2024 Free Agency

[BlacJacMac]

I cannot see a scenario in which Monte Morris is not a Timberwolf.

I can. Especially with TC coming out and saying he expects Dillingham to play this year.

If Monte sees the writing on the wall that he's likely to spend a lot of the year as the 3rd string PG, he's probably going to want to go somewhere that he can jumpstart his career.

[minimus]

I cannot see a scenario in which Monte Morris is not a Timberwolf.

I can. Especially with TC coming out and saying he expects Dillingham to play this year.

If Monte sees the writing on the wall that he's likely to spend a lot of the year as the 3rd string PG, he's probably going to want to go somewhere that he can jumpstart his career.

Yeah, it's a tough decision for Monte. He knows what it means to play for rebuilding teams such as WAS and DET. He finally came to winning team and after a few months GM drafted a young guy on the same PG position

[winforlose]

I cannot see a scenario in which Monte Morris is not a Timberwolf.

I can. Especially with TC coming out and saying he expects Dillingham to play this year.

If Monte sees the writing on the wall that he's likely to spend a lot of the year as the 3rd string PG, he's probably going to want to go somewhere that he can jumpstart his career.

Again, Monte had a down year, would lose his bird rights, and would be leaving a contender with a great culture. I think he signs with us, gets minutes until at least February, and then if he wants to move on TC makes it happen. Unless ownership comes to TC and says we don’t want to sign players for more than X (even to trade them later,) and Monte is a more than X player, I think Monte is back for at least preseason through February. I wonder if the same is true of Kyle, who the Wolves are rumored to be worried about losing in free agency.

[Norseman79]

If we are doing vet minimum PG, I like Smith Jr, Dunn, etc over Monte

[BlacJacMac]

I cannot see a scenario in which Monte Morris is not a Timberwolf.

I can. Especially with TC coming out and saying he expects Dillingham to play this year.

If Monte sees the writing on the wall that he's likely to spend a lot of the year as the 3rd string PG, he's probably going to want to go somewhere that he can jumpstart his career.

Yeah, it's a tough decision for Monte. He knows what it means to play for rebuilding teams such as WAS and DET. He finally came to winning team and after a few months GM drafted a young guy on the same PG position

If he's going to play for the minimum for us, I bet there are multiple contenders that would pay him at least that to be their actual 2nd PG.

[BlacJacMac]

I cannot see a scenario in which Monte Morris is not a Timberwolf.

I can. Especially with TC coming out and saying he expects Dillingham to play this year.

If Monte sees the writing on the wall that he's likely to spend a lot of the year as the 3rd string PG, he's probably going to want to go somewhere that he can jumpstart his career.

Again, Monte had a down year, would lose his bird rights, and would be leaving a contender with a great culture. I think he signs with us, gets minutes until at least February, and then if he wants to move on TC makes it happen. Unless ownership comes to TC and says we don’t want to sign players for more than X (even to trade them later,) and Monte is a more than X player, I think Monte is back for at least preseason through February. I wonder if the same is true of Kyle, who the Wolves are rumored to be worried about losing in free agency.

Or he can, like many players do, sign a "prove it" contract at a place where he can show who he is as a player. And if he plays well enough, someone will give him a partial MLE-type deal. He's likely never going to see 9M/year again in the current landscape, but if he plays like the Monte of old, he can probably get 4-6. If he stays buried on our bench, he's going to keep getting vet minimum deals.

And while he does have a very good relationship with TC, do we know if Finch feels the same way? He played a decent amount he final 2 months of the season and then was essentially out of the Playoff rotation. And there were times we were absolutely dying for better PG play.

[shrink]

The key to whether we can bring back Morris and Anderson may depend on whether we can get them to sign a market-friendly deal, and whether we the organization is ruthlessly willing to trade guys off our contending team in February if the owners have a limit on how much luxury tax they are willing to pay.

The key here is that lux taxes are determined by a team’s roster on the final day of the regular season. If we signed SloMo for $6 mil, it may incrementally cost owners $20 with lux taxes (not checking the numbers here), so $6 mil is supposed to make us not sign him. However, if we traded him, SloMo on a $6 mil deal only costs most other teams $6 mil, and they would likely trade him for a TPE (or now the MLE), and likely get a few second rounders as well. In the meantime, he could help the team accumulate regular season wins.

To me, the most MIN should offer Anderson is $5,183,000, which is the full tax-payer MLE. Rule changes a few years back forced teams to start the year at the cap minimum, so teams no longer roll into the season with a lot of cap space, but most will have TPEs and often unused parts of their MLE for trade deadline maneuvers.

Any deal that is under the market price is a potential trade asset, and loading up as many of our 15 roster spots with these type of deals maximizes the value of those 15 slots, in regular season wins and trade value. The key though is that some of those deals need to be traded by the deadline, like hot potatoes, because no owner is likely willing to pay unlimited luxury taxes.

[DaMplsKid]

After the draft Kyle is the only FA we have that I think we might bring back now but he would have to be willing to take a pay cut which might not happen.

If we cant bring him back I would like to see us go after a Saddiq Bey. ( I could see him going to NYK to join the rest of Villanova) He's game is underrated and he bring the size to play the 3/4 in multiple lines up. He shouldn't cost a ton and bring a veteran type with all the rookies/younger (unproven) guy off the bench. Not a sexy move but good depth.

[BlacJacMac]

The key to whether we can bring back Morris and Anderson may depend on whether we can get the, to sign a market-friendly deal, and whether we the organization is ruthlessly willing to trade guys off our contending team in February if the owners have a limit on how much luxury tax they are willing to pay.

The key here is that lux taxes are determined by a team’s roster on the final day of the regular season. If we signed SloMo for $6 mil, it may costs us $20 (not checking the numbers here), so $6 mil is supposed to make us not sign him. However, if we traded him, SloMo on a $6 mil deal only costs most other teams $6 mil, and they would likely trade him for a TPE (or now the MLE), and likely get a few second rounders as well. In the meantime, he could help the team accumulate regular season wins.

To me, the most MIN should offer Anderson is $5,183,000, which is the full tax-payer MLE. Rule changes a few years back forced teams to start the year at the cap minimum, so teams no longer roll into the season with a lot of cap space, but most will have TPEs and often unused parts of their MLE for trade deadline maneuvers.

Any deal that is under the market price is a potential asset, and loading up as many of our 15 roster spots with these type of deals maximizes the value of those 15 slots, in regular season wins and trade value. The key though is that some of those deals need to be traded by the deadline, like hot potatoes, because no owner is likely willing to pay unlimited luxury taxes.

That might even be a little low. The 8 pick last year started his contract at 6.2M, so Dillingham should be a little more than that. And (I believe it was) Marks posted that drafting RD was going to cost us 28M next year.

[shrink]

That might even be a little low. The 8 pick last year started his contract at 6.2M, so Dillingham should be a little more than that. And (I believe it was) Marks posted that drafting RD was going to cost us 28M next year.

You’re right. My point was to show the flaw in the rule. SloMo isn’t worth either $20 or $28 incrementally to us. But he doesn’t cost that if we trade him for space/exception before they actually assess the lux tax.

[BlacJacMac]

That might even be a little low. The 8 pick last year started his contract at 6.2M, so Dillingham should be a little more than that. And (I believe it was) Marks posted that drafting RD was going to cost us 28M next year.

You’re right. My point was to show the flaw in the rule. SloMo isn’t worth either $20 or $28 incrementally to us. But he doesn’t cost that if we trade him for space/exception before they actually assess the lux tax.

I get that for sure. And its a good plan.

But not without dangers. If KA rediscovers his shot and is suddenly our 7th man and a vital cog, do you still move him (and risk a huge blow to chemistry/morale), or eat ~30M more dollars to keep him?

Conversely, if he falls on his face, do you actually have to give up something of value at the deadline to clear his contract?

I think its a really scary game to play.

[shrink]

So younggunsmn touched on this last night, but I was curious how many roster spots we had left after adding two first round picks.

Right now, we have 11 under contract for next year ($186). 7 rotation, WMJ $2.5, Miller $1.9, Dillingham $6.3, Shannon $2.6

12 if we pick up Josh Minott’s non-guaranteed $2 mil team option

Jaylen Clark is on a two way.

So we have 3/4 roster spots and 2 two-ways left for Anderson, Morris, MacLaughlin, Garza, Warren, #37, Nix, Vet Min FAs

[Klomp]

Interestingly, I think Kyle would be great to have in the second unit with Rob now. I really like that pairing.

[minimus]

Does Moore trade means that at least one of Morris, Anderson will be resigned?

[Neeva]

8 hope we resign both tbh. I wanna see Morris when he is healthier.

[Worm Guts]

8 hope we resign both tbh. I wanna see Morris when he is healthier.

How much playing time does he get with Dillingham here though? I'd be happy if he's willing to come here and compete for the 2nd string PG position, but I think it's possible he'll prefer to go somewhere with guaranteed playing time.

[Neeva]

We gotta rest Mike more next season, he’s a hundred years old.

[younggunsmn]

PG (2)
Conley, Dillingham

Wing (5)
Edwards, McDaniels, Alexander-Walker, Shannon, Minott

Big (4)
KAT, Gobert, Reid, Miller

that's 11 roster spots filled with 3 available, all will probably be filled with vet minimums.

You've got 9 rotation spots taken with Miller and Minott spending more time in the G-League,
and Shannon and NAW fighting for the same minutes.
Dillingham's draft status guarantees him some minutes, but Finch is also going to need a much more seasoned option to backup Conley or start if he gets hurt.

Free Agents:
McLaughlin
Morris
Anderson
Garza (restricted)
TJ Warren.

I'd look to fill the final 3 roster spots with 2 capable guards and one player who can play the 4 or 5.
McLaughlin would be a logical choice to come back, and whether Anderson is back depends on if he will accept the vet minimum.
Also a shot Garza is back.
I don't see Monte Morris coming back for either the reduced role or the money we would be willing to offer.

[minimus]

I think it will be a very unique bench group if we combine Reid/Towns-Anderson-Shannon-NAW/Edwards-Dilly. Here is why: both Shannon and Dilly could use help in learning defense and playmaking nuances, Anderson might be the best on court mentor for them. On other hand Shannon with his physicality and ability to run can help bench unit scoring easy points in transition (MIN was one of the worst in fastbreak points last season), while Dilly can help our offense with creativity and shot making. It is the easiest way to improve offense by increasing pace and 3pt makes.

[jpatrick]

Anderson is obviously the priority over Morris but how much can we honestly pay? Same contract as Conley? More/less?

I don’t see Morris back unless he takes a one year vet minimum (or close to that) type deal, which he can get anywhere. And I’d guess if he’s taking that little, he’ll prefer somewhere with more playing time. If he declines, my guess is JMac is back on a minimum deal.

Any vet minimum FA speculation of guys we might target? I don’t see a lot of minutes available though.