Non-flashy free agents and roster questions

could probably be moved for cheap 2 or 3 on a team with a similar roster imbalance.

Also, remember that almost every team is going to have 14 players on the roster during the season, so you can really only do 2 for 1s, unless players have guys at the veteran minimum who aren’t going to upset the numbers (this is why it’s easier to make a splash with a Theo Ratliff or a Wally Szczerbiak). So while the expirings sound impressive, there are plenty of guys who are hard fits to get a deal done that would otherwise be very welcome on our roster.

as the 15th player as soon as the team determines that Rubio is NOT coming over.

If Rubio comes over, the FO, unlike us, believes the roster is balanced. Well, at least the 8 players they plan to play. Look for Flynn and Rubio to play 30+ minutes while having Telfair back up both 1/2. Brewer to play a little 2 plus some 3 with Gomes. Love, Jefferson and a cast of 1,000s take up the 4/5 spots.

Of course, the 1st injury throws this all to hell, but that seems to be the thoughts.

I think they have to find a veteran 2 guard of some type. Paul Harris might be worth a flyer, but they have a severe lack of perimeter players who have shown that they can actually play in the NBA. They have to be able to field a team.

As for saving the expirings for the trade deadline…that’s a fairly high risk strategy. In season deals often run into snags, and there will be a ton of pressure to get that stuff done, because the deadline is that last minute that those contracts have value.

Keeping them for the capspace strikes me as a non-starter. The Wolves would have to severely overpay what essentially are going to be 2nd tier free agents to get them to come. I don’t see that as a viable strategy.

If they can make a deal this summer using some of those contracts for a good player, I’d want to do that. The other benefit of that is that it might make them a better team this year. Kahn clearly is punting this season, which I understand, but it isn’t without a downside.

I worry that Kahn has an attitude similar to what I see in a lot of fans, which is: If we aren’t going to win big, who cares if we win at all? I agree to a point; trying to sign Hedo or something in our current situation would be absurd. But on the other hand, just punting completely strikes me as not a good plan.

Winning and competing has benefits. It shows us things about players we otherwise don’t know. It helps instill confidence. Plus, players want to win. They want to be in situations where they can compete. Look at Al. We all think of Al as a star. I really like him; I think his skills are very valuable. But here’s a truth about Al Jefferson’s career: the more he’s played, the less his team has won. I’m not saying it’s his fault, I don’t believe it is. What I’m saying is, the sooner he’s in a regular position to compete and win and show his talents in a more competitive situation, the better for the development of this team.

Obviously, where they are now, development takes precedence over winning. That’s how it has to be. Which is why I think it’s important that Rubio come; the sooner he’s here, the faster the development can start and the sooner the team starts to reveal what it is and what it’s needs are. However, there’s development value in competing, as well. I’m a firm believer that it’s hard to develop properly on a 15 win team that’s getting blown out most nights. And that’s what they could be if their backcourt is Flynn/Ellington/Telfair.

to manage the attitude and culture of a team losing a lot of games. This is where it gets tricky for the next few years. The coaching pick is going to be critical, you don’t want it to turn into a circus with 65/70 loss seasons and a continuous coaching carousel. Also, winning and clutch play are not things that most players can turn on and off like a switch.

To be clear, I am not arguing against the Foye/Miller trade. I think Rubio with or without Flynn has the talent and moxie to really help the franchise contend long-term. But they are likely to take a step backwards as a team when Al and K-Love (two of your cornerstones) need to take a step forward and are trotting out a team of young players with Etan Thomas and Mark Madsen as your veteran leadership. And Rubio might not come this year.

That doesn’t mean all is lost, but the front office and new coaching staff are going to have to earn their $ keeping things on track.

the quality of the current roster. It appears that we agree that being a 15 win team is not a good thing. Playing for ping pong balls on July 6th is a bad idea, even if we know we aren’t going to contend.

Some think this is a roughly 30 win team as more or less currently constituted. I think it is not. It seems to me that we can look at it like this:

1. I’m wrong (nothing new there) and this is a roughly 30 win team with a tweak or 2 (Carney back, Harris signed, Pecherov bought out to make room).

       a. If this is true, then I agree, let’s proceed as above. Develop the young players, who clearly will be able to handle it if this is indeed a 30 win club.

2. I’m right, and this isn’t a team that can win 30. More like 15-20. If that’s true, we all seem to agree that it isn’t a good result. It means the young players are drowning, it means the atmosphere is probably bad, etc.

If it’s 2, then there are decisions to make.

First, we can just live with it. Nobody seems to think that’s a good thing, but how much is it worth to avoid it? It’s definitely worth something to me, maybe more than it is to some of you. Opinions welcome.

Second, and this would be my choice, I think, we can try to make our “big trade” using our expirings sooner rather than later. We’ve discussed guys like Kevin Martin and Gerald Wallace. Don’t know if such a thing is possible, either now or at the trade deadline. We’ve talked about Fernandez, a slightly different type of move.

Third, we can try to sign a free agent or two that are a cut above Rodney Carney. Museum suggested some names; I don’t know if that makes a real difference, but maybe it does.

Fourth, maybe we can make a trade like Ebomb suggests with a team like Jersey and get our hands on a decent wing player. Again, not sure how much that helps, but maybe it could.

Morris Almond & Von Wafer. One of those two, not both. Almond has great size for a wing & has shown the ability to score in college & the NBDL….just not yet in the NBA. Wafer can fill it up. I prefer Almond for his size though.

But if it were really up to me I would be using those expiring contracts an assets like Brewer Pekovic to land Marvin Williams.

Then add an Evan Turner/Cole Aldrich along with another FA piece. Maybe you get lucky land John Wall then all hell breaks loose.

As far as next season goes- I’m undecided for a number of reasons.

1. Jefferson’s Health (If Al’s healthy along with Kevin they should have a above-average Front Court). Al’s health could make the difference between Wins in the Mid 20’s and Mid’s Teens

2. Can Brewer be a starter at the 2 or 3? If he’s not enough of a Offensive Liability to be on the court for 32 minutes a night. This along with Flynn should improve the perimeter D quite a bit. I agree that Flynn might not be great on this end right away- although he’ll be better than Bassy I’m fairly certain.

3.Good Stuff on Cummard and Harris!! I look forward to watching Summer-League.

Is there any reason why all the once-frequent Childress buzz has leveled off? He’d look pretty good in a Wolves uniform. Well, not really… but you know what I mean.

This thread is about guards.