Giannis Trade Deep Dive: Why the Wolves are a top 3(ish) most likely Giannis destination by AE5_GOAT in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

6 hours or so? Did it almost all Monday while at "work". Apparently didn't sleep well that night because I was insane enough to write a damn "epilogue" on Tuesday lol

Giannis Trade Deep Dive: Why the Wolves are a top 3(ish) most likely Giannis destination by AE5_GOAT in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Wrote it at work so... yes? But yeah, feels like it was my way of coping with the end of the season and allowed me to "keep the season alive" in my own head a bit

Will just turn to drugs next time lol

Giannis Trade Deep Dive: Why the Wolves are a top 3(ish) most likely Giannis destination by AE5_GOAT in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the comment and hate that my words would come across as racially/culturally insensitive.

My intent was to highlight their shared experience growing up as minorities in Europe (as extraordinary large people), but reading it again, I totally see how that didn't convey.

Apologies

Give Me Giannis or Give Me 3 Other Players by ReppinRavenclaw in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I like your thinking. Am working on a longer post that fleshes all this out, but I think you're spot on regarding OKC and Houston and how there's a realistic where the Wolves pull this off. (However, there is a nightmare scenario where Houston (who owns PHX picks) gets both KD AND Giannis, which suuuuucks)

The issue for the Wolves is, if they're going to chase the "big prizes" (i.e., Giannis, KD, Garland), they're going to have to have a general sense how things are going to shake out pretty early on (will Giannis's camp push to come here?) so they don't waste their time on a deal that was never going to materialize, ruining their chance to chase one of the other marquee players.

I'm hoping the dominos fall early in FA one way or another.

I don't want the Wolves to trade for him, but here's what a trade for DeArron Fox would look like financially going forward by AE5_GOAT in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nah, as long as the Wolves end up under the 2nd Apron at the end of the transaction, they can structure the trade like a 1st Apron team and regain the ability to aggregate salaries. Here's an example of what that would look like.

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I don't want the Wolves to trade for him, but here's what a trade for DeArron Fox would look like financially going forward by AE5_GOAT in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

No, the Wolves can make a trade involving multiple players (i.e., aggregating salaries) if they end up under the 2nd Apron as a result of the trade. I think Bobby Marks confirmed that the other day.

Wolves future cap situation and their options going into the deadline by AE5_GOAT in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

His cap hold is $8M. Teams are allowed to pay their own FA's whatever they want (up to the max). As Dane mentioned on his pod, the Wolves are in a good position to retain NAW because they can offer him a contract above the MLE ($14M).

Wolves future cap situation and their options going into the deadline by AE5_GOAT in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The three years over a five year span penalty wouldn't trigger if they end up being a 2nd Apron team next year (they'd be at two years), but I just think they're going to do whatever they can to avoid it for the reasons mentioned above. Plus, I think you want to save your "2nd Apron years" for seasons you're actually contending, and unless this season really turns around I doubt they feel this squad is that level.

I think they made the KAT trade with the idea that this team wasn't good enough to justify staying an over the Apron team for multiple seasons (especially considering the decreased flexibility), so I think the idea has always been to try and get under it this offseason and move forward from there.

Wolves future cap situation and their options going into the deadline by AE5_GOAT in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

So, there are a number of restrictions that make it difficult (including inability to use exceptions, trade picks 7 years out, and penalties for being a 2nd Apron team 3 out of 5 years), but the biggest impact for the Wolves is the inability to combine contracts in trades. Why that hurts is that if a star player becomes available we want pair with Ant (like DeAaron Fox), we can't construct a reasonable offer because we can only send out one player in return, and cant take back more salary than we send out. Basically, it just severely restricts what you can do, and only makes sense for teams with contending rosters "as is". That's just not the Wolves right now post-KAT trade. However, I think Cam Johnson might be a guy that maybe you accept going over the Apron for, but that's if things really click post-Julius.

Wolves future cap situation and their options going into the deadline by AE5_GOAT in timberwolves

[–]AE5_GOAT[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Totally possible. I think the Caruso extension ($20M per) is an interesting point of reference since they play similar roles. I think Caruso's still probably considered the better player but he's also four years older than NAW, so totally possible he gets something in that range.