Timberwolves 2012-2013

[Scott K]

Quote:

Flip Saunders tweeted Wednesday that he's scheduled to meet with Nikola Pekovic this weekend.

Pekovic is scheduled to be a restricted free agent this summer, but Saunders has been crystal clear in his desire to keep Pekovic in Minnesota. The only question now is whether Saunders will lock up Pekovic before he receives any offers from other teams.

[schmitty3]

I hope we pick up Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the draft. We really fits the bill as to what we need. Plus look who he had to play with in college, a bunch of scrubs.

[Scott K]

To be honest, everyone is so hyped about us picking a SG, I think we should pick the best player available, that isnt a PG, or PF. We need SG, obviously, we need a SF to replace AK, unless we extend his contract a couple more years, or if Williams is going to make the move there full time, but I dont think he has the skills to man up with the better SF in the league. We need a center, to either back up Pek, or to replace him, if we dont resign him. I hope we dont just pick the best SG that is left, when there is other positions of need, that we can fill with a better over all player. Buddinger, when healthy, can fill the SG need for now, and we can always pick a SG on the 26th pick. There should be a decent one around then.

[Scott K]

Quote:

The Timberwolves extended a qualifying offer to Nikola Pekovic.

This is merely a procedural move and ensures Pekovic remains a restricted free agent once the market opens July 1. The Timberwolves have made it clear re-signing the big man is their top priority, but they would receive draft-pick compensation if he signed with another team now.

[Scott K]

Um really? Another PG?

Quote:

The Timberwolves selected Trey Burke with the ninth pick in the draft.

Even though GM David Kahn is gone, the Wolves opted to go with a point guard. It's hard to blame them on Burke as the Naismith Player of the Year award winner, showing tremendous play-making skills in the process. Burke could be traded with Ricky Rubio entrenched as the starter.

[Scott K]

Quote:

No. 9 overall pick Trey Burke was traded from the Wolves to the Jazz in exchange for the Wolves' No. 14 and 21 picks in this year's draft.

The Wolves must not have been sold on Burke, who some believed is the best player in this draft, and they probably have a solid chance of getting the guy they want at No. 14. Burke will make Mo Williams expendable and has a great shot of providing solid fantasy value in his rookie year, as well as compete for the ROY award

[mrklean]

The Shabazz Muhammad circus comes to MN, i kinda like the pick interesting to see who the next pick is

[RawHog]

Good things about Minnesota native Muscala as a late first, early 2nd. Little athleticism or size but tons of skill and shooting the lights out.

I graduated Roseville Highschool with Muscala just a couple years ago and that dude can hoop!! I would love to see him on the court with the Wolves!

[turn_in_poachers]

Now I'm lost. First it was wth? Now I don't know who went who. Shabazz better shoot the lights out.

[Scott M]

I hope they don't regret not taking McCollum, he was my guy, 53% 3pt shooting. They're leaving a draft without a solid 2 guard yet again! I hope this isn't Steph Curry all over again.

Flip has a couple projects in Muhammad and Deing. Not a lot of immediate help from this draft. I have to say...feels like a McHale or Kahn draft again.

[CJH]

Meh. Flip couldn't trade up to get the three players he wanted as the price was too high (see the Sixers deal), so he traded down. Muhammad is insurance in case Kirilienko doesn't stay. I like Dieng, he gives them a true shot blocker they haven't had in a while, he'll be a solid backup.

McCollum was too small to play SG in the NBA, he'll have to play the point, which they didn't need.

I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about any of it, it was a weak draft and they knew it. Free Agency is the next step in the process.

[Scott M]

Billups, Foye, Curry, Gordon, Wade, Ellis, Allen, Blake, Knight, Harris, Mayo, Ellington...starters that are 6'3" or 6'4" at SG in the NBA. A couple of the better 2 guards I should add. If a guy can shoot, he can shoot. Now they go into free agency and try to get players that don't want to come here or try to trade and get dimes on the dollar for DWill. They don't have a good 2 guard and I don't see them acquiring one this year via those means.

I agree its a poor draft, but they had a good shooter available...I hope they give Muhammad a lobotomy and get him straightened out. Deing could be decent.

Not that any of it matters. The Wolves have a long ways to go to catch up to the teams in the West, and some of the super teams and super teams to be in the East. I wonder how Rondo feels now that all the rats have jumped off the Celtics ship.

[Scott K]

I was kinda hoping they would have ditched JJ, and Luke, and kept Burke as the back up PG. That would have freed up a little money, then pick up Mayo, JR Smith, or go all out for Iggy.

Could you imagine a line up like this?

Rubio/Burke

Iggy/Buddinger

AK/Williams

Love/Cunningham

Pek/Deing or ??

I would think that would earn us a top 4 seed.

Edit

Dont get me wrong, I am not a JR fan, but he is good, and is what we need, a good tough guy on the floor.

[nofishfisherman]

I wonder how Rondo feels now that all the rats have jumped off the Celtics ship.

Next year probably won't be a whole lot of fun in Boston but they have a ton of first round picks coming in the next few years and they should have a bunch of cap space opening up.

Given the age of KG and Pierce it was obvious they had to do some rebuilding but they set themselves up very nicely to make it a short rebuilding process. Of course they still have to draft well but they have enough picks that they probably don't have to hit on every one of them.

[Snag]

Best of the lousiest or lousiest of the best. Bad draft, not much talent. Kahn had top picks in strong drafts and screwed them up.

If Rubio can work on getting his outside shot more than 1 degree over the rim, and everyone stays healthy, we can definitely make the playoffs.

I think Shabang might be able to fill it up in the NBA.

[ozzie]

Yeah there was nothing to be too excited for players in the draft but I thought we did ok. I was intrigued with Trey Burke but I understand the reason to trade him for a lower draft posistion to get one of the players they wanted plus an additional big man that may be able to defend in the low post. Overall we did what I was hoping for...didn't trade valuable assests and came away with a couple decent picks (hopefully)

[schmitty3]

I was kinda hoping they would have ditched JJ, and Luke, and kept Burke as the back up PG. That would have freed up a little money, then pick up Mayo, JR Smith, or go all out for Iggy.

Could you imagine a line up like this?

Rubio/Burke

Iggy/Buddinger

AK/Williams

Love/Cunningham

Pek/Deing or ??

I would think that would earn us a top 4 seed.

Edit

Dont get me wrong, I am not a JR fan, but he is good, and is what we need, a good tough guy on the floor.

+100 I loved the Burke pick, but then was upset when I heard we were trading him. I'm so sick of Luke and JJ. I also believe Burke is going to be a real good NBA point guard. He is my preseason pick for ROY and I see him improving every year.

I don't like the Shabazz pick at all. I just see him as another Beasley. We need guys that can shoot, if you can make open shots in the NBA you'll be a valuable piece. Not saying Shabazz can't shoot, but there were others that were better, and also played better defense.

I like the Deing pick just so I don't have to watch Steamer anymore...

[Scott K]

Quote:

Andrei Kirilenko has opted out of the final year of his contract and will be a free agent.

Kirilenko had a player option for the 2013-14 season worth $10.2 million but is in search of a three- or four-year deal in what he believes might be his last chance at a big-time contract. According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Wolves aren't likely to offer Kirilenko anything more than a two-year deal worth less than $10 million per season. Minnesota also drafted swingman Shabazz Muhammad in the first round Thursday night and the rookie could end up stepping in and replacing Kirilenko next season.

[Scott K]

To bad about AK, but now we have $10 million more cap space. I would like the wolves to make a run at Iggy

[mrklean]

Would love to see them make a run at him we finally have players people want to come play with but will they pay the big $$$ is the question

[Scott M]

Will be interesting to see what kind of deals get announced tomorrow morning. Free agency pops in a couple hours but deals can't be formalized till July 10.

I wouldn't mind Mayo or Reddick but lots of other teams are saying that and the Wolves would have to overpay to get one or the other. Just another reason to try and draft a good shooter.

[Scott K]

The Wolves main priority should be to get Pek re signed. I would think a 4yr 35 million, with the 4th year being a player option, and 18 million guaranteed should do it.

Next I would see what it would take to get Iggy here, I know last year they talked to him, and said he wasnt a good fit, but I would love to have him on the wing. If Iggy is out of our price range, Tyreke would be my next option, but I would be happy with a Buddinger/Mayo deal as well. I am sure we can get Mayo for 3yr 19 million deal million, resign Buddinger for 2 yr 7 million.

Maybe see if AK is willing to do a 3 yr 19 million as well, with all of it guaranteed? If not, I think we need to find some sort of defense minded SF, maybe working out a sign and trade to get rid of Luke, or JJ. I do think Williams, and Shabazz can man the 3, but I would hate to go into the season without a vet their to step in and stop the bleeding when we play teams with good SF.

I would take Kevin Martin, only if we resign AK, we would need someone to play defense in the back court. I just dont see a line up of Rubio, Kevin Martin, Williams, Love, and Pek, not allowing 130ppg.

Oh well, the nice theng about having new GM's, is they usually try to make a spalsh, and put a few better players on the court.

[Juan Grande]

I agree with Scott M, I would have taken McCollum. A bit undersized to play the two, but he can shoot and seems like a good kid. I'm just afraid that Shabazz will be Beasley 2.0 with his attitude, lack of defense no ability/willingness to pass.

[Scott K]

I think this was a good move. ALthough I would have liked to had them sign a good SG before re signing our own players. Lets hope Redick is still in the works.

Quote:

Timberwolves agreed to terms with Chase Budinger on a three-year, $16 million contract.

The third year of the deal will be a player option. Budinger played in just 23 games last year due to a left knee injury, averaging 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists. But based on this contract, the Wolves appear to see him as their starting small forward in 2013-14. Andrei Kirilenko is an unrestricted free agent. Budinger, who has averaged 2.1 3-pointers per-36 minutes in his four-year career, will be on the deep-league fantasy radar

[Juan Grande]

Redick was just part of a trade and will sign with the Clippers. Cross him off the list. Do we have any shot at getting Mayo now that LA won't be pursuing him?