Jordan McLaughlin RFA Status

[Jedzz]

Plays better than a 3rd string imo.

From the Timberwolves' perspective, he will be behind both Rubio and Russell. I am not sure how any rational person can argue that.

Nobody has been arguing that now. Not a single person that I've read here. Again, this is either trolling tactics or flat out that worst reading comprehension i've seen in a long time.

[Baseline81]

Thank you, you seem to understand my point. He is our third string if he signs with us. Our goal is to give him as little as possible while maintaining as much control as possible. Other teams are not beating down the door for him.

Russell was Rosas' whale. He targeted the former Buckeye in his first FA. Though Russell ended up in Golden State, he finally arrived at the trade deadline.

Then factor in the deal to bring Rubio back to Minnesota. Johnson was the third highest paid player (behind only Russell and Towns). Other than the first overall pick, he was the trade chip this offseason. To use it on Rubio shows how important the FO and Saunders feel he is to this team.

I don't see where that leaves McLaughlin, regardless of how well he played last year. You can go into whether of not he earned a contract. If that was case, another team would have swooped in by now. How many complaints did we hear about the salaries given to both Beasley and Hernangomez? How the team outbid itself and overpaid? And yet, here it is sticking to its guns on McLaughlin.

[Jedzz]

Thank you, you seem to understand my point. He is our third string if he signs with us. Our goal is to give him as little as possible while maintaining as much control as possible. Other teams are not beating down the door for him.

Russell was Rosas' whale. He targeted the former Buckeye in his first FA. Though Russell ended up in Golden State, he finally arrived at the trade deadline.

Then factor in the deal to bring Rubio back to Minnesota. Johnson was the third highest paid player (behind only Russell and Towns). Other than the first overall pick, he was the trade chip this offseason. To use it on Rubio shows how important the FO and Saunders feel he is to this team.

I don't see where that leaves McLaughlin, regardless of how well he played last year. You can go into whether of not he earned a contract. If that was case, another team would have swooped in by now. How many complaints did we hear about the salaries given to both Beasley and Hernangomez? How the team outbid itself and overpaid? And yet, here it is sticking to its guns on McLaughlin.

Your last point has no real basis. Because all teams passed on him in the draft. There is no guarantee many or any other teams are bothering this offseason to look at former undrafted PGs searching for a deal on someone mistakenly passed over two drafts ago. Nor do many teams or people seem to take what MN or their players do with much of any respect. I doubt they watch.

But just like Duncan Robinson going undrafted, that doesn't mean they aren't really good players. The Heat found a gem in Duncan just like the Wolves apparently did with JMac. One team used him to make a finals run. The other team ran out and traded for a good PG but a well paid one that stops them from drafting what they otherwise needed at 17 that was staring them in the face. Remember, Heat also drafted Herro. This is like the polar opposite of what the Wolves did with the gem they found from undrafted.

Rosas went a different way, after Rubio. That's not in question by anyone now what that means. It means JMac is benched and not even signing worthy. That's a result of their choice, not the reality of player's abilities being discussed.

[UnFadeable21]

Jmac played very well vs the clippers but we can’t forget that he’s 5’11 and 170lbs.

He is and always will be a back up. On this team, he is the 3rd pg.

[Klomp]

The good news for JMAC is that if MB is suspended pending the resolution of his legal drama then a roster spot will be open for him (assuming RHJ gets the other one.)

Wrong. A roster spot would not open up.

[old school 34]

I would love JMac back....& love to see the guy get paid....but Rosas made a real tough call on Tyus last year & at the end of the day, for the Wolves, most likely the right one.

JMac is stuck as an rfa, but the 2-way contracts are relatively new to the NBA as well...still being tweaked...& while it sucks would he even have this opportunity if those wouldn't have been around in the first place?

And again, from Wolves side....would I rather have JMac than say Shabazz Napier...yep, for sure @ the same price....how much more would I pay him though for our current roster...that gets a lot tougher to answer?

I get JMac's most likely frustration, but completely get Wolves side of it.

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

[Mamba4Goat]

Jmac played very well vs the clippers but we can’t forget that he’s 5’11 and 170lbs.

He is and always will be a back up. On this team, he is the 3rd pg.

With Rubio and D’Lo likely to play together, and J-Mac likely to play with one of them at time as well, I wouldn’t say he’s the “3rd PG”. It’s more like 2nd or 2nd and a half PG.

[thinktank]

I’d love to ride pine for a 1.5 million.

Get paid to learn the pro game.

Somebody always gets hurt.

And if you could be as good as the players you are watching but forced to sit and watch? If you would be alright with that than you don't belong in pro sports. At least not the type of players I want to see on a team. They work their tails off for opportunities and then sieze them. Like he did.

I don't think he has much to learn. I think he came into this league well ahead of most rookies in game IQ and knowing what he can do. Doesn't mean he didn't have to get used to the speed and demands of this level. But yeah that was no normal rookie dusting Kawhi and George like they don't matter.

I get what you're saying about him being seasoned and being competitive, those are both true for sure.

I'm saying, I would rather take an NBA deal at this stage of his career than go overseas.

What other NBA team is going to pay him?

If Ricky or DLo go down (please God no), then he's got a great opportunity to showcase himself for a longer deal in the near future.

[DaMplsKid]

Is he practicing with the team?

Being that nobody else signed him do we still have a qualifying offer on him?

Does that mean he either signs that or doesn't play in the NBA?

Can he just go to the g-league and wait for another 10 day if he doesn't want to sign here?

Do we have to remove the qualifying offer at all or can we keep it even if the roster is full?

Basically what are his/our options at this point?

[Dewey]

I’d love to ride pine for a 1.5 million.

Get paid to learn the pro game.

Somebody always gets hurt.

And if you could be as good as the players you are watching but forced to sit and watch? If you would be alright with that than you don't belong in pro sports. At least not the type of players I want to see on a team. They work their tails off for opportunities and then sieze them. Like he did.

I don't think he has much to learn. I think he came into this league well ahead of most rookies in game IQ and knowing what he can do. Doesn't mean he didn't have to get used to the speed and demands of this level. But yeah that was no normal rookie dusting Kawhi and George like they don't matter.

I get what you're saying about him being seasoned and being competitive, those are both true for sure.

I'm saying, I would rather take an NBA deal at this stage of his career than go overseas.

What other NBA team is going to pay him?

If Ricky or DLo go down (please God no), then he's got a great opportunity to showcase himself for a longer deal in the near future.

I like the kid and would like to keep him, but think he should sign a 1-year deal then become a UFA next off-season. It's tough when you see all the rookie PG's selected later in the draft (cheap) and I'm sure he's aware. He has proven some worth, but has no reason to feel entitled to anythng other than a 3rd wheel off the bench in the NBA. If teams saw him as more of a true backup/rotational guy, he be signed already.

[Jedzz]

I like the kid and would like to keep him, but think he should sign a 1-year deal then become a UFA next off-season. It's tough when you see all the rookie PG's selected later in the draft (cheap) and I'm sure he's aware. He has proven some worth, but has no reason to feel entitled to anythng other than a 3rd wheel off the bench in the NBA. If teams saw him as more of a true backup/rotational guy, he be signed already.

whatever. post by post in this thread I'm learning more and more of who's opinions I should bother with in the future.

I would love to see a list of all the Tyus supportors while he was here. Some today still wanted to draft his brother because they saw him as possibly slightly better. They would have been fine with him selected 33rd or sooner even. What would that guys deal be then? Well JMac is twice the basketball player Tyus was. But since Tyus was once a first round pick for this team everything was so different, isn't it? Everyone thinking like a poor mans GM at realGM.

[Dewey]

I like the kid and would like to keep him, but think he should sign a 1-year deal then become a UFA next off-season. It's tough when you see all the rookie PG's selected later in the draft (cheap) and I'm sure he's aware. He has proven some worth, but has no reason to feel entitled to anythng other than a 3rd wheel off the bench in the NBA. If teams saw him as more of a true backup/rotational guy, he be signed already.

whatever. post by post in this thread I'm learning more and more of who's opinions I should bother with in the future.

I would love to see a list of all the Tyus supportors while he was here. Some today still wanted to draft his brother because they saw him as possibly slightly better. They would have been fine with him selected 33rd or sooner even. What would that guys deal be then? Well JMac is twice the basketball player Tyus was. But since Tyus was once a first round pick for this team everything was so different, isn't it? Everyone thinking like a poor mans GM at realGM.

big loss ... you do seem to love your own opinion through so hang in there. Again, if he was so good, he'd be signed ... unless there are 30 GM's who's opinions aren't to your liking ??? .

[DaMplsKid]

I like the kid and would like to keep him, but think he should sign a 1-year deal then become a UFA next off-season. It's tough when you see all the rookie PG's selected later in the draft (cheap) and I'm sure he's aware. He has proven some worth, but has no reason to feel entitled to anythng other than a 3rd wheel off the bench in the NBA. If teams saw him as more of a true backup/rotational guy, he be signed already.

whatever. post by post in this thread I'm learning more and more of who's opinions I should bother with in the future.

I would love to see a list of all the Tyus supportors while he was here. Some today still wanted to draft his brother because they saw him as possibly slightly better. They would have been fine with him selected 33rd or sooner even. What would that guys deal be then? Well JMac is twice the basketball player Tyus was. But since Tyus was once a first round pick for this team everything was so different, isn't it? Everyone thinking like a poor mans GM at realGM.

I really liked JMac's game last year and I wanted him back on our team. However, I am starting to question his skill set a little. I am not sure what the issues is and why he hasn't signed a contact with us yet. If he was as good as we think a NBA team would of taken a shot on him already. His market value is basically set at this point in free agents. The season starts in about 5 days so what is the issue?

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[Jedzz]

I like the kid and would like to keep him, but think he should sign a 1-year deal then become a UFA next off-season. It's tough when you see all the rookie PG's selected later in the draft (cheap) and I'm sure he's aware. He has proven some worth, but has no reason to feel entitled to anythng other than a 3rd wheel off the bench in the NBA. If teams saw him as more of a true backup/rotational guy, he be signed already.

whatever. post by post in this thread I'm learning more and more of who's opinions I should bother with in the future.

I would love to see a list of all the Tyus supportors while he was here. Some today still wanted to draft his brother because they saw him as possibly slightly better. They would have been fine with him selected 33rd or sooner even. What would that guys deal be then? Well JMac is twice the basketball player Tyus was. But since Tyus was once a first round pick for this team everything was so different, isn't it? Everyone thinking like a poor mans GM at realGM.

I really liked JMac's game last year and I wanted him back on our team. However, I am starting to question his skill set a little. I am not sure what the issues is and why he hasn't signed a contact with us yet. If he was as good as we think a NBA team would of taken a shot on him already. His market value is basically set at this point in free agents. The season starts in about 5 days so what is the issue?

Don't question the skills he has. You can go back to his highschool film and see he's been loaded with skills for a long time and he's used his time in college and Gleague to refine them. What you should be questioning is the NBA teams and GMs that live and die by draft and popularity values and many don't look deeper than that. Some do, and they build full teams of real players. Even some of the teams purchasing winning rosters with FA stars, they are still filling rosters out with unheralded players. But they dig through a bag of completely free to sign players.

The Nets, and now the Wolves have owned his rights and still do. These teams bring guys like this in signing to whatever trial deals and then wait until just before the season to waive them and then grab them back for their camp or gleague rosters. Waiving them late makes it more likely other teams already have their rosters figured out. It's how they can keep controlling him for next to nothing. RFA and waiting this year. JMac's just in the next stage of that process now coming into his actual third year. Pretty easy to understand how not all teams are looking at someone who hasn't played much now going into his third year after his draft year. It won't be until he's free that his agent can interest teams and that team comes knocking for an undrafted nobody because he comes with no strings. But the Wolves have made sure even up to days before the season that wouldn't be the case. Yet, they were kind enough to rescind the QO to Kelan Martin a while ago so he was free to. Why? Because they didn't have room for Martin. No need to overthink it. It is what it is. They are trying to take advantage of him and get his huge skills in a little package for practically nothing, and I would guess force him into a multi year trash deal to control him for years. Why? bragging rights as a GM? I don't know. Hopefully he has an agent that can do better for him and get a 1 yr deal or get out. That agent is Mitchell Butler of Rival Sports Group. Don't know much about him as an agent accept that he has other two way level players. I imagine it's a really precarious situation. Either accept getting screwed over or risk never playing in the league again. I don't know if they are holding out or if the team is, again, making sure this goes to the wire. I know I would have enjoyed him on the roster with a big part to play here. He would have been worth every penny.

[Jedzz]

People are starting to admit what he did in the Clippers game. But how about the Denver game? Take a look. These are strong West playoff teams he has no trouble playing with.

15pts, 10 assists, 54% from 2, 50% from 3, 100% on FT, 1 steal.

Watch on YouTube

How about the Miami game, the Finals East team. Only 20 minute type bench role this time.

13pts, 5 assists. 80% from 2, 67% from 3, 75% FT (3of4), 3 steals.

Watch on YouTube

People claim he can't get off screens. Watch the Miami game. He breaks through them and steals from the driver as he is trying to go by. Jones Jr, some here liked him. JMac defends him well in a few possessions of that game video. 8 seconds left, he scores over Bam to take the lead.

These are the playoff teams of last year and he responds by playing up against them. If he was a nothing player, the playoff teams would rub his nose in it and take advantage of him being on the floor. These are the kinds of players that give the Wolves that chance to have competitive games against top flight teams. But they don't want to pay for it...because...you tell me.

[Jedzz]

Being a successful GM in the NBA would probably be really easy. Imagine how many of these kinds of players can be had for low guaranteed deals. Of course, I suppose you still need to know what a real basketball player looks like when he's playing. I think if more focused on wins to drive sales in the next year instead of splash moves in offseasons to drive sales now, I think there would be less GM turnover.

[Folklore]

Jedzz I know its hard being the only sober one in the room.I had to stop reading because I knew I'd get frustrated because you'll never convince them to look past Rosas's ball collection.I'm tired of this team wasting assets over what should be a common sense decisions.

[urinesane]

I really liked JMac's game last year and I wanted him back on our team. However, I am starting to question his skill set a little. I am not sure what the issues is and why he hasn't signed a contact with us yet. If he was as good as we think a NBA team would of taken a shot on him already. His market value is basically set at this point in free agents. The season starts in about 5 days so what is the issue?

I don't think it's that simple.

I think it has to do with the trend towards small ball really hurting the opportunities for smaller PGs. Right now the hot thing is players that can guard multiple positions. Ultimately teams are looking for athletic guys with versatility, and unfortunately for JMac his height makes him limited to only being able to really play/defend at the 1.

It doesn't have to do with the quality of play he provides at PG, it has to do with the flexibility teams are looking for in a league with the most positional fluidity (that would be a good yoga class name, feel free to steal it) it's ever had. Which means old school big men, who can't shoot the three and aren't quick are low value. Same with undersized PGs, even if you are very solid as JMac was last season, it's difficult for a lot of teams to lose that potential flexibility with lineups to pay a guy to be a backup/third string when he can only be a PG.

It sucks, because he easily would be a solid backup PG prospect 10 years or more ago. The Wolves are probably letting him and his agent look for deals like they did with Juancho to see if he can find a better situation/team. I just don't think there is a market for 5'11" PGs currently in the NBA, even if they are very solid.

I think the Wolves probably wait as long as JMac's agent wants to look for deals and then sign him to a team friendly contract. JMac can continue to develop and will most likely get some minutes at times in the season, even if the Wolves stay healthy (please please please be healthy this season).

[Domejandro]

It is genuinely baffling to me that a team has not offered Jordan McLaughlin a deal that would put Minnesota into the Luxury-Tax.

Regardless, I sincerely hope Minnesota brings him back, it would guarantee that the Timberwolves will have high-quality Point-Guard play every single game, even if Ricky Rubio or D'Angelo Russell get banged up. Given the dynamics of this NBA season, I think that depth is more important than ever.