Options for the $5.15 mil MLE?

[shrink]

What free agents do you think the Wolves would offer all, or part of the MLE too?

I'd like us to generate a list of possibilities.

[cpfsf]

What free agents do you think the Wolves would offer all, or part of the MLE too?

I'd like us to generate a list of possibilities.

kevin martin
redick
calderon (although i'd only do this if we traded both barea and ridnour)
landry
mozgov (restricted)

i've always wanted to quote myself

[Grits n Gravy]

Roddy Buckets - Always been one of the favourite guys to watch. Change of scenery could do wonders for him.
Morrow - Great shooter.
Belinelli - Can shoot and defend(within a good system) and is white.
Nick Young - Can score and shoot with size.
Gary Neal
Delfino
Brandon Rush

[Biff Cooper]

1. Unrealistic Options (Mayo, Reddick, Kevin Martin, Gerald Henderson, Tyreke Evans, Tony Allen)
2. Buddinger
3. Dunleavy
4. Delfino
5. Webster
6. Korver
7. Belinelli
8. Morrow
9. Rush

[C.lupus]

I was going to make a similar thread this morning.

My free agent list:
Tony Allen - Elite defender and should get more than MLE. I can't imagine MEM letting him go but if there is one franchise that consistently surprises me with their personnel decisions, it's Memphis.

JJ Redick - Great shooter and improved defender in Orlando. would be a great fit but will want more than MLE money.

OJ Mayo - Good shooter and ball handler, will want more than MLE. I don't necessarily want him for anything more than MLE.

Kevin Martin - Good shooter, though inconsistent in OKC, bad defender and 30 years old, but loves playing for Adelman.

Gerald Henderson - Good defender, decent shooter. Should be right in the MLE range.

Marco Belinelli - Can shoot and defend a bit.

Randy Foye - Was shooting the lights out from 3 last year.

Anthony Morrow - Can shoot.

Corey Brewer - eh...

Timofey Mozgov - Would rather use the MLE on a SG but if we use the 9 pick on a SG, he wouldn't be a bad option to backup Pek.

[FinnTheHuman]

Kevin Martin would be the nicest out of the realistic options imo.

[LaViggins]

I would def want Mayo but like others said he might want more. I really think we should try and get Mozgov, feel he hates being buried in the bench behind McGee and Kufos. He and Shved looked great during the Olympics together, and well I want Greg out.

[Saltine]

Kmart.

[Dewey]

Kevin Martin would be the nicest out of the realistic options imo.

Vomit talk

[FinnTheHuman]

Kevin Martin would be the nicest out of the realistic options imo.

Vomit talk

What does that mean? That you don't agree or?

[Biff Cooper]

Realistically, if Adleman is back, we will probably be using most of the MLE to resign Budinger - Perhaps we'll have a little leftover for Bjelica, another Euro, or perhaps someone like Neal or Morrow.

[Klomp]

Realistically, if Adleman is back, we will probably be using most of the MLE to resign Budinger - Perhaps we'll have a little leftover for Bjelica, another Euro, or perhaps someone like Neal or Morrow.

We have Bud's bird rights, so we can still sign him if we're over the cap without using the MLE.

[Krapinsky]

Other names I haven't seen yet, most of which probably aren't deserving of the full MLE, but could be nice bench pieces:

1. Zaza Pachulia -- Brings toughness and may be more of a sure thing that someone like Mozgov.
2. Andray Blatche -- Blossomed last year. Still a bit of an egg head, but at least he can fill up the basket when motivated.
3. Chris Kaman -- I'd prefer to stay away, but we could do worse.
4. Elton Brand -- Savvy vet can still get it done in stretches. Probably doesn't have the length we're looking for in the front court.
5. Brandon Wright -- Was very productive in limited minutes -- 21 PER and 1.2 bocks and still only 25.
6. Corey Brewer -- Fan favorite. Still can't shoot, so probably not a fit for us.
7. Jarret Jack -- See Bayless, below. I think he gets more than the MLE.
8. Matt Barnes -- had a really good season last year and can stretch the floor, but i think he resigns with LAC and we look for a younger player in this role as insurance for an eventual AK replacement
9. Earl Clark -- a hybrid forward that's beginning to come into his own. Just wish he could shoot a little better.
10. Jerryd Bayless -- See Foye, below
11. Sam Dalembert -- Had a solid year last year, would be an upgrade over Steamer
12. Al-Farouq Aminu -- Hybrid forward that can't shoot, but boards well (20 rebounds in his last game) and still has lots of potential
13. JJ Hickson -- Would be a solid first big off the bench, but someoen likely gives him more than the MLE after putting up 12 and 10 last year at age 24.
14. Randy Foye -- Could be a combo guard off the bench, but that's likely Shved's role
15. Mo Williams -- veteran shotmaker could be a JJ replacement, but too much roster movement would have to happen first
16. Martell Webster -- a healthy webster may just be a better defending Budinger

[jfg]

I'd love to get Gerald Henderson for the MLE.

[Klomp]

I'd love to get Gerald Henderson for the MLE.

Zero chance that happens.

[Biff Cooper]

Realistically, if Adleman is back, we will probably be using most of the MLE to resign Budinger - Perhaps we'll have a little leftover for Bjelica, another Euro, or perhaps someone like Neal or Morrow.

We have Bud's bird rights, so we can still sign him if we're over the cap without using the MLE.

You're probably right. For some reason I was thinking the only option we had to re-sign Bud was the MLE. Maybe I was thinking we could only give him 200% or 250% of what he made this season to sign him using the Bird exception.

[Klomp]

• A source close to the situation reiterated what was reported in this space two weeks ago: guard O.J. Mayo is a big-time free agent priority this summer for the Wolves. Interestingly, depending on your view, there is no free agent buzz involving the Wolves and guard Kevin Martin. He played for Wolves coach Rick Adelman in Houston.

http://m.1500espn.com/pages/sportswire. ... hing060713

[shrink]

For people that say that some players are totally unrealistic, I wanted to provide a little economics that may cause you to re-think the position.

Have you ever wondered why over the years, there have been so many players with contract at the MLE (around $5 mil), and hardly any that start at $6 mil, or $7? The reason is buyers. Nearly any team can offer a free agent the $5 with the MLE, but only a handful have the cap space, or rights, to make an offer for more.

Obviously, all players want to make as much as they can, but with few +$5 mil buyers, there is competition for any salary over $5 mil. The top free agents leech away a lot of the cap space. Now , while the basketball talent may be a bell-shaped curve, the salaries can't follow that model. Most of the players that are worth $6 or #7 get the MLE (but may have more choice on which team they go to). The buyers with cap space or rights need to look at a guy, and think, "is he so much better than the average player that we'll use that cap space?" In most cases, the answer is no.

Anyway, my point is to not dismiss these better guys as unobtainable with the MLE yet. We'll have to wait and see.

[Saltine]

I don't doubt Mayo may be available for the MLE, his stock hasn't gone up any, I don't think he's worth it...

[C.lupus]

For people that say that some players are totally unrealistic, I wanted to provide a little economics that may cause you to re-think the position.

Have you ever wondered why over the years, there have been so many players with contract at the MLE (around $5 mil), and hardly any that start at $6 mil, or $7? The reason is buyers. Nearly any team can offer a free agent the $5 with the MLE, but only a handful have the cap space, or rights, to make an offer for more.

Obviously, all players want to make as much as they can, but with few +$5 mil buyers, there is competition for any salary over $5 mil. The top free agents leech away a lot of the cap space. Now , while the basketball talent may be a bell-shaped curve, the salaries can't follow that model. Most of the players that are worth $6 or #7 get the MLE (but may have more choice on which team they go to). The buyers with cap space or rights need to look at a guy, and think, "is he so much better than the average player that we'll use that cap space?" In most cases, the answer is no.

Anyway, my point is to not dismiss these better guys as unobtainable with the MLE yet. We'll have to wait and see.

Good post shrink. I agree with all of it. I'd also add that the new lux tax rules kick in this year so there are likely going to be more teams dumping salary or at least not taking on big salaries.