I was just thinking about this the other day... does anyone realize that most likely 80% of the players that we got in the KG trade WON'T be on our team next year???

Telfair: Turned down out contract extension and will be a free agent. My guess is some team gives him decent money.
Gomes: Will also be a free agent. My guess is someone gives him the MLE, Wolves won't match. IF he does leave, I hope he goes back to Boston. Otherwise, I really hope the Wolves sign him.
Gerald Green: Will be a free agent. Highly doubtful that the Wolves resign him.
Theo's Skeleton: Contract expires, is not resigned.


Wow, so basically the KG deal was KG for Big Al.

Telfair - is restricted (www.stopmikelupica.com/2007/12/nba_salar..._analysis_part_1.php)

Gomes -I'm assuming Gomes is restricted because you mention that you don't expect the wolves to match

Hopefully this isn't one of those years when teams go overboard. It seem like every 3rd year or so teams are responsible with their free agent money. Maybe next year will be our lucky year and we can keep Telfair and Gomes at reasonable prices. Given the Telfair size and history I wonder if many teams would trust him with 4 years of guaranteed money. If Gomes steps it up in the second half of the season (16+ ppg, 6+rpg) I think he has a good chance to get the MLE too.

GG - unrestricted and as good as gone.

For the sake of completeness:
1st Round pick 2009 - Given the nature of late 1st round picks there is about a 10% shot at getting a guy who is of any use ( 2007 late 1st round: Rudy Fernandez, Morris Almond, Aaron Brooks, Arron Afflalo, Tiago Splitter, Alando Tucker, Petteri Koponen).

Our 1st rounder from the Ricky Davis trade - given the way things are looking... this might be the 2nd most valuable asset in the trade.

Good point about Telfair. Perhaps he hasn't yet done enough to deserve 4 years of guaranteed money, but if he keeps playing well and stays out of trouble some team will offer him money. Teams are always looking for good point guards.

I just have a feeling that we won't match an offer for Gomes because our stupid Front Office will deem him \"expendable\", since we've got so many other young guys. They are also probably hesitant of using the MLE at this stage in the rebuilding game.

I didn't mention the draft picks in my post because it will be years before we get any of those players. The Celtics pick will be garbage and is barely worth talking about. You are correct that the pick of ours that we got back will be an asset, however... you have to remember that we wouldn't even have to give it to them until two years after the Clippers get their #1 pick from us. Still, it is nice to have back.

I was actually thinking about this before I saw your post. As much \"potential\" as we have, we're still a 4-win team. That is horrendous. You have to wonder how \"good\" these guys really are or will ever be if they're this allergic to winning. Even Big Al - if he's THAT good, how come he's never played on a team that's even mediocre? Could he simply be one of those guys who's a good player on a bad team? I don't know...

Out of our entire roster, I don't think we actually should resign many of them. Even if they do improve, it's going to take A LOT of improvement to even get competitive. Here's who I say we keep:

Big Al - He's unquestionably our best player. Hopefully he'll turn into that alpha dog superstar we need, but if nothing else, he's a solid player.

Foye - Assuming he's not Terrell Brandon Jr., he should be able to be a good, if not great player in this league.

Brewer - Defensive specialist, good character guy. Should be an asset.

Smith - Backup big man. He's definitely proven that he's worth keeping.

Telfair - but only at a backup PG's salary, because I'm not sold on him as a starter on a contender.

And that's about it. If guys like Gomes, Green, and McCants aren't helping us win now, I doubt that they'll make huge leaps to help us in the future. I'd much rather see that salary used on proven vets.

Of course, there's still my theory that Wittman is a horrible coach and we'd have 10 wins or more by now if he wasn't anchoring us down. I reserve the right to completely change this opinion if this team gets a proven coach and things turn around.

DeROK wrote:

If we had a different coach (let's say someone with just a .500 career coaching record) I think we could have up to a max of 12 or so wins this season. We should have at least 7 or so minimum. I don't think there is any possible way we could have 4 wins or less with any other coach.

College Wolf wrote:
I didn't realize that at first. We really got fleeced on this trade. I think McFail was more concerned about making the Celtics look good than anything else. We basically got the 06-07 Celtics without Paul Pierce.

Well, anyway, we're stuck with what we have. I see a lot of talent in Craig Smith and Big Al, although they have some improving to do. For one thing, Al needs a lot more touches per game.

For now, Foye and Telfair are an interesting pair at the point.

I would like to re-sign Gomes as well, but I think Gomes and especially Telfair will take this year as a chance to look good for their contract year and sign with a better team. If I were Jefferson I'd be kicking myself for signing that big contract before the season started.

I realize that Brewer is only a rookie but he isn't really impressing me so far, although I do see hints of what he could be.

I'm not being fair to myself but this is a really down year for me basketball-wise. KG is off finding success elsewhere, Foye is out, Roy is shining in Portland, and we have Wittmann as a \"coach\".

This thread is so F***ing depressing.

I actually think Telfailure is alright and may be a decent PG.

Gomes seems to have the potential to be like Posey and Bowen, in other words, everything Hassell wishes he could be. He's a smart player that doesn't excel at anything in particular but is a good defensive player and doesn't make many mistakes. We really should keep him...

Green - No room for him. Hasn't shown much. Maybe he'll be good, maybe not. We have enough if's.

Theo - Thanks for the contract.

The picks won't be spectacular, mainly because we draft by throwing darts at the board, so I'm not optimistic there either.

Wow we suck, and will keep sucking.

Perhaps we should expand this topic. What about the make-up of the entire roster? What will become of limited veterans like Doleac, Madsen, Jaric, Buckner, etc? Why not speculate about what the make-up might be for the entire roster? There seems to little else to be hopeful for. I still think the T-Wolves should sell tickets by the quarter or half. The first quarter last night was nice, but the minute the switch is turned off the game is over.

ogishkemuncie wrote:

Yeah, I'm always down with expanding the discussion... what are your thoughts on the rest of the roster? Who should we keep? Who will be important for our future?

College Wolf wrote:
Good question. Unless some of the vets have affordable contracts there isn't any point in keeping them. Buckner and Jaric have their moments, but Doleac and Madsen don't really have much value. Walker is a good influence on the young guys but I doubt we'd be extending his contract. He has one more season on the books, I believe.

Are there any free agents that would want to come here? This may be a stupid question, but with unrestricted free agents a player isn't obligated to sign with any team, correct?

singhcr wrote:

Restricted Free Agent = If any team offers that player a contract, the team for which he plays has a chance to match that offer within a week, forcing the player to stay whether he wants to or not.

UnRestricted Free Agent = That player is free to sign with any team he wants for any amount of money. Original team cannot match to force him into staying.


I don't know the free agents off the top of my head... I'd have to see a list. I can't imagine players are exactly lining up to play in MN though. Gilbert Arenas is an UnRestricted FA, I wonder if he would sign here. Lol.

As for guys we can keep, I wouldn't keep any vets except Madsen and Walker. They are both under contract for at least one more year anyways and aren't too tradeable.

Our free agents include: Theo, Doleac, Telfair, Gerald Green, Gomes, and Craig Smith. I'd sign Gomes, Smith, Telfair, and Green if the price is right. I'd be willing to bet that Telfair, Green, and Gomes all leave though.

As for our \"core\" as our team stands, the only guys that I wouldn't take offers for are Big Al and Corey Brewer. Anyone else could be traded to improve the team.

I'd take offers for anybody at the moment. You'd have to pony up quite a bit to get Big Al, but he's not untouchable. Nobody is when you're 4-25.