Showing posts with label Free Agency. Show all posts
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Free Agency Series: Derrick Rose and Why He Does Not Fit.
The rumors regarding about the Minnesota Timberwolves trying to lure Derrick Rose out of New York this offseason might be one of the biggest names linked to us, aside from having P.J. Tucker being interested in joining us next season. However signing Derrick Rose might make the team worst rather than do better in many ways.
We Already Three Point Guards
Having Ricky Rubio as a starter and both Kris Dunn and Tyus Jones share minutes together at the point guard position, by adding Derrick Rose to the lineup it would be hard to mix up the minutes with these 4 people, and moving someone at the shooting guard position won't be a good option as the best 3pt shooter out of the four will be Ricky Rubio.
He Will Be a Liability
Derrick Rose's career is plagued with injuries. Torn his right meniscus twice, torn his ACL in the left knee. Now he torn his left meniscus. I don't think his knees will hold up for a full season with the team, even though he contributes to the game the Timberwolves cannot afford another season ending injury with him again.
He Will Just Take Up a Lot of Cap Space
Derrick Rose will be entering his first free agency after 8 years being in the NBA, Rose is expected to be seeking to have a bigger contract. But in the news report Derrick Rose is willing to accept a pay cut, the question is how much is he willing to get in order to agree a contract? It does not matter because he will still take a lot of our cap space. Why spend our big portion of the $32,000,000 cap space on one player? A cap so big we can sign 2 or 3 veteran role players.
Conclusion
Not unless Derrick Rose wants to accept a huge pay cut and a bench role, I don't think Derrick Rose would be a great fit with the Minnesota Timberwolves. We really need to improve our 3 point shooting and defense and he can't provide both of it, even Ricky Rubio is a better 3 point shooter than Rose.
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Other Options If Rubio Asked for a Trade
There is news circulating around the web that Ricky Rubio has changed agent from Dan Fegen to Jeff Schwartz which can signify a trade since the new agent is more experienced agent, adding up to the news Darren Wolfson have a source telling that Ricky Rubio is demanding for a trade out of Minnesota. Maybe all the trade rumors each season got to him making him feel bad about both the fans and management.
But setting it aside if Rubio is gone with the team it would set the franchise back on square one, having a glaring hole in the Point Guard position will most likely make the team less fluid, also Rubio is the leader in the team although he is still a 26 years old he is the longest Wolf in the team (aside from Pekovic). He is a pass first point guard which is rare in the league. Without him the team will be at a disadvantage on both ends on the floor.
Assuming that Kris Dunn is not yet ready to assume the role as a starter and also assuming that we only receive draft picks and a bench player out of Ricky Rubio as we all know we won't get an equal amount of value if Rubio really wants out of the team, We still have a lot of options on filling the point guard position this offseason.
Plan A : Signing a Free Agent
This should be really our first option as this upcoming Offseason a lot of key point guards are available in the market also almost all of them are Unrestricted Free Agents. With this we surely know that we are not making a gamble as we have seen what they can do in the league. But who can replace Ricky Rubio? Well eliminating some of the Free Agents like Steph Curry, Chris Paul, and Kyle Lowry because obviously they want to play for the best contending team possible what we have left is.
1. Jeff Teague - 15.3 PPG, 7.8 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.2 APG 19.24 PER
2. Patty Mills - 9.5 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.8 RPG, .8 SPG 15.28 PER
3. Jrue Holiday - 15.4 PPG, 7.3 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.5 SPG 17.19 PER
Plan B : Drafting a Point Guard
Not the best of the options as the Timberwolves will be having a gamble yet again. Having to draft a unproven point guard might make or break the Timberwolves future again. Also there still might be a lot of better players aside from what we need. It is always a good option of drafting the best fit for the team rather than drafting someone hoping to replace another starter.
1. De'Aaaron Fox - 16.7 PPG, 4.6 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG
2. Dennis Smith Jr. - 18.1 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 SPG
3. Frank Ntilikina - 5.2 PPG, 1.4 APG, 2.1 RPG, .8 SPG
I would still prefer signing a Free Agent if Rubio decides to be traded. Besides we still have Kris Dunn to develop his game as he is a good defensive player the only thing left is to increase his production on par with his minutes. The Ricky Rubio news is not yet official but the good thing is we have something to fall back with just in case it happens.
Friday, May 12, 2017
The Timberwolves Need Gallo to Complete an All-Foreigner Starting Five
The decision of Danilo "Gallo" Gallinari opting out of his last season is eminent as he himself said that he wants to see what his value in the Free Agency is like. The one piece that made the Carmelo Anthony shift to New York from Denver Nuggets is him and he build a pretty solid performance with them as he averaged in 6 seasons in Denver 16.83 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.13 APG, .85 SPG. 31 MPG. Hoping to land a max contract this coming Free Agency period he would like get it but from what team will he play next?
Gallo is Still Young
Gallo at 28 does not even feel like playing at his prime yet with his last 2 seasons being his highest scoring and one of his most proficient scoring seasons as he averaged .43% and .38 3PT% in his last 2 seasons in the NBA. Being young fits to the timeline of the Minnesota Timberwolves for their future as a contender in the NBA. He can be the future veteran that the Timberwolves need as he has experienced playoff games in his tenure as a Nugget. He is also a forward that can shoot 3s even beyond the the 3 point line.
Knows How to take Advantage with his Body
Danilo Gallinari at 6'10" knows how to use his body from post moves to guarding smaller sized forwards during match ups. He can also guard almost any position because of his versatility in the court. One of his ability is slicing up the defense in order to score a basket when needed.
The All-Foreigner Starting Five
The Minnesota Timberwolves if you have not notice is the most talented team ran by almost non-american starters, making it thrilling to see how other players outside from the US can play a good game of basketball. Let us see what the Timberwolves will look like if Galinari is in the Line-Up
PG- Ricky Rubio (Spain)
SG- Andrew Wiggins (Canada)
SF- Danilo Galinari (Italy)
PF- Gorgui Dieng (Senegal)
C- Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic)
Having Gallo on the line-up will complete the Starting Five of the Minnesota Timberwolves with all foreigners in the court. This can be a great basketball team that can be a talk of the town.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Free Agency Series: Is Rudy Gay the Veteran We Need?
After only playing 30 games with the Sacramento Kings which was cut short by a season ending injury Rudy Gay chooses to opt out to his $14,263,566, in which he intend to look for a team that he can sign for a long term deal with a considerable salary cut. According to his manager he intends to play for a team that can giver him a long term contract or even a short term one to increase his value.
Timberwolves Will Get a Steal
Rudy Gay in his last 30 games played with Sacramento Kings averaged 18.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.5 SPG in just 33 Minutes on the court. Even thought he will become a 31 years old next season there is still a lot of fuel left in the tank. Also what I previously stated he is willing to accept a salary deduction in order to get a long term deal, sounds a Win-Win situation with the Timberwolves.
He Can Play a Stretch Four Position
Rudy Gay can playe the power forward position making our team have an option to play small ball, he is more athletic and explosive compared to Gorgui Dieng. We also have the option to bench either of them depending on what play Coach Thibodeau wants the team to play.
He Will Give Us A Lot of Cap Space Left
Previously stated on my earlier post the Timberwolves have a lot of Cap Space/Room to work with this Offseason with $33,877,654 to be exact signing Rudy Gay on the Team won't hurt the Cap Space too much because of what contract he wants. Playing on a long term deal on a budget the Timberwolves can sign a few extra pieces to improve the roster or can plan ahead with the extensions of our Stars with the Cap Space remaining with the team.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Ricky Rubio is Better Than Derrick Rose
It is the Offseason Time again with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and their is this one bizarre rumor in which Thibodeau is likely to sign Derrick Rose as a Starting Point Guard of the Timberwolves, and Thibs would likely trade away Rubio or waive his contract with still 2 remaining seasons under it. I would say Bizarre because having Derrick Rose start over Rubio will not actually make the team any better in anyway. And this are the reasons why.
Rubio is a Better 3 Point Shooter
Can He Make His Team Better?
Simple answer is no, Rose is one of those Point Guards that rank last in assist to pass ratio in which he ranks 35th at 10.9% which translates to that every time he pass the ball 10.9% chance of it will become an assist. in the league that even bench players rank higher than him. Ricky Rubio is ranked 6th in assist to pass ratio that is 16.5% which translates to that every time he pass their is 16.5% chance that it will become an assist. John Wall, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Jeff Teague are the only ones rank higher than Ricky.
Rose's 4.4 APG is no match for Rubio's 9.1 APG which clearly says that Rose cannot make his teammates better when he is on the court.
Rose does not Play Defense
Rose is one of the worst defenders in the league as he is much focus on the offensive end on the floor, while Rubio is one of the best defenders in his position from being a lock-down defender to a hustle player he won't make the one he is guarding easily score points.
Luckily the Timberwolves did not accept the trade with the New York Knicks in which they even offered Rose straight up for Rubio, one signal that Knicks is demanding more for the former MVP, I would like to have Derrick Rose in the team but for a reasonable contract only, being injury prone and all he must know that his time to play in the court should be limited and needs to accept a bench role of any team.
Free Agency Series: 2017-2018 Cap Space
The Cap Space Situation
The Minnesota Timberwolves have not maximize their Salary Cap for 2016-2017 season, failing to sign Luol Deng in the team left them a cap space of 12,437,000$. A big amount in which will be useful for their Free Agency Shopping next off season. But is the 12,437,000$ only our cap space for next season? Luckily we still have ways to increase our cap space to improve our team considerably. Maximizing our Salary Caps Space will look like this.
Current Cap Space : $12,437,000
Like what I previously said will be transferred over for the next season.
Non-Guaranteed Contract : $4,180,000 (Jordan Hill)
Jordan Hill signed a 2 year / 8 million dollar contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves in which the 2nd year has a Team Option that they can decline. Now Jordan Hill did not show enough contribution to be part of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jordan Hill signed a 2 year / 8 million dollar contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves in which the 2nd year has a Team Option that they can decline. Now Jordan Hill did not show enough contribution to be part of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Medical Retirement : $11,600,000 (Nikola Pekovic)
Nikola Pekovic missed the entire 2016-17 season because of his chronic ankle injury. Also saying a statement that he is more prepared in ending his career than returning.
Out-Going Timberwolves Players
Brandon Rush : $3,500,000
Adreian Payne : $2,022,240
Omri Casspi : $138,414
Total Projected Cap Space for 2017-2018 Season : $33,877,654
Total Projected Cap Space for 2017-2018 Season: $29,690,055 (if Muhammad is part of the team next season)
The Timberwolves have a big cap space next season. The question is will they spend now or save it in order to secure the contract of Towns, Wiggins, and Lavine. Without a doubt the Timberwolves need to spend the 90% of their cap space, but who will they sign this upcoming off season?
Nikola Pekovic missed the entire 2016-17 season because of his chronic ankle injury. Also saying a statement that he is more prepared in ending his career than returning.
Out-Going Timberwolves Players
Brandon Rush : $3,500,000
Adreian Payne : $2,022,240
Omri Casspi : $138,414
Total Projected Cap Space for 2017-2018 Season : $33,877,654
What if Shabazz Muhammad accepted a Qualifying Offer of the Team?
Shabazz Muhammad is a 4th year player that was picked in the first round giving the Minnesota Timberwolves the chance to sign an extension of 1 year via the Qualifying Offer Contract. Which if accepted, the next year's salary of Muhammad will be $4,187,599
Total Projected Cap Space for 2017-2018 Season: $29,690,055 (if Muhammad is part of the team next season)
The Timberwolves have a big cap space next season. The question is will they spend now or save it in order to secure the contract of Towns, Wiggins, and Lavine. Without a doubt the Timberwolves need to spend the 90% of their cap space, but who will they sign this upcoming off season?
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