Offseason thread: Timberwolves Facts, Rumors, & Opinions

[cpfsf]

Update 6:

*Hoiberg will represent the team at the NBA lottery
*Wolves have 5 front office officials scouting Europeans. Possible that both picks could be used on overseas prospects.
*Corey Brewer and Chris Richard will start summer workouts soon.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_9199957?nclick_check=1
http://www.twincities.com/ci_9220711?source=most_viewed
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/18751949.html?page=3&c=y

Update 5:

*McHale expects a 20 game improvement next year
*Gomes wants to stay in Minnesota

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.asp?lc=&c=1&TEAM_ID=10&PLAYER_ID=&hd=20080418#STORY_7872
http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.asp?lc=&c=1&TEAM_ID=10&PLAYER_ID=&hd=20080417#STORY_7824

Update 4:

*Glen Taylor said no high priced FA's will be added this season
*Wolves are unlikely to sign all 5 restricted free agents

http://www.startribune.com/sports/17879854.html
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/17875294.html

UPDATE 3:

*Wolves won the tiebreaker. 13.8% chance of winning the top pick.
*McHale prioritizes keeping Gomes
*Wittman will return

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/17931844.html
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=NBA&id=1133&line=97779&spln=1
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=NBA&id=1055&line=97780&spln=1

UPDATE 2:

*Walker might be traded because his contract expires.
*This summer, Brewer wants to get stronger this summer.
*Wolves may draft Derrick Rose with the top pick

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=7677
http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.asp?lc=&c=1&TEAM_ID=10&PLAYER_ID=&hd=20080413#STORY_7698
http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.asp?lc=&c=1&TEAM_ID=10&PLAYER_ID=&hd=20080409#STORY_7580

UPDATE 1:

*Craig Smith return in doubt because he is undersized.
*According to manager Jim Stack, the team will have a team payroll of 40-45 million this summer.
*McHale will likely use a draft pick on a 5'11" 176 pound Swedish PG.
*Glen Taylor said he thinks only six or seven guys from this years roster will return with the team next year.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8286
http://www.ebsports.net/bbs/showthread.php?t=49245
http://blogs.twincities.com/timberwolves/2008/04/mchale_scouts_in_europe.html
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:YyNLk_YpijMJ:www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/lets_build_it_glen_taylor_080228.html+http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/lets_build_it_glen_taylor_080228.html&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a

Who do you pick with the 3 draft picks:
second round draft pick (anywhere from 31-36)
Miami's second round draft pick (31-34)
first round draft pick (1-6)

Which restricted free agents would you keep for the upcoming season:
Smith, Richard, Telfair, Gomes, Snyder
*remember, the roster must have at most 15 players and there is 3 incoming draft picks plus

Can you make a good trade (one that works for both teams)

[Jaxbeast]

This looks like a good idea. I'd like to see what people think we'll do

[cpfsf]

This looks like a good idea. I'd like to see what people think we'll do

It, took me a while to think of an answer to my own question.

I did what should be the Wolves top 6 prospects because there is always a chance they could land the 6th pick overall so Rose, Beasley, and Lopez would be taken so just in case.

1 Rose or Beasley
2
3 Lopez
4 Randolph
5 Mayo
6 Bayless

2nd round
Robin Lopez
Rudy Mbemba

I think Minnesota needs to trade Antoine Walker, he is an expiring contract and maybe they can get something for this veteran. Possibly even see if Buckner is willing to be bought out. This way, Minnesota can resign Smith, Richard, Gomes, Snyder, and Telfair.

[wolves_fan_82au]

1)Rose-Jawai-Dorsey
2)Re-sign no one
3)Ethan Thomas for Jaric
Jefferson for Walker(exp),Buckner(exp),boston or/and Miami 1st

C-Thomas/Jawai
PF-Jefferson/Dorsey
SF-Jefferson/Brewer
SG-Foye/Mccants
PG-Rose

[shrink]

If we added Etan Thomas and Richard Jefferson, you know I'd make about a half dozen posts commenting on the rebounding of Thomas Jefferson. Actually, I wouldn't mind Etan here .. good trade.

For me:

1. Beasley
2. Rose
3. OJ Mayo

Trade Mayo down to the Knicks for the rights to their pick and Lee or Balkman (don't they have ANYTHING of value?). Use the pick for Lopez.

Sign-and-Trade Craig Smith, maybe one of our picks, (or else Telfair, or even Gomes (only if we get Beasley)), to get a mid-1st to get Hibbert, or some other center.

Sign O'Bryant if he's cheap -- otherwise Diop (who'll be expensive)

POB/Hibbert
Al Jefferson/Beasley
Beasley/Gomes
Brewer/McCants
Foye/Telfair

POB/Hibbert
Al Jefferson/Gomes
Gomes/Brewer (Jaric/Snyder)
Brewer/McCants
Rose/Foye

Lopez/POB/Hibbert
Al Jefferson/David Lee
Gomes/Brewer (Jaric/Snyder)
Brewer/McCants
Foye/Telfair

[PaintPatrol]

My top 3 in order is Rose,Beasly,Mayo

If we get Rose trade McCants for a mid first draft Thabeet,RobLo,Hibbert

Then trade our 2 2nds to move up and get Bradon Rush maybe San Antonio would be a good trading partner here

POB/RobLo
Al Jefferson/Gomes
Brewer/Gomes/Rush
Foye/Rush/Brewer
Rose/Foye

I like RobLo more then the other two stiffs he can actually move. Rush can play D and can flat out shoot

[the_bruce]

1. Beasly
2. Rose
3. Randolph

Sign POB w\ team option 3rd year, player option year 4 or 5, something like 3m/4m/6m/8m/10m. If he blows up we get him cheap, if he sucks we can ditch him after 7m\2yrs. This sort of structure gives him the most immediate money and the most incentive to get better\improve. It would take at least 3m to buy a C in this years draft plus their salary. so over 2 years you are looking at the cost being ~6.5m which is about the same as signing POB to a larger contract than he has actually earned for a quick 2 year trial.

s&t Gomes for anything

Let Bassy\snyder go?

Keep Cookie

POB\Al
Al\Beasly\cookie
Beasly\Brewer
McCants\Jaric\Brewer
Foye\Jaric

POB\Al
Al\cookie
Jaric\Brewer
McCants\Foye\Brewer\Jaric
Rose\Foye\Jaric

POB\Al
Al\Randolph\Cookie
Randolph\Brewer
McCants\Jaric\Brewer
Foye\Jaric


Beasly scenario makes the best lineup imo. In the Rose scenario we are almost forced to trade for a better 3 or resign gomes.

[cpfsf]

If we land the first pick, I think we NEED take Rose. I don't think there is many PG's in the 2009 draft and we are risking too much. The reason we need Rose is because then we will have our guard position pretty well set for the future with Foye McCants and Rose. If we grab Beasley, then he would fill a major hole in the team which is what we don't need since we need good draft picks.

In RivalHoops top 20 prospects, only 2 are PG, and for Scouthoops there is only 1. Plus look at all the PF's and C's in the mock draft

http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1617
http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p= ... =88&yr=200
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2009/

[PeeDee]

If we grab Beasley, then he would fill a major hole in the team which is what we don't need since we need good draft picks.

So you're saying we should take Rose so we can suck more and get better draft picks? Might as well take Jordan then and hope he can play in 4 years.

[cpfsf]

-= original quote snipped =-



So you're saying we should take Rose so we can suck more and get better draft picks? Might as well take Jordan then and hope he can play in 4 years.

I am saying there is a ton of PF/C prospects in the next draft so draft the PG today and grab a big guy next year.

[PeeDee]

The Wolves won't be in contention for a while, taking the BPA is what they need to do. If thats Rose, fine. But I happen to think it's Beasley.

What I really hope though, is that they are in the position to get one or the other.

[cpfsf]

oops, accidentally double posted

[cpfsf]

The Wolves won't be in contention for a while, taking the BPA is what they need to do. If thats Rose, fine. But I happen to think it's Beasley.

What I really hope though, is that they are in the position to get one or the other.

As long as Kevin McHale does not trade them to save money we are all right.

Buyout Buckner
Trade Walker (expiring contract, very attractive)
If you draft Rose or Bayless, trade telfair
And of course resign Gomes

[C.lupus]

Here

[Krapinsky]

How bout some realistic ideas folks? Camby for expirings? Probably not going to happen.

Here's the Dr's Rx for this offseason:

First some ground rules-

1. No Thabeet. BUST or too long term of a project. Either way not interested.

2. No buying out anyone else. Buckner's contract will have value as a trading chip down the road. No need to buy him out as long as he keeps a positive attitude.

3. Somehow we need to move Jefferson to the four (see PF) full time. Amare's increase in production is a good example of why this needs to happen.

Here's what should happen. Obviously the wolves are in a position where they have to take the best player availible. Thus the future roster will largely depend on this next draft pick.

The draft: 1) Rose 2) Beasley 3) Mayo 4) Lopez 5) Randolp

The resignings:

1. If we draft Rose, then Gomes only and that's a maybe (must be good deal). Snyder if he's willing to take near the minimum.

2. If we draft Beasley, then Telfair only. Snyder- see above.

The free agent signings:

If we don't draft Lopez, we try and get Diop. (If buying out Buckner is the only way to make this happen, then by all means)

Ideal rotation next year:

Diop/Dorsey (2nd)
Jefferson/Gomes
Brewer/Gomes
Foye/McCants
Rose/Foye

Filling out the roster next year:

Masen, Jaric, Walker, Buckner, Shan Foster or Bill Walker (2nd), Richard, and min FA signee if necessary.

[C.lupus]

How bout some realistic ideas folks? Camby for expirings? Probably not going to happen.

I was only being half serious. I thought it was obvious (with the Camby trade), guess not. However, I still like Thabeet next to Al even if you don't. I see him as a much bigger, younger version of Ratliff. He has no offensive skills but, really, who cares. I want a rebounder and shot blocker and a big body in the middle.

[TrentTuckerForever]

If we added Etan Thomas and Richard Jefferson, you know I'd make about a half dozen posts commenting on the rebounding of Thomas Jefferson.

Not really sure that Jefferson fits with our youth movement.

[C.lupus]

OK, here is my "realistic" plan:

Draft:
Beasley and Rose are off the board when we pick 3rd so we grab Mayo (BPA). The Mayo pick is all the reason Wittman needs to convince McHale & Co. to trade Shad. So he trades McCants and our 2nd round pick to Denver for their first rounder. With that pick, we grab a center (one of Thabeet, R. Lopez, McGee, Hibbert). With Miami's 2nd rounder, we pick DeVon Hardin.

Signings:
We resign Bassy to a 2-year contract with a team option third year.
We resign Gomes.
We let Smith, Richard, and Snyder walk.

Roster:
PG: Foye-Telfair-Jaric
SG: Mayo-Foye-Brewer-Jaric
SF: Brewer-Gomes-Jaric
PF: Jefferson-Gomes-Madsen
C: Thabeet/Lopez-Hardin-Jefferson

Walker and Buckner should be moved as expirings at some point before the trade deadline

[TrentTuckerForever]

No one got my Thomas Jefferson joke. Very sad.

DRAFT - assuming we don't get one of the first two picks, I would look to package the 3rd pick with Walker/Buckner for Richard Jefferson (really Shrink, I'm not making fun of you.) R. Jefferson would provide veteran leadership while still having enough tread on the tire to contribute for the next 4-6 years (he turns 28 in June.)

I think I'd package the other picks to get the best project center available out of DeAndre Jordan, Hasheem Thabeet or Roy Hibbert.

FREE AGENCY - ideally we'd get an experienced, defensive-minded veteran to play the 5 spot. Diop (who was Dallas's starter on a 60+ win team) would be my first target.

I would also want to address the backup point guard spot with another young veteran. Chris Duhon would be perfect: he's got playoff experience with the Bulls and is a good team player (rumor has it that a lot of the player "mutiny" issues with the Bulls this year were due to the fact that their interim coach played other guys over Duhon, who's the team's best playmaker.) The only downside is that he's a Dukie, but no one's perfect. He could play behind and occasionally alongside Foye (kinda like how N.O. uses Jannero Pargo behind/alongside Chris Paul.)

The only current Wolf who's a 'must-sign' for me is Gomes. He's the kind of swing forward who would fit perfectly behind the Jeffersons, allowing the Wolves to play against smaller teams with Al at the 5, but still protecting him against bigger lineups.

My priorities beyond Gomes go something like Snyder, Smith (who I love but is a lesser player than Gomes, IMO), Telfair (if we couldn't get Duhon.)

LINEUP -

R. Jefferson/Brewer
A. Jefferson/Gomes
Diop/Jordan
Jaric/McCants
Foye/Duhon

... with Brewer being groomed to take over for Jaric when he's traded at the deadline. If the top 8 or 9 guys stay healthy this is probably a fringe playoff team in year one (depending mostly on Foye's health and development.)

[shrink]

I've always been a fan of Richard Jefferson, and I think he'd be a nice addition. I'm a bit concerned that I've heard from NJN fans that he's becoming more of a jumpshooter and not attacking the glass like he did before (and this is from people who watch Vince Carter!) but with his athleticism, I think this is correctable.

One thing I'd request in a NJN trade is to get one of their centers. Krstic, Shawn Williams or even Josh Boone (who put up 16+ RB games for a stratch there).