The 2025 Wolves Off Season

[Domejandro]

I would absolutely offer the rest of our cap space to Damian Lillard on a 1+1 Player Option. Promise him that he can rehab from the comfort of his home with any team resources that he needs, gives him a cash infusion this season, and ensures that he has a Player Option for next season if his recovery goes poorly or he reinjures himself.

If Rob Dillingham doesn’t have the chops, or Mike Conley falls off of a cliff, it gives the team something to hope for, going into the Playoffs.

Effectively risking having to lose a Second Round Draft Pick to dump him next season, should things go wrong. Easy decision, but I think that Damian Lillard is going to spend some time thinking about his decision and opt to go elsewhere.

Again, money doesn't matter this year or next for Lillard. Unless we sign him for 55M or more, he won't make any more than if we sign him for the minimum. All we'd be doing is saving the Bucks' owners some money.

With Lillard owed $54.1 million for this season and $58.4 million in the 2026-27 campaign, there is a salary offset for any team that acquires him during that two-year period. And while the Bucks would surely prefer Lillard sign for a significant salary as a way to alleviate some of their financial burden, the reality is he could sign for a minimum-salary deal and still be paid the same amount. That’s a powerful place to be when you’re a future Hall of Famer in your mid-30s who has never won a championship.

I wonder if something has changed or if I am just misremembering, but I thought that the salary offset used to be 50% for waived players.

[winforlose]

I would absolutely offer the rest of our cap space to Damian Lillard on a 1+1 Player Option. Promise him that he can rehab from the comfort of his home with any team resources that he needs, gives him a cash infusion this season, and ensures that he has a Player Option for next season if his recovery goes poorly or he reinjures himself.

If Rob Dillingham doesn’t have the chops, or Mike Conley falls off of a cliff, it gives the team something to hope for, going into the Playoffs.

Effectively risking having to lose a Second Round Draft Pick to dump him next season, should things go wrong. Easy decision, but I think that Damian Lillard is going to spend some time thinking about his decision and opt to go elsewhere.

I am very confused. You pay Dame the TPMLE to not play for us this year, so he can opt out next year? Then he can play for whoever he wants and not lose anything. All for the slim chance that he might be healthy enough to help us in May (doubtful it would be April.) I don’t see literally any upside at all. If the option was a team option in case of re-injury that might make more sense. But short of that, it’s t is a lose, lose.

[Rookie-Mistake]

One big addition i want to see this year is the return of the trees to our jersey. Please get this done and make it a staple again. Tree trim in.

Sent from my SM-G991B using RealGM mobile app

[Zonarosa]

I would absolutely offer the rest of our cap space to Damian Lillard on a 1+1 Player Option. Promise him that he can rehab from the comfort of his home with any team resources that he needs, gives him a cash infusion this season, and ensures that he has a Player Option for next season if his recovery goes poorly or he reinjures himself.

If Rob Dillingham doesn’t have the chops, or Mike Conley falls off of a cliff, it gives the team something to hope for, going into the Playoffs.

Effectively risking having to lose a Second Round Draft Pick to dump him next season, should things go wrong. Easy decision, but I think that Damian Lillard is going to spend some time thinking about his decision and opt to go elsewhere.

I am very confused. You pay Dame the TPMLE to not play for us this year, so he can opt out next year? Then he can play for whoever he wants and not lose anything. All for the slim chance that he might be healthy enough to help us in May (doubtful it would be April.) I don’t see literally any upside at all. If the option was a team option in case of re-injury that might make more sense. But short of that, it’s t is a lose, lose.

you’re right. call up okogie to pick up minutes at pg if his contract doesn’t get picked up.

[fattymcgee]

I would absolutely offer the rest of our cap space to Damian Lillard on a 1+1 Player Option. Promise him that he can rehab from the comfort of his home with any team resources that he needs, gives him a cash infusion this season, and ensures that he has a Player Option for next season if his recovery goes poorly or he reinjures himself.

If Rob Dillingham doesn’t have the chops, or Mike Conley falls off of a cliff, it gives the team something to hope for, going into the Playoffs.

Effectively risking having to lose a Second Round Draft Pick to dump him next season, should things go wrong. Easy decision, but I think that Damian Lillard is going to spend some time thinking about his decision and opt to go elsewhere.

Again, money doesn't matter this year or next for Lillard. Unless we sign him for 55M or more, he won't make any more than if we sign him for the minimum. All we'd be doing is saving the Bucks' owners some money.

With Lillard owed $54.1 million for this season and $58.4 million in the 2026-27 campaign, there is a salary offset for any team that acquires him during that two-year period. And while the Bucks would surely prefer Lillard sign for a significant salary as a way to alleviate some of their financial burden, the reality is he could sign for a minimum-salary deal and still be paid the same amount. That’s a powerful place to be when you’re a future Hall of Famer in your mid-30s who has never won a championship.

I wonder if something has changed or if I am just misremembering, but I thought that the salary offset used to be 50% for waived players.

That's basically correct. The original team always has to pay 100% cash of the contract, but the salary cap impact could be reduced. The calc is 50% off the new contract, but you first you have to subtract the amount of a minimum contract.

I'm not sure if that salary cap savings takes place in only the years of the contract or if it it's also stretched.

[Domejandro]

I would absolutely offer the rest of our cap space to Damian Lillard on a 1+1 Player Option. Promise him that he can rehab from the comfort of his home with any team resources that he needs, gives him a cash infusion this season, and ensures that he has a Player Option for next season if his recovery goes poorly or he reinjures himself.

If Rob Dillingham doesn’t have the chops, or Mike Conley falls off of a cliff, it gives the team something to hope for, going into the Playoffs.

Effectively risking having to lose a Second Round Draft Pick to dump him next season, should things go wrong. Easy decision, but I think that Damian Lillard is going to spend some time thinking about his decision and opt to go elsewhere.

I am very confused. You pay Dame the TPMLE to not play for us this year, so he can opt out next year? Then he can play for whoever he wants and not lose anything. All for the slim chance that he might be healthy enough to help us in May (doubtful it would be April.) I don’t see literally any upside at all. If the option was a team option in case of re-injury that might make more sense. But short of that, it’s t is a lose, lose.

Unfortuantely, there is absolutely no world in which Damian Lillard is accepting a team option. Personally, I think it is an absolute no-brainer to gamble on Damian Lillard recovering prior to the Playoffs, given that his injury happened on April 27th. If he doesn't and then moves on the following season, oh well, you lost the 12-13th man in your rotation. If you are a Championship aspiring team, this is the kind of upside swing that you should take.

Risk Assessment:
Worst Case: Damian Lillard reinjures his Achilles or another major injury happens. He picks up his PO, and Minnesota is stuck with an expiring.
Bad Case: Damian Lillard doesn't recover in time and leaves in free-agency.
Neutral Case: Damian Lillard is back before the Playoffs, but his impact is limited. He leaves in free-agency.
Good Case: Damian Lillard comes back and gives Minnesota solid-to-good minutes. He leaves in free-agency.
Best Case: Damian Lillard comes back and gives Minnesota solid-to-good minutes. He enjoys playing in Minnesota and stays.

I look at the absolute worst case scenario and see a situation where Minnesota is stuck with a six-million dollar expiring. Obviously not great, but that isn't nearly prohibitive enough to throw away the upside. Even the neutral case seems better than the remaining options. Especially if Malcolm Brogdon goes to Sacramento, what is the plan? Spencer Dinwiddie is a low-impact player who is malcontent when he doesn't get minutes, De'Anthony Melton isn't a Point-Guard, Chris Paul likely doesn't have interest and wants minutes, and the rest of the options are brutal.

This seems like a dream scenario, if it plays out. Minnesota gets to see if Rob Dillingham has the chops for the majority of the season with Damian Lillard lingering in the background for the Playoffs. This allows for Rob to play through struggles without Coach Finch feeling like he should default to someone like Cameron Payne instead.

[BlacJacMac]

I would absolutely offer the rest of our cap space to Damian Lillard on a 1+1 Player Option. Promise him that he can rehab from the comfort of his home with any team resources that he needs, gives him a cash infusion this season, and ensures that he has a Player Option for next season if his recovery goes poorly or he reinjures himself.

If Rob Dillingham doesn’t have the chops, or Mike Conley falls off of a cliff, it gives the team something to hope for, going into the Playoffs.

Effectively risking having to lose a Second Round Draft Pick to dump him next season, should things go wrong. Easy decision, but I think that Damian Lillard is going to spend some time thinking about his decision and opt to go elsewhere.

I am very confused. You pay Dame the TPMLE to not play for us this year, so he can opt out next year? Then he can play for whoever he wants and not lose anything. All for the slim chance that he might be healthy enough to help us in May (doubtful it would be April.) I don’t see literally any upside at all. If the option was a team option in case of re-injury that might make more sense. But short of that, it’s t is a lose, lose.

Unfortuantely, there is absolutely no world in which Damian Lillard is accepting a team option. Personally, I think it is an absolute no-brainer to gamble on Damian Lillard recovering prior to the Playoffs, given that his injury happened on April 27th. If he doesn't and then moves on the following season, oh well, you lost the 12-13th man in your rotation. If you are a Championship aspiring team, this is the kind of upside swing that you should take.

Risk Assessment:
Worst Case: Damian Lillard reinjures his Achilles or another major injury happens. He picks up his PO, and Minnesota is stuck with an expiring.
Bad Case: Damian Lillard doesn't recover in time and leaves in free-agency.
Neutral Case: Damian Lillard is back before the Playoffs, but his impact is limited. He leaves in free-agency.
Good Case: Damian Lillard comes back and gives Minnesota solid-to-good minutes. He leaves in free-agency.
Best Case: Damian Lillard comes back and gives Minnesota solid-to-good minutes. He enjoys playing in Minnesota and stays.

I look at the absolute worst case scenario and see a situation where Minnesota is stuck with a six-million dollar expiring. Obviously not great, but that isn't nearly prohibitive enough to throw away the upside. Even the neutral case seems better than the remaining options. Especially if Malcolm Brogdon goes to Sacramento, what is the plan? Spencer Dinwiddie is a low-impact player who is malcontent when he doesn't get minutes, De'Anthony Melton isn't a Point-Guard, Chris Paul likely doesn't have interest and wants minutes, and the rest of the options are brutal.

This seems like a dream scenario, if it plays out. Minnesota gets to see if Rob Dillingham has the chops for the majority of the season with Damian Lillard lingering in the background for the Playoffs. This allows for Rob to play through struggles without Coach Finch feeling like he should default to someone like Cameron Payne instead.

And I don't expect Lillard to pick his team until much later in the season. He has no reason to commit to anyone now. Contenders will still be able to offer minimum contracts in February.

[younggunsmn]

I would absolutely offer the rest of our cap space to Damian Lillard on a 1+1 Player Option. Promise him that he can rehab from the comfort of his home with any team resources that he needs, gives him a cash infusion this season, and ensures that he has a Player Option for next season if his recovery goes poorly or he reinjures himself.

If Rob Dillingham doesn’t have the chops, or Mike Conley falls off of a cliff, it gives the team something to hope for, going into the Playoffs.

Effectively risking having to lose a Second Round Draft Pick to dump him next season, should things go wrong. Easy decision, but I think that Damian Lillard is going to spend some time thinking about his decision and opt to go elsewhere.

Again, money doesn't matter this year or next for Lillard. Unless we sign him for 55M or more, he won't make any more than if we sign him for the minimum. All we'd be doing is saving the Bucks' owners some money.

With Lillard owed $54.1 million for this season and $58.4 million in the 2026-27 campaign, there is a salary offset for any team that acquires him during that two-year period. And while the Bucks would surely prefer Lillard sign for a significant salary as a way to alleviate some of their financial burden, the reality is he could sign for a minimum-salary deal and still be paid the same amount. That’s a powerful place to be when you’re a future Hall of Famer in your mid-30s who has never won a championship.

I wonder if something has changed or if I am just misremembering, but I thought that the salary offset used to be 50% for waived players.

Unless it's changed, the set-off amount is 1/2 the difference between the player's new salary and the minimum salary for a 1-year veteran.
Usually when a buyout is negotiated set-off is waived as a concession when the player gives up money.
Which likely happened with Ayton.

SInce Dame was just outright waived, set-off would apply but it would be peanuts for next year since no one is going to pay him much to sit all year.
Kind of think of it like he gets his full salary from the bucks and then pays a 50% tax back to the bucks on any new money he makes above the minimum for the next 2 seasons.

Not sure if him being a max contract matters or if there is any cap on his earnings related to that.

Milwaukee is not likely to recoup much of the money it owes him.

[winforlose]

I would absolutely offer the rest of our cap space to Damian Lillard on a 1+1 Player Option. Promise him that he can rehab from the comfort of his home with any team resources that he needs, gives him a cash infusion this season, and ensures that he has a Player Option for next season if his recovery goes poorly or he reinjures himself.

If Rob Dillingham doesn’t have the chops, or Mike Conley falls off of a cliff, it gives the team something to hope for, going into the Playoffs.

Effectively risking having to lose a Second Round Draft Pick to dump him next season, should things go wrong. Easy decision, but I think that Damian Lillard is going to spend some time thinking about his decision and opt to go elsewhere.

I am very confused. You pay Dame the TPMLE to not play for us this year, so he can opt out next year? Then he can play for whoever he wants and not lose anything. All for the slim chance that he might be healthy enough to help us in May (doubtful it would be April.) I don’t see literally any upside at all. If the option was a team option in case of re-injury that might make more sense. But short of that, it’s t is a lose, lose.

Unfortuantely, there is absolutely no world in which Damian Lillard is accepting a team option. Personally, I think it is an absolute no-brainer to gamble on Damian Lillard recovering prior to the Playoffs, given that his injury happened on April 27th. If he doesn't and then moves on the following season, oh well, you lost the 12-13th man in your rotation. If you are a Championship aspiring team, this is the kind of upside swing that you should take.

Risk Assessment:
Worst Case: Damian Lillard reinjures his Achilles or another major injury happens. He picks up his PO, and Minnesota is stuck with an expiring.
Bad Case: Damian Lillard doesn't recover in time and leaves in free-agency.
Neutral Case: Damian Lillard is back before the Playoffs, but his impact is limited. He leaves in free-agency.
Good Case: Damian Lillard comes back and gives Minnesota solid-to-good minutes. He leaves in free-agency.
Best Case: Damian Lillard comes back and gives Minnesota solid-to-good minutes. He enjoys playing in Minnesota and stays.

I look at the absolute worst case scenario and see a situation where Minnesota is stuck with a six-million dollar expiring. Obviously not great, but that isn't nearly prohibitive enough to throw away the upside. Even the neutral case seems better than the remaining options. Especially if Malcolm Brogdon goes to Sacramento, what is the plan? Spencer Dinwiddie is a low-impact player who is malcontent when he doesn't get minutes, De'Anthony Melton isn't a Point-Guard, Chris Paul likely doesn't have interest and wants minutes, and the rest of the options are brutal.

This seems like a dream scenario, if it plays out. Minnesota gets to see if Rob Dillingham has the chops for the majority of the season with Damian Lillard lingering in the background for the Playoffs. This allows for Rob to play through struggles without Coach Finch feeling like he should default to someone like Cameron Payne instead.

Counter arguments.

1. Dame is not young, and even if he makes it back before the playoffs, (big if, especially considering his age,) then he will likely be out of shape and not very effective. Tying up the TPMLE money also kicks us out of the buyout market and restricts our moves late in the season (assume for example we need to convert Rocco, I would have to check the math but that could get very difficult.)

2. Mike is not a starting quality PG on a contender. Dilly isn’t even a backup quality PG based on last year. If they split the 48 minutes we will struggle. You say it is the 12 or 13th man, I say whoever we sign is likely to start, or we make a trade and use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. Either way it is costing us a rotation player.

3. If Dame could get back in time for the season and could make a similar deal, why make it with us. Why not an eastern conference team with an easy road? We are never gonna be favored against OKC, and there are multiple other teams who might be a tough matchup without a legit PG.

[Domejandro]

Counter arguments.

1. Dame is not young, and even if he makes it back before the playoffs, (big if, especially considering his age,) then he will likely be out of shape and not very effective. Tying up the TPMLE money also kicks us out of the buyout market and restricts our moves late in the season (assume for example we need to convert Rocco, I would have to check the math but that could get very difficult.)

2. Mike is not a starting quality PG on a contender. Dilly isn’t even a backup quality PG based on last year. If they split the 48 minutes we will struggle. You say it is the 12 or 13th man, I say whoever we sign is likely to start, or we make a trade and use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. Either way it is costing us a rotation player.

3. If Dame could get back in time for the season and could make a similar deal, why make it with us. Why not an eastern conference team with an easy road? We are never gonna be favored against OKC, and there are multiple other teams who might be a tough matchup without a legit PG.

Here is how I see it with those three points.

1. We are not converting Rocco next season. Ignoring that though, First and Second Apron teams are not able to sign players in the buyout market who have contracts that exceed the non-taxpayer MLE. Maybe you can identify someone, but it is extraordinarily unlikely that there is a miracle player making less than the MLE that a team is going to buy-out prior to the deadline near the end of the season; that strategy (which was always prety overrated) is mostly dead. Additionally, Minnesota HAS to sign at least one more player to reach the fourteen player minimum, going into the season. You can't go into seasons with thirteen players anymore, with the new CBA. Yes, the new CBA is dumb and overly restrictive.

2. There are no players left on the market who are going to start over Mike Conley. Unfortunately, there just aren't any starting-caliber Point-Guards left, we are quickly entering "there are no quality backup Point-Guards left" territory, once Malcolm Brogdon is gone (and he's largely washed and perpetually injured). Again, if you can name candidates, I am open to listening, but the choices are extremely rough. Maybe there is some option with the TPE/TPMLE, but I am just not seeing it.

3. That is why I am comfortable offering him the TPMLE with a Player-Option as an incentive to bring him here. If he can get it elsewhere, then he may go for it, but you can't really control that; can always pivot to the remaining. Second Apron teams lose the TPMLE, so they would be out of the pool. Non-taxpaying teams obviously don't get a TPMLE (though they could use a partial MLE). I think the pool of teams giving him the same offer are low/non-existant, but at this stage of his career, he might just prefer other options over taking money.


The reality I see is that the remaining options largely suck, the ones who are barely backup caliber will want significant minutes when they are already lower-impact than Mike Conley and would interfere with Rob Dillingham's minutes, and this is the one pathway to getting an actual starting caliber Point-Guard heading into the Playoffs. I would love to hear realistic names left on the board (particularly with the assumption that Malcolm Brogdon is off of the board), but the remaining free-agents are all worse than Mike Conley and there aren't players making under the TPMLE that Minnesota can realistically trade for.

[theGreatRC]

Am I delusional rn that i'd take Westbrook on the team?

[Note30]

Am I delusional rn that i'd take Westbrook on the team?

No, he's probably the best PG left on FA market

[Loaf_of_bread]

Who cares what I think, but DLillard should be lightly considered. Even though he's getting old, and an Achilles can ruin even a younger player, he's a cagy vat.

Gives Rob the entire RS.

Ok, now THE PROBLEM. DILLARD'S advanced OFFENSIVE playoff stats aren't that great.. SO, we have a guy that WILL be a liability defensively, with a large enough sample size of not being clutch in the PO.

Realistically, Rob won't be ready as a starter come playoff time.

I'm not ready to give up any modest asset for an old guy coming off an Achilles injury with no history of being a playoff stud.

Rather wait to see who becomes available at the trade deadline.

[Loaf_of_bread]

Am I delusional rn that i'd take Westbrook on the team?

No, he's probably the best PG left on FA market

Why not just see what we have in rob. No reason to be regular season warriors.

We can afford to lose games, and trade Randle at the deadline for a pg if Rob is unplayable.

[Note30]

Am I delusional rn that i'd take Westbrook on the team?

No, he's probably the best PG left on FA market

Why not just see what we have in rob. No reason to be regular season warriors.

We can afford to lose games, and trade Randle at the deadline for a pg if Rob is unplayable.

... We barely made the sixth seed last year and were a game away from being in the playin we absolutely can not afford to lose games.

[winforlose]

Counter arguments.

1. Dame is not young, and even if he makes it back before the playoffs, (big if, especially considering his age,) then he will likely be out of shape and not very effective. Tying up the TPMLE money also kicks us out of the buyout market and restricts our moves late in the season (assume for example we need to convert Rocco, I would have to check the math but that could get very difficult.)

2. Mike is not a starting quality PG on a contender. Dilly isn’t even a backup quality PG based on last year. If they split the 48 minutes we will struggle. You say it is the 12 or 13th man, I say whoever we sign is likely to start, or we make a trade and use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. Either way it is costing us a rotation player.

3. If Dame could get back in time for the season and could make a similar deal, why make it with us. Why not an eastern conference team with an easy road? We are never gonna be favored against OKC, and there are multiple other teams who might be a tough matchup without a legit PG.

Here is how I see it with those three points.

1. We are not converting Rocco next season. Ignoring that though, First and Second Apron teams are not able to sign players in the buyout market who have contracts that exceed the non-taxpayer MLE. Maybe you can identify someone, but it is extraordinarily unlikely that there is a miracle player making less than the MLE that a team is going to buy-out prior to the deadline near the end of the season; that strategy (which was always prety overrated) is mostly dead. Additionally, Minnesota HAS to sign at least one more player to reach the fourteen player minimum, going into the season. You can't go into seasons with thirteen players anymore, with the new CBA. Yes, the new CBA is dumb and overly restrictive.

2. There are no players left on the market who are going to start over Mike Conley. Unfortunately, there just aren't any starting-caliber Point-Guards left, we are quickly entering "there are no quality backup Point-Guards left" territory, once Malcolm Brogdon is gone (and he's largely washed and perpetually injured). Again, if you can name candidates, I am open to listening, but the choices are extremely rough. Maybe there is some option with the TPE/TPMLE, but I am just not seeing it.

3. That is why I am comfortable offering him the TPMLE with a Player-Option as an incentive to bring him here. If he can get it elsewhere, then he may go for it, but you can't really control that; can always pivot to the remaining. Second Apron teams lose the TPMLE, so they would be out of the pool. Non-taxpaying teams obviously don't get a TPMLE (though they could use a partial MLE). I think the pool of teams giving him the same offer are low/non-existant, but at this stage of his career, he might just prefer other options over taking money.


The reality I see is that the remaining options largely suck, the ones who are barely backup caliber will want significant minutes when they are already lower-impact than Mike Conley and would interfere with Rob Dillingham's minutes, and this is the one pathway to getting an actual starting caliber Point-Guard heading into the Playoffs. I would love to hear realistic names left on the board (particularly with the assumption that Malcolm Brogdon is off of the board), but the remaining free-agents are all worse than Mike Conley and there aren't players making under the TPMLE that Minnesota can realistically trade for.

I have no idea who is still out there. But my suspicion is that we move Randle in the next 30 days. We get ourselves the PG of the future, and make Dilly the backup. We use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. If not, I would choose not to use it. Use it and we hard capped. Don’t use it, and we keep our flexibility.

[Loaf_of_bread]

No, he's probably the best PG left on FA market

Why not just see what we have in rob. No reason to be regular season warriors.

We can afford to lose games, and trade Randle at the deadline for a pg if Rob is unplayable.

... We barely made the sixth seed last year and were a game away from being in the playin we absolutely can not afford to lose games.

Lol, you have a point. Maybe I'm being too optimistic.

At the end of the day, the coaching staff and connelly have a sense of what Rob MAY be able to provide next year better than any of us.

It's going to be their call if we NEED a pg. So far, looking like the answer is "no", but we will all find out..

[KGdaBom]

Why not just see what we have in rob. No reason to be regular season warriors.

We can afford to lose games, and trade Randle at the deadline for a pg if Rob is unplayable.

... We barely made the sixth seed last year and were a game away from being in the playin we absolutely can not afford to lose games.

Lol, you have a point. Maybe I'm being too optimistic.

At the end of the day, the coaching staff and connelly have a sense of what Rob MAY be able to provide next year better than any of us.

It's going to be their call if we NEED a pg. So far, looking like the answer is "no", but we will all find out..

You make a great point. Finch and Connelly know best how much they can count on Dilly and so far they have done NOTHING about acquiring another PG.

[Nick K]

I would absolutely offer the rest of our cap space to Damian Lillard on a 1+1 Player Option. Promise him that he can rehab from the comfort of his home with any team resources that he needs, gives him a cash infusion this season, and ensures that he has a Player Option for next season if his recovery goes poorly or he reinjures himself.

If Rob Dillingham doesn’t have the chops, or Mike Conley falls off of a cliff, it gives the team something to hope for, going into the Playoffs.

Effectively risking having to lose a Second Round Draft Pick to dump him next season, should things go wrong. Easy decision, but I think that Damian Lillard is going to spend some time thinking about his decision and opt to go elsewhere.

I am very confused. You pay Dame the TPMLE to not play for us this year, so he can opt out next year? Then he can play for whoever he wants and not lose anything. All for the slim chance that he might be healthy enough to help us in May (doubtful it would be April.) I don’t see literally any upside at all. If the option was a team option in case of re-injury that might make more sense. But short of that, it’s t is a lose, lose.

Unfortuantely, there is absolutely no world in which Damian Lillard is accepting a team option. Personally, I think it is an absolute no-brainer to gamble on Damian Lillard recovering prior to the Playoffs, given that his injury happened on April 27th. If he doesn't and then moves on the following season, oh well, you lost the 12-13th man in your rotation. If you are a Championship aspiring team, this is the kind of upside swing that you should take.

Risk Assessment:
Worst Case: Damian Lillard reinjures his Achilles or another major injury happens. He picks up his PO, and Minnesota is stuck with an expiring.
Bad Case: Damian Lillard doesn't recover in time and leaves in free-agency.
Neutral Case: Damian Lillard is back before the Playoffs, but his impact is limited. He leaves in free-agency.
Good Case: Damian Lillard comes back and gives Minnesota solid-to-good minutes. He leaves in free-agency.
Best Case: Damian Lillard comes back and gives Minnesota solid-to-good minutes. He enjoys playing in Minnesota and stays.

I look at the absolute worst case scenario and see a situation where Minnesota is stuck with a six-million dollar expiring. Obviously not great, but that isn't nearly prohibitive enough to throw away the upside. Even the neutral case seems better than the remaining options. Especially if Malcolm Brogdon goes to Sacramento, what is the plan? Spencer Dinwiddie is a low-impact player who is malcontent when he doesn't get minutes, De'Anthony Melton isn't a Point-Guard, Chris Paul likely doesn't have interest and wants minutes, and the rest of the options are brutal.

This seems like a dream scenario, if it plays out. Minnesota gets to see if Rob Dillingham has the chops for the majority of the season with Damian Lillard lingering in the background for the Playoffs. This allows for Rob to play through struggles without Coach Finch feeling like he should default to someone like Cameron Payne instead.

Great post!!! Let's go after this guy and not stop until he says yes!

I was such a huge fan of his in the 2012 draft and he went 6th.

[Klomp]

If I had to choose between adding a PG or a C, I think I'm leaning C, simply because I don't want to throw in the two rookies before they are ready. We have enough guards on the team who can dribble the ball up the court. I will say though, if both Zikarsky and Edwards are on two-ways, going guard might be more likely.