The Tradability of the Current Wolves
Posted: Sat Feb 9, 2008 6:51 pm
I started this post as an attempt to answer the Rashad McCants tradability question, but I soon realized it was a bigger topic than this.
The following is how I see the tradability of the wolves players .. from the wolves point of view. I would appreciate feedback from other Wolves fans on which players should be moved up or down, as it would help me guage whether I'm creating trades that appeal to not just me, but our general fanbase.
Virtually Untradable: Al Jefferson. The key player in the KG deal, and the elite big man McHale covets.
Slightly Less than "Virtually Untradable:" Randy Foye, Corey Brewer, the 2008 MIN 1st. The Wolves have heavily invested in these lottery picks, and management needs to see that they've done well. Foye put up near identical per-minute numbers to ROY ROY, MIN just was giving Mike James the chance at the beginning of the year. We have a 132-page thread on the pick .. trading it would break a lot of hearts.
Probably not Tradable: Rashad McCants, Theo Ratliff. I think McCants was in the group above with the other lottery picks, but he's drifted behind them lately. MIN has invested a lot of time, effort, and hope in McCants, and because of the microfracture surgery, this is really his first chance to see if the investment was worth it. MIN probably won't deal him until they know for sure.
Ratliff's expiring contract is needed to bring back our restricted free agents and stay under the lux. The only way I could see him dealt is if the deal included one or two of Craig Smith, Gomes, and Telfair, and that would take a big offer. However, the Gasol trade demonstrated that big expirings can bring back big returns, so I think MIN would have to listen to offers.
Tradable, but it'll cost you: Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, MIA 1st. Our three restricted free agents are players we probably want to bring back .. and probably in that order. Gomes is averaging like 16 PPG, 7 RPG since being named a starter, and Telfair has shown far more than we expected. Craig Smith is just as talented, but he doesn't quite fit as well. The reason they may be tradable is that they may just be rentals, because as RFA's, there's no guarantee we aren't outbid this summer, and lose them for nothing. The MIA 1st could turn into something very valuable in the next year or two.
Tradable, slightly net positive value: BOS 2009 1st, MIN 2nd, MIA 2nd, Gerald Green, Micheal Doleac. The Celtics aren't young, and while I wouldn't want to see it happen, an injury or two could make this pick more valuable. The two 2nd-rounders at the top of the round may be more valuable than late 1sts, since they can bring back players that can can be sent to Europe and won't affect salary caps or roster sizes. Gerald Green is an unrestricted free agent, and is unlikely to return unless he shows something soon. Michael Doleac is a useful $3.1 mil expiring for us .. money to help bring back one of our RFA's.
Tradable, neutral value: Mark Madsen. He's a 3rd string center, but is paid like one as well, with a three year deal in the $2's. He knows his role, and is perhaps our best attitude on the bench, in the locker room, and in the community. Moving him doesn't provide incentive, and I suspect Taylor would like him in the organization when he retires.
Tradable, slightly net negative value: Antoine Walker, Greg Buckner. These guys are looking more valuable these days, since they will be valuable expiring contracts this summer. In addition, they both come off the books at the same time that we lose Hudson and Juwon's deals, and in the Summer of 2009, we'll have a chance to look at free agency. Trading them for longer deals might be harder. Walker is producing better than many realize (8 PPG, 4 RPG) and can be useful at times, as I assume Buckner can be -- he just simply won't get playing time as a swingman on this young team.
Tradable, a little more negative value: Marko Jaric. He carries a deal that runs 3.5 more years, averaging $6.9 mil. Most people from other boards see him as a horrible contract, but he no longer makes the ESPN list of the Top 25 worst. If he was a $4 mil player, his salary would fit. People also under-estimate his usefulness. I tend to view his value where I'd take a deal for a guy with 1.5 years left that had no production (aligning with the rest of the deals expiring in 2009) or a deal a year shorter if the player was productive and a better fit. He starts for the Wolves, and his ability to pass, get players in the right position, and avoid shots may be speeding up the learning curve of the young Wolves.
Comments? which guys should be moved up or down?
The following is how I see the tradability of the wolves players .. from the wolves point of view. I would appreciate feedback from other Wolves fans on which players should be moved up or down, as it would help me guage whether I'm creating trades that appeal to not just me, but our general fanbase.
Virtually Untradable: Al Jefferson. The key player in the KG deal, and the elite big man McHale covets.
Slightly Less than "Virtually Untradable:" Randy Foye, Corey Brewer, the 2008 MIN 1st. The Wolves have heavily invested in these lottery picks, and management needs to see that they've done well. Foye put up near identical per-minute numbers to ROY ROY, MIN just was giving Mike James the chance at the beginning of the year. We have a 132-page thread on the pick .. trading it would break a lot of hearts.
Probably not Tradable: Rashad McCants, Theo Ratliff. I think McCants was in the group above with the other lottery picks, but he's drifted behind them lately. MIN has invested a lot of time, effort, and hope in McCants, and because of the microfracture surgery, this is really his first chance to see if the investment was worth it. MIN probably won't deal him until they know for sure.
Ratliff's expiring contract is needed to bring back our restricted free agents and stay under the lux. The only way I could see him dealt is if the deal included one or two of Craig Smith, Gomes, and Telfair, and that would take a big offer. However, the Gasol trade demonstrated that big expirings can bring back big returns, so I think MIN would have to listen to offers.
Tradable, but it'll cost you: Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, MIA 1st. Our three restricted free agents are players we probably want to bring back .. and probably in that order. Gomes is averaging like 16 PPG, 7 RPG since being named a starter, and Telfair has shown far more than we expected. Craig Smith is just as talented, but he doesn't quite fit as well. The reason they may be tradable is that they may just be rentals, because as RFA's, there's no guarantee we aren't outbid this summer, and lose them for nothing. The MIA 1st could turn into something very valuable in the next year or two.
Tradable, slightly net positive value: BOS 2009 1st, MIN 2nd, MIA 2nd, Gerald Green, Micheal Doleac. The Celtics aren't young, and while I wouldn't want to see it happen, an injury or two could make this pick more valuable. The two 2nd-rounders at the top of the round may be more valuable than late 1sts, since they can bring back players that can can be sent to Europe and won't affect salary caps or roster sizes. Gerald Green is an unrestricted free agent, and is unlikely to return unless he shows something soon. Michael Doleac is a useful $3.1 mil expiring for us .. money to help bring back one of our RFA's.
Tradable, neutral value: Mark Madsen. He's a 3rd string center, but is paid like one as well, with a three year deal in the $2's. He knows his role, and is perhaps our best attitude on the bench, in the locker room, and in the community. Moving him doesn't provide incentive, and I suspect Taylor would like him in the organization when he retires.
Tradable, slightly net negative value: Antoine Walker, Greg Buckner. These guys are looking more valuable these days, since they will be valuable expiring contracts this summer. In addition, they both come off the books at the same time that we lose Hudson and Juwon's deals, and in the Summer of 2009, we'll have a chance to look at free agency. Trading them for longer deals might be harder. Walker is producing better than many realize (8 PPG, 4 RPG) and can be useful at times, as I assume Buckner can be -- he just simply won't get playing time as a swingman on this young team.
Tradable, a little more negative value: Marko Jaric. He carries a deal that runs 3.5 more years, averaging $6.9 mil. Most people from other boards see him as a horrible contract, but he no longer makes the ESPN list of the Top 25 worst. If he was a $4 mil player, his salary would fit. People also under-estimate his usefulness. I tend to view his value where I'd take a deal for a guy with 1.5 years left that had no production (aligning with the rest of the deals expiring in 2009) or a deal a year shorter if the player was productive and a better fit. He starts for the Wolves, and his ability to pass, get players in the right position, and avoid shots may be speeding up the learning curve of the young Wolves.
Comments? which guys should be moved up or down?
