covington, Batum, and Hartenstein. Next, I'd go after the free agents who might end up around the MLE level that includes Nurkic, Portis, O. Porter, TJ Warren, and M. Robinson. Lesser free agents to go after include K. Anderson, T. Young, McGee, Muscala, R. Lopez, and Whiteside. I'd even have some interest in making a RFA offer to Bamba or Bagley if other options don't materialize.

[minimus]

I'd start by making offers to Clippers free agents Covington, Batum, and Hartenstein. Next, I'd go after the free agents who might end up around the MLE level that includes Nurkic, Portis, O. Porter, TJ Warren, and M. Robinson. Lesser free agents to go after include K. Anderson, T. Young, McGee, Muscala, R. Lopez, and Whiteside. I'd even have some interest in making a RFA offer to Bamba or Bagley if other options don't materialize.

I think it is difficult to convince FA to come here and play behind Towns, Edwards, DLo, MCD. It means, no M.Robinson, TJ Warren, Nurkic, Bamba. I would not try to sign to MLE washed up guys such as Lopez, Whiteside, Porter, unless they sign a vetmin, but I dont think it is realistic.

Hartenstein is an interesting option, big body, good passer for a big. He was drafted by HOU and played there, so maybe he has some ties within our coaching, management staff.

Covington is one of my favorite players ever. Would love to get him back. He fits our current team on many levels: he is "big brother" friend with Towns, he is one of the best "low men" defender in NBA, he is great locker room presence. He is okay with backup PF/SF role, he is a great mentor.

[andyhop]

What do they do with Prince? Can they sign him at a reasonable deal that makes keeping him around an option?

[moss_is_1]

What do they do with Prince? Can they sign him at a reasonable deal that makes keeping him around an option?

I'd think so. There's a ton of wing depth that offer similar production so the market should be inflated.

[moss_is_1]

There's a lot of veterans that would be nice to bring in this off-season. Guys who can really help to teach the younger ones, play when needed and still contribute.

Roco, Ibaka, Jamychael Green, Tucker, Patty Mills, Kevon Looney, Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, Batum, Markieff Morris, Porter JR, Bjelica, Gary Payton Jr.

I'd like to keep Prince, but if we lose him we can get a solid wing, and hopefully a veteran big that can play with KAT and has some strength. Then we can use whatever picks we have on developmental guys like Bolmaro(taking over Layman, Okogie end of bench slots), or draft and stash guys.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

?s

I have just realised that RoCo defended DLo at some point. It does not surprise me that RoCo can't be effective full time PoA defender anymore, I just wonder if we can get him under slightly less than full MLE. Something like 20 mil / 3 yrs ?

[moss_is_1]

Read on Twitter

?s

I have just realised that RoCo defended DLo at some point. It does not surprise me that RoCo can't be effective full time PoA defender anymore, I just wonder if we can get him under slightly less than full MLE. Something like 20 mil / 3 yrs ?

I'm not sure ROCO was ever a lock down type of guy. He's a great team defender and help defender. I'd be skeptical giving him more than a 1 or 2 year deal because of his injury history.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

?s

I have just realised that RoCo defended DLo at some point. It does not surprise me that RoCo can't be effective full time PoA defender anymore, I just wonder if we can get him under slightly less than full MLE. Something like 20 mil / 3 yrs ?

I'm not sure ROCO was ever a lock down type of guy. He's a great team defender and help defender. I'd be skeptical giving him more than a 1 or 2 year deal because of his injury history.

Yeah, I have been advocating for RoCo as backup wing, team defender and more important mentor and veteran presence for our young players. I know that we need a PoA defender and RoCo can't be that player.

I also want us to give him multi-year deal, but with team options.

[Note30]

Could we theoretically do a S&T Reid for Turner?

We still need a big that could rebound and play out if we get RoCo.

Portis is probably the best fit there.

If we're also looking a calming bench presence I'd look at Ingles.

I know this is going to get a lot of flak, but Rubio might not be a bad idea as a backup Swiss PG rotation to Nowell

We could get the latter two for dirt cheap probably.

Portis / RoCo / Ingles / Rubio

Russell / Rubio / Nowell
Bev / Beasley
Edwards/ McDaniels / Ingles
Portis / RoCo / Vando
KAT / Turner

[younggunsmn]

Keep in mind Prince played the bulk of his minutes here this year as a backup 4.
That is the spot we are trying to upgrade in the offseason.
So throwing money at both prince and a 4/5 to play with KAT is spending money twice on the same minutes.

I would re-sign prince, but at a much reduced price form his current 13 mil. I'm thinking 5-6 mil tops.
Just can't justify a big spend for a sub 20 MPG player.

I like Covington. He would be the exact same player for us as McDaniels though.
Maybe that's a good thing to have another switchable defender. Would sign him for MLE, which means letting prince go.

Big priority for me is finding another big to go with KAT and NAZ. Could that be Monroe? Defense and rebounding are a must, with ability to pass OR shoot well enough to stay on the court offensively. Does not have to be a big spend, but a veteran player is preferable here.

We will have picks 18/19, 40, 48/49, 55ish. Should add a developmental 4 or 5 with one of those or use it in trade.

Myles Turner would be a trade target, but I don't think we have a big enough role here for him.

KAT can play the 4 against certain lineups, but he isnt going to be able to defend there against most.
Veteran depth at the 5 is sorely needed, but I wouldn't make a major move that pushes KAT to the 4 for extended minutes.

Long term we are going to need a POA defender to replace Beverly if we are going with Russell long term. Could that be Bolmaro?
Can always use more shooting. Skills to target with our 2nd round picks and cheap FA signings.

[Dewey]

I’d like to see McKinnley Wright (kind of a defensive bulldog like Beverly) get a small role next season with Beverly still around and see if he can have any success

[Mamba4Goat]

I’ve been thinking…it’s hard to see Minnesota landing a noteworthy PF/C free agent and keeping Prince. Not because of money or anything but because the role they’d be signing on for would be a star center’s backup with spot PF minutes as Vando, Prince; McDaniels, Ant, and Beas take up a lot of the forward minutes.

So if a different trade isn’t made, how many noteworthy PF/C free agents would be worth the MLE and letting Prince go?

[shrink]

I’ve been thinking…it’s hard to see Minnesota landing a noteworthy PF/C free agent and keeping Prince. Not because of money or anything but because the role they’d be signing on for would be a star center’s backup with spot PF minutes as Vando, Prince; McDaniels, Ant, and Beas take up a lot of the forward minutes.

So if a different trade isn’t made, how many noteworthy PF/C free agents would be worth the MLE and letting Prince go?

That’s how I see it too, at least for the off-season.

We need to find a PF/C that’s so good that he pushes Vando to the bench, but so flawed that we can sign him in Free Agency for the MLE ($10.5 mil)? I’m not sure that player exists.

Otherwise, if we want an upgrade right away, we need to make a trade, but I doubt we’d be anxious to move on from any of our more expensive players to have matching salary.

I think we use most or all of the MLE on a rotation-level free agent, and bring back Prince, as players but also as matching salaries for a legitimate trade in December, when the strings come off using them as matching salary. If we are healthy, we’ll struggle to find enough minutes for all the players that deserve them, but I trust Finch to work that out, until we can do a consolidation trade in December.

[shrink]

Could we theoretically do a S&T Reid for Turner?

Tough because of base year compensation issues (sign and extend?), teams receiving a S&T player hard cap themselves (issue for some teams) plus finding matching salary since we won’t give Naz a contract like Turner’s.

[jpatrick]

If the blazers go full tank and let Nurkic go in free agency, would he come here as a center playing 30 minutes backing up and playing with KAT?

I struggle to find a MLE free agent big that would fit what we’re looking for. Would Orlando let Issac go for a pick/filler? Do we get in the Grant sweepstakes?

[Klomp]

Different angle...

Everyone's looking simply at the roster in its current state. Need a PF; must use FA to fix. Problem being people (such as Jerami Grant) aren't as excited about signing to be a fourth or fifth wheel.

But let's look at another possibility. Use Beasley as a trade chip. Fill that PF hole via trade.

It then would open up the reserve SG role to upgrade. Yes, you're filling a need by creating another. However, our bench SG position has to be an attractive option for anyone who wants to help the team as a volume shooter. The Beasley role has to be one of the more attractive roles for a potential reserve wing.

[Klomp]

Any chance we would target Jalen Brunson as the heir apparent to Patrick Beverley? He seems like he might be the closest NBA comparison to Bev in many ways.