Who is worth keeping?

[urinesane]

Besides the obvious choices, I'd really like to see what Lee can do next year. He had an almost impossible scenario this year with surgery to start the year, then basically being "ready" to play when Rubio goes down. Being a rookie and going through an injury and not be able to learn a new system with the team left him pretty far behind.

I can't wait till this team has a full off season to really learn the system and get comfortable with it.

[Scottypax]

Beasley, Tolliver, and Randolph are definitely gone.

Hopefully the front office amnesties Darko.

It's kind of clear that Barea won't be part of our long term goals with Rubio and Ridnour. We can always make a small signing for a backup PG in the offseason if a trade scenario for Barea opens up. Wes is miraculously bad! If he could develop an efficient offensive game, that would be nice. Maybe our coaches work with him in the offseason. He has had only the piss poor tutelage of Rambis. Ultimately, I think his potential is a mirage though.

[Krapinsky]

Beasley, Tolliver, and Randolph are definitely gone.

I could see any of them coming back for the right money. If Tolliver and Randolph will take end of the bench money, then they could be back. With Darko having fallen out of favor, Tolliver and Randy will get their chances.

Hopefully the front office amnesties Darko.

I will be really dissapointed if they don't. Kahn/Taylor need to show a sense of urgency to improve the team. If they bring back Darko next year to sit on the bench and loaf I'll be very upset.

It's kind of clear that Barea won't be part of our long term goals with Rubio and Ridnour. We can always make a small signing for a backup PG in the offseason if a trade scenario for Barea opens up. Wes is miraculously bad! If he could develop an efficient offensive game, that would be nice. Maybe our coaches work with him in the offseason. He has had only the piss poor tutelage of Rambis. Ultimately, I think his potential is a mirage though.

I don't think that's clear at all. I prefer Luke, but Luke will be much easier to move. Barea we'd probably have to dump. But with Rubio probably not being 100% at the beginning of the year, I could see both of them coming back next season.

[Devilzsidewalk]

we should've kept Stiemsma instead of Darko

[WetWildandWeird]

I can almost guarantee Williams starts at the 3. You dont put that much effort into a number 2 pick to come off the bench behind your best player. If he wasnt traded this season they are gonna make him a 3.

-you cant make someone fit a position
-He's a defensive liability at the 3
-He wasn't traded because he's really the only backup pf, unless you want to throw randoplh and miller out there or even tolliver
-His offensive game is coming around but he's still makes some boneheaded plays
-I wanted us to trade that pick
-But its worth keeping him around and letting him play the 4

Im not saying its the right decision only stating that it seems like the wolves are commited to him. And you dont commit to that expensive of a player as the back up 4 especially when his value can only really go down at that point. I mean heck I wanted to trade him as well but all signs from the front office point to us keeping him which means playing him at the 3 and spending our money on the 2

[Narf]

Beasley is not going to be comfortable signing a contract where he is a 23 year old bench player. He will sign somewhere else as a starter for more money.

This. I doubt he settles for less money to comes off the bench. Its likely that he goes to another team for a year and plays for a contract.

I disagree.
Beasley wants to stay because he's happy here and wanted here. His problem isn't money, it's severe depression. If Minnesota makes him happy he'll stay here.

That's just my conjecture on his situation, and may of course be wrong. But since I'm responding to unfounded conjecture I figure it's about as valid

[Narf]

Also I'm not entirely against trading Love. I think he's looking like a top 10 player in the league as well and plan on building around him.....but if we can get a kings ransom for him and start Williams at the 4 I don't think that's out of the realms of possibility. So he's in the "untouchable" category but also tradable for the right price.

[Hambone93]

So he's in the "untouchable" category but also tradable for the right price.

that literally makes absolutely no sense. you can't be untradable and tradable at the same time.

Also, wouldn't the same logic apply to rubio? I mean, if the clippers offered us chris paul for rubio straight up who wouldn't take that deal? I don't think that you can have rubio be untouchable and loveon the trading block. there really isn't any indication that rubio will ever be a better player than love.

[Krapinsky]

So he's in the "untouchable" category but also tradable for the right price.

that literally makes absolutely no sense.

You just have to speak backwards fran's language.

'Untouchable' = untouchable in an ironic way
"Untouchable" = means untouchable for the sake of defending trade board trades in an attempt to trick Realgm posters into boosting a player's perceived trade value
Untouchable = won't trade him for anyone that the player is not matter of factly worse then
Untouchables = dope movie with Connery and Costner

[lazfa199]

Beasley is not going to be comfortable signing a contract where he is a 23 year old bench player. He will sign somewhere else as a starter for more money.

This. I doubt he settles for less money to comes off the bench. Its likely that he goes to another team for a year and plays for a contract.

I disagree.
Beasley wants to stay because he's happy here and wanted here. His problem isn't money, it's severe depression. If Minnesota makes him happy he'll stay here.

That's just my conjecture on his situation, and may of course be wrong. But since I'm responding to unfounded conjecture I figure it's about as valid

I don't doubt that hes happy here. I just think I would be stupid of him to throw away money when he didn't even get a chance to prove himself this year (injuries and limited minutes). He could go to a team like the Bobcats and put up numbers and try to get a good multiple year contract. I would be great for us if he stuck around considering we got him for nothing and could keep him around for a low price with his declining value, but its not a good career move for him. Look at the contract Wilson Chandler just got, Beasley could get a similar one if he goes to another team where he gets more minutes and touches.

[Yes We Kahn]

Also I'm not entirely against trading Love.

Maybe want to rethink this?

[The J Rocka]

Was just thinking if we get rid of/don't re-sign Darko, Webster, Miller, Beasley, Randolph, Tolliver, Ellington, and Johnson, we'll have over $21 mil in cap space while having Love, Rubio, Williams, and Pekovic as our main core pieces. Not to mention if we move Ridnour or Barea, we'll have a bit more. That also leaves us with draft picks + Williams to get a SG/SF.

[Gideon]

Nobody is literally untouchable... but realistically, I don't see us parting with Rubio, Love, or Pek unless the deal is simply awesome. My guess is D-Will is close to that category... I don't see why he can't develop into a good starting 3. I think it's easy to forget he's a rookie who didn't even have a training camp this year... he's going to improve and adapt his game considerably over the next couple of years.

I think those 4 players are our core... while I like some of the other pieces we have, Rubio/D-Will/Love/Pek is the future of this team. Hopefully we can upgrade at the 2 through a trade or FA signing. (If we go the trade route, I would imagine that with some combination of the picks we have + any of the following: Beasley/Wes/either one of Ridnour/Barea we can get a good starting 2.)

As far as the debate over D-Will goes, I don't really get why people think he can't be a 3 in this league. He's 6'8/240 and a good shooter and his athleticism is clearly high enough, even if might want to lose a little weight/add a little quickness to play the position long-term.

The greatest 3s in recent NBA history are Larry Bird (6'9/220), LeBron James (6'8/240), Kevin Durant (6'9/215), James Worthy (6'9/225), Dominique Wilkins (6'7/200), Paul Pierce (6'7/230), and Scottie Pippen (6'8/210) (I probably forgot somebody, but you get the idea)... so D-Will is basically the perfect body type for the position if he just loses a few pounds... not a particularly difficult thing for him to do this offseason/training camp.

[King d]

Ricky, Kevin, and Nikola are your keepers for sure. Derrick, Luke, and Martell are adequate reserves, although all three might have more value elsewhere than they do here. No reason to be attached to anyone else on this team right now.

Wayne >>>>> Martell

[Narf]

Also I'm not entirely against trading Love.

Maybe want to rethink this?

Let's try an example.

Assume we trade our picks, Barea or Ridnour, and whoever for a SF (Webster and Miller's disappearing contracts included). Iggy, Granger, Crash, Pierce, Deng, etc..
Love for Ibaka and Harden

Pekovic/Ibaka
Ibaka/Williams
????/Beasley
Harden/Ellington/Lee
Rubio/Ridnour/Lee

I don't want to trade Love, even for an example like this. But I'm not entirely against it for the right team.

[moss_is_1]

I wouldn't trade Love. If we make a trade, we have to combine things together. Breaking Love down into 2 players will just hurt us more then help us. Quality depth is easy to find, you need stars to win.

[Narf]

I wouldn't trade Love. If we make a trade, we have to combine things together. Breaking Love down into 2 players will just hurt us more then help us. Quality depth is easy to find, you need stars to win.

Harden/Ibaka is a little more than quality depth. Harden might become a star, he's certainly on the right path. You are right, quality > quantity generally. And I wouldn't make this trade either, but it's close. I'm just saying, I'm not entirely against trading him. I would rather trade Williams if we can get the right value for him. Maybe something like Williams + #17 pick to NJ for the #3 pick? Meh, who knows.

[Breakdown777]

The OP says who is WORTH keeping, not who is off limits/untradeable.

There are plenty of guys playing what they are worth. Heck, Wayne Ellington is probably worth his contract.

The guys I'd like to hold on to are Rubio and Love, everyone else can go. Obviously guys like D-Will and Pek are awesome, but I'd answer the phone if somebody was inquiring about them.