<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Wolves' tug of war with Hudson could hurt their negotiations with Hassell. The Wolves can't give the midlevel exception to Hassell because if Hudson signs with another team, they're going to have to use it to sign a backup for Cassell. Hudson's agent, Bill Neff, has submitted a counteroffer to the Wolves' five-year, $18 million offer. With incentives the deal could be for close to $25 million. "I definitely want to come back here," Hudson said after the Wolves' summer league game Wednesday. "I just want to be satisfied. There's some work to be done. Hopefully we can get it done. I wish we could have gotten it done July 1." Hudson, who had surgery on his right ankle in April, has been rehabilitating for three weeks. He is scheduled to get his walking boot off July 14. Golden State, Indiana, Utah, Seattle and Houston are among the teams interested in Hudson.</div> <font size="1">From HoopsHype rumours page, courtesy of Mike Wells and the Pioneer Press.</font> Came across this whilst browsing the net, and the things that caught my eye are bolded. 1) Interest in Troy Hudson would presumably mean we are resigned to the fact that Barry isn't coming back to Seattle next season. I like Troy a lot, but 18-25 over five seasons? That's a lot for a guy who is injury prone, inconsistent and isn't the perimeter defender the Sonics are looking for. As a shooting point guard, I don't see the point of spending that sort of money on him. 2) The other guy is who I am really interested in. Nate has repeatedly stated he is looking for a perimeter defender this offseason, and I can only think of a two better than Hassell (Artest and Bruce Bowen). Obviously Minnesota would be favourites to re-sign him and I don't see why he would want to leave, but I am interested to see if we make a pitch to him anyway. If we can obtain some frontcourt help via trade, I would be prepared to offer Hassell most of, if not all of, our exception that would be available with Barry leaving. Not to mention Minnesota's interest in Ray. Thoughts?
There's no playing time available for swingmen in Seattle. I'd only sign him if one of Ray, Flip, Lewis, or Radman is traded.
Trenton Hassel would be an excellent pick up for the Supes. People think that he is just a defensive player but he averaged 25 points a game at Austin Peay. I don't think that he would start for us, but he would give us great minutes off the bench. Troy Hudson is a player I like a lot, just not for the Supes. We already have too many frail point guards, and undersized combo guards to take on another player like Hudson. Troy is everything that is right and wrong w/ the Sonics. He is tremendously talented, but undersized, and inconsistent (not to mention injury-prone). If we were going to get a guard via free agency, I would rather get someone who was capable of playing the point and guarding the two (who was better than Antonio Daniels). The problem is all of those types of players play for the Sixers so that A.I. won't get exploited defensively.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">There's no playing time available for swingmen in Seattle. I'd only sign him if one of Ray, Flip, Lewis, or Radman is traded.</div> I think if we signed a guy like Hassell, then one of Lewis or Vlad being traded is a given. In fact I think it probably is anyway, Vlad won't come back after his rookie deal if Lewis is still around.
Way too much money for Hudson, but Hassell would be a welcome addition even if he doesn't put up any sort of offensive numbers. Even though we are already loaded at the guard position, it means nothing to have all those guys who can't play defense.
As the free agency period progresses, I'm becoming more and more impatient about us making a splash on the scene... whether it be a trade, minor signing, whatever. Trenton Hassell could be that for us. Nothing too drastic, give him 4 per over 3 years or something. Then make a deal clearing out the logjam of inconsistent shooters and consistently bad defenders. Essentially, look to cut the rotation to 8 or 9. I don't care if Booth and James are getting paid a combined 13 million to sit on the bench, just get some quality out there. We have to make a decision between: Ray and Flip, and Rashard and Radmanovich. I'm not actually adverse to trading Ray for Shareef any longer. The time has come to stop hedging out bets, and field something that actually resembles a basketball team. I wouldn't expect this team to make the playoffs, but I think we could be satisfied that when they go out there, they leave it all on the court: Ridnour (28 min)/Daniels (20 min, team captain) Murray (32 min)/Hassell (16 min) Lewis (34 min)/Hassell (12 min) SAR (34 min)/Collison (12 min) Pot (30 min)/Collison (18 min) (Swift to receive developmental minutes whenever feasible) I really do think that Collison can hold down center in a frontcourt alongside Shareef. Undersized, perhaps, but it is time to stop giving minutes by default at the center positon. The placing of Potapenko at starting center is a token admission, obviously JJ and Booth will have to work their butts off for minutes, then maybe they see a bit of PT. At the very least, I'd hope that team is at least suited to Nate McMillan basketball (there is a severe mismatch between coach and players' style at the current, which must cease). McMillan ball, I'd hope is not that far off Jerry Sloan basketball, as we all saw took Utah within the brink of playoff action with a relatively no-name roster in 03-04. While Murray, Ridnour, Collison and Swift are the future, the team philosophy must be established by the time these kids take over the reins.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">There's no playing time available for swingmen in Seattle. I'd only sign him if one of Ray, Flip, Lewis, or Radman is traded.</div> You find minutes for a lock down perimeter defender like Hassell especially with the fact that the 2 best wing players (t-mac & Kobe) will combine to face your team 8 times this season. So you have to take a chance to upgrade your perimeter defense when given the chance,even if that means putting one of your offensive perimter players on the trade block. But I think the chances of Hassell landing anywhere other then Minny is slim. He loves playing alongside the big3 and he has stated several times that he wants to play alongside KG for a long time to come. And Hassell is the wolves most important free Agent to re-sign for their team concept, even more important then re-signing Hudson because the wolves dont really need a shoot 1st backup point with Sammy there. They really need to add another playmaker for when Sam isnt in the game and needed to upgrade their defense at the pg spot by adding a backup who can defend, thats why they are still waying their options at the pg position. But Hassell on the other hand, is a must to return to their team. With Sprewell getting up there in age he can no longer guard the top wing players like he use too. And Wally S. cant guard a chair standing still. So the Timberwolves perimeter defense will prety much collapse,if they lose Hassell. And if there perimeter defense is gone that probably takes them out of the championship hunt because with Kandi & Ervin Johnson their interior defense isnt that great at all. So they are going to pay to keep their best perimeter defender.
That's very true Henacy, I doubt Trenton will sign anywhere else, as they are probably the title favourites in the West next season, along with San Antonio. However, as the Carlos Boozer situation tells us, anything can happen in free agency. Doesn't mean it will, but it's worth discussing nonetheless.
If I am not mistaken, Minnesota and Hudson have agreed to a contract for the MLE. I smell an opportunity.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RiverspoonJones:</div><div class="quote_post">If I am not mistaken, Minnesota and Hudson have agreed to a contract for the MLE. I smell an opportunity.</div> As did I, until I learned that Minny had early bird rights on Hudson, meaning they can still use anywhere up to the full exception on Hassell (and Hoiberg). And anyone who could convince Trenton to leave Minny for Seattle is a world class hypnotist.
Jeez... with all other options off the board, you'd think we'd be a chance to make a last ditch effort to salvage something this off-season in Trenton Hassell.* *<font size="1">I believe I've averaged around 3 cliches per sentence in this post.</font>
^ Problem is, unless we overpay by offering the entire MLE, Minnesota can and likely would match anything for Hassell, and I doubt he'd want to go anywhere. He apparently loves playing with KG (who wouldn't) and is on a title contender. Why he would want to come to a team like Seattle without a big man and stacked at the two and three is beyond me.
