Who are the wolves competing with for Free Agents next summe

[Wolves2011]

This is the estimated money available, if the salary cap in 2010 is $50 million as forecast by the NBA.

Nets have $32 million [2 max contract players?]
Knicks have $28 million [almost 2 max contract players -]
Heat have $28 million [its $45 million if they don't resign Wade]
Wolves have $21 million [I'm assuming they resign Love but not Brewer ($3.7) or Pechovic] **
Bulls have $21 million
Phoenix has $19 million if Amare doesn't resign. [I think likely he leaves]
Cavs have $19 million if lebron leaves
Toronto has $16 million of Bosch leaves
Sacramento has $15 million [$20 million if they don't resign Hawes & Thomson]

So I'm counting potentially say 11 plus Max contracts signed by the teams above

and only 8 max contract players available above (see below for list)... though others will try I"m sure...

Others of course have less than Max contract levels but substantial amounts

Hawks $10 million [?]
Pistons $9 million
Thunder and Blazers could have say $10 million depending on who they resign
Clippers about $8 million

Teams like the Thunder & Portland have lots of money available and restricted free agents, I'm assuming they resign their people. But Portland for instance might not resign Aldridge and go into the free agent market. The same is true for the Thunder if they don't resign Westbrook or Green.

Potential Max Contract free agents?

Lots of teams want to make a big "splash". If they con't get Wade/Lebron, the options are Bosch, Lee, Josh Howard, Joe Johnson, Amare, Rajon Rondo and maybe one or two more are Max contract type players.

** Note: if they decide to keep Brewer they will probably trade Gomes and remove his $4 million so its a wash. I doubt they will keep both.

[TheFranchise21]

Where are you getting these numbers? I'm pretty sure we're going to have about $10-15 million in cap space, no where near the $25 million number you are using.

[Wolves2011]

Where are you getting these numbers? I'm pretty sure we're going to have about $10-15 million in cap space, no where near the $25 million number you are using.

Go to the hoopshype web site and look under salaries then pick your team...

For your convenience .. the link is here... Sessions $4 million isn't included... so I added it in....the amount should be $21 million....

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/minnesota.htm

[PeeDee]

I've got a feeling the Wolves will pursue Rudy Gay. Memphis is going to be hovering around the cap line next Summer and I wouldn't be surprised if the Wolves go for him as their first option.

He's the perfect age, he has stupid physical tools, and he plays a position of need. Unless a better position presents itself, (acquiring a tier 1 type of player) I think it would be the right move to pursue Gay.

[Wolves2011]

I've got a feeling the Wolves will pursue Rudy Gay. Memphis is going to be hovering around the cap line next Summer and I wouldn't be surprised if the Wolves go for him as their first option.

He's the perfect age, he has stupid physical tools, and he plays a position of need. Unless a better position presents itself, (acquiring a tier 1 type of player) I think it would be the right move to pursue Gay.

Take a look at this link.... most overrated players in the NBA .... Gay is on it..... don't think I'd want him unless he plays much better this year...

Take a look at his link:

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/ ... n-2008-09/

Talks about most overrated players in the NBA.

Gay is #2 on that list

Granger is 5th on that list.

Green is on that list

OJ Mayo is on that list

Wilson Chandler is on that list...

So I'd be very cautious pursuing any of these guys....and especially make sure you don't overpay.

[Wolves2011]

I've got a feeling the Wolves will pursue Rudy Gay. Memphis is going to be hovering around the cap line next Summer and I wouldn't be surprised if the Wolves go for him as their first option.

He's the perfect age, he has stupid physical tools, and he plays a position of need. Unless a better position presents itself, (acquiring a tier 1 type of player) I think it would be the right move to pursue Gay.

I would NOT just take the who ever is available with our money if we can't get a very good player.

I'd trade some of our assets for what we need.

our assets......

Rubio
Pekovic
potentially 3 first round picks including a lottery pick.
Maybe Flynn...

If we could get Rondo, I'd trade Flynn and Rubio. Rondo is the best available after Wade and Lebron, and unlike Wade and Lebron, Rondo might be "gettable for us". .... He is friends with Jefferson and Gomes.

You could then use Rubio, Pekovic, Flynn, and the 3 first rounds picks to trade for a top notch wings... like a Gerald Wallace...and then sign a rent a Ray Allen for a couple of years as a shooter.

We could also use a draft pick to get a young shooter who could develop.....or Ellington might....

[By the way I"m NOT saying trade all those things for Wallace]

But I dont think you spend money just because you have it... you just end up with bad contracts like in the McHale years....

Gay might be that type of contract....

[Foye]

I wouldn't go for Gay as well.
Although that Gay-Love combination sounds intriguing

[shrink]

First Wolves2011, great thread. This will be the #1 Question as the season progresses and we become painfully aware that we're playing for the future.

Second, don't use hoopshype, who's salary data is notoriously incorrect. Destroy your link, hide posts where you've used it, then burn the your hard drive. Here's three sites that will give you more accurate salary data:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= ... Rug&gid=19
http://www.storytellerscontracts.info/r ... laries.htm
http://www.shamsports.com/content/pages ... wolves.jsp

Third, remember to add in all of the 2010 draft choices that will all carry guaranteed salary. Other cap holds would be carrying foreign rights to 1st round players (like Rubio) and roster spots to get a team up to a minimum roster size of 12. And of course, as you've mentioned, there are the guys a team decides to retain. This would eliminate Toronto or Phoenix, even if they lost their key players, though they may try a sign-and-trade. OKC should probably be included, and perhaps HOU or LAC with some minor moves.

Fourth, the key to identifying the competition will be watching their trade moves for the next four months. Technically, MIN (with Brewer) might only have $9 mil, since we spent money on Hollins and Sessions. However, losing Gomes and Brewer would nearly double that amount. Moreover, none of the players we have in 2010 are bad contracts, and we could trade any of them for expirings and often additional assets. It will be interesting watching our moves, and the moves of the other teams, as teams jockey for position for 2010 financial flexibility.

Good thread Wolves2011!

[C.lupus]

The more I look at the list of FA and other options, the more I think Kevin Martin might be the best option in a trade. He's not perfect but he's a good scorer at a position of need and I think, unlike Granger, he could be available.

[Esohny]

The more I look at the list of FA and other options, the more I think Kevin Martin might be the best option in a trade. He's not perfect but he's a good scorer at a position of need and I think, unlike Granger, he could be available.

I've been warming up to Martin a bit more lately. If the wolves trade for him, I think they need a stud defender at SF to help on the perimeter though. Not sure if Brewer can be that guy.

[Foye]

I don't think Martin is a good idea...our starting lineup would consist of 2 weak defenders (Jefferson, Martin), a very average one (Love), a solid one (Flynn) and even if we find a stud defender at the 3 we'll struggle badly at times on D.

[Biff Cooper]

Where are you getting these numbers? I'm pretty sure we're going to have about $10-15 million in cap space, no where near the $25 million number you are using.

I know others have thrown out the numbers, but when I just re-ran the numbers, this is what I get for the Wolves:

Assuming 50 mil cap (low) - 54 mil cap (high) [edit]
-Jefferson 13 mil
-Gomes 1 mil
-Sessions 3.964 mil
-Love 3.638 mil (assume option will be picked up)
-Flynn 3.192 mil
-Hollins 2.333 mil
-Ellington 1.079 mil
-Rubio cap hold (say 2.8 mil)
-First round pick cap holds (say 4.9 mil assuming 6th & 12th picks) [edit]
-Additional minimum salary players to fill out roster 0 to 3@.47mil= 0 to 1.4 mil [edit - Rubio cap hold and 2 first round picks should count as roster spots]

Additional Optional Salary
-Gomes 3.235 mil
-Brewer 3.703 mil
-Pecherov 2.38 mil

12.9 max cap space (50 cap) to 16.9 mix (54 cap) with no optional salaries picked up. [edit]
5 min cap space (50 cap) to 9 min (54 cap) with all optional salaries picked up. [edit]

[_AIJ_]

I wouldn't go for Gay as well.
Although that Gay-Love combination sounds intriguing

How about Gay-Love-Sessions

[revprodeji]

I still think the value could be in a trade, not in FA. The question I have is could we trade for two guys? Go for broke and give it a try.

MN trades Blount+Stewie
Sac trades K.Martin

Min Trades Wilkins+Daniels+cardinal
Char trades Wallace+Diop

We sprinkle some value (char pick, utah pick, Pekovic, 2nds) Sac and Char get crazy cap space from these deals.

MN
Jefferson
Love
Wallace
Martin
Flynn

bench--Hollins, Diop, Sessions, brewer, Ellington, Gomes.

Why not? I am obsessed with adding Wallace to this team and Martin would fit great as well.

[revprodeji]

btw

Trade ID #5253153

(*I just did it to show the cap--the value such as Pekovic, picks, etc does not have cap and would not matter for the Trade checker)

[C.lupus]

That would be about as close to ideal as we could get, imo. I can't imagine SAC trading Martin without asking for either Flynn or Sessions in return, though.

[Wolves2011]

Where are you getting these numbers? I'm pretty sure we're going to have about $10-15 million in cap space, no where near the $25 million number you are using.

I know others have thrown out the numbers, but when I just re-ran the numbers, this is what I get for the Wolves:

Assuming 50 mil cap
-Jefferson 13 mil
-Gomes 1 mil
-Sessions 3.964 mil
-Love 3.638 mil (assume option will be picked up)
-Flynn 3.192 mil
-Hollins 2.333 mil
-Ellington 1.079 mil
-Rubio cap hold (say 2.8 mil)
-First round pick cap holds (say 2.5 mil)

Additional Optional Salary
-Gomes 3.235 mil
-Brewer 3.703 mil
-Pecherov 2.38 mil

15.5 max cap space with no optional salaries picked up.
6.2 min cap space with all optional salaries picked up.

Either my calculator is malfunctioning or the total withOUT "additional optional salary" is 33.50... leaving 16.5.....

[Biff Cooper]

Where are you getting these numbers? I'm pretty sure we're going to have about $10-15 million in cap space, no where near the $25 million number you are using.

I know others have thrown out the numbers, but when I just re-ran the numbers, this is what I get for the Wolves:

Assuming 50 mil cap
-Jefferson 13 mil
-Gomes 1 mil
-Sessions 3.964 mil
-Love 3.638 mil (assume option will be picked up)
-Flynn 3.192 mil
-Hollins 2.333 mil
-Ellington 1.079 mil
-Rubio cap hold (say 2.8 mil)
-First round pick cap holds (say 2.5 mil)

Additional Optional Salary
-Gomes 3.235 mil
-Brewer 3.703 mil
-Pecherov 2.38 mil

15.5 max cap space with no optional salaries picked up.
6.2 min cap space with all optional salaries picked up.

Either my calculator is malfunctioning or the total withOUT "additional optional salary" is 33.50... leaving 16.5.....

Thats what I get for trying to do math in my head. I'll edit my original post.

[revprodeji]

That would be about as close to ideal as we could get, imo. I can't imagine SAC trading Martin without asking for either Flynn or Sessions in return, though.

Cap and picks can be tempting. I do not think there is a logical way to include flynn. Martin is a talent, but with his contract his value is much less. We are giving up cap space, taking on nasty cap and providing cap relief. The difference in talent is put in the picks/Euro perhaps. (I could see pekovic having value big time here) Sessions is younger with a better deal. Same problem happens with him. We are exchanging cap flexability/relief for a player that can help us. Sactown clears major cap instantly, but also puts Evans in a more natural position.

[shrink]

I know others have thrown out the numbers, but when I just re-ran the numbers, this is what I get for the Wolves:

Assuming 50 mil cap
-Jefferson 13 mil
-Gomes 1 mil
-Sessions 3.964 mil
-Love 3.638 mil (assume option will be picked up)
-Flynn 3.192 mil
-Hollins 2.333 mil
-Ellington 1.079 mil
-Rubio cap hold (say 2.8 mil)
-First round pick cap holds (say 2.5 mil)

Additional Optional Salary
-Gomes 3.235 mil
-Brewer 3.703 mil
-Pecherov 2.38 mil

16.5 max cap space with no optional salaries picked up. [edit]
7.2 min cap space with all optional salaries picked up. [edit]

The numbers look good except for two things:

1. If we're only alloting $2.5 mil for 2010 picks, that means we get the sixth pick, and both the CHA and UTA picks are deferred. I think that's estimating low.

2. With only one pick, and none of the "optional salary" guys, we've only got eight players. The minimum number is 13 (12 active, 1 inactive). There's cap holds on the other player slots, which are replaced by real players. Add another $2.5 mil.