Complete 2018 NBA Free Agency primer for OKC Thunder and all 30 teams
Minnesota Timberwolves:
Free Agents:
- Nemanja Bjelica (RFA)
- Aaron Brooks (UFA)
- Jamal Crawford (UFA – opted out )
- Marcus Georges-Hunt (RFA)
- Amile Jefferson (RFA)
- Derrick Rose (UFA)
- Anthony Brown (RFA – 2-way FA)
Team Profile and Ranking:
Key Ranking Stats to end season:
- Offense: 4th (110.7)
- Defense: 25th (108.6)
- Net: 9th (plus +2.1)
NBA Power Ranking at 2017-18 season end: 14th
ESPN Power Ranking post playoffs:10th
Vegas odds to win 2018-19 title as of June 26: 75 to 1
Committed Salary: $116,928,995.00 as of June 29th
Average attendance: 17,056
Attendance rank: 21st
Arena: Target Center
Management:
- General Manager: Scott Layden – 2016
- Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau – 2016
Salary Profile:
Jamal Crawford opted out and will test the waters of free agency. Cole Aldrich is on a partially guaranteed contract of$6,956,021 that will lock in if not waived by July 1st.
As for exceptions, the Wolves have an $8.6 non-tax midlevel and $3.4M bi-annual to work with.
| Sala | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Age | 2018-19 | Signed Using | Guaranteed |
| Jimmy Butler | 28 | $20,445,779 | Bird Rights | $39,746,849 |
| Jeff Teague | 30 | $19,000,000 | Cap space | $38,000,000 |
| Gorgui Dieng | 28 | $15,170,787 | 1st Round Pick | $62,800,000 |
| Taj Gibson | 33 | $14,000,000 | Cap space | $28,000,000 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 23 | $25,250,000 | 1st Round Pick | $154,024,322 |
| Cole Aldrich | 29 | $6,956,021 | Cap Space | $9,356,021 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 22 | $7,839,435 | 1st round pick | $6,216,840 |
| Justin Patton | 21 | $2,667,600 | 1st Round Pick | $4,915,080 |
| Tyus Jones | 22 | $2,444,053 | 1st Round pick | $3,915,435 |
| Shabazz Muhammad | 25 | $1,795,015 | $1,577,230 | |
| Kevin Martin | 35 | $1,360,305 | $2,720,610 | |
| Team Totals | $116,928,995 | $374,629,952 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/27/2018.
This assumes the buyout of Shabazz Muhammad stretches the charge of $1,795,01 forward. If not, it would mean this amount is off the overall count.
Draft 2018:
Round 1:
With the 20th pick, the Wolves (from Thunder via Jazz) selected Georgia Tech guard/forward Josh Okogie
Rookie Profile: Guard Josh Okogie skillset parallels Robert Covington
Round 2:
With the 48th pick, the Wolves selected Ohio State forward Keita Bates-Diop
Rookie Profile: Keita Bates-Diop – talented prospect with imperfect fit at the pro level
Free Agency – Offseason Mandate:
It may seem odd after the Wolves just got back into the playoffs and were lights out offensively to say they could be in trouble. Yet, they are up against it and haven’t shown any ability to defend. Although Wiggins made more sense playing alongside Butler than KAT did he regressed this past season.
As much as it pains me to say he just doesn’t do enough off the ball. With his skill set, it makes zero sense he can’t average five rebounds and close to that many assists or be of the same equivalent to Jimmy defensively. With his physical ability, he needs to take advantage of and punish his opponents.
As for KAT it also became abundantly clear he hasn’t come close to tapping into utilizing his body in terms of his paint moves. and is abysmal defensively.
So what do the Wolves do with this trio of contracts? To improve they need depth and it likely will mean picking one of the two youngsters to build around. Butler will need to see growth or he’ll bolt next summer. Wiggins’ contract may be unmovable and KAT will be due his payday next summer too.
All this with the Nuggets, Jazz, Lakers and Suns likely taking strides beside the existing favorites and it looks like an uphill battle for a team with three players all making over $18 million when you Teague, $16 when you include Dieng. All this while you structure financing KAT’s extension, need to dramatically improve the bench and find perimeter shooting (Wolves ranked 30th in 3-point attempts and makes).
Not to suggest both Wiggins and Towns can’t ascend, but something has got to give.