nevermind making it to the playoffs or not. what changes do you think are certain to happen during the summer for the t'woles?, is the season to come will bring a new,flashy and stronger t'wolves,that again gonna be at the top of the league? or is the slump happend this current year takes more than a hot summer to fix?
I'm starting to feel like this about our team. It would be great to make the playoffs and really have a chance (which isn't far fetched if the Spurs continue to struggle), but I'm looking towards the future. I don't mean to tank or anything, but I'm sincerely thinking about this: THE FRANCHISE HAS BEEN IN DISARRAY SINCE THE JOE SMITH/MALIK SEALY OCCURENCES (not to trivialize Malik's death, he was really going to help our franchise). I just want the franchise to take a breath, look at the team that they currently have now, and really start to concentrate on clearing our name and becoming a bona-fide contender. I may be sensitive to the matter, but I feel like we'll always be known as: The hidden contract-perpetual playoff first round failing - no draft having - "please take our 20 point lead" giving - "Garnett should leave because the franchise is not helping him" inept Franchise. We need to decide the direction that we're going to go in, who will be the best fit to help us go there, and make it feaseable with contract signings. We need to know how far Taylor will let us go with the money that would be acceptable, not just a bother (being 5 million over the cap should not be a big deal).
I dont now about any certain changes, but I will go over what I think needs to be done and should be done: OFFSEASON - 2005 Players: I dont think they should keep most of this team, for next year. I think they need to work on signing some new players. New faces is a big thing this franchise needs to make a turnaround. Minnesota's Free Agents: Latrell Sprewell Ervin Johnson Anthony Carter Mark Madsen John Thomas Sprewell is if course a no on resigning. Ervin Johnson - Hes old, should be retiring Anthony Carter- Yes, should be considered for a 2-year contract maybe. Has a lot too do with the Point guard situation and what happens. Mark Madesn - No, i've never been a fan of Madsen, and though he has energy, he makes a lot of mistakes, and his energy boosts were really only a last hope for a turnaround this seaon. Let him go. John Thomas - No, not worth much I cant finish this post at the moment, I will finish it later
Marko Jarich should be at the top of the list for PG. Can also play SG, SF. Joe Johnson, who's a restricted FA, would be a nice alternative to Redd. Bobby Simmons would also be a good choice. Great shooter and defender. Trade Wally for some decent big men. Send him to Denver for Nene, Najera and some trash, or try prying Chandler or Curry from Chicago.
The problem is the wolves are going to be over the cap next season. They only have the mid-level exception to use to sign any decent FA. They could sign players to a minimum contract but I doubt we could get any decent player with it. Isn't Eddie a FA next season? I think the wolves will use the midlevel exception on him, so I guess they won't have much money to use this offseason. And the team would lack depth. They're only help will be to trade players, maybe draft a good prospect and hope the chemistry gets better. BTW, I'm surprised nobody has yet to tell the maint event that his sig is too big. It's been more than a month.
We need a new GM and a new coach. Let's start there. Then, we have to hope we get lucky in the lottery. I don't think this team is going to add any salary in the lottery. What you see is what you are getting. As soon as the contracts run out, then we will have the money to add pieces.
Realistically, trades are the only way this team is going to get better. Mchal has to make a decision on whether he wants to keep my man Sam or keep Troy Hudson. But he is going to have to trade one of the two. I would rather not see Sammy move anymore in his career, but the truth of the matter is neither one of the two is going to be as effective as possible with the other on the roster takening away ones minutes. Then I think that the Wolves have to suit offers for Wally S., his trade stock has probably soared in this season. And I dont think it will get any higher, if a team is willing to offer a quality big man for his services then the Wolves need to jump all over it. And then build the rest of the offseason around those two major moves.....
Henacy: I agree on trading the point guards and Wally. I would love to see Troy and Sam both go away as we draft a point guard in the draft. I just think Sam has worn out his welcome with the Wolves and Troy's contract will be an albatross for several years. I think we should trade Wally while his value is high. Get something now. As I mentioned in the Nets game thread yesterday, I notice not many teammates or coaches seem to love Wally as Wally seemed isolated from the guys. Wally and the guys don't really interact much. That's too bad and unfortuante. It's not a great feeling to be isolated since I was in Wally's position when I went to school as a kid. I felt bad for Wally yesterday. Wally plays the game hard and you know you can get 100 percent out of him. Too bad that his teammates don't respect him. Obviously, his incident with KG in Wally's first or second year has still turned KG off and now KG's teammates don't want to embrace him for that. That's sad. Maybe it's best that he move on so he can be happy.
Step One Find a new coach. McHale has said he doesn't want to coach next year, so he should be working his tail off to find us a new respectable coach. Get a Good Draft Pick We will most likely have a 14-20 round pick, so there should be some good players available. If we want a center Sean May and Joey Graham should both be avaiable. But if I were them I would go after a scorer. Someone like Rashad McCants would be awesome. Or equally imortant, a point guard. John Gilchrist and Raymond Felton will most likely be available. There are a lot of options in the draft. I say screw drafting high school players, it has only worked once for us. Draft someone that has felt college ball. Make Trades and Sign Free Agents We need to really get in gear to totally reshape this team. I think the only guys that aren't tradeable are Garnett, Hoiberg, Hassell and Sczcerbiak. Everyone else I wouldn't mind giving up to improve the team. This really needs to be a revamping year. We need to bring in guys that want to play.
Pure: I got a source who told me that McHale may be leaving the organization after this season is over. I will copy and paste that email that he sent me at work tonight. I personally think it's best if McHale is gone. It was a good run, but it's time for a change.
Am I the only person who likes McHale? I know he's made some mistakes but his heart is in the right place and he wants us to win.
Here is this email I got from Dave D'Alessandro who covers the Nets and the NBAfor the Newark Star-Ledger: Tell you what, though: You better get your shots in on McHale asap. I'm hearing that he is probably gonna walk, and look for a TV gig, because he really doesn't want to work so hard (relative term) for $1.5M a year. So Taylor will be looking for a GM first, and who knows how that guy will feel about the coaching spot?" Saber: If McHale wants to coach the Timberwolves, he is welcome to do that. I think he has done a very good job as the coach. His players play hard consistently under McHale's leadership. McHale has brought stability to this team. He has played the right guys who deserve the minutes. Michael Olowokandi has played well under McHale and McHale has taken Kandi to his wing. With that said, I am hellbent about going through a change with a new GM. It's time to have a fresh face who knows how to make great trades and who know how to draft good players especially in getting guys who are diamond-in-the-rough. We need a GM who will make smart decisions. The Ebi pick was a disaster. Ebi is a good kid, but he was clearly not ready and the Wolves should have done better. The least they could have done was take Ebi to Europe and let him learn there. I made a thread citing McHale's horrible moves as a GM: http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32054
Here is this email I got from Dave D'Alessandro who covers the Nets and the NBAfor the Newark Star-Ledger: "Tell you what, though: You better get your shots in on McHale asap. I'm hearing that he is probably gonna walk, and look for a TV gig, because he really doesn't want to work so hard (relative term) for $1.5M a year. So Taylor will be looking for a GM first, and who knows how that guy will feel about the coaching spot?" Saber: If McHale wants to coach the Timberwolves, he is welcome to do that. I think he has done a very good job as the coach. His players play hard consistently under McHale's leadership. McHale has brought stability to this team. He has played the right guys who deserve the minutes. Michael Olowokandi has played well under McHale and McHale has taken Kandi to his wing. With that said, I am hellbent about going through a change with a new GM. It's time to have a fresh face who knows how to make great trades and who know how to draft good players especially in getting guys who are diamond-in-the-rough. We need a GM who will make smart decisions. The Ebi pick was a disaster. Ebi is a good kid, but he was clearly not ready and the Wolves should have done better. The least they could have done was take Ebi to Europe and let him learn there. I made a thread citing McHale's horrible moves as a GM: http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32054
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Timberwolf:</div><div class="quote_post">Henacy: I agree on trading the point guards and Wally. I would love to see Troy and Sam both go away as we draft a point guard in the draft. I just think Sam has worn out his welcome with the Wolves and Troy's contract will be an albatross for several years. I think we should trade Wally while his value is high. Get something now. As I mentioned in the Nets game thread yesterday, I notice not many teammates or coaches seem to love Wally as Wally seemed isolated from the guys. Wally and the guys don't really interact much. That's too bad and unfortuante. It's not a great feeling to be isolated since I was in Wally's position when I went to school as a kid. I felt bad for Wally yesterday. Wally plays the game hard and you know you can get 100 percent out of him. Too bad that his teammates don't respect him. Obviously, his incident with KG in Wally's first or second year has still turned KG off and now KG's teammates don't want to embrace him for that. That's sad. Maybe it's best that he move on so he can be happy.</div> I doubt the Wolves trade both PG's, you have to keep a point guard on the roster who is experienced at running NBA play sets, if the Wolves want to remain somewhat competive look at Dallas they tried to start the year running their offense with a rookie point guard but the effectiveiness just wasnt there so they had to go out and aquire Darrell Armstrong from the Hornets until Jason Terry could get healthy cause Devin Harris just wasnt cutting it. So either Troy or Sam will leave but I doubt both.
Henacy: My guess is that we will draft a PG like a Deron Williams, but as you said, it's hard to start a rookie PG right away. I am hoping we can get rid of Troy first just so his contract is out of the way. The only reason why I would keep Sam over Troy is because he can still produce as you are seeing right now, but most importantly, his contract is up after next year. I thought Marquis Daniels was going to be Nash's replacement at PG. I know he played the point at times last year.
I do really think the T'wolfs need some new adjustment but for one thing Im sure and I count on is don't expect to Sprewell re-signing with you guys because he's heading back to New York to regain he's glory back and once again lead us to the finals...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting el_guasibiri:</div><div class="quote_post">I do really think the T'wolfs need some new adjustment but for one thing Im sure and I count on is don't expect to Sprewell re-signing with you guys because he's heading back to New York to regain he's glory back and once again lead us to the finals...</div> no way man it's a bad bett he is sour to sign with us we aint gonna let him go he's so valuable you actually think we give a damn after this crappy season he gave us?! naaaaaaaaaaaaa take him,enjoy...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting el_guasibiri:</div><div class="quote_post">I do really think the T'wolfs need some new adjustment but for one thing Im sure and I count on is don't expect to Sprewell re-signing with you guys because he's heading back to New York to regain he's glory back and once again lead us to the finals...</div> Knicks are already to guard/perimeter heavy, so I dont see how Spree going back to New York would be a plus, actually if Spree doesnt re-sign with the Wolves, I could believe it or not see him landing in Miami and playing with Flash and Shaq. Eddie Jones has had an up & down season, and he stunk in last years playoffs, I think if EJ produces(or lack of production) in the playoffs like last season. And Miami doesnt walk away with the title then they will look for a change at that 3 spot. Their was already talks of Jones for Spree at the trade deadline, so the Heat signing Spree for alot cheaper then expected due to his stock dropping doesnt seem out of the relm of possiblities. And then Miami will send my man Eddie Jones packing.
Another reason why Latrell won't go to the Knicks is because Knicks owner James Dolan does not care for Latrell. The Knicks owner was the one that told then-Knicks GM Scott Layden to send Latrell packing to Minnesota. Besides why would Dolan bring him back after Latrell spewed profanities at him last year at the Garden. I think Latrell will be playing for the Rockets as he reunites with Jeff Van Gundy. You know how Jeff loves to collect all his former Knicks players to his Rockets team.
