Jordan McLaughlin RFA Status

[Jedzz]

Jed your talking like this is some kind of blood feud between JMAC and the Wolves. RFA is a process just like the NBA is a business. Given our cap situation JMAC understands we didn’t have a lot of money to offer him.

The cap situation left when you wait to address him as the last player is on the Team, not him. They made him the last priority because they could. They predetermined that they could use his RFA status and undrafted situation to hold him over the barrel for as little. That allowed them to make multiple moves first and then come back to him and say, that's all we have for you. Your "cap situation" designed by them.

When they didn't offer him a standard deal and get that done before FA, I assumed he was being released. Especially after seeing the Rubio addition. Fine, I thought. They are going in a different direction. I figured I would see him on a different team in time. But then nothing occurred and then it became clear what was really going on. They should have sewed him up in the offseason before FA if they were going to keep him. His play deserved much better.

Your suggestion that a player should just help a team out and smile about two way deals and hinkie offers a second time to me is incorrect and no player that has any talent is asked to be that way about their contracts.

[KGdaBom]

The only way I can make sense of waiving RHJ is to make room for JMc on the roster.

[Jedzz]

The only way I can make sense of waiving RHJ is to make room for JMc on the roster.

Well they could have waived JMac, Okogie, Nowell, Culver, Layman, Davis, whoever. I don't know whos left right now and really don't care. But if you think RHJ is someone that should have stayed that is certainly possible. This group of guys running things shouldn't be expected to do the right thing any longer. To much evidence to the contrary.

[winforlose]

Jed your talking like this is some kind of blood feud between JMAC and the Wolves. RFA is a process just like the NBA is a business. Given our cap situation JMAC understands we didn’t have a lot of money to offer him.

The cap situation left when you wait to address him as the last player is on the Team, not him. They made him the last priority because they could. They predetermined that they could use his RFA status and undrafted situation to hold him over the barrel for as little. That allowed them to make multiple moves first and then come back to him and say, that's all we have for you. Your "cap situation" designed by them.

"Given our cap situation" before this offseason started this GM could have signed him and went a completely different way with draft picks and FA and this team would be much further along right now as we speak. Show some spine and awareness people and admit it. It's ok to admit it. It's also fine to admit they chose to go a different way. I've posted acknowledgement of both. What followed is they wanted cake and to eat it as well.

When they didn't offer him a standard deal and get that done before FA, I assumed he was being released. Especially after seeing the Rubio addition. Fine, I thought. They are going in a different direction. I figured I would see him on a different team in time. But then nothing occurred and then it became clear what was going on.

Your suggestion that a player should just help a team out and smile about two way deals to me is incorrect. No player in this league looking at his chance for his first deal would agree with what you suggested and shouldn't be expected to.

Granted they could have made JMAC a priority, but clearly didn’t. They gambled that no other team would bite on JMAC. Remember, I was and still am against brining Ricky back. But once that was done JMAC was a third string. Your point seems to be that the Wolves owed JMAC so they should relinquish his rights and allow another team to sign him to give him minutes. I disagree. Having a talented third string is important. Having young third string players who can grow over time and maybe become a viable second string is also a good thing.

To your second point, this is a contract year for him. If he creates drama or does anything other than smile and say yes coach, or no coach, then he will hurt his own future. His performance will be the benchmark for his salary. This means he needs minutes. That requires working hard in practice, staying ready, and getting along with everybody. Maybe you are right and after this year another team will make him a big money offer and steal him away from us. Or, in the face of Covid and a low revenue season, our partial bird rights will make it easier to keep him and we will sign him to a contract that he is okay with. Either way, this is all business and JMAC holding a grudge would be more of an outlier than the norm.

[Jedzz]

I think that because he has not played 3 seasons in the league he will be a RFA next offseason, this time his QO will be a minimum contract instead of a 2-way. That's good for the Wolves but kind of sucks for him. The league also increased the duration of the 2-way to 50 games instead of 50 days. Hopefully he will give good minutes and get some nice offers next offseason.

Nice thoughts, but they aren't going to allow good minutes now. Imagine being that coach if injuries take down their top two PGs, having to turn to face JMac and ask him to carry this team after the team pulled this offseason on him. They won't do it. They will turn to Edwards first to lead from PG instead. They will turn to Culver at PG instead. They would do anything now to avoid that. Which is the reason it made no sense for them to keep hold of his rights after making those choices this offseason.

Hi. My name is Rosas and I won the offseason by taking advantage of my greatest find to date and burying him.

I don't think so. The best oportunity Mc has to get paid is put a strong play as much as he can. He shouldn't be mad with the Wolves front office but with how the league works and that no other team offered absolutely nothing. We are seeing it with Nowell, who wasn't happy with the initial offer but still worked hard to improve and is showing in preaseason.

The Wolves won't have a pick next draft so there is no real downside to let guys earn their playing time in their roles. It changes a lot compared to the last 5 or 6 seasons. In any way having him available this season is good for our depth.

Where did I suggest he wouldn't play hard? I suggested they have Edwards now who wants to lead offenses, and they have Culver who they keep showing they want to be a PG. Both of which they've paid millions to already. Then they have Rubio and Dlo ahead of everyone. I suggested they aren't turning to him now, their two way guy, to dig them out of an injury hole. They will just turn to Culver/Edwards. So how is he going to play hard and earn a deal next year?

They quite possibly killed off his chance for a career by burying him under all these others. At least being a completely free FA had they release his QO would have allowed him to come in at ground floor of a different team with better opportunity for actually playing and earning a real contract. Like many of the examples I've given already here, many teams will give them a contract if they prove they can play when they get a chance. Not here though. Here they just want to earn GM stripes this way.

[Jedzz]

Granted they could have made JMAC a priority, but clearly didn’t. They gambled that no other team would bite on JMAC. Remember, I was and still am against brining Ricky back. But once that was done JMAC was a third string. Your point seems to be that the Wolves owed JMAC so they should relinquish his rights and allow another team to sign him to give him minutes. I disagree. Having a talented third string is important.

I'm sorry but you are acting like I don't understand no other team threw big offers at him. I fully understand. But none of you will admit he would have had a chance to sign on elsewhere with the RFA tag removed, because it doesn't fit your excuses narrative.

I disagree with you that he becomes a third string after the Rubio signing. It's further down than even that, and I wanted nothing to do with him at even Third string. Whether you understand this yet or not, Edwards is very much a James Harden type of player. I floated that comparison many times before draft and he's already confirmed it plenty in preseason play. Let's not forget where this front office comes from and why I've called his Houston North since the first day. Is it really a surprise to you that I got that comparison right before the draft and that's who they ended up selecting?

Add it up. Dlo, Rubio, Edwards, Culver, and I have no idea what their plans are for Nowell, be it PG, SG, or cut. Don't know. All of them drafted or signed to major deals by this team. That's 4 to 5 down in pecking order by draft and contracts and that's mostly how this team operates minutes.

Early in this thread I showed where you get peak performance out of JMac. It drops off pretty hard going well below 20 minutes. Even if a third PG role was possible, which it basically isn't now, much below 20 minutes is a waste of his and our time. He doesn't need development time to play pro ball. It's many others that still do. After the Rubio signing, he should have been set free. I fully understand everyone under the sun here believes he's good for a 3rd role and I can tell you all were to go with that assessment. I disagree.

[winforlose]

Granted they could have made JMAC a priority, but clearly didn’t. They gambled that no other team would bite on JMAC. Remember, I was and still am against brining Ricky back. But once that was done JMAC was a third string. Your point seems to be that the Wolves owed JMAC so they should relinquish his rights and allow another team to sign him to give him minutes. I disagree. Having a talented third string is important.

I'm sorry but you are acting like I don't understand no other team threw big offers at him. I fully understand. But none of you will admit he would have had a chance to sign on elsewhere with the RFA tag removed, because it doesn't fit your excuses narrative.

I disagree with you that he becomes a third string after the Rubio signing. It's further down than even that, and I wanted nothing to do with him at even Third string. Whether you understand this yet or not, Edwards is very much a James Harden type of player. I floated that comparison many times before draft and he's already confirmed it plenty in preseason play. Let's not forget where this front office comes from and why I've called his Houston North since the first day. Is it really a surprise to you that I got that comparison right before the draft and that's who they ended up selecting?

Add it up. Dlo, Rubio, Edwards, Culver, and I have no idea what their plans are for Nowell, be it PG, SG, or cut. Don't know. All of them drafted or signed to major deals by this team. That's 4 to 5 down in pecking order by draft and contracts and that's mostly how this team operates minutes.

Early in this thread I showed where you get peak performance out of JMac. It drops off pretty hard going well below 20 minutes. Even if a third PG role was possible, which it basically isn't now, much below 20 minutes is a waste of his and our time. He doesn't need development time to play pro ball. It's many others that still do. After the Rubio signing, he should have been set free. I fully understand everyone under the sun here believes he's good for a 3rd role and I can tell you all were to go with that assessment. I disagree.

Thank you. This post really helped me understand your position. I disagree about Edwards. He isn’t good enough at this level to ball handle yet. This is a season where we don’t have any incentive to tank, thus we will go out to win. Edwards is envisioned as the PF of the future. Rosas wants a PJ tucker with all around better game. Culver is also not a PG. Culver doesn’t create for his teammates and is not great at drive and kick or passing in general. Culver is decent at attacking though he has issues finishing. His improved shot makes him more of a SG then SF but in small ball they are basically the same thing. Nowell and JMAC will be competing for the 3rd PG spot. Then again Nowell can play SG whereas JMAC cannot. The biggest issue is going to be health.

Your earlier posts talk about the psychology of JMAC that is where we disagree. He might resent being on the wolves but unless you can point to anything where he complains about it I see it as just part of the business.

[Jedzz]

Thank you. This post really helped me understand your position. I disagree about Edwards. He isn’t good enough at this level to ball handle yet. This is a season where we don’t have any incentive to tank, thus we will go out to win. Edwards is envisioned as the PF of the future. Rosas wants a PJ tucker with all around better game. Culver is also not a PG. Culver doesn’t create for his teammates and is not great at drive and kick or passing in general. Culver is decent at attacking though he has issues finishing. His improved shot makes him more of a SG then SF but in small ball they are basically the same thing. Nowell and JMAC will be competing for the 3rd PG spot. Then again Nowell can play SG whereas JMAC cannot. The biggest issue is going to be health.

Your earlier posts talk about the psychology of JMAC that is where we disagree. He might resent being on the wolves but unless you can point to anything where he complains about it I see it as just part of the business.

My earlier posts do not talk about the psychology of JMac. I was pointing at the thoughts of any good competitive player getting taken advantage of in this way after outplaying expectations and then staring at their first chance at a real contract and instead getting shoved back in a hole. They want to continue playing, not get buried again. I read some of you guys go off on a strange tangent about causing locker room trouble. Those words never came from me. Not once. That's reading issues. I was talking about the coaches now feeling embarrased about the GMs and their decision to not roll with him as first backup PG, not even third backup PG if injuries pile up and they have to ask him to carry the team again.

As per your thoughts on what you think they should do with Edwards, get ready to be dissapointed as they use him as much as they possibly can. He's either going to play so well that Towns and Dlo accept him, or they will play him as much as possible to keep up appearances while they continue to shop him. Dlo/Towns didn't want another rookie.
Somewhat the same with Culver and yes they will use him as a PG. They just did in the last game and that's exactly what they proclaimed he was after being drafted. Playmaking PG. First chance they get he's going to see that opportunity again.

[winforlose]

Thank you. This post really helped me understand your position. I disagree about Edwards. He isn’t good enough at this level to ball handle yet. This is a season where we don’t have any incentive to tank, thus we will go out to win. Edwards is envisioned as the PF of the future. Rosas wants a PJ tucker with all around better game. Culver is also not a PG. Culver doesn’t create for his teammates and is not great at drive and kick or passing in general. Culver is decent at attacking though he has issues finishing. His improved shot makes him more of a SG then SF but in small ball they are basically the same thing. Nowell and JMAC will be competing for the 3rd PG spot. Then again Nowell can play SG whereas JMAC cannot. The biggest issue is going to be health.

Your earlier posts talk about the psychology of JMAC that is where we disagree. He might resent being on the wolves but unless you can point to anything where he complains about it I see it as just part of the business.

My earlier posts do not talk about the psychology of JMac. I was pointing at the thoughts of any good competitive player getting taken advantage of in this way after outplaying expectations and then staring at their first chance at a real contract and instead getting shoved back in a hole. They want to continue playing, not get buried again. I read some of you guys go off on a strange tangent about causing locker room trouble. Those words never came from me. Not once. That's reading issues. I was talking about the coaches now feeling embarrased about the GMs and their decision to not roll with him as first backup PG, not even third backup PG if injuries pile up and they have to ask him to carry the team again.

As per your thoughts on what you think they should do with Edwards, get ready to be dissapointed as they use him as much as they possibly can. He's either going to play so well that Towns and Dlo accept him, or they will play him as much as possible to keep up appearances while they continue to shop him. Dlo/Towns didn't want another rookie.
Somewhat the same with Culver and yes they will use him as a PG. They just did in the last game and that's exactly what they proclaimed he was after being drafted. Playmaking PG. First chance they get he's going to see that opportunity again.

I hate to disappoint, but they wouldn’t have signed two G league point guards if the plan was to use Culver at the point. As for AE, shopping him is secondary at this point. Before the draft he was a question mark, now teams can see him play in the NBA. His true value will not manifest for a few seasons. Edwards will play a combo of 2 or 3 beside Culver and eventually transition to the 4. I expect Bowell and JMAC to compete with each other for the first available spot in the rotation when someone gets hurt. At this point we are at an impasse of expectation and only time will tell who is correct.

[Jedzz]

I hate to disappoint, but they wouldn’t have signed two G league point guards if the plan was to use Culver at the point. As for AE, shopping him is secondary at this point.

Whatever floats your boat pal. These kinds of moves not making sense is exactly what all my posting has been about. You are forward thinking about how to help it make sense but those aren't their plans.

[Klomp]

This is a situation of an NBA team not recognizing one of its best ready to play talents for who he is already. In doing so and in expending more assets on and swamping his position with more players they have removed him from minutes and focus that would have helped this team improve cheaply now and give them a chance to allow more time for their other choices that obviously need much more time to develop yet. The GM and some here are the ones emotinally attached to some of these other players. You shrink also appear to be in this group already emotionally sold on other lesser players or otherwise are just getting your entertainment from offseasons, not games. The team shouldn't exist just to give some of you offseason entertainment dealing with player trades and contractual movements. They are supposed to compete on the court, not just in the ledgers. They haven't won in the ledgers either obviously. But this was one opportunity to win more in the ledgers and on the court. This is the missed opportunity and mistake many of you and this GM have made.

Sure, the team can make 5 more moves on top of the ones made this offseason already and try to better align things yet. But they didn't need to and now continue down a well known harder path. Without more moves it will at least take more time. Time and seasons are something this team seems constantly ready to waste. If I'm emotional about anything, it's about wasting my time.

So did the 29 other GMs make a mistake by not signing him or just Rosas? The fact is, no one made him an offer.

[Jedzz]

This is a situation of an NBA team not recognizing one of its best ready to play talents for who he is already. In doing so and in expending more assets on and swamping his position with more players they have removed him from minutes and focus that would have helped this team improve cheaply now and give them a chance to allow more time for their other choices that obviously need much more time to develop yet. The GM and some here are the ones emotinally attached to some of these other players. You shrink also appear to be in this group already emotionally sold on other lesser players or otherwise are just getting your entertainment from offseasons, not games. The team shouldn't exist just to give some of you offseason entertainment dealing with player trades and contractual movements. They are supposed to compete on the court, not just in the ledgers. They haven't won in the ledgers either obviously. But this was one opportunity to win more in the ledgers and on the court. This is the missed opportunity and mistake many of you and this GM have made.

Sure, the team can make 5 more moves on top of the ones made this offseason already and try to better align things yet. But they didn't need to and now continue down a well known harder path. Without more moves it will at least take more time. Time and seasons are something this team seems constantly ready to waste. If I'm emotional about anything, it's about wasting my time.

So did the 29 other GMs make a mistake by not signing him or just Rosas? The fact is, no one made him an offer.

Well, any team that needed a PG badly, yes I believe so. That wouldn't be 29 teams tho.

[Battletrigger]

I beginning to think that Jedzz is a JM fake account like the ones that Durant had

Is he, or is he not, in your opinion a better basketball player right now than any draft picks the Timberwolves made from 2016 through 2019? If you say no, please provide the name of the player you believe is better today.

I'd say yes but I want to see Culver this year, it seem that he has improved some critical areas.

[Jedzz]

I beginning to think that Jedzz is a JM fake account like the ones that Durant had

Is he, or is he not, in your opinion a better basketball player right now than any draft picks the Timberwolves made from 2016 through 2019? If you say no, please provide the name of the player you believe is better today.

I'd say yes but I want to see Culver this year, it seem that he has improved some critical areas.

That's fair. Culver showed an inkling of hope in the preseason. But so far that's all it is yet, and he's the only one?

So 4 years of draft picks, and if you are even contemplating him being better than all those players at this point in time, now how fairly do you think his offer was? They've blown multi millions on junk every season, years of time and effort developing players looking for something reliable and competitive. They found this player that can be a consistent performer, and now it's time not to pay? Senseless really. I wouldn't keep a GM like this around if it was my team. This guy and his people it seems feel this is something to hang their hat on. It's fairly amazing to me, but then again I've seen many bad choices following the team. so...carryon.

[Battletrigger]

Of course he deserves a better deal, the problem here is the players we have in that position. I'd like to see a multi year deal giving him quality minutes and in two years when Rubio deal ends, take the backup job.

[DaMplsKid]

Man why did we sign this bum? Holds out for a contract now is list as day to day on the injury report. How do you get injured sitting out of practice away from your teammates?

[Merc_Porto]

Man why did we sign this bum? Holds out for a contract now is list as day to day on the injury report. How do you get injured sitting out of practice away from your teammates?

Read on Twitter

Probably has to do with Covid protocols or something

[DaMplsKid]

Man why did we sign this bum? Holds out for a contract now is list as day to day on the injury report. How do you get injured sitting out of practice away from your teammates?

Read on Twitter

Probably has to do with Covid protocols or something

Health and Safety? This guy's not even healthy or safe, no wonder why the rest of the league didn't give him a offer.

[Merc_Porto]

Man why did we sign this bum? Holds out for a contract now is list as day to day on the injury report. How do you get injured sitting out of practice away from your teammates?

Read on Twitter

Probably has to do with Covid protocols or something

Health and Safety? This guy's not even healthy or safe, no wonder why the rest of the league didn't give him a offer.

What the hell

[winforlose]

Read on Twitter

Probably has to do with Covid protocols or something

Health and Safety? This guy's not even healthy or safe, no wonder why the rest of the league didn't give him a offer.

What the hell

Probably has to do with Covid guidelines. Maybe he needs to self isolate because of a close contact. That, or he needs to take a series of tests to be eligible to join the team. Not totally clear at this point.