J.R. Smith Interested In Timberwolves, Feeling Not Mutual

I understand that Smith is known as a knucklehead, but how bad could he be compared to our own M. Beasley? He’s a better player and fit for the team than Beasley as well. I saw this on Twolves central…Sign Smith and work a trade of D. Williams for Batum. Unlikely, but that would be a fun lineup.

Don’t think Amick has his “sources” right. JR posted on his twitter this evening that he hasn’t been in any discussions with the Wolves, meaning a) he has no interest playing here or b) the Wolves aren’t interested. Either way, unless something crazy happens where money is the biggest factor for him….he’ll likely become a Clipper

…at Hoopsworld here.

Just goes to show you how rumors can get convoluted every time they pass from person to person.

i know its not my money, but 3-4 mil is not a bad price to pay for a possible playoff run

If this is true. Not even a consideration? Jeebus this team is a mess…

We reached out to JR, he laughed at the idea of coming here, so we’re saying “we have no interest”.

So far there is only some rumors, not sure why everybody treats those rumors as hard cold facts.

and the only one he actually needed was a skull stomp death knight

Just like the knocks and Clippers ?

Zgoda has been saying all along that the Wolves weren’t interested, but then there was a report yesterday saying they were but Smith wasn’t. And now this report, saying Smith is, but the Wolves don’t want him. I’ve got to believe that if everything is equal, he goes to the Clippers. But the Wolves can offer more money than anyone else…..this is a no-brainer to me. Sign him.

Think about it like Taylor probably is. To add Smith, he not only has to open the checkbook to sign him, he also has to buy out someone currently on the roster to make room for Smith. The team is already selling out some games with the current product they’re trotting out on the court. Taylor might actually make money on this team this year. Sure if you sign Smith, you might make the playoffs and that’s good for business too, but there’s financial risk with this move as well.

I don’t necessarily agree with this thinking, but I’d bet that this is an accurate description of how Taylor’s approaching it.

Wanting well-raised, respected generally no-name gentlemen on our sports teams (see Twins of 80’s, 00’s). We ignore that we’re small market and tell ourselves that we miss out on a big free-agent because of attitude problems, injury risk, or high-risk situation; not the fact there are 6 months of winter, bad sports venues (sans TF), and we never have superstars.

Give me a break, we all know no one wants to play in MN unless they’re getting tons of money (AP) and/or are from here (Mauer). And lord knows MN teams rarely want to spend money to get a big free agent.

I totally agree with developing your own players, building from ground up on all-around good guys, and challenging large-market teams. The thing is, you have to have such a good streak of good decisions and perhaps lucky guesses to make a run (see Santana, Hunter, Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer era for Twins).

Now you look at LAC, and they don’t give two F’s if JR is a knucklehead. They know he can ball and they have money. They’ll probably make an offer and sign him. He’ll make their team deeper and better. LAC is obviously playoff bound and JR could help push them deeper.

But at some point you have to say, “Yes it’d be great to have a complete team of outstanding men with great character and great ability and potential. But that’s not possible without great luck and a better GM. So let’s take what we can get, build a team in this small-market as best as possible, and attract FA’s while we have some sort of groundwork.”

JR is no elite FA and I’m not even saying let’s get him. This is more or less a rant of generalizing MN sports, which I’ve been a fan of since I’ve been competent enough to turn on a radio, open a newspaper, or watch TV (aka ~1994). All in all, I notice us getting sick of owner’s/GM’s personell decisions and inability to sign FA’s or trade for great players time and time again and blaming FO, etc and ignoring we’re small-market. Yet someday, somehow, there will be a native MN GM who has experienced all this and will do something smart and exciting (aka sign KL to max).

/rant

Perhaps we should consider what this type of deal does for the Wolves overall budget? I know that we live in a fantasy world where any team is supposed to spend any amount of money to make us happy, but the reality is $5 Million is a significant amount of their player budget and is real money. The Wolves just like any business operate on a budget and look to use their money wisely. Perhaps the decision is based on saving those dollars for a player and/or transaction that is a better long-term fit than a headcase shooter who clearly is not the long-term solution.

Wes Johnson is the 327th best player in the league.

Why would you trade such a young, talented player who was a second pick overall? Some argued that he could have been the number one overall. Sure, his talents are raw, but you don’t just dump a #2 overall pick with the athleticism that D-Will has for someone to fill a gap on a borderline playoff team. Let’s remember, this team is still at least a year or two away from seriously contending. By then, Beasley will be out and then we’ll be grateful to have a player as talented as D-Will on our team.