Another Fran Vazquez thread

[cpfsf]

The Cliff notes summary is Fran Vazquez signed a one year deal with Barcelona during the summer. He would be 29 years old if he chooses to play in the NBA next year. Minnesota would certainly be over the cap, so they could use the MLE if necessary. The problem is the uncertainty that he will even sign a contract with the Timberwolves, and may just use the team as leverage.

Orlando has a chance of keeping Dwight Howard, but that’s not going to happen if they keep their roster intact. The hope that Fran Vazquez will sign in Orlando will probably have little or no impact on Howard’s decision to stay, so Orlando can trade Vazquez now if he can bring back a few decent prospects. Minnesota can take a gamble and potentially acquire the best center in Europe. A little bonus is that we also increase the chance of Howard staying in the Eastern Conference.

I didn’t get to spend a lot of time on a trade proposal since I want to take a nap soon, but I’ll throw this one out there for now.

Orlando in: Beasley + Ellington
Minnesota in: Redick + Vazquez + Orlando 2011 2nd round pick

Just want to note that the last year of Redick’s contract is 100% unguaranteed.

[deepthighbruise]

Does he even want to come over?

[shrink]

About a year ago, I suggested UTA protected 1st for Fran Vazquez.

Now I'm not so sure. Rubio and Vazquez are said to have a great chemistry, and I think Barea being here only increase his chances. Vazquez was drafted by the Magic, saw the US, and the smalltown kid simply got scared and wanted to stay closer to home. Maybe MIN's spanish connection would give him a slightly greater chance of coming over (though I still think less than 50/50).

Option 2 might be to offer the rights to a couple of our foreign prospects:

Tanguy Ngombo
Nemanja Bjelica
Paulao Prestes
Henk Norel
Loukas Mavrokefalidis

Option 3 would be to let them know we're interested, and if they need our service in some way, Vazquez can be a gratuity. They have much bigger fish to fry than Vazquez over the next year, and a team that can help them move some money may be all the justification they need.

Vazquez is not coming over to ORL - they have to be convinced of that by now. Every off-season, he bites into their cap space until the season begins, like Rubio did to us.

[cpfsf]

I suspect the lockout may have scared him away. Why would Vazquez sign a one year deal with Barcelona?

[shangrila]

Nah, not keen on a 29 year old PF.

I hope they'll use the MLE on another veteran, like how they signed Barea this year. Then, if they really need another big, just sign one of the multiple dudes we have marinating overseas. Bjelica looks interesting, Prestes could be good and Norel is a hustle guy.

[Klomp]

Rubio and Vazquez are said to have a great chemistry, and I think Barea being here only increase his chances.

How? They've never played together, and quite possibly have never met.

BTW anyone else think Greivis Vasquez when they saw the thread?

[jade_hippo]

Rubio and Vazquez are said to have a great chemistry, and I think Barea being here only increase his chances.

How? They've never played together, and quite possibly have never met.

BTW anyone else think Greivis Vasquez when they saw the thread?

the way people talk about Spain, its like the size of Rhode Island and everyone old and young are great friends and inseperable. Rube probably watched his dog when he went on family trips as a child. The Spain/Rubio/Gasol links are bad enough, why can't it be Ibaka or Marc who absolutely NEED to be in Minnesota with Rube.

[Klomp]

Rubio and Vazquez are said to have a great chemistry, and I think Barea being here only increase his chances.

How? They've never played together, and quite possibly have never met.

BTW anyone else think Greivis Vasquez when they saw the thread?

the way people talk about Spain, its like the size of Rhode Island and everyone old and young are great friends and inseperable. Rube probably watched his dog when he went on family trips as a child. The Spain/Rubio/Gasol links are bad enough, why can't it be Ibaka or Marc who absolutely NEED to be in Minnesota with Rube.

But the thing is, Barea is from Puerto Rico. Not Spain.

[shrink]

Rubio and Vazquez are said to have a great chemistry, and I think Barea being here only increase his chances.

How? They've never played together, and quite possibly have never met.

I'm just thinking thtat if you're a provincial, small-town spanish kid that was overwhelmed with the culture shock of the United States, having another teammate who speaks your language can only help.

The Spain/Rubio/Gasol links are bad enough, why can't it be Ibaka or Marc who absolutely NEED to be in Minnesota with Rube.

1. He'd be almost free.
2. The player has more value here than in ORL, a good start for any trade.
3. I want to look at every possibility. This trade doesn't preclude talking about Ibaka or Marc Gasol

[cpfsf]

I'm just going to say it. I had a dream about this thread. Someone proposed a deal including picks and veterans for Fran Vazquez. shrink noted that depending on the direction they will go, they will choose picks OR veterans, but not necessarily both. He noted that some people like mashed potatoes and some people like gravy, but they don't have to always be combined.

FYI, that was a terrible example.

[cpfsf]

Nah, not keen on a 29 year old PF.

I hope they'll use the MLE on another veteran, like how they signed Barea this year. Then, if they really need another big, just sign one of the multiple dudes we have marinating overseas. Bjelica looks interesting, Prestes could be good and Norel is a hustle guy.

Pretty sure we didn't use the MLE on Barea.

We could do both. It's questionable if Kahn decides to keep Miller, Webster, Tolliver, and Randolph. All of whom have questionable futures in Minnesota. Minnesota only draft pick in 2012 is a second rounder from OKC, so we may have some major holes to fill.

I think we should just acquire as many assets as possible, and sort it out later. I'd want Vazquez because he's one of the most established and talented vets in Europe, and obviously the asking price isn't that high.

Does anyone know Prestes' contract situation?

[shrink]

If they want vets for this season, I think Tolliver is a decent swap.

It's hard to find cheap bigs in the NBA any more, and he's an expiring as well.

[shrink]

BTW, if the timberwolves organization ever swoops in and offers me a position in their organization, I would try to get them to corner the market on Euro-talent.

This seems to me to be a tragically under-appreciated source of potential assets. After the Spurs demonstrated the efficacy of advanced scouting in Europe, we saw teams investing their second round picks in foreign players, and even (like POR), in first rounders. However, we have seen almost no trade movement of foreign players. Once they are drafted, they just sit over there.

The rights to foreign players are still assets, and there's no real reason that they haven't been included in trades. In fact, once acquired, I think they become afterthoughts, and if a team happened to ask for the rights to a foreign player or two, it wouldn't squelch any trades. Acquiring these rights has no negative impact on a team (at least for the bulk of them, selected as second rounders). there's no cap hold, teams don't even pay them $1 in salary if they don't come play.

After acquiring a big bulk of foreign prospects, I think an NBA team could generate value from them. While the NBA respects contracts signed in Europe, and vice versa, the rules between players and agents are much looser, and it's possible we an NBA team could encourage a Euro prospect to want to come to the NBA. As I said earlier, I think having countrymen here, paving the way increases that likelyhood, or a franchise that demonstrates a willingness to assimilate and cater to international players.

The economist in me sees undiscovered value - assets with no downside that other owners own, but don't put any value into. MIN needs to add value to it's team, and I think this is a cheap, barely untapped secondary market for talent.

[cpfsf]

If they want vets for this season, I think Tolliver is a decent swap.

It's hard to find cheap bigs in the NBA any more, and he's an expiring as well.

Are you implying an Orton + Hughes OR Wafer + Vazquez for Tolliver swap?

[lobishome]

The team doesn't need Fran nor other 4, the team needs 2,3 and 5.

I not sure Fran fits to the NBA and he isn't dominant here.

[Krapinsky]

I've never understood the persistent interest in Fran Vazquez on this board.

[shangrila]

Pretty sure we didn't use the MLE on Barea.

Obviously, but he got a MLE type deal.

We could do both. It's questionable if Kahn decides to keep Miller, Webster, Tolliver, and Randolph. All of whom have questionable futures in Minnesota. Minnesota only draft pick in 2012 is a second rounder from OKC, so we may have some major holes to fill.

I don't know if they all have questionable futures here. Randolph looks like he's playing his way out, but a healthy Webster is solid and probably doesn't cost much. Miller might be around for a while just because Adelman loves him and Tolliver seems like a guy Adelman will fall in love with.

I think we should just acquire as many assets as possible, and sort it out later. I'd want Vazquez because he's one of the most established and talented vets in Europe, and obviously the asking price isn't that high.

Maybe, but wouldn't he be 30 by the time he comes over? It just seems kind of pointless IMO.

Does anyone know Prestes' contract situation?

He had a year left when he came here for that workout. Not sure what it looks like now though and I couldn't find anything (and I mean anything) through google.

[shrink]

I've never understood the persistent interest in Fran Vazquez on this board.

For me, it's obvious.

Potential talent that would cost us virtually nothing. I'm a cheap SOB

[DejanBodiroga]

Orlando has a chance of keeping Dwight Howard, but that’s not going to happen if they keep their roster intact. The hope that Fran Vazquez will sign in Orlando will probably have little or no impact on Howard’s decision to stay, so Orlando can trade Vazquez now if he can bring back a few decent prospects.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqnRGHKxWDo[/youtube]

[Krapinsky]

I've never understood the persistent interest in Fran Vazquez on this board.

For me, it's obvious.

Potential talent that would cost us virtually nothing. I'm a cheap SOB

The talent level doesn't justify the amount of interest.