Please try to keep free agency discussions in this thread in regards to whats happening around the NBA. If we sign a player we can create a separate thread for that discussion.
The West just keeps getting tougher!!
Connelly is on KFAN rn with Barreiro
am I crazy, or is Green/DJJ/THJ for Grimes/Klay/Marshall lateral af
I feel like it’s a clear upgrade unless Grimes is damaged goods.
Could be - Grimes might have another level left in him. But I think Green does too and has the most upside of the 6. He was one of their very few guys that didn't shrink from the spotlight in the finals.
I’ve been low on Klay for a couple years now but he feels like the damaged goods. He’s getting a very weak contract and his injuries + confidence issues last year could really backfire on the mavs.
Batum to the Clippers... dang man, he was a great fit to play with fellow Frenchman Rudy and bigger body who can shoot outside
But that vet minimum is killing the Wolves... can't even sign a guy like Batum for a few million
Wolves still need to add to offense, but it will likely take days for minimal contract vets to sign in FA
How many roster spot we gotta fill?
Two more to get to 14, which is minimum required and what we rocked most of last season.
Okay thanks, I be happy with Slowmo and a shooter
looks like you'll be happy with a minimum salary old guy and a minimum salary shooter
Not so fast on the Klay deal, Chris Haynes says Golden State is still working through details with Dallas and I’m told “a deal is not close” at this point.
Klay to Dallas not gon lie im a lil nervous 😬😬
Klay to the Mavs is actually great. Washed.
Klay to Mavs I can’t believe he’s not a warrior anymore that’s crazy
Fuck. Mavericks have had an awesome offseason.
Also, I don’t quite get the decision for a megathread. I get not inundating the sub with posts about Bol Bol returning to the Suns, but threads on Klay going to the Mavs, Hartenstein going to the Thunder, or KCP going to the Magic would have generated legitimate discussion.
Instead we have like 5 news threads posted in the past day and only a few comments in this megathread in the past few hours.
Wolves are so good, why aren't players paying us to play here? It would count negative on salary cap.
Damn I feel like the west has gotten so much tougher. Need some big trades to the east.
How has the west gotten tougher?
Paul George is by far the biggest move and he went to the East from a West team.
The Warriors are finally going young but they don't really have the cap to replace CP3 or Klay.
So far the Lakers have wiffed on every FA so they are gonna run it back with the rookies (and older LeBron and AD)
The Mavs lost DJJ and haven't replaced him with anyone.
Denver lost KCP and haven't replaced him either.
Both the pelicans and OKC improved significantly imo.
Hartenstein to OKC, a good pickup for them for sure.
They definitely needed more size and rebounding but it will be interesting to see how he fits in their offense. Their big advantage last year was playing 5 out at all times and now that goes away. Hartenstein on the court gives Rudy a better matchup for us and allows him to stay in the paint instead of guarding Chet or someone else at the 3P line.
My projected depth chart (Including hypothetical signings)
- PG: Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, Daishen Nix, Collin Gillespie* ___________________________________________________
- SG: Anthony Edwards, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaylen Clark ___________________________________________________
- SF: Jaden McDaniels, Joe Ingles, Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaedon LeDee* ___________________________________________________
- PF: Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Minott, Leonard Miller ___________________________________________________
- C: Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, Jesse Edwards* ___________________________________________________
- Denotes Two-Way ___________________________________________________
The Wolves fail to re-sign any of their free agents, so they elevate Jaylen Clark and Daishen Nix to standard contracts and sign Joe Ingles to a near vet minimum deal. Josh Minott takes over the Kyle Anderson role despite his lack of experience, and Daishen Nix becomes the third point guard who can run the offense.
That's 15 on the full roster with Garza after you promote Clark from his 2 way to the active roster.
I don't think the Wolves do 15 on the roster to start (they didn't last year and that last player would be 10 mil with the tax even if he signs min).
If I did that I'd include Garza (don't think they release him after guaranteeing him a new deal), move Clark back to a two way, lose Gillespie, and have Nix/J-mac in there as the 3rd PG. Nice on including LeDee there, he's my hope/guess for the 3rd two way too though.
Clark might end the year on a full contract, and might even have a Naz style summer to earn one before but I don't know if Minnesota does that and almost certainly not for a 15th roster spot.
Garza?
Naji to Dallas is a good deal damn bro
Mavs losing DJJ is huge. He's better than Marshall
He’ll be interesting. His shooting was good last year, but it’s been terrible every other season of his life (bad in college, bad in the pros, even bad in the G-League.
Enjoying how our Western rivals are getting weaker.
Except OKC who looks like an absolute nightmare to deal with
Valanciunas not going to the Lakers is a win
I don't think we have to worry too much about the Podcasters.
Weird that CP3 is not chasing a ring. Makes the Spurs a much more competent team though
I believe in Fournier way more than I should. Would rather have him than Ingles.
Fournier is the better player but Ingles knows his role more. Fournier still thinks he's better than he is.
Fournier is just brutal on defense. Ingles was slightly better.
Feel like everything’s going about as well as you could ask for from the Wolves’ side of things.
- Paul George going East
- KCP going East
- CP3 going to San Antonio
- Phoenix losing depth
Did I miss anything?
The Pels sort of evened out - added known Wolves-killer Murray but lost regular Rudy-cooker JV. Losing Dyson gives more minutes for shooters though. So may still be a tough match up next season.
I cant recall JV cooking Rudy, KAT always had problems with him. Zion is the biggest Rudy and all Wolves cooker in Pels.
He'll be hurt again this year.
Thompson will be the big one. If he goes to Dallas or LA that hurts. Same with Ingram if he ends up with Sacramento.
That will hurt Lakers and mavs!
Both have to give up stuff to enjoy 35 year old super washed klay on bum knees and one Leg.
His Achillis tendon tear robbed him his lateral quickness as well as his lift on his jumper.
His days as a movement shooter are over.
That's most of the big stuff so far
CP3 to Spurs is cool ngl
I think he could raise that floor quite a bit
Man is never going to win a ring. Good.
Spurs with CP3, Vassell, Keldon, Sochan, and Wemby is kinda frisky.
More talent going east always a good thing, wonder what the Clippers do from here.
Eric Gordon signs with Philly
Batum?
I thought him and Horford said last year was their final year. Lol yet horford is still signed for another year
Okogie oubre
Eric Gordon on the vet min would be great pickup for our bench.
https://x.com/reactionmemes4u/status/1359928075862048773
KG has thoughts on EG.
Nuggets lost KCP that is HUGE
Calvin Booth seems to be showing little to no creativity with rounding out that roster and improving their depth. He’s the opposite of TC. They are wasting Jokic’s prime years.
I would see TC and Booth are pretty similar in what they are trying to do so far. Both traded up in the draft to take players they hope can play key positions in the draft. Both will rely on low level free agents to patch together the other holes in the roster. Both have lost or will lose key role players.
They won the ring. KCP, Brown, and Braun were Booth’s moves, 5th, 6th, and 7th players on a championship team.
KCP and Brown are now gone. Braun has to develop into a much better player now.
Winning 1 championship was worth it. They will rely on young players now. Unlike Wolves’ young players, their guys at least get chances.
Edit: I can’t disagree with you though that their team got worse after 2023 and they did not do anything to change it.
Also nice to see somebody go to the East and not just another west team 😅
It's about time lmao
Thats a good pickup for the Magic
Clippers have signed KPJ and Primo bunch of weirdos over there lmao
The good thing about Slomo and Morris leaving is that it clears up minutes for our young guys. My guess is Josh Minott or Leonard Miller becomes our backup 4, while Rob Dillingham gets heavy minutes at backup PG. Furthermore, if we don't bring in a veteran small forward then Terrance Shannon Jr. may get some playing time in lieu of T.J. Warren.
Minott doesn’t do much well. He can’t dribble or shoot and we have no idea if he’s a good defender. I am a fan of his, but he’s still not close imo.
Miller will see meaningful minutes this year I think. Defense will have to improve and it should.
Finch wont play Miller until he takes defense seriously, he isn't a fan of Minott's defense either.
Miller won’t play until Naz is gone if then. He isn’t athletic enough to play SF and he sure isn’t physical enough to play center. He is a PF who needs another couple of year to develop his body.
That isn’t good for the team.
Am I wrong for not wanting us to a sign a veteran wing to get minutes over our young guys like Jaylen, Terrance and Leonard ?
Maybe... But that vet wing will likely be a bottom of the barrel vet. A TJ Warren type.
The Wolves have to start getting some cost controlled (rookie wage) minutes out of their roster. Figure 30 at the guard spot (what they got to start and end the year with Shake/TBJ and then Morris/Jmac, in between it was a lot of muddled DNP's and such)... and 20ish at mostly the 3 and maybe some 4.
Just going historically here, so if one busts like Wendell obviously this would change. But you have Dillingham who is likely 20-25 (figure last year Coulilaby/Lively/Wallace all were on good teams taken around there and in that minute range). And Shannon gets 10-15 (Sheppard, Strawther, Kobe Brown in that range for good teams late in the first). If you don't max Naz's minutes (a few more as a 6th man to be upper limit there), that's 5-10 in the SF/PF range and 5-10 in the PG/SG... a lot depends on where Shannon gets his minutes I guess... And there's some flexibility. If Dillingham and Clark/Shannon come out flying, maybe they fill in those bigger minutes with Jaden back at the 4 some more (he didn't play there last year, but spent about 40% of his career at the 4)
But that's where the 3rd PG, Clark, Minott and Miller are competing. Sure it would be nice to have more in case things don't go well for the rookies, but with this top heavy roster, they are going to really want to get a good 50ish minutes out of their rookie wage scale guys (Minott, Miller, Clark, Dillngham, Shannon).
Sure I'd love a vet coming in for next to nothing and adding meaningful two way minutes but I don't see that out there. Sure Joe Ingles can shoot. Maybe at age 37 he can turn back 3 straight years of declining play in the rest of his game. And then the next year you are stuck on the same... is it Shake, TBJ, Morris, Rivers, etc etc. They've got a LOT invested at the top and are going to need some longer term salary controlled play to fill in.
Yes. Wolves need a proven player. Otherwise, you end up with a Nowell situation only worse. Negative players can really hurt your team. Doubtful that any of those three are positive players. If they are, you can always play them above the veterans.
Kind of. You want someone there to give you what to expect instead of unknowns like our rookies. I'm not saying our rooks won't excel but it's a safety blanket until they can fit the role.
How do you know if they can or can’t unless they see some minutes?
The coaches see them every day in practice. If they were incredible, they would have gotten run. Might happen this year though.
The fact they were not given minutes says everything. If they could have helped they would have played. The fact is Minott and Miller were developmental projects. Both had or have lots of things to work on before they are playing in the NBA on a regular basis let alone for a team pushing for a title. Let’s also look at the Wolves as a team that really needs guys who won’t make mistakes on offense and Miller and Minott are going to make mistakes. We will see if either guy can earn playing time this year.
They would have had to out play Kyle to see minutes. That’s not a low bar even with his shooting struggles. Don’t write them off just cause they weren’t better than the vet in year 1/2
There was minutes to be had while Slomo was struggling. It is the NBA if you have guys with talent who get paid nothing you play them because you can create flexibility. Minott was not good last summer league at all. Moore wasn’t that good either. They sure didn’t do enough to say we can count on them. They may very well get a shot at some of Slo-Mo’s minutes but they will have a ton to prove.
Depends on coaching tbh.
LOL Denver
CJ McCollum ruined free agency hate that guy
Hartenstein is meeting with OKC. Fuck.
He signed. OKC Wolves WCF
Our 911
He's good but he goes against their 5 out scheme and will clog the paint. It makes the matchups make more sense for us when Rudy can guard Hartenstein in the paint instead of someone standing at the 3P line
Caruso, SGA, J-Dub, Chet, IHart
With cason wallace as 6th man and plausible most improved candidate. In 2 years, will be the next Jru Holiday.
Batum not returning to 76ers. Sign him
Yeah that'd be sick. Wouldn't he basically be SloMo with a 3? (Not quite as good as a defender/rebounder/passer, but would make up for it with the shooting....)
Batum is a better passer, better shooter. Defense and rebounding is about equal I would say. Maybe Slomo is the slightly better defender at this point
4th quarter screaming why tf Batum in
David kahns prophecy would be complete
Remember when we almost got Batum to pair with Love before the Hornets matched?
It was the Blazers. Wolves even offered Derrick Williams in sign-and-trade before sending an offer sheet.
Ah shit you’re right. I was so excited for like a weekend
Idk why but I’ll never forget that
We (as in the fans, not sure about the front office) have been talking about getting him for his whole career. Surely it's some kind of Final Destination situation.
Cheaper and an upgrade over Kyle at the same time
I would think this is a definite possibility, especially if Kyle leaves.
I doubt he'd sign for the minimum. So other contender will offer him more than that
I’d like him if I’m the Magic. He just seems like a guy who can be a good mentor and glue guy and that team is really trending up IMO.
I wouldn’t rule him out, if he doesn’t get an offer to his liking we would be a pretty attractive option. I’m not saying it’s likely, but it’s a possibility.
Yes, please.
Slow start to free agency
Guess there’s some tampering rules. I’m sure most deals are reached now it’s who’s the first to blink without making it look obvious lol
CP3 would be nice
He will want more than the minimum
I could be wrong but I believe waived players can only be signed for the minimum?
I’m pretty sure he just had his option declined, which would make him a normal free agent.
Dillingham learning from Conley and CP3 to start his career would be fantastic.
Kyle seeking a full MLE per Fischer. Replacing his minutes will be tough despite what his ditractors say. The BBIQ drop from Kyle to his replacements in Minott, Miller, or TSJ is severe.
I think the world of SloMo. But I believe TSJ will make all-rookie 2nd team, at least. He is ready to play, and a B+ or better at almost everything (shooting a B).
Don’t forget Leonard Miller too. He might turn out to be a severe downgrade in the defense and BBIQ departments from Slomo but also an upgrade in scoring.
If so, is he playable on an elite team?
Maybe
The history of guys like TSJ aren't good. During his final season at Illinois, he posted a 1.14 assist-to-turnover ratio. Since 2008, there have only been 11 seniors selected with an assist rate of 1.2 or worse, per Bart Torvik’s database: Buddy Hield, Jimmer Fredette, Chris Duarte, Ochai Agbaji, Matisse Thybulle, Marshon Brooks, Quincy Pondexter, Lazar Hayward, Davon Reed, Carrick Felix and Orlando Johnson.
Bart Torvik was my next door neighbor in SE Minneapolis for about five years. Great guy.
I draw a hard line on Slo Mo - if he'll primarily be a PF, then great addition, if he'll primarily play SF, then look elsewhere
It'll be bittersweet if he's gone. On the one hand he's a really good defender and generally makes the right plays. On the other hand he could barely buy a bucket most games this season and it was infuriating to watch. Part of me thinks that's gotta be a fluke because in 22-23 he was pretty reliable, but there's a chance that it's not.
I think the whole eye injury took a lot longer and was worse to recover from than we realized. I don't think Kyle was perfect but he did have positive value to the team and it might be a lot to ask for the young guys with very little experience to be ready to have instant positive impact for a team with real big aspirations.
The eye injury and the much different offseason playing for China definitely threw him for a loop.
That sucks, it doesn’t seem like we would be a player at that price. Thats the reality of our cap situation though I guess,
His iq is overrated
I agree. He has a good BBIQ but not as good as people give him credit for. He makes so many dumb mistakes which can offset his BBIQ also.
Youd think he was bron the way people talk about his Iq
His iq maybe… definitely really solid and verstaile on defense tho
Agree
If he wasnt smart on the court he wouldnt be in the league, not like he athletic.
Uhhh, he needs his IQ matched with his length. His wingspan is nasty.
It's really not. Despite someone like you being a detractor Wolves still were a net positive in Kyle's minutes and he was vital all season long at breaking zone defense through operating from the elbow. There is going to be a serious brain drain with this Wolves roster with the outgoing veterans. The youth replacement despite being talented is still going to prone to far too many mistakes for a team pushing to be as good as the Wolves.
Net positive? He killed our offense every time he was out there and teams only went zone when he was out there
You do know what "net" means, don't you? It's not just offense homes.
Offensive rating- defensive rating 2 flawed stats that don’t tell the full story. Ik its not just offense homes but defense was never our issue. Offense was, we was mid as shit all year and he played a big part in that
Eyeball test for people that value offense over defense, you are correct. Eyeball test for people that value defense and facilitation, you are incorrect. Banana banana my man. Or tomato tomato.
SloMo, imo, is a dude who affects winning more than most NBA players, and if we can re-sign him, I think he can help us get there. One fan's opinion.
I respect your opinion and I think he showed he can affect winning in the 2023 season but with our flaws I just don’t think he should be here
Yeah, and I can see his downsides as well. I'm just not sure we can add anybody better than him with the money we have to spend. Miller, Minott, and TSJ would be so unproven. Respect.
Wrong, Wolves were +5 net rating in Kyle's minutes. Teams frequently went zone without Kyle on the floor.
Despite not being perfect Kyle was still a net positive. Replacing his minutes with a 24 year old rookie, and 2 guys that struggled to win games in the G League are unlikely to be fruitful.
Use your eyes and not a calculator. Teams definitely went zone with Kyle on the floor cuz he didn’t have to be guarded and normally Rudy was out there too why else would he be the “zone buster”. His minutes wont be missed at all
Lol the numbers match the eye test. His minutes will definitely be missed because the replacements are young and inexperienced. Don't be mad because you have a bad take and I can back my side with numbers and facts instead of your nothing.
Im not mad im happy cuz its looking like he wont be back. Everyone saw how he killed our spacing/offense so I really could care less about a net rating. We also don’t know for sure who his replacements will be. If its Shannon/Leonard then yea they’ll be young and inexperienced but we’ve seen guys still contribute to winning (Braun prime example)
Kornet back to Boston
Sounds like Kyle looking for the MLE we might finally be free from him. Ring otw🙌🏽
I feel that Slomo is going to be disappointed in what is available for him.
I feel that SloMo haters are going to be wishing he were still a Wolf if he leaves.
Maybe but I hope he gets the money he wants
Wolves won’t sign any FAs right?
We will, just don't expect any big names. It will be all league minimum players
I’ve never followed basketball this close so this is a large learning process, my brain is big time 2k mode lol
Our best hope is a vet towards the end of the career that wants to try for a championship, we won’t be able to add much of an impact guy. I am guessing we won’t get anyone right away, those players may want to see what their market is before signing at the vet minimum.
We are talking like Channing Frye on the cavs lvl of player right?
Someone brought up Batum, I could see that as a possibility. Yeah in general though it’s that type of player. Won’t really move the needle, but can help a little.
Kevin Love, and Pat Bev, that’s who we want right? Yes? No? I’ll see myself out
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3d
You realize that he was on the wolves a few years ago and was kinda a fan favorite right?
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Pat Bev = all time great Wolf.
Kinkyaf69690 = Karen
He was a big piece for the wolves that season imo. He ended the year with people wearing I <3 pat bev tshirts and he's said a lot of nice things about minny since leaving.
I agree that he's looked bad since leaving minny, but his year in Minnesota was a successful one for sure.
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2d
To each their own, but it seems like most of our players and fans liked him. PBev is a huge "hate him unless he's on your team" guy. KAT and Ant always say good things about him and the post game meetings between Bev and the Wolves is always friendly.
I will agree that PBev has done some very immature and reckless things in his career though. I never said I wanted him on the team, I just wanted to bring back the common thought of pbev when he was on the team
Love is off the board
Slowmo please stay
Looks like.CP3 will end up with one of the LA teams
He went to the Spurs. Gonna help Wemby immensely.
That's huge for the Spurs but weird for CP3. Surprised he's given up on chasing a ring.
I would imagine he would be a candidate for a contender at the trade deadline. Smart move for the Spurs, veteran leadership for half the year and then potential trade value.
If he wanted to win a title, that isn't where he should go. But if staying close to his family is more important to him than his legacy winning a title it make sense.
He's gunning for Chuck's title.
Philly bout to load up. Finally an Eastern conference team is trying to get better smh all the West teams been upgrading while the East been sitting on they ass😂🤦🏽♂️
Any team that signs Eric Gordon isn't winning shit. KG was calling him out for being a bum before he was 100% washed.
Yea Gordon some shit😂 I just want some of these guys to stay off the West contenders
If they get KCP and PG, that's a nice squad right there, maybe they try to trade Tobias too
KCP is going to Orlando 3 years $22 million per.
Tobias is a FA
Isn't Tobias's contract done?
Could maybe end up with Klay too
If they sign PG, they have to renounce Tobias, Hield, Batum, Covington, and Melton.
I forgot about Tobias he definitely gotta go
Shooters please
So with the Ingles and Dozier signings, what do we still need to do in FA? Who do you guys think Connelly’s looking at?