Not surprisingly, the Wolves picked up the 2010-11 contract options on Kevin Love and Corey Brewer. They did not pick up the 2010 option on F/C Oleksiy Pecherov, one of the players acquired in the draft-day trade with Washington that landed the Wolves Ricky Rubio and cost them Mike Miller and Randy Foye. Pecherov, who started Sunday night in Phoenix, will now become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
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Not unexpected.
Brewer should get the extra year under the “player development” regime.
Judd: "...I've since watched some Steven Seagal movies and I realise that pressure points are no laughing matter.".
by Auswolf on Nov 2, 2009 2:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I'm mildly surprised they picked up Brewer
Thought they would have valued the cap flexibility more than that. I wouldn’t have done this, I don’t think. I have trouble seeing Brewer as a significant part of the next really good Wolves team.
by Eric in Madison on Nov 2, 2009 3:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I would have let Brewer go, and I’m surprised Kahn did this.
He’s an interesting option if you already have a championship team and are looking for upside or specialty role players, but I think the cap space is worth way more than he is right now.
by Django Z on Nov 3, 2009 12:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
What are the dollars?
for each guy?
I think Brewer has shown enough the past four weeks to give it a go. The choice was sign one (Love), sign two (add Brewer) or three (add Pecherov). Two was the middle road and I’ll bet drawing the line where they did wasn’t a very tough decision.
by A.K. Agikamik on Nov 2, 2009 3:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
FFR: http://www.canishoopus.com/pages/contract-info
also AK, were you at the home opener? talking to babcock and freddie? i was going to come say hi, but i wasn’t sure if it was you and couldn’t remember where your seats were for sure.
www.canishoopus.com
by wyn on Nov 2, 2009 7:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I root for Brewer, but I hate this move.
Brewers option is the first move of substance Kahn’s make that I actively dislike, and it’s going to color stuff for me a bit. This decision isn’t just keeping Brewer or not; it’s the other options you forego to keep him at that salary level. Next offseason’s cap space just took a dramatic blow, for a player who’s marginal and who stands very little chance of emerging this year to be worth the money. That’s a bad move.
This also strongly suggests that Freddie Hoiberg and company, the team’s talent evaluation staff, are stuck in the past. As in, maybe their assessments of talent are going to be no better than those under McHale. I hate, hate, hate that feeling in my stomach.
by feral on Nov 2, 2009 9:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Numbers
Both Corey and Love’s options are worth about $3.7mil. With Pecherov not picked up, and assuming Gomes won’t be (I’m guessing he’s either traded or becomes a FA), AND assuming the salary cap comes in at about $53mil, that’d leave us with roughly $17mil to spend next summer….basically right at the max contract line.
by Oceanary on Nov 2, 2009 4:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Would be better off picking up two
players with that money or one max signing. I would have thought the former was more feasible than the later.
Judd: "...I've since watched some Steven Seagal movies and I realise that pressure points are no laughing matter.".
by Auswolf on Nov 2, 2009 4:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Rudy Gay wanted 5 years at a minimum of $50 Million to stay with Memphis. If you can convince him to come to the Wolves at a starting salary of $10-12 Million, still have plenty left over for a second impact signing.
by Ebomb on Nov 2, 2009 4:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly
Plus, keep in mind that contracts and cap space are tradable assets too.
My dream scenario is a trade that sends either Love or Jefferson to Toronto for Bosh, then sign Rudy Gay over the summer.
by Oceanary on Nov 2, 2009 5:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
My dream scenario is...
Lebron James decides he wants to come to Minnesota and take the max salary money. Then Rubio decides that he needs to leave Spain and come play with Lebron. The next 10 years Minnesota wins several championships….
by DR_JPK on Nov 2, 2009 5:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
could brewer have commanded that kind of cash in the offseason? it’s clear that the wolves are confident in his ability to make a jump in productivity this year, because, going into this year, his open market value likely wouldn’t have been much over the minimum. if he keeps playing like he did against phoenix, this looks smart, if he plays like he did against the nets, well, that’s a whole different story…
heart of a champion, will of the warrior.
by cap'n hack on Nov 2, 2009 5:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Kahn recognizes that gamble, and thinks that at less than 4 million, it’s a worthwhile one.
by LoveTo on Nov 2, 2009 5:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
here’s hoping that kahn’s confidence is warranted.
heart of a champion, will of the warrior.
by cap'n hack on Nov 2, 2009 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't like the decision on Brewer
The chances he’s worth $3.7 million are slim considering his role as a defending wing player. Thabo Seflosha just got that amount and he’s a clearly superior player. $3.7 million is Bruce Bowen money.
Not saying that other teams wouldn’t be fooled into giving Brewer some money, but building a team by locking up role players first doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
by Blond Ricky on Nov 2, 2009 5:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Plus
If Brewer blew up, we could sign him outright with our cap space since we’ll be significantly under.
by Blond Ricky on Nov 2, 2009 5:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If the Spurs will pay $3.7 mil for Roger Mason, they'll pay $3.7 mil for Brewer
Think of it that way.
And that would apply to the Celtics, Magic and Cavs too.
by Oceanary on Nov 2, 2009 6:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm with that line of thinking...
Varejao has no offensive game, either, but he’s making at least twice as much as Brewer. Also, compare this situation to Love’s: if he had disappointed to the level that Brewer did his rookie season, would people have not wanted the Wolves to pick up his 3rd year option? Because this is a contractual 4th year that for all intents and purposes is a 3rd year option because Brewer missed most of last season.
by pagingstanleyroberts on Nov 3, 2009 6:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
His market value will not approach $4 million
In the coming FA market, with a lowering cap? Consider Ramon Sessions’ situation this time around. Is there any chance Corey Brewer will be worth what Sessions was?
by feral on Nov 2, 2009 9:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If we didn’t pick up the option, would he have been a RFA next year? If that’s the case, they’re completely different situations. Not many teams had cash to throw around last year, but that will all change next year.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
by Xand1 on Nov 3, 2009 9:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
He wouldn't have been an RFA
But picking up his option keeps him as a RFA in ‘11 when he wouldn’t have been otherwise.
by pagingstanleyroberts on Nov 3, 2009 6:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
But does....
That calculation include the first round picks in next year’s draft? Assuming the rookie scales don’t move much, and Rubio is out of the picture for next season, and isn’t Pekovic supposed to be coming over next year too (if ever)? With all of the scenarios, there could be major swings in flexibility.
by Boss10 on Nov 2, 2009 5:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Rubio counts as a cap hold next year at the 5th pick salary slot.
We likely won’t get the Charlotte pick so that won’t count.
Utah and our own picks likely will be counted….roughly $4 ish million in cap hold.
Gomes is guaranteed $1 million next year (with future guarantees as well) if we buy him out. If we don’t his last 3 years gets guarateed and he counts over $4 million next year.
Pekovic could come over next year, but until he signs a contract he has no cap hold as a 2nd round pick. Best to deal with him after we’ve made our major move(s).
The big swing will come in play depending on just where the salary cap comes in at. If it stays the same we’ll be sitting pretty. Even if it drops a little we’ll have good room. If it drops to the scary $50 million number, we’re in trouble in terms of having a big impact.
by Blond Ricky on Nov 2, 2009 5:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Bottom line is...
…if we don’t buy out Gomes we may have less than $7M ($50M cap; 3 rookie contracts plus Ricky’s hold), if we do we have over $10M.
So, this tells me we are only signing 2 rookies and buying out Gomes. This will give us $11M ($50M cap) plus whatever the cap ends up being above $50M. We can use the MLE to sign Pek and the Jawai’s of the world to fill out the roster. So, 2 rookies and enough to sign anybody not getting the max. To have gotten to $15+ of course we would have had to not pick-up Corey. So that may tell us something (trade or we know we aren’t getting a max guy). On the other hand, trades happen and it is barely November :) and if the cap goes to $50M everybody is hurting.
All right, brain. You don't like me and I don't like you, but let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.
Homer
by CaliWolf on Nov 2, 2009 6:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, we already know that Kahn doesn't see any potential in the Love/Jefferson duo
So either or both of them are strong trade candidates. Gomes I doubt is brought back…given that Corey’s option was picked up, I’m expecting him to be gone by the deadline.
It’s all up in the air right now. I think what Kahn decided was Corey Brewer is a guy he knows he wants on the team, so he made a move to guarantee that would happen.
by Oceanary on Nov 2, 2009 6:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Huh?
Did I miss him saying that? There might not be enough potential in that frontcourt for a team to advance in the playoffs, but I haven’t heard anyone with the team give up on it.
by aarendsvark on Nov 2, 2009 6:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I had a breakfast meeting with Kahn way back in May
We specifically brought up Love and Jefferson, asking him if he thought they could win together like McHale did, and he flatly said no. He then singled out the Lakers and Blazers, saying those teams will still be contending by the time we’re making our playoff push, and how badly Al has struggled with the size and length of Bynum and Oden.
He basically described them as “earthbound”, said Al is ideally a 4, and that Al is the second best player on a contending team, Love is the 4th. He wants to find a 1 and a 3, with the 1 being a premier wing player and the 3 being a lock down defensive center.
So essentially what he said was that the only way he sees Love and Jefferson both on the team long term is if Love accepts a 6th man role in the mold of Lamar Odom.
Which, by the way, is what I think he’ll eventually end up in no matter where he goes.
by Oceanary on Nov 2, 2009 6:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
This is the thing I just hate about Kahn
I was not at that breakfast – but know someone who was. Its May and Kahn states his wish list. And what do we get? Tons of point guards!! Did nothing to trades picks to get that wings or that center.
Now I am not saying that they could get those types in the draft. But there were options to trade for them – or at least assets like them.
We were left with a hugely unbalanced, roster and lots of cap space for this year. Not really exciting for me as a partial season ticket holder.
by Just A Fan on Nov 2, 2009 8:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
By “assets like them” do you mean more expirings/one year wonders, or do you mean the real thing?
I personally agree with DK’s strategy. The Wolves aren’t in a position where they can be picky in regards to talent. DK maximized our ability to acquire talent by using the currency that had the most value in this draft—point guards. He drafted (hopefully) two of the best, then drafted and traded for future needs with the others. Sessions was signed as much because he represents talent and value as for anything else.
Hollins, Brewer, Jawai and even Stewie are all flyers on guys who may, or may not, turn into something useful or even special. But they’re perfect for our team because we can give them the playing time to find out.
The last thing about trading for a wing, especially now, is that it can be much harder to get fair value when everyone knows exactly what you want. Hopefully we can drum up some competition for our trade assets, but otherwise rival teams will simply hold out for a McHale payment from us because they know exactly what we need. We’ll see DK’s mettle as a trader by seeing what he can get (and has to give) in acquiring a wing.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
by biggity2bit on Nov 2, 2009 8:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
For what it's worth
Given the Flip’s system is conducive to assists and Rambis’ system less so:
(all per 36 minutes)
Foye: 16.7 pts, 2.2 ft/2.2 fta, 5.6 ast, 1.1 stl, efg = .513
Flynn: 22.1 pts, 6.7 ft/7.7 fta, 4.3 ast, 2.4 stl, efg = .500
Miller: 8.8 pts, .8 ft/1.6 fta, 4 ast, 2.4 stl, 11.6 reb, efg = .667
Brewer: 13.3 pts, 1.8 ft/3.6 fta, 1.1 ast, 2.5 stl, 6.8 reb, efg = .400
To recap, I don’t miss Foye, but Miller would definitely add something to this team. Except then we would be stuck in mediocrity because he wouldn’t add enough. Brewer’s ceiling is higher (his floor is also lower), but I’ll take that risk.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
by biggity2bit on Nov 2, 2009 8:46 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I think you guys got it wrong
Picking up Brewer’s option was a very good idea. Will he be worth 3.7 next year? Possibly not, but maybe, you never know, if you look at the long list of Wolves on the roster who have been overpaid, 3.7 for a guy with a great attitude and a lot of potential doesn’t seem like that much. Theoretically, if he were on the market right now for a one year contract from 2010-2011 he probably wouldn’t get that much, but what would he get? Maybe 2.5-3, but I’m just pulling that number out of my butt.
But it’s not that simple, they’re not just keeping it for the value, they’re paying first and foremost for the flexibility. That ‘restricted free agent’ thing is a huge bargaining chip in favor of the team and it would be foolish to let it go to save a few bucks. Usually other teams don’t want to go near those players, which means their is no competition and they end up saving a lot of money by offering a proven player less money than they would get in the free market. But at least it means they can match whatever he’s offered or they’ll get a longer contract below the free market price.
Secondly, it allows them to keep it as a one year contract. If they didn’t pick up his option, but decided to re-sign him next year they would have to give him a longer contract. In all likelihood we’ll know if Brewer is a real NBA player by sometime next year, if it turns out he’s not or he’s too injury prone and he’s on a long contract then those additional years are wasted. As it stands right now, if we realize that Brewer just isn’t good enough to warrant NBA playing time this year then he’s an expiring next summer, if we realize next year then he’s off the books the year after. Either way, it seems like a small price to pay for an insurance policy on him being great and a good contract length, so it’s kind of a no brainer.
I like Brewer a lot and I think he will be really good if he doesn’t get injured and the wolves are patient. I don’t know if his talent will translate into fan appreciation or praise from media pundits, but what do they know? I put much more value in the opinions of a guy like Rambis and he seems to like Brewer a lot. I realize many aspects of his game need work, but you could say that about most 2nd year players, but the thing separating him from being a bad/mediocre and good/star player is his shooting. It’s clear from his shot count that he’s been given the green light to shoot as much as he wants. That could be bad for short-sighted fans who want to see immediate w’s, but in terms of long term strategy it’s brilliant because if he can develop a reliable outside shot he’ll be a player. He had a +1 in a game where he went 6-21, if he had a career fg % of low 40’s, not great but barely acceptable and less than what he shot at Fla. that would translate into 9-21, and that’s the difference between a w and an l.
by kiteman on Nov 3, 2009 10:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
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