Okay, much as I hate to plunge into things without being sure it is not a waste of time, the Associated Press is calling the KG trade to Boston a done deal and I'm getting a lot of calls to appear on various media to discuss the trade, so it seems a little silly not to have a forum on this blog for it.
In case you haven't heard the particulars, AP is reporting KG to Boston for Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, and an undisclosed draft pick. (Others, such as the Boston Herald, have also thrown in Ryan Gomes and a 2009 first round pick--all unconfirmed as of now.
This is a trade that now makes sense for both teams. Celtic GM Danny Ainge has Paul Pierce and Ray Allen signed through 2011 and 2010, respectively, at more than $16 million a year apiece. He needs to win now. Adding KG to those aforementioned stars in the East catapults the Celts up with the Bulls and perhaps the Cavs and the Heat as early favorites for the NBA finals.
On the Wolves end, GM Kevin McHale has long lamented the lack of rugged low post play and has coveted Jefferson for that reason. Just 22 years old with two years left on his deal at a combined $6.9 million, he has the potential to be another Elton Brand. The next most valuable piece is Ratliff's expiring $11 million contract, which is vitally important to a Wolves ownership that was looking at paying Garnett $46 million over the next two years while the team underwent a near top-to-bottom rebuilding with the youth acquired over the last three drafts. Telfair is damaged goods but does play the point and has a clean slate with which to prove himself. Green is freakishly athletic but hasn't demonstrated he knows how to play basketball. I would say that the third key to the trade behind Jefferson and Ratliff is whether the Wolves receive their own pick back or have to take one of the Celtics picks. Given the Wolves rebuilding mode and the strength of the West, versus the suddenly stacked Celts in the inferior East, the Wolves' former pick is the one to own down the road.
Other considerations...
One reason this deal is likely "rumored" without confirmation for so long is because the Celts want to ensure they get a contract extension with Garnett totally firmed up if not in writing.
When Al Jefferson was a rookie, Ricky Davis and Mark Blount were veterans on the Celtics whom management obviously wanted to unload. Chemistry is all about pecking orders, and Jefferson has to have his status elevated rapidly and without much disruption if the Wolves are to enjoy good chemistry. In other words, add this trade to the reasons why Minnesota should part with the Boston Bobbsey Twins.
That said, the Wolves will have to find a new way to rebound, having lost the guy who dominated the boards for his team more than anyone in the league over the past three to four years. Can Jefferson, Craig Smith and Corey Brewer be an adequate front line, especially if your backcourt is also smallish, with Foye and McCants the likely starters in any youth movement? Yes, Juwon Howard is also a factor, but if Howard is your rebounding bulwark, you're in trouble.
Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team is required to carry 12 players on its active list and at least one player on its inactive list. Teams may have a maximum of three players on its inactive list, which includes any players sent to the NBA Development League.
You might want to count those posted rosters and figure out who isn't going to be around.
AFAIK, Richard has yet to sign, so he really isn't "here" yet.
How about:
1 - Foye, Jaric, Telfair
2/3 - Davis, Brewer, Hassell, McCants, Green
4 - Jefferson, Smith, Gomes, Howard
5 - Blount, Ratliff, Madsen
And I agree that Richard is going to be a D-league player
On Wikipedia, Jefferson is listed as a PF/C, and Gomes is listed as a SF/PF. And don't forget that Smith and Madsen relieved Blount just as much as they relieved Garnett last year. Further, Davis and Green are primarily SGs, and Jaric is best at the 3. Depending on matchups, I think the roster looks much more balanced than that. After all, you don't play the Spurs or the Heat every night.
I see this:
1 - Foye, Telfair
2 - McCants, Green, Davis
3 - Brewer, Jaric, Hassell, (Gomes)
4 - Smith, (Gomes,) Howard, Richard
5 - Jefferson, Blount, Madsen, Ratliff
I imagine moving Davis is the priority now that the blockbuster went down. Curious to see what happens then.
I would break down the roster a little differently than Andy B did:
1-PG: Foye, Telfair
2-SG: McCants
2.5-SG/SF: Davis, Brewer, Jaric
3-SF: Hassell, Green
3.5-SF/PF: Gomes
4-PF: Jefferson, Smith, Howard
4.5-PF/C: Richard, Maddog
5-C: Blount, Ratliff
I can't see the team buying out Blount, Jaric or Hassell because it would simply cost too much given the number of years they each have remaining on their contracts, especially after just paying out $10 million to Hudson and knowing that ticket sales are going to suck with KG gone. Buying out Maddog doesn't make much sense because he doesn't cost that much for cap purposes, even though he's overpaid for his level of production.
I still would not rule out either trading one of our players for a draft pick or a multi-player trade. There's still about three months before a final roster even has to be set for the NBA opener.
By the way, the new season schedule is out and KG returns to Minnesota on February 8th.
It would be silly to cut Gomes. Celtic fans rave over this guy for his motor, hustle and ability (he is not just another Maddog), and he averaged 12 points and 5.6 rebounds as a second year player. IMO, he is as important to the future of the Wolves as McCants.
1-PG: Foye, Telfair
2 - SG: Jaric, McCants, Hassell
3-SF: Brewer, Davis, Green
4 -PF: Jefferson, Smith, Maddog, Richards, Gomes, Howard
5-C: Blount, Ratliff
I suppose this answers CSE question on why we would cut Gomes. We obviously now find ourselves in possession of too many PFs. Either we cut RIchards or Gomes? Or, we buy out Maddog's, Hassell's, Jaric's or Boulnt's contract.
The point of saving cap space is not to attract marquee free agents. It's to decide how to allocate it among the group of young player the Wolves have now accumulated.
It sounds like they've already decided to work on an extension for Jefferson. They basically have a year or two to figure out who among Foye, McCants, Green and Brewer will be kept after their guaranteed rookie contracts expire to make up the core surrounding Jefferson and whether Gomes, Smith and Richard are deserving of multi-year contracts.
As far as roster spots go, the team has 15 spots to work with with 3 players declared "inactive" for any given game, similar to how the NFL has 50-some roster spots with a handful that are deactivated each week. If the Wolves do want to send Richard to D-League, I believe he still would have to be among the 15 players on the roster, though.
So as of right now, they have to either cut someone, trade someone for a draft pick or pull off a multi-player trade to get from 16 to 15.
From HOOPSWORLD.com
Bridge Collapse Puts Basketball Into Perspective
By Stephen Litel
Aug 2, 2007, 10:17
Driving in from the western suburbs of Minneapolis last night to attend the Timberwolves press conference to introduce their new players acquired in the Kevin Garnett trade, something was odd. Normally, the drive takes ten to fifteen minutes, but took significantly longer as we were constantly pulling the car to the side of the road to allow emergency vehicles with sirens blazing to pass.
Passing under an overpass sign informing motorists to tune into 88.5 FM traffic radio, I did just that to figure out what was going on. When I finally heard the news of the 35W bridge collapse minutes earlier, I was unsure of what to do. Should I turn around and go home to get out of the downtown area or continue on to the Timberwolves press conference, if they were even going to have it?
Parking in a ramp to stay off the streets and out of the emergency workers way as much as possible, I enter the Target Center to find countless cameras set up. Other media members who had arrived early to set up their equipment were huddled around the television to watch the breaking news, trying to grasp what they were watching.
As more and more media members filtered in to where the press conference was to take place, the number of cameras continued to dwindle, as cameramen were asked to attend to the exponentially more important story. Mike Cristaldi, the Timberwolves Public Relations Director, was doing his best to field questions from media as to whether or not the press conference would even take place while going back into the offices to speak with Glen Taylor, Kevin McHale, Chris Wright and Ted Johnson to decide and announce what would be done.
Glen Taylor, flanked by Kevin McHale, came out to discuss what should be done as a result of the day’s events. Taylor had already made the decision that the presentation of the new player’s jerseys would be made at another time, but Taylor and McHale acknowledged that media members have a job to do and would make themselves available if the decision was made by all that it would be appropriate. The decision was made to reschedule the press conference for a more appropriate time without complaint.
Although it is convenient to criticize Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale, along with the remainder of the Timberwolves front office, for the state of the franchise today, they showed nothing but class during this trying time in the Twin Cities. Many of us"myself included"can forget at times through our scorn that the game of basketball is just that…a game. It is not life or death and it is not really important. Events such as the bridge collapse are reminders of what is truly important...
Family, friends, love and life.
Stephen Litel rejoins the Basketball News Services team and covers the Minnesota Timberwolves. Litel also writes a weekly column for the Downtown Journal in Minneapolis and is finishing work on his first book on Kevin Garnett’s last days in Minnesota. He can be reached at stephenwolvesguy22@hotmail.com and welcomes feedback.
While everyone is looking at saving cap space, and I'm sure Glen Taylor appreciates your concern, the cap space will not be spent on a marquee free agent because they won't come here. How many of those go to a small market? Even San Antonio, with Duncan and a championship, couldn't lure Kidd. What are we going to put on the table? We have a organizational tradition like the clippers and a market perception made for the inuit.
I think Simmons take that this is the same McHale that played on a broken foot for the Celts is most accurate. We have taken Boston's failed roster, except for their one talented piece, and traded it for KG. Why couldn't we do that? Hudson,(not Foye because they kept their promising point guard), McCants, Davis, Smith, Jaric, Blount, Hassel and MadDog for Steve Nash, or Tim Duncan, or D-Wade. Out of the nine players we've been sent, Jefferson is the only one they were sad to see go.
I like the idea of trading Blount for Foyle as well. It didn't make sense if we were going to keep KG, but now we could really use a solid veteran presence who will not complain about limited playing time. Blount would cause nothing but problems with fewer minutes this season.
Patrick,
The key would be to trade Davis for another player with an expiring contract. A team would do that if their expiring contract player is not playing much or contributing.
How many guys like that are out there? Not sure.
But if the wolves could trade davis for another expiring deal and a first round draft pick, it would be a great deal. The only teams interested in such a deal will likely be playoff contenders, so it won't be a great first round pick.
I still say wolves trade Blount for Adonal Foyle, who is supposed to be a great locker room presence and has a similar contract. Tell me how could Don Nelson not love Mark Blount? He's made for Nellie ball!
Wolves should keep Ratliff because if he can play, they really need a center.
Chris Richard will probably spend most of the season in the D League. I would bet we trade Ricky to Golden State for a 2nd round pick. GSW has a large trade exception and could easily absorb Ricky's salary. Theo Ratliff will probably be bought out if he is healthy and wants to play this season. If not, we will stick him on the IR. I would then try to package Hassell with Gomes or Green to acquire a solid PG. I'm not sure if Telfair will be bought out or not.
Look guys, my point with sitting on Ratliff and Davis is that they probably aren't going to yield building blocks if we trade them.
What kind of players get traded for expiring contracts? Generally, it's flawed, disgruntled, and overpaid castoffs. This can be worth the gamble if you are trying to win games.
But,since we are now clearly starting from scratch, wouldn't it be better to just keep them off the roster and get the financial flexibility next year? Paying them off would allow them to sign with another team (I am no cap expert, but I assuming) and would be the classy thing to do. And, it trims the roster by two.
I've got to think we could address the back up point guard issue with some combo of Hassell, Mad Dog and Gomes. They are all serviceable, low maintenance role players with modest salaries.
The roster issue needs to be addressed. With the exception of Richard, I don't see any of these guys taking kindly to a season long stint on the IR.
My understanding is there is nothing to gain from a salary-cap standpoint by buying out a player. Whether you prefer hoopshype or shamsports, you can see from checking out other team salary listings that bought-out players still count against the cap. Check out the Sixers and note that Chris Webber is still listed. But I don't think you can trade the contract of a bought-out player, so I don't see any point to buying out Ratliff.
Reportedly, he's feeling like he could actually play, in which case, I'd much rather have Ratliff around for a season to mentor some of the younger bigs and show them post defense than have Blount be sole veteran example for them to look at. If the Wolves do get an opportunity to trade Ratliff for a contributor during the season, all the better.
Looks like T-Hud will need every cent of his contract buyout since the Celtics signed Eddie House today. I can't imagine a team being desperate enough to have both Hudson and House on their roster.
By the way, here's something that should give folks a chuckle:
Hudson's Rap Album Sells 78 Copies In First Week
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/47423/20070801/hudsons_rap_al...
Sad to see KG go, glad he has a chance to go for a title with Allen, and Pierce. As a basketball fan, I'm looking forward to that.
Of all the stuff I've read from Boston, and Providence papers, the Celtics are very sad to part with Jefferson, but just as sad to see Ryan Gomes leave. Apparently Gomes was a very solid citizen, with a very large upside on the court. So Gomes might be the sleeper in this deal. How Wittman manages the minutes leaves a big question mark, and suggest patience. I think Foye, and Craig Smith having a year with KG's example, and the winning culture Brewer and Richard bring to the club, I'm not as pessimistic as some.
I recognize the Sid version, that Ainge completely hood winked McHale and managed to ship most of his 24 win roster here, in two seperate moves, but we did get the D-Avis pick back so that's good.
The scenario that would be horrible would be if Allen and Pierce come up lame, and the 30K plus minutes suddently catches up to KG. That would be really sad. I hope KG has nothing but success in Boston. I expect them to be successfull, because the big 3 in Boston will more than likely re-invigorate each other.
Patrick -
My problem with trading guys is that unless we do a 2:1, we're not going to get any more roster room. And if we do a 2:1, it's going to hurt the cap unless it's for an expiring contract or a power forward prospect. And who wants to deal an expiring contract for Ricky Davis and Trenton Hassell, to say nothing of prospects? If the Wolves want to put Richard on the roster, then they can't get rid of Telfair, because the point guard depth chart would then be:
1. Randy Foye
2. N/A
3. N/A
It's actually worth trying to figure out what a T-Wolves depth chart would actually look like. Right now we have a combo guard at point, three tweeners (four if you count Brewer), three undersized forwards who also play center, and a 7 foot center who plays like a small forward. I honestly have no idea what the T-Wolves starting lineup is going to look like on opening day, except that Randy Foye will be at point and Al Jefferson will be either Power Foward or Center. Right now the Wolves need to make a commitment to giving the kids heavy minutes, which shouldn't be too hard since they're as good as anyone else on the roster (remember that last year Garnett, Jaric, and the kids was our best +/- squad.)
Patrick- Buying out Ratliff does not make sense. He is either a tradeable asset near the deadline that will bring a player or players of some value in exchange for cap relief, or he's cap relief for the Wolves after this season. Teams really only buy out contracts for players with multi-year deals that cost too much (a la Thud).
The Wolves may also be able to get something for Davis, if not now then perhaps near the deadline as either a rent-a-player or because of his expiring contract.
If the Wolves are going to do any more contract buyouts, it would likely be Jaric or Blount.
Question 1: Is it actually a problem having 15 guys under contract? Isn't the active roster 12, with three spots for IR ... or did I dream that?
Question 2: I read a rumor somewhere that the Wolves may cut Gomes and he would likely re-join the Celtics. Why on earth would this happen? He's a decent player, yes? Not great, but decent. And he's only making $770K this season. So why cut him?
I am thinking Telfair will probably get waived. Even though he has every reason to get his act together and play for a contract, I really don't think he has shown enough potential to make him worth the risk.
Good points on the number of players. The stun of losing KG has made me oblivious to the fact that we have two teams worth of players under contract (a bit of an embellishment, but just a bit).
Buying out Ratliff makes some sense, as does shopping a few tradeable players: Hassell, Mad Dog, Gomes for a single player or expiring contracts and picks. We could even eat Ricky's salary and tell him to stay at home. We'd at least keep his expiring contract, which is better than trading it for a guy we don't really want.
Britt,
I usually am for giving people a clean slate. An when it comes to profesional athletes in the spotlight, they too deserver clean slates at times. I don't feel Telfair should get a clean slate. He has 3 gun related incidents in almost as many years. At least Damon Stoddlmier wasn't carrying anything at the airport that could KILL someone. How intelligent is that bringing a gun through an airport? Umm... It could go off and kill someone. Then the pullover where the gun was in his "girlfriends" pillowcase in his car. Then there is the retaliation drive by attemp with like 20 loaded guns in the car. Not to mention he like frequenting the clubs till the wee hours of the night--during the season..
The NBA and professional sports in general can ill afford these public relation nightmares. It would be stupid to put yourself into this sort of position. I don't beleive it to be far off from when the NBA will start punishing teams in various ways if a player on their team creates havoc off the court.
Not only all of the above, Telfair has proven difficult to coach. He has a "me first" attitude. He can't shoot, he can't pass well, he doesn't have work ethic either. Every team he has played on has not liked him. Ricky Davis jr.??
Sorry not about to give this thug a clean slate. Guns and pro basketball do not a good combination make.
Thanks to this trade, the Wolves now have 15 guys under contract. Am I crazy for wanting the Wolves to buy out Ratliff and give his roster spot to Richards?
Great article by Marc Stein about the Wolves:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2956...
Not sure if I could agree with him much more.
OK, KG is gone. My all-time favorite T-wolf. Thanks for the memories. Good luck and good-bye.
I'm over it.
Now, what have we got.
I'm going to pencil in Randy Foye, Corey Brewer and Al Jefferson as the potential leaders of this team.
Rashad McCants, Craig Smith, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and Gerald Green will be competing with Marko Jaric, Ricky Davis, Marc Blount, Juwan Howard and Trenton Hassell for playing time this year in order to earn a future starting spot or a permanent spot in the rotation.
2nd round draft pick Richards, Mark Madsen and Theo Ratliff will probably not see much playing time. Ratliff, since he is coming off an injury, Richards because there isn't a spot for him, and Maddog, well, because his cheerleading abilities must now be put to a true test.
This year is a growing and rebuilding year. If every thing goes according to plan, the youngsters make strides and we have a team competing for a playoff spot in 2008-09, while retaining a spot low enough in the 08 draft to get another potential all-star before we send the owed pick to the Clippers.
By then Ratliff and Davis are gone, while Blount, Hassell, Jaric and Howard have all been offered in trades to other teams. We have some cap space to sign a free agent or two and our core group of youngsters to build around - Foye, Brewer and Jefferson - has been supplemented and solidified with some combinations of McCants, Smith, Gomes, Green, Telfair, draft picks, and new arrivals depending on developmental growth of the current young Wolves, trades and free agent signees.
Hey, anyone making predictions with this current bunch other than that wins will be hard to come by in the upcoming season is taking shots in the dark, but there is going to be some interesting developments with this group of young players over the next couple of years and no shortage of things to pontificate about on this here forum.
So, we have three more months to mourn over the loss of KG and then we can get on to basketball again. I am actually starting to feel refreshed, both for the opportunity that KG now has with Boston and for the prospects of watching the development of some new young players with the Wolves.
So what's the over under on Wolves wins next year? It can't be more than 15. I'd take the under.
The worst team in recent memory was the 97-98 Nuggets, who won 11 games. There's a depressing article on AOL that compares that team to next year's Wolves. If we thought they were unwatchable at times last year, we aint seen nothin yet.
They can talk about young and exciting all they want but there is nothing exciting about watching a basketball team lose 60 games in a season. With the strength of the West, it's safe to assume next year's Wolves season will be as bad as any in the last 20 years of professional sports. Coupled with the Vikings bizarre gamble on T-Jack and no receivers, it promises to be a very ugly fall/winter sports season, even by Minnesota standards.
Shock and blah.
I read the ticker go by on ESPN was, um, somewhat shocked that McHale actually pulled the trigger on a KG trade. This was quickly tempered by the "Blahs" when I saw that a) the trade was was with -- who else -- Boston (nice skit, btw, olowa-ebi) and then b) the list of players that the Wolves got in return.
It's my feeling that the Wolves are headed for a long dark spell that the franchise may never recover from. Britt, Jianfu, and Jesse touch on several explosive chemistry aspects of the trade - but oh yeah, McHale doesn't believe in "chemistry" so he probably never even considered the possible downsides.
But let me ask: What kind of team has Blount and Davis as the team veteran leadership? In RD's case you can say it's only a season, but in my opinion, this is a pivotal year for Foye and McCants if they are actually going to become solid NBA contributors. They need all the help and support from teammates that they can get. With KG gone, solid hard-working guys like Hassell and Smith just won't be able to cut through all the jive slacking. If Foye and McCants *ever* had a chance to make it in this league (I've always been down on McCants and merely hopeful for Foye) I think those guys are now toast. Unless, of course, you believe that Wittman and company are coaching geniuses.
OMG it's an ugly thought, but is Taylor giving up and moving towards the old Donald Sterling (Clippers) business model of low pay, no play, collect $200 when you pass GO at the end of the season?
1. I think Boston has a chance to be quite good. KG is not quite as good as he was in 2003-04 but Pierce and Allen are easily as good as Cassell and Sprewell. The main weakness, however, will be Allen's defense, which is no where near the level of Sprewell's defense, even though Allen is now younger than Spree was in 2003. If Boston can pick up a couple of veterans that can play defense, I think they'll be in really good shape. I'm excited to watch Boston play.
2. Don't the wolves and boston play in England this year as an exhibition or something?
3. The Wolves are going to be unbelievably awful this year. KG described the move to Boston as excitement like when you are in a Lamborghini with your head out the window doing 200 MPH. The wolves season is going to be like doing 200 MPH with your head out the window in a cornfield.
4. Yet, as a basketball fan is should be somewhat fun to watch young players (but, really, not that much fun).
5. Please let us rid ourselves of Ricky Davis and Mark Blount before the season starts. My fear is that we keep Pretty Ricky so we can dump his salary at the end of year. As was noted above, RD is now our veteran leader and best player. What a shining example on the basketball court of what it takes to be winner. Can you imagine if RD had to play with Michael Jordan and Charles Oakley? He would be dead by the end of the first week of training camp.
david,
hoopshype is nearly worthless. their inaccuracies are many. i recommend shamsports.com for accurate (albeit not updated as regularly) nba salary info.
what else... what else... oh right! the kg trade.
it was time for kg to be dealt a year ago when minny had a better offer from chicago (deng, chandler, 2006 #2, 2007 #9, filler). this boston deal was the best mchale (or anybody) could get for kg.
maybe rondo was a possibility, but i don't think mchale had ainge in quite the spot he thought he did. what if rondo was a deal breaker and ainge walked away? i think the inertia of this trade and the public expectation of kg being traded and his own thinking (the boston press conference yesterday was very interesting) took some of mchale's leverage away.
the extension numbers for kg were interesting too. he essentially got $51mill more for the 3yrs after next year. that's quite a good deal and makes me wonder what we could've done with kg at that price. woulda, coulda, shoulda?, didn't.
it's time to collect our wonderful memories about kg and keep them in a shoebox in the closet. every time we pull them out for a look, the good memories will come back. but the kg era is over and the new, young wolves need our support. remember when googs, marbs and kg were youngsters and the state embraced them? (i don't, i didn't live here) but from what i understand, even though it didn't work in the end, both the team and the fans bonded over growing together.
let's do it again.
BTW, the only trade more lopsided than KG for junk is ashy for nothing
Not to be a pessimist, but I don't see what this deal does for us. Is Jefferson going to start playing defense? The 16 points doesn't look that great if the opposition scores 20. And whatever happened to the concern over team chemistry? We just picked up sebastian telfair. Can you name a player who was messed up elsewhere who turned a corner here? Maybe it was Mike James that brought Ricky down last year... but I'm not really buying it.
So we're going to stink it up next year, at least, and probably the year after. Then we're going to hope that our team isn't so awful that Jefferson doesn't bolt without compensation. Or perhaps we'll trade him during season 2 with the exact rational we're using for KG: "we better trade him or we get nothing." Wow... this is going to be just like the beginning. Maybe our coach, who has never had any success on this level, will pull everything together.
I'll rerun my anti trade rational... any success we have in the western conference needed to come in the next couple years. Sure, we would get stopped by San Antonio each time, but what are we looking at now? We are retooling into the teeth of the Seattle/Portland draft. After the trade, do we have an advantage at any position over Portland? Well, small forward if our draft pick plays undersized.
The point is, not only do we not have anything to look forward to in the short term, but realistically, not in the long term either. I guess we're hoping for a top 2 pick next year to flesh out our team. Ick... is this the stink to high heaven part from Britt's column.
On the lighter side, I'll really enjoy watching Boston this year. Although KG has slipped, the other two players are MUCH better than the other MV3 parts. Go Boston... the wolves & their ownership can rot... and hopefully lose money while they're at it. Who is going to pay to watch this? My job will be transferred before they have a decent product again.
Zman - thanks for the name-check. But you forgot one key thing in assessing the "bottom" bottom line: the Wolves are out from under Wally's absurd contract and KG's 08-09 option ($24 million) and extension demands (net $20 million per year for the following three years, according to ESPN, making the 33-, 34-, and 35-year-old one of the five highest-paid players in the league).
It works out to about $29 million saved in '08-'09 (Wally's $13 million and Ratliff's expiring $11.6 million, plus the $4 million smaller salary the Wolves accepted in the KG trade) and $20 million between '09 and '12 (if we don't re-sign Jefferson) and about $5 million if we do.
(I'm not counting the portion of Mike James' $6.5 million '09-'10 salary Justin Reed helped us save in the Juwan Howard deal! ).
While it's true Glen can pocket the money, the team had no salary cap future with KG and Wally here (or indeed, with just Kevin here). An indictment of McHale, sure, but a fact. So you can't ignore the cap flexibility the deal brings.
Two other thoughts:
1. It's probably smart Taylor is talking about extending Jefferson this season. Hopefully, he's worth it. I suspect a max deal is coming. (Again, his last contract year is next year at $3.4 million). Show him the love early. You can only do this deal with cap flex, and he will be cheaper than KG and only 24 in the first extension year. As Fox's Charlie Rosen notes, the advantage in the KG deal shifts to the Wolves by then.
2. In assessing KG's role as Atrocious Shadow GM (hat tip: Bill Simmons), don't forget the Joe Smith deal. Yes, McHale and Taylor deserve the bulk of blame, but they were trying to placate their chatty superstar. Even if they hadn't gone illegal, Smith wasn't worth it. Not as bad as KG's championing of Huddy, but still bad.
Goddamn Hoops Hype - I keep forgetting their "TOTAL" doesn't include players in the "team option" or "qualifying offer" years (the last years of rookie contracts).
Assuming we want to keep Foye, Brewer, McCants and Green, we'll have $42,186,758 committed in '09-'10, with Jefferson unsigned. Still a pretty good position.
And oh by the way, one of the media outlets is reporting KG is lobbying the Celts to sign Huddy. It's important to remember KG's role as Shadow GM was responsible for some of the mess the Wolves found themselves in.
While I would have preferred to keep KG, I think the deal is a good one for the Wolves. Jefferson averaged 16 and 11 as a 21 year old, and is a rugged *inside player*. At the same point, Kg averaged 18.5 and 9.6 in 6 more minutes per game. Jefferson is going to be, at the least, a very good player. More likely, he'll be an all star caliber player. Gomes is a solid young player. Green, while still "green", is only 21 years old and has shown flashes. Remember, he's only 21. At an age when he should be a college junior, he averaged double figures scoring. On top of that, the two first round picks are huge. and I don't want to here the "well, there only getting back there own pick" nonsense. Fact is, it was not there's anymore, so it's big getting it back.
Great trade for the Wolves. They have a nice core of young players and are setup wonderfully for the future.
It'll be fun watching the players develop this season. And next year, with Davis and Ratliff cff the books, the Wolves might be able to sign a good vet to supplement the youngsters.
Re David Brauer's summation of the two trades. It nets out like this: Reed and Banks are already gone and Davis, Telfair and Ratlff wiil probably be gone after next season. Blount would be gone if they could find any takers. Boston let Olowokandi and Jones go and used Wally's $12 million salary to trade for Ray Allen's $16 million salary. So Boston gets KG and might not have been able to get Allen without Wally's salary; in a way, Minnesota enabled Boston to get both its new superstars. All the Wolves end up with will probably be Jefferson, Green, Gomes and a first round pick from Boston which will likely be a low one. This really is AWFUL!
Britt...
will you be continuing to write about KG in boston?
I hope you do.
We've just stepped in a time machine and landed in 1989. With KG and the kids, we still had some hope that the Wolves could gel within the next couple of years and make a run at the WC finals. Now, it's a waiting game until Duncan, Nash, and Dirk are on their last legs. Yeah, the Bulls and Bobcats model is a nice way to start rebuilding, however I'm not sure we're headed down that path unless Taylor reaches deep into the pockets and buys out Blount and Jaric. I'd keep Hassell around and deal Ricky at the trade deadline.
We could do worse than Big Al, the Cookie Monster, Brewer, Foye, Gomes, Green, and Shaddy. We need to hire Don Neslon ASAP.
Kevin McHale is now in position to be front office executive of the year, for his rebuilding of the storied Boston Celtics!
I've emailed the Timberwolves and let them know that they can keep my 1/3 ticket deposit this year and cancel my 18 year old season ticket. I saw enough of the 60 loss seasons during the Scott Roth and Gary Leonard glory days.
so sad that KG's days as a Wolf are over. Boooo, Kevin McHale, for giving up on him. But at least it's clear that he's taking youth route. We'll see where it takes them.
My allegiance will undoubtedly go to the Celtics now -- I became a Wolves fan for two reasons really, (three if you consider I lived in Minneaplis in 97-02): Flip Saunders coached CBA hoops in my hometown immediately prior to coaching the Wolves; and KG's passion was irresistible. Now that both are gone, a huge part of my support is too. Sad, but true. Like the trade.
No, now it's official:
http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/minnesota.htm
If you take out Huddy's never-to-be-reached '09-'10 incentive-option contract, the Wolves are only obligated for $23 million in '09-'10 ... with only Jefferson among the "core" as a free agent. (McCants will be in the final year of his first contract; Foye's and Green's come a season later.)
That's a great salary cap situation to be in, and the Wolves will be well able to throw max dollars at Jeff, if he's earned it, in the '09 offseason.
For all the lamentations about Garnett - many deserved - the team is finally in a very good situation cap-wise - much more appropriate for a losing team. (As I've said, there's nothing worse than a losing team over the cap for years to come.) Here's hoping Hoiberg takes over so McHale can't screw it up. (I know, sounds too optimistic.)
I'm willing to take odds the Celts' '09 pick is in the 10s, not 20s, as the 33-year-old Ray Allen stumbles through his 12th season. I peg it at 3-2 (your three to my two). Britt, you takin'?
I'm for this trade ... and yet now that it's happened I just feel sad. For 12 years, KG has been my reason to be excited about pro hoops. It's gonna be weird without him.
The more I think about this trade the more I think we could have gotten Rondo instead of Telfair. This trade is going to reinvigorate the Celtic fanbase, Danny Ainge needed this trade to save his job. McHale had Ainge by the balls, do you really think getting Rondo instead of Telfair would have been a dealbreaker if McHale was going to walk away from the table over it? I really doubt it, Ainge would have caved.
thank you KG for your services here. i wish you the best of luck.
It's official
But, for some good news.
Meanwhile, Bill Neff, the agent for point guard Troy Hudson, said he had reached a verbal agreement with the Wolves to buy out his contract for approximately 80 percent of the $12.256 million owed him over the next two seasons.
Perhaps someone else noted this, but the summation of the two Boston-Minnesota trades is:
From Minnesota: Kevin Garnett, Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olawokandi and Dwane Jones
From Boston: Al Jefferson, Ricky Davis, Gerald Green, Mark Blount, Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes, Justin Reed, Marcus Banks, Theo Ratliff and Boston's 2009 first-round pick.
Snyder thanks for the reminder: I recently communicated with Asch, who told me he'll be doing hoops for CNN/SI at least for the near future and also may be revisiting his column on aol.com sports. Here is the link to Asch's CNN/SI archives, sparse tho they may be at the moment.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/writers/steve_aschburner/archive/index....
And here is the link to Aol.com
http://sports.aol.com/
where you might have to muck around to find Asch. Meanwhile, I'll post the CNN/SI link off the side with the others like 10,000 Takes and I Heart KG.
Since I'm now a Boston Celtic fan, I have to ask...can they really compete with 3 players? I mean, Pierce is an injury liability, Allen is coming off ankle surgery...if either of those guys goes down, how is KG in a better situation to compete? Because he gets to play with inexperienced guys like Allen, Rondo and Perkins? Will Scalabrine bring his A-game? Yes, they're better than the Wolves at this point, and I'll certainly be cheering for KG no matter what...but if you thought KG's contract limited our options, wait until you combine it with Pierce and Allen's long-term deals. How can they get better? They've gotta have more up their sleeve, or the Celts' house of cards could fall quickly, and KG will be no better off, aside from playing in a weak conference of course. Also, Doc Rivers has done nothing to inspire confidence, with either Orlando or Boston.
And now, since almost half of our roster consists of Ainge's cast-offs, can we please give Hoiberg the reigns and put a close to the McHale experiment?
And the silver lining - by the time we're competitive again, KG will be coming off his extension...
It's too bad that the topic had to be a KG trade, but it's great to see Steve Aschburner back in print:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/steve_aschburner/07/30/gar...
Hopefully the official announcement of this trade's consummation will be followed by the official announcement of McHale's resignation...
You all realize this trade has made Ricky Davis the best player on the wolves team?
I think this trade is a mistake. KG for Jefferson, our own pick back and a bunch of garbage. If people think this fan base will support a years-long rebuilding effort while the team loses 60 games a year, their wrong. This organization has botched everything they've ever done and once they botch this "bottoming out" rebuilding effort, it will be sold and moved. I can already hear a potential owner complaining about how old the Target Center is and how low the attendance is. McHale should move back to Boston.
Sweet post Olawa.
My main issue is this: Because McHale was allowed to orchestrate a KG deal, I will forever have ZERO confidence the team did the best it could do.
This was the most pivotal moment in franchise history, and we're letting one of the most myopic, curmudgonely, and lazy GMs in the game dictate the course for the forseeable future? When Taylor decided to turn the page, he should have included McHale.
Thank you for the memories, KG. I can't wait to hear the loving ovation you receive when you visit Target Center this year. I hope you score 50 on us, posterizing Blount a few dozen times.
Finally the trade has happened. I'm not sad to see KG go at all since I think he deserves a chance to win after all of those years of service in Minnesota. The fact that he wasn't able to win here is of course partly his doing. But the fact is that no matter how much the Timberwolves tried to rebuild, my belief is that the atmosphere here was so poisoned from last season's horrible ending to the flurry of trade rumors before the draft, I couldn't see KG returning here at all, with no future in what amounted to a dead-end.
KG gets to play with two bonafide superstars now and that will immediately make Boston a contender in the East. No doubt about it. But championship material ? I'm not as convinced as others about how good the Celtics will be. The trio of studs for one will have to remain healthy all at once for the Celtics to stay competitive because the trio is about all there really is. KG has proven his durability but Pierce and Allen have suffered physical breakdowns in the past. Allen is coming off of surgery to both feet, and all of them are now in easily past their prime. If they stay healthy, the Celtics will be an awesome force offensively but defensively they look to be pretty weak. With only KG is a real proven defensive stalwart, Boston may have to outscore their opponents night in and night out to win. Defense does still win championships right ? I see Boston getting close once with this trio and that's it.
As far as Minnesota, they are now loaded with some very talented young players (Foye, Jefferson, and Brewer I think will be Minnesota's trio). But itt will be a hard couple of years until the young players mature and more young players are added via the draft. As tough as the conference is, I think the Timberwolves will be very bad (in the 10-15 win category) before the rebuilding process starts to take fruit in around 2009-2010 timeframe.
To give these young guns a chance, we have to dump Blount, Davis, and Hudson somehow. I have no idea how that can happen but as it stands now the Timberwolves have way too many players. Also, the rebuilding will only happen with a first-rate coach and I don't see Wittman fulfilling that role. It will also be interesting to see how the young players' growth rate will be without KG. In that sense it will be a true measure of what KG's real leadership was.
Overall we should feel pretty good about this trade. KG gets his chance to win and the Timberwolves just may have a very bright future.