RealGM

So it seems like if it was hard for MIN to get one elite free agent, getting two would be impossible, right? Maybe not.

Consider the Knicks. right now, they have the cap space to lure in one elite free agent. Will he come? Well, the Knicks are one of the worst teams in the league right now, and the FA signs on, his team is sure to lose. Even LeBron plus garbage is still not going to compete for a ring. NYC media would be merciless with every loss.

I've stated several times that there odds would increase of making a move in free agency if they would pay whatever it takes to move Curry, and have the cap space to make two max-deal offers. If you can say to LeBron "we're also bringing in Wade" and say the same to Wade, wouldn't they be far more likely to step onto that team. They all say they want to win.

The same thing may be true for Minnesota. As Farve shows, its not the cold or the market size that keeps an elite player out of Minnesota, but whether they can win. The money would be the same anywhere. If we could tell Wade "well, we'll add you only if we're getting Bosh too!" wouldn't that make MIN a lot more attractive.

Of course, people will say "Well, there's no way MIN can sign them -- they can't clear that much cap space!" However, it isn't always necessary. If a team is going to lose a player anyway, they are much better off trying to do a sign-and-trade. Its a win-win-win situation. The player can get a bigger contract and an extra year, the seller avoids losing the potential free agent for nothing, and the buyer gets the elite player. If MIN signs the first player with cap space, they can use any remaining cap space plus assets to outbid other teams for the second player. Unlike NYK, MIN is loaded with good young assets, pick, and remaining cap space to make a pretty good offer.

This may be a better approach than hoping to get one player. Dare to dream, but we do have the assets that this isn't outside the realm of possibilities -- circa the "worst-in-the-league" BOS Celtics, who did it with less.

I don't know if we can compare the NFL to the NBA as far as being able to lure free agents. To me, the NFL has never seemed like a league filled with players who are reluctant to play or live in harsh conditions. In fact I've never heard the weather excuse anywhere but the NBA.

I do think the prestige and history of the Celtics helped in getting Ray and KG as much as the concept of having three top players on one team. The Wolves don't have that history.

Good post Shrink. I'm sure people will have a lot of fun imagining the number of different scenarios they can come up with.

funkatron101 wrote:I don't know if we can compare the NFL to the NBA as far as being able to lure free agents. To me, the NFL has never seemed like a league filled with players who are reluctant to play or live in harsh conditions. In fact I've never heard the weather excuse anywhere but the NBA.

I do think the prestige and history of the Celtics helped in getting Ray and KG as much as the concept of having three top players on one team. The Wolves don't have that history.

I think a better question is whether there are currently teams out there looking to begin the rebuilding process and ship out a star player like the Wolves and Sonics did that year.

Phili? -- Igoudala
N.O.? -- Chris Paul, Okafor (we've been over this)
Was? -- Butler
Sac? -- Martin

Problem is, other than Paul, these players are not even close to the talent level of a Ray Allen or a KG

Martin is a great scorer. I'd much rather have him than Gay.

Iggy is young, and plays very well both ways. I'd love him on the team.

Butler is a little old for the rest of the squad. I'd only take him for a really good price and if we added several other big pieces at the same time so we'd be looking to sort of do a Celtics (and make a big jump).

Martin is a sieve on D and is a terrible health risk for a lot of money, so very little interest. I'd rather have Gay or trade some of the many assets for an extra lottery pick so we could do the Turner/Wesley Johnson combination draft.

As always, Wallace would be a possibility depending on what the Bobcats are thinking (I'm not sure).

Dr.Krapinsky wrote:

funkatron101 wrote:I don't know if we can compare the NFL to the NBA as far as being able to lure free agents. To me, the NFL has never seemed like a league filled with players who are reluctant to play or live in harsh conditions. In fact I've never heard the weather excuse anywhere but the NBA.

I do think the prestige and history of the Celtics helped in getting Ray and KG as much as the concept of having three top players on one team. The Wolves don't have that history.

I think a better question is whether there are currently teams out there looking to begin the rebuilding process and ship out a star player like the Wolves and Sonics did that year.

Phili? -- Igoudala
N.O.? -- Chris Paul, Okafor (we've been over this)
Was? -- Butler
Sac? -- Martin

Problem is, other than Paul, these players are not even close to the talent level of a Ray Allen or a KG

Few are, but Ray two years ago is not insurmountable. And remember they got him for the #5 pick (ours should be better) and a two-year deal (again, we'd offer better). I understand that these are the prices for an older all star, and we might be looking for someone younger, and that stars don't come around every day, but there are intrigueing pieces out there, and some of them should become available.

You could possibly add Gerald Wallace, Monta Ellis, Chris Kaman, Rip Hamilton, Michael Redd, Luol Deng, Devin Harris, Elton Brand and Dalembert, Boozer, Arenas

Free agents for sign-and-trade we've been over: LeBron, Bosh, Wade, Amare, Joe Johnson, Rudy Gay

I think Ellis, Wallace, Kaman, and Harris would be the hardest to get.

Would Ramon + Gomes + Cap space net Hamilton?

Would Brewer + Flynn + Cap space net Igoudala?

Wall!/Rubio
Hamilton/Ellington
Igoudala/Utah pick
Love/Pekovic
Jefferson/Hollins

Dr.Krapinsky wrote:I think Ellis, Wallace, Kaman, and Harris would be the hardest to get.

Would Ramon + Gomes + Cap space net Hamilton?

Would Brewer + Flynn + Cap space net Igoudala?

Wall!/Rubio
Hamilton/Ellington
Igoudala/Utah pick
Love/Pekovic
Jefferson/Hollins

There was a trade suggestion with Jefferson/Gomes/expirings going to Philly for Iggy/Speights/Dalembert that was panned as being terrible for Philly. I suppose it depends on how they feel about Jrue Holiday's future to know if they'd want Flynn.

Paul + Iggy!

bruceallen61 wrote:Paul + Iggy!

If we did a deadline deal for Paul that included us taking back major salary including Peja, we could make an S&T offer this summer using Peja as a big expiring. It wouldn't be as strong as offering some raw cap space (that would be gone), but we do have a lot of young assets. And owning Paul and Jefferson/Love would make us an attractive destination for free agents in the S&T.

I think I've demonstrated before that with a big Paul deal, we can use our 2009 space under the lux to create a TPE that gets the Hornets under the lux, and adds an additional $10 mil in up front savings.

I would love to see a Paul/Iggy/Peja/Love/Hollins. I think that lineup could cove up Peja's bad D and Love's average D

I think we'd have a good shot at Iggy. The sixers would obviously be better of dumping him and Brand for assets and building for 2011/2012.

Iggy + Martin would be very solid as well.

Gomes + Sessions + Bobs pick + Pekovic + Cap space for Iggy?

Flynn + Brewer + Cap space for Martin?

Wall/Rubio
Martin/Ellington
Igoudala/FA
Love/Utah
Jefferson/Hollins

I'd be fine with that.

Another option:

Trade Jefferson for Iggy

Trade some combination of cap space, Pekovic, Gomes, and Bob's pick for another top ten or top five pick.

Draft Turner and Aldrich

Flynn/Sessions (Rubio)
Iggy/ Ellington
Turner/Brewer
Love/Utah
Aldrich/Hollins
+ some cap space for a smaller FA signing

C.lupus wrote:I'd be fine with that.

Another option:

Trade Jefferson for Iggy

Trade some combination of cap space, Pekovic, Gomes, and Bob's pick for another top ten or top five pick.

Draft Turner and Aldrich

Flynn/Sessions (Rubio)
Iggy/ Ellington
Turner/Brewer
Love/Utah
Aldrich/Hollins
+ some cap space for a smaller FA signing

Jefferson for Iggy doesn't make sense from Phili's perspective. It makes them just as good in the short run, only with a log jam up front, and doesn't help them cut cap space and rebuild in the long run.

Dr.Krapinsky wrote:

C.lupus wrote:I'd be fine with that.

Another option:

Trade Jefferson for Iggy

Trade some combination of cap space, Pekovic, Gomes, and Bob's pick for another top ten or top five pick.

Draft Turner and Aldrich

Flynn/Sessions (Rubio)
Iggy/ Ellington
Turner/Brewer
Love/Utah
Aldrich/Hollins
+ some cap space for a smaller FA signing

Jefferson for Iggy doesn't make sense from Phili's perspective. It makes them just as good in the short run, only with a log jam up front, and doesn't help them cut cap space and rebuild in the long run.

Trading for Iggy and Turner also doesn't make sense because they are essentially the same player. Both are very good at scoring on the move, while we would sorely be missing quality shooters. That roster would be one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the league and that is the great equalizer. We would have to trade for Iggy or draft Turner but not both. I think we would be better suited for drafting Turner and signing a player like Brandon Marrow or trading for Iggy and drafting a player like Xavier Henry.

I know knicks trades have been hit hard, but if we were to either win the John Wall sweepstakes or we were sure that Rubio was coming over in 2 years and were fine with Sessions manning the point, does anyone do Flynn + (something...Utah pick?) for Gallinari?

Woomanchu wrote:Trading for Iggy and Turner also doesn't make sense because they are essentially the same player. Both are very good at scoring on the move, while we would sorely be missing quality shooters. That roster would be one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the league and that is the great equalizer. We would have to trade for Iggy or draft Turner but not both. I think we would be better suited for drafting Turner and signing a player like Brandon Marrow or trading for Iggy and drafting a player like Xavier Henry.

OK, fair enough. Turner is a good shooter, he just doesn't have the 3pt range and I think 3pt shooting is a bit overrated but point taken.

Esohny wrote:I know knicks trades have been hit hard, but if we were to either win the John Wall sweepstakes or we were sure that Rubio was coming over in 2 years and were fine with Sessions manning the point, does anyone do Flynn + (something...Utah pick?) for Gallinari?

I'd probably do that depending on what the "+ something" was.
Rubio/Turner/Gallinari/Love would look really good in the triangle.

Dr.Krapinsky wrote:I think we'd have a good shot at Iggy. The sixers would obviously be better of dumping him and Brand for assets and building for 2011/2012.

Iggy + Martin would be very solid as well.

Gomes + Sessions + Bobs pick + Pekovic + Cap space for Iggy?

Flynn + Brewer + Cap space for Martin?

Wall/Rubio
Martin/Ellington
Igoudala/FA
Love/Utah
Jefferson/Hollins

I don't know, I don't think the Sixers will be looking to move Iggy's salary. He's too good and too young. They might look for a better fit with Thad, but they'll be looking for talent. And I'm not sure what we have to offer matches up well with what they'd want.

hey sixers fan here, stumbled on this thread...

I'm not sure our FO would ever consider trading iggy. But from a fans perspective, the only deal I see working would have to include a top 5 pick. So it'd have to be a draft day deal, because we wouldn't ship him to you at the deadline to have our new pick lose its value.

What about something like Iggy for 1st, & maybe utah's first and then whoever you want to get rid of? That still leaves you with the Bob's lotto pick?

(not super familiar with your roster)

Again, I really don't think our front office is looking to move Iggy, to do it the offer would have to be pretty good.