Wolves Offer Batum
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moqui
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Wes is a disappointment relative to his draft position, but he does have value - he has become a good 3 point shooter (hit over 40% over the final half of the season) and a good perimeter defender. However, at this point, he is not worth what he is being paid nor what it would take the Wolves to keep him on the roster beyond this year (I believe the team option to keep him next year is over $5M).
Not only have they offered Batum, but they also traded for Chase Budinger, so they will have two quality wings in rotation with Wes. It's now or never for him - he has to add more to his offensive game and continue to play good defense if he wants Minnesota to exercise that option. Otherwise, he will be looking for another team next season - I think he will get another job, but it will be at a much reduced rate.
Not only have they offered Batum, but they also traded for Chase Budinger, so they will have two quality wings in rotation with Wes. It's now or never for him - he has to add more to his offensive game and continue to play good defense if he wants Minnesota to exercise that option. Otherwise, he will be looking for another team next season - I think he will get another job, but it will be at a much reduced rate.
44cuse
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SoBeCuse
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I did. Not out of the realm of possibility.
44cuse
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He had 34 FTA's in 1,469 minutes and 65 GP. On a Per Game basis that is 0.5 FTA's per game. But it's hard to justify having a guy sit on the wing who shoots .314 from 3 (down .040 from the previous season). Now, from what I saw of the Wolves, I believe he was asked to stand on the perimeter and shoot...because that is literally all he did. And I cannot believe (even with how little regard I have the Wolves as a franchise and coaching staffs) that anyone would keep sending him out there with as little as Wes did if he wasn't being told to do that.
But I'm with you on all fronts. .200 pre break to .400 post break is a good jump and no doubt he defended better. I just think Wes is better than what he has shown in Minnesota and I blame Minnesota (even though that may be homerish and not realistic).
The team option is $5.4M next year which is the scenario that I think is setting up (but didn't get into in the original post). Wes has late 1st RD pick or early 2nd value, IMO. Combined with the fact that his current $4.2M is an expiring contract...there could be takers for that. No reason you get Budinger and Batum if that's not your plan.
44cuse
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I don't think so...see my other post. If the Wolves go and get Batum and Budinger...they still have a $5.4M team option on Wes. Unlikely they see enough from him the D League this year to exercise that option. That lives the value as a combination of his expiring and his draft position. They'd be stupid (assuming Batum/Budinger) to keep him through a D League experiment and pick up the option.
44cuse
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Quoted the wring post obviously. Sobecuse said that.
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44cuse
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Yeah, I didn't see his post as I just read your response. Figured that was the case...just didn't delete my post because I was responding to moqui at the time.
If they send him to the league, the Wolves will assume the worst franchise in the league status.
44cuse
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They could already be right up there with Charlotte with the botched draft picks (ouch), Rambis, Kahn, etc. I'm just trying to be a realist. The way (I think) they are using Wes is wrong but he has not helped himself. I just wouldn't be surprised if he is in the D-League in any uniform.
44cuse
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Well, they other way to think of it is what the D League does to Wes' value. He still has early 1st value associated with him. Probably smarter for the Wolves to do whatever they can to keep the perception of that value high. The D League would likely minimize that value.
Who knows...we'll see how it plays out over the next couple of months I guess.
44cuse
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He looked better the other night. But agreed...unless he has a big season, they're not picking up that option. BTW, I'm looking for data on draft history and team options (pick ups). In other words, I want to figure out the percentage of players that get picked up on their option years. If you happen to know where it might be, point me to it. I know how to get it the hard way...but it's a lot of work.
44cuse