FA's we can realistically get

[cpfsf]

State who you think we should try to sign, why you want them here, and why you think they would want to play here (obviously we won't be acquiring Bryant or James any time soon).

I actually think we will have better luck with 2009 FA's than 2010. Every team is saving for 2010, just grab some talent in 2009 and avoid the rush. In addition, we have to find players who actually will want to play in Minnesota (a lottery team with no all stars). I think two FA's we can realistically acquire are Shawn Marion and Rip Hamilton.

Marion doesn't seem to be in the Heat's long term plans and we have the money to sign him. He has the defensive skills we absolutely need and we have the money he wants. Plus he may want to stay because of the huge role he would have here. Make him a full time small forward (rarely if ever a power forward).

Rip Hamilton is a tall shooting guard who can play solid defense. Detroit soon be no longer a legit finals threat after losing Billups and getting older, so he may want to jump ship. We can spend the money to get him.

[collin_k41]

I say no to both Marion and Gordon. Marion is overrated and the only reason he was ever decent was because of Nash. He can rebound, play D, and dunk but there's no way the guy deserves 15ish million a year. Gordon is an undersized SG which doesn't really work with us since we don't have a big PG for defensive matchups. He also seems kind of redundant with Foye here.

We could go after a restricted FA from the 2005 draft like Felton or Marvin Williams. Rip Hamilton is another option, that is, if he terminates his contract. Lamar Odom?

[cpfsf]

I say no to both Marion and Gordon. Marion is overrated and the only reason he was ever decent was because of Nash. He can rebound, play D, and dunk but there's no way the guy deserves 15ish million a year. Gordon is an undersized SG which doesn't really work with us since we don't have a big PG for defensive matchups. He also seems kind of redundant with Foye here.

We could go after a restricted FA from the 2005 draft like Felton or Marvin Williams. Rip Hamilton is another option, that is, if he terminates his contract. Lamar Odom?

I changed my mind on Gordon, I wasn't really convinced but I threw him out there as a 6th man possibility (rarely on the floor with Foye). But I think Rip Hamilton is a good possibility now that Detroit is getting older and they just lost Billups. I think a defensive combination of Hamilton and Marion would be perfect.

[the_bruce]

I'm pretty certain rip signed an extention prebillups trade. I'm not sure how that affects his status at the moment.

[Klomp]

Go for Iverson this year.

[theGreatRC]

I would think Joe Johnson would sign if we overpay him, but he looks like he's having too much fun being a Hawk.

[4ho5ive]

Marion was an allstar before Nash came around I believe. Did Nash and the system make him appear better than he is? sure, but i dont think he is a bad player. Just a bad fit here.

[deeney0]

I would think Joe Johnson would sign if we overpay him, but he looks like he's having too much fun being a Hawk.

From a getting-Johnson, and to a lesser extent getting-Williams perspective, I'm very disappointed at the Hawks' resurgence this year.

[john2jer]

Rip Hamilton is an all-star used to playing on winning teams with good co-hesiveness. Why would he want to comet to the Wolves? Plus, he signed an extension with the Pistons right before the Billups trade.

Marion is a cancer if he isn't the number 1 option, and he doesn't have the skillset to be a number 1 option.

I don't like either of those options.

Joe Johnson is 2010, right?

As I've mentioned many times, as have a few other people, I think the PERECT 2009 signing is Marvin Williams based on fit, need, potential, age, and contract. Once we have him in place and a solid draft where we don't make stupid trades (see Foye and Love), we'll be more attractive for a Joe Johnson type in 2010. Foye would likely play well with Joe Johnson, not having to handle all of the point guard duties.

C - Thabeet
PF - Jefferson
SF - Williams
SG - Johnson
PG - Foye

I smell 15 championships in a row.

I think part of the problem with the Hawks this year is they're not sneaking up on anyone, and they've become content. I don't know if Woodson is the type of coach who can take them to the next level. Unfortunately for them because they're fun to watch.

[mg]

I don't know why you guys don't like Ben Gordon. Rose is getting all the attention in Chicago but I watch most of the games and Ben Gordon is the Bulls best player. A small Gordon/Foye backcourt would work as long as your frontcourt is solid. Just look at the Cavs starting Mo Williams and Delonte West or the Pistons in their heydey with Dumars/Isiah. I know these are extreme examples but Gordon is young and talented so don't sleep on him if you have salary cap room.

[AQuintus]

Marion - 32 in 2010
Hamilton - 32 in 2010
Jonhnson - 29 in 2010
Gordon - 27 in 2010

Johnson and Gordon are the only two who I would be even remotely interested in due to age alone. Gordon is out due to lack of size, and for Johnson to come to Minni he would almost certainly demand a long max contract. I don't know about the rest of you, but I really wouldn't want to be paying a 33+ wing player 18+ million dollars a year.

[4ho5ive]

My problem with Gordon is he turned down a contract btwn $50-59 mil in the offseason. IMO, he wont be starting in the backcourt, not with Foye (6'2), Ollie (6'1) if he stays around, or Telfair (5'12) since that would be a SMALL backcourt. So do we really want to pay a 6th man, +$60 Mil??? I dont.

And yes i realize i listed Bassy at 5'12, theres just no way he is 6'0 tall.

[Dewey]

A lot of FA's are wannabee's ... too many have under-performed and/or were overpaid, and that muddies the water when putting the whole list of players into perspective.

Unless we continue to put W's in the win column, I don't see any "significant" FA's considering MN.

[cpfsf]

I think Marion would be the perfect fit. Quite frankly, I think we need an upgrade over Gomes and Brewer as they should come off the bench anyway. I think the best part is we would have a very versatile team as many players on the roster can play two positions just fine.

Go for Iverson this year.

I'm just glad we didn't make an Iverson trade with the 76ers to keep KG happy.

on that Blazer bandwagon....

Mayo
Roy
Jefferson

a trio that could have been

Sorry to go off topic, but I saw the signature and wanted to say if we had Roy, we would not have the draft pick to acquire Mayo. If we had Mayo, we would have a different 2009 first round pick. So it's not like we could have had Mayo/Roy/Gomes/Griffin/Jefferson. I'm not defending any of the draft day trades, just stating we couldn't have both Roy and Mayo this year (unless Roy had a season ending injury during the 2007-08 season...and got lucky in the draft).

Marion was an allstar before Nash came around I believe. Did Nash and the system make him appear better than he is? sure, but i dont think he is a bad player. Just a bad fit here.

I think our two biggest priorities are center and small forward. Foye, Miller, and Jefferson are great, but I feel those two positions are the biggest holes. The fact Marion can play defense is a huge plus.

[john2jer]

What about the fact that Marion is a cranky old cancer who wants to be the number one option? His skillset is great, his mindset is crap.

[TheFranchise21]

I don't know why you guys don't like Ben Gordon. Rose is getting all the attention in Chicago but I watch most of the games and Ben Gordon is the Bulls best player.

That's not saying very much. Gordon is only their best player because Rose isn't better than him yet. Gordon's been in the league, what, 4 years? Rose is already on his level on most nights.

A small Gordon/Foye backcourt would work as long as your frontcourt is solid. Just look at the Cavs starting Mo Williams and Delonte West or the Pistons in their heydey with Dumars/Isiah. I know these are extreme examples but Gordon is young and talented so don't sleep on him if you have salary cap room.

That's easy to say but our frontcourt is small and most of our guys are playing out of their natural position. We don't have a traditional center (Zydrunas) or a power forward who can actually defend centers on most nights (Varejao).

[wolves_fan_82au]

2009
Marvin Williams - SF
Jason Kidd - PG
Allen Iverson - PG/SG
Rasheed Wallace - PF/C
Ron Artest - SF
Lamar Odom - SF
Trevor Ariza - SF


2010 Options
Ray Allen - SG
Tracey Mcgrady - SG/SF
TJ Ford - PG
Manu Ginobili - - SG
Brendan Haywood - C

wolves add in draft Thabeet,Lawson,Tyler Smith,DeRozan

buy marvin williams in 09
Tracey Mcgrady in 2010
Brandon Haywood 2010

Wolves roster 2010
C:Thabeet/Haywood
PF:Al Jefferson/Kevin Love
SF:Marvin Williams/Tyler Smith/Corey Brewer
SG:Tracy Mcgrady/DeMarr DeRozan
PG:Randy Foye/Ty Lawson

[C.lupus]

I like Williams and Haywood but I have no use for TMac.

Draft Harden and Lawson
Buy Williams in 2009
buy Haywood in 2010

Foye/Lawson
Harden/Foye/Brewer
Williams/Brewer/Gomes
Jefferson/Love
Haywood/Jefferson

OR

Draft Thabeet and Lawson
buy Williams in 2009
buy Joe Johnson in 2010

Foye/Lawson
Johnson/Foye/Brewer
Williams/Brewer/Gomes
Jefferson/Love
Thabeet/Jefferson

Mikey likes either of those lineups.

[St.Nick]

You guys are in the market for a tall SG, a SF, a 7 footer, and perhaps a good backup PG with some size....right?

I'd go after some of Utah's FA's and a few other young guys with potential:

- Morris Almond- a 6'6 SG that has been stuck behind Ronnie Brewer.

- Kryrylo Fesenko- an athletic 7 footer playing behind Okur....now with Koufos on board, he might go without a struggle from the Jazz.

- Linas Kleiza- great shooting, good rebounding SF from the Nuggets.

- Hakim Warrick- super athletic SF/PF that could provide some pop to your lineup.

Not many tall PG's out there, but in the draft you can nab one of the many good looking young PG prospects to fill the hole.

[wolves_fan_82au]

I like Williams and Haywood but I have no use for TMac.

Draft Harden and Lawson
Buy Williams in 2009
buy Haywood in 2010

Foye/Lawson
Harden/Foye/Brewer
Williams/Brewer/Gomes
Jefferson/Love
Haywood/Jefferson

OR

Draft Thabeet and Lawson
buy Williams in 2009
buy Joe Johnson in 2010

Foye/Lawson
Johnson/Foye/Brewer
Williams/Brewer/Gomes
Jefferson/Love
Thabeet/Jefferson

Mikey likes either of those lineups.

as much as i would harden i think i would take a chance with DeRozan and Thabeet
Derozan,Thabeet and Lawson would be a great draft