Hello everyone. Welcome to another beautiful day in Wolvesdom.
It was probably time to get a fresh new thread up to discuss basketball topics and absolutely nothing else, as we are known to do here at Canis Hoopus.
Topics such as Nemanja Bjelica’s three-year, $20.5M deal with the Sacramento Kings after ghosting the Sixers, NBA Power Rankings that likely underrate the Wolves, cryptic tweets that may or may not have to do with an impending max contract extension and, of course, Jimmy Butler Instagram posts.
We’ve reached the point in the offseason where the action really slows down, though some important stuff is still happening. Our old friend Kevin Love signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the Cavs yesterday. He sure has made a lot out of “limited natural ability.” Good for Kev. (Anyone think he will be in Cleveland a year from now?)
Speaking of Love, do people still remember the NUMB#RS 612 All-Star fragrance? This still makes me chuckle. Full disclosure in case you weren’t aware: I am a Kevin Love Stan.
— John Meyer (@thedailywolf) July 24, 2018
What else is going on around the league?
Carmelo Anthony will sign with the Rockets soon enough. I guess that’s news. Watching ball-hogger-Melo-isolations while Harden and CP3 stand around wondering what the team got themselves into might be weirdly entertaining.
DeMar DeRozan is upset with Masai Ujiri.
The Zhejiang Golden Bulls offered Dwyane Wade a three-year, $25 million contract, which would make him the highest-paid player in China. Should he take the offer?
One last Wolves thought before we get to some music: Tom Thibodeau has spent another offseason refusing to find a legitimate backup wing that can contribute in a meaningful way right now. That will hurt the team again next season. Maybe the rookies (Okogie and Bates-Diop) will bring more to the table than expected in year one, but Thibs is clearly playing with fire by not giving himself a proven backup wing behind Butler and Wiggins, and it seems likely he’s going to get burnt by the decision.
(I still love the rooks ... but they are rooks.)
The stage is all yours, Chance.