2023 Free Agency

[twolves31]

The weird thing about "Not Trading KAT" is that if you don't you are almost locked in on running it back and running it back means no new players except the second round pick who is almost guaranteed to spend the year in Iowa.

While bringing back a relatively young playoff team isn't the worst thing. I'm not sure how much the fan base really likes this team. Ticket sales weren't that good last year and there will be no offseason buzz with no new players. Most hardcore fans will keep bitching about Gobert trade meant no first round picks.

That being said, I believe the reports that TC will wait on moving KAT until his market improves and his situation could be similar to DLo's where the market was cool in the summer but picked up at the deadline.

My predictions
No trades
Sign Reid to 4 yr 53 million deal
Sign NAW to 3 yr 17 million deal
Resign Garza to 3 year deal.
Waive Knight to pay for Garza's deal.
Go into season with 14 players - second round pick goes to Iowa

McDaniels/Prince/Moore Jr
Towns/Anderson/Minott
Gobert/Reid/Garza
Edwards/NAW
Conley/McLaughlin
SRP pick at Iowa

The west is getting older and older, of course so are we at the pg position. I really do think if our team was healthy we could have beaten any team in the West except Denver and a healthy Phoenix. Had half our team not been sick against LA in the play in we could have just as easily lost to Denver in the WCF in 5 or 6 games. We desperately need Kat to play at least 65 games next season, we need Gobert to skip playing overseas this summer, and we need to work out all the kinks we were never able to work on due to injuries and sickness last season. I'm not for or against keeping or trading Kat if the right trade is presented.

[Klomp]

If McLaughlin will sign for the vet min, I have no trouble bringing him back as our third-string PG. He needs to find his three point shot again, but the players like him and he would bring continuity.

I could see Tim Connolly putting Mudiay in that role as well. He drafted him #7 in 2015.

Something should happen with McLaughlin. Even if they want to bring him back, it makes sense to waive his non-guaranteed $2,320,000 before June 30 and bring him back on a minimum deal starting at $1,989,698.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I am not surprised that many MIN fans dont want lil Mac back. But. He has been mz favorite player last three years, and I see how he can get back on his level. First, if we want to build around hard nosed defensive minded players, he fits as well as anybody. McLaughlin is certainly undersized, but doesnt lack effort. Second, if we want to be a smart team, we need to keep JMac. And finally I think we completely forgot that before injury, a year ago Jmac was one of the league best in AST/TO for last two season. He also used to dunk in the game. His best season was playing with Nowell, Beasley, TP and Reid unit. If we can build a solid bench he might be once again a solid backup PG for us. He will be even more effienct if the plays as 3rd string PG behind more talented playmakers

Watch on YouTube

JMac is hard to figure out the value to the team. Nowell too for that matter. They both generally play well with consistent roles and bigger minutes. You look at their splits playing bigger minutes, and the numbers are fantastic. But the catch-22 is they can't earn that role because maybe they'll have a DNP-CD for a couple games, then pop off the bench for 12 minutes, and they have no rhythm and play like ass.

If the team had catastrophic injuries and I needed one of them to play 25-30 mpg for a couple weeks, I would feel pretty decent about it, because they've generally shown up in those situations. But if you're just looking for a 9th man - somebody who might play 5 minutes one night, DNP the next, and 18 minutes the next...they seem to both really struggle with that role. And to be fair, I think most young players struggle with that (granted JMac is no longer that young). It's not familiar territory after what they've been in HS and college. But it's still the reality of the situation, so I understand that the Wolves are probably more interested in somebody that can come in cold and give a consistent 12 minutes, not somebody who can only step up their game with big minutes.

That's partially why I'm interested in seeing more of what Moore can do in those backup guard minutes. He seems like the type that would embrace the role player duties more. Also it's probably easier to come in cold and player high energy defense and rebound and move the ball than it is to start cooking on offense, so that'd fit his skills a little better. And all that said, I still think JMac is a natural floor general and Nowell a natural shot creator, so I have no problem if they brought back either.

[Nick K]

Our guys:

Naz is a must keep. He might seem like a luxury but with KAT's history, Rudy's age and Naz's timeline we really shouldn't let him walk if we can. There's a real chance he'll seek better opportunities elsewhere though so it might not be up to us.

NAW is similar, though he won't cost as much. Having someone that can provide elite defence at the 1-2 (maybe the 3 in certain matchups) is necessary particularly in the West. If his shot comes around great but even without it he's valuable enough to have coming off the bench as a secondary playmaker and defensive stopper.

McLaughlin can go. I don't know what happened to him, if it was his previous injury still giving him issues or what, but he lost his burst and without it he's just not an NBA calibre player. Nice guy but we're past the point of rewarding smiles.

Knight...he can either stay or go. I don't know enough about him since he's only ever seemed to play garbage minutes. He seems like a good locker room guy so maybe keep him? This is one of those choices where I'd accept whatever the FO did without much question.

Garza is similar to Knight, although I have even less faith in him as a genuine NBA player. He can score in bunches against other backups or 3rd stringers but he's a sieve defensively and realistically a dozen guys like him come out of college every year. Frankly, the obsession with giving him or any young guy with a pulse a "Gupta special" is weird to me.

Nowell can go. He's far, far too streaky and given his inability to play defence I just don't see the value in him. We can find some bench scoring elsewhere.

Rivers I'd keep if he's on the vet min. He's clearly nothing special but he plays his role, keeps himself ready and appears to be a good lockerroom presence so for the minimum...why not?

And since someone brought him up, I'd keep Prince unless we can use him in a trade. Cutting him for nothing doesn't seem like something we can afford, unless we have a ton of faith in Moore/Minott to soak up those minutes (and importantly, Prince's spacing).

Other guys:

Assuming we bring back Naz and NAW and don't trade KAT (boo) the priority would be a backup PG and some kind of additional offence off the bench. Specifically self creation for the offence. And if we do the former and want to operate under the lux it would get difficult.

Pat Bev is an obvious candidate. I remember hearing a rumour that Finch/FO were tired of him by the end of his stint so maybe he doesn't make sense here but he ticks a lot of boxes, was apparently good in the locker room with the players and would be a decent backup to Conley.

After him I don't see a lot of good vet min candidates, especially for us. If we're willing to dip into the lux Coby White could be an interesting choice.

Yep, I see it pretty much the same way. I'm higher on Garza than you are and I'm not sure on Knight.

I love Pat Bev but I don't think he's coming back. The management got tired of his schtick late that year even though the guys loved him. I kind of got tired of his schtick too.

I was big on Nowell when we drafted him but what you said is true. Time to let him go.

I wonder if Spagnola is ready as a back up PG.

I'm very interested in seeing what Moore Jr. and Minott show us.

[shangrila]

Spagnola is a throwaway. I don't expect anything from him in the NBA.

Which is fine, can't hit on every pick.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

Completely forgot about DSJ. He always had talent but it looks like he reinvented his career as PoA defender. Does he have same winning mentality like Edwards? If yes he can be good candidate for part of MLE as backup PG.

Watch on YouTube

[Norseman79]

A guy I really hope becomes available is Theo Maledon.

[shrink]

Read on Twitter

Connolly traded a 1st to acquire Hampton his rookie season, and later that year included him in the trade for Aaron Gordon.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see him offer Hampton a vet min contract.

[Norseman79]

Can Hampton play the point though?

[SO_MONEY]

Can Hampton play though?

Fixed.

[wolves_89]

Read on Twitter

Connolly traded a 1st to acquire Hampton his rookie season, and later that year included him in the trade for Aaron Gordon.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see him offer Hampton a vet min contract.

I think a two-way contract is the most likely outcome for Hampton. He's worth taking a chance on and maybe his connection to Connelly can get a 2-way deal done.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

[Klomp]

I think this would require waiving Prince, but I’m still very interested in targeting Jordan Clarkson with the MLE.

[SO_MONEY]

I think this would require waiving Prince, but I’m still very interested in targeting Jordan Clarkson with the MLE.

Meh. I don't think I offer the full MLE to anyone and I don't think I target a guy like Clarkson if I do. I just don't think we need a bench scorer as priority one.

[Klomp]

I think this would require waiving Prince, but I’m still very interested in targeting Jordan Clarkson with the MLE.

Meh. I don't think I offer the full MLE to anyone and I don't think I target a guy like Clarkson if I do. I just don't think we need a bench scorer as priority one.

Well with Naz’s status up in the air, bench scoring is kinda lacking…

[TimberKat]

I think this would require waiving Prince, but I’m still very interested in targeting Jordan Clarkson with the MLE.

Meh. I don't think I offer the full MLE to anyone and I don't think I target a guy like Clarkson if I do. I just don't think we need a bench scorer as priority one.

Well with Naz’s status up in the air, bench scoring is kinda lacking…

Clarkson made 13.3m last year. Would he sign a MLE with Twolves or other team like Lakers? I think Naz will be here next year but would you do a sign and trade for Clarkson?

[Klomp]

Meh. I don't think I offer the full MLE to anyone and I don't think I target a guy like Clarkson if I do. I just don't think we need a bench scorer as priority one.

Well with Naz’s status up in the air, bench scoring is kinda lacking…

Clarkson made 13.3m last year. Would he sign a MLE with Twolves or other team like Lakers? I think Naz will be here next year but would you do a sign and trade for Clarkson?

It’s probably a longshot to get him here, but I know he thinks highly of both Gobert and Conley. He seems to like being away from the bright lights too, so maybe the market would appeal to him.

[Norseman79]

Until we know for sure what they are doing with Reid, it's really difficult to try to figure out the rest of free agency.

[TimberKat]

Well with Naz’s status up in the air, bench scoring is kinda lacking…

Clarkson made 13.3m last year. Would he sign a MLE with Twolves or other team like Lakers? I think Naz will be here next year but would you do a sign and trade for Clarkson?

It’s probably a longshot to get him here, but I know he thinks highly of both Gobert and Conley. He seems to like being away from the bright lights too, so maybe the market would appeal to him.

Adding Clarkson will basically make us the 2021 Jazz team with addition of Towns and JMcD, assume Ant=Mitchell

[TimberKat]

Until we know for sure what they are doing with Reid, it's really difficult to try to figure out the rest of free agency.

Don't we need to do the MLE first before signing Naz for cap or sign and trade flexibility?