Minnesota Timberwolves Fantasy GM

[slightly biased bias fan]

Honestly how lucky is Milt Newton? He has to be in the most enviable position of all rebuilding teams.

I thought it'd be interesting to play Fantasy GM and ask people on this forum what they would do this offseason if you were in his position.

Current Roster:

                                  2015/16            2016/17              2017/18          2018/19           
Ricky Rubio            $12,700,000         $13,400,000     $14,100,000     $14,800,000
Nikola Pekovic         $12,100,000        $12,100,000     $11,600,000
Kevin Garnett          $8,500,000         $8,000,000
Kevin Martin           $7,085,000         $7,377,500
Andrew Wiggins       $5,758,680         $6,006,600      $7,574,322    $9,846,619
Karl-Anthony Towns   $5,703,600       $5,960,160       $6,216,840      $7,839,435
Nemanja Bjelica       $3,950,000       $3,800,000        $3,950,000   
Shabazz Muhammad $2,056,920      $3,046,299         $4,237,401
Gorgui Dieng         $1,474,440         $2,348,782           $3,384,596
Zach LaVine         $2,148,360         $2,240,880              $3,202,217       $4,428,666
Adreian Payne         $1,938,840        $2,022,240          $3,100,093      $4,333,931
Damjan Rudez         $1,149,500        $1,199,000
Tayshaun Prince       $1,499,187

Key: Team Option / Qualifying Offer

2015/16 salaries: $72,495,794
2016/17 salaries: $67,642,141/89,000,000 projected cap


Top 5 2016 NBA draft pick

Possible choices: Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Dragan Bender, Jaylen Brown, Kris Dunn, Buddy Hield, Jamal Murray

2016 Free Agent options

Point Guards: Mike Conley, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings,  Jeremy Lin,
Shooting Guards: DeMar DeRozan, Jamal Crawford, Arron Afflalo, Eric Gordon, OJ Mayo
Small Forwards: Nicolas Batum, Chandler Parsons, Evan Turner,  Luol Deng, Jeff Green, Marvin Williams
Power Forwards: Al Horford, Pau Gasol, Ryan Anderson, Terrence Jones, Dwight Powell
Centres: Hassan Whiteside, Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson, Joakim Noah

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Can you imagine Andrew Wiggins and Jaylen Brown on the same team?

Shooting might be shotty, but two freaks athletes who can develop into elite defenders and just absolutely ridiculous on the transition, and then Zach LaVine coming off the bench completes your wing rotation, holy Molly.

You give that team a shooter PG and a PF who can shoot, lookout.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Can you imagine Andrew Wiggins and Jaylen Brown on the same team?

Shooting might be shotty, but two freaks athletes who can develop into elite defenders and just absolutely ridiculous on the transition, and then Zach LaVine coming off the bench completes your wing rotation, holy Molly.

You give that team a shooter PG and a PF who can shoot, lookout.

Me personally I'd be looking to trade Rubio, Kevin Martin and Shabazz then draft Dunn (obviously if they win the draft you take Simmons), I'd also look to sign a small forward in the mould of a 3 & D guy and make a solid offer for someone like Jones or Anderson as a stretch 4.

For the coach i'd bring in either Thibs or bring back Kevin McHale and have Garnett as an assistant.

[KG Living Legend]

 Sorry the Wolves are a joke. Wake me up when they are good. Every year it looks like it's their time, but you know what it never is, be thankful for Ainge and Steven's cause this is the alternative to our team, great Young prospects, and a team that never amounts to anything.

[KG Living Legend]

 Edit if I were the Wolves I would trade Town's to Boston for Jerkebo and a protected 2nd rounder ha-ha

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Can you imagine Andrew Wiggins and Jaylen Brown on the same team?

Shooting might be shotty, but two freaks athletes who can develop into elite defenders and just absolutely ridiculous on the transition, and then Zach LaVine coming off the bench completes your wing rotation, holy Molly.

You give that team a shooter PG and a PF who can shoot, lookout.

Me personally I'd be looking to trade Rubio, Kevin Martin and Shabazz then draft Dunn (obviously if they win the draft you take Simmons), I'd also look to sign a small forward in the mould of a 3 & D guy and make a solid offer for someone like Jones or Anderson as a stretch 4.

For the coach i'd bring in either Thibs or bring back Kevin McHale and have Garnett as an assistant.

Jaylen Brown can be your 3 - and D wing guy.

Yeah, you don't pass on Simmons if he's there for sure, but I keep looking at a Wiggins-Brown wing combo and what I'm seeing two guys who could develop into shut down wing defenders, that can cross match either positions.

I'd take Brown if I'm Minny if I miss on Simmons. Ingram could be an elite scorer, but with Towns and Wiggins being capable 20 points scorers in their own right, LaVine can bring some added punch of the bench, they could use someone who can bring all around play in their lineup. They could also play small with LaVine, Wiggins, Brown, Towns and have an extremely athletic, defensively capable team.

[Csfan1984]

Take Dunn and sign Hordford or another decent vet Big.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Find a way to unload Pekovic, probably not easy.

[Who]

I would trade Pekovic for whatever I can get for him. Towns and Dieng are my centers.

I would consider moving Andrew Wiggins. I would gauge his trade value and see what level of star player I can get for him. I think a more experienced star to play with Towns would be very good for the T'Wolves. I am not tied to a Wiggins - Towns duo long term. I do not think they are natural 1-2 punch because of Wiggins lack of ball-handling and playmaking. Still, a very good combo but no Shaq/Kobe combo. Hence, why I am open to moving Wiggins.

If I am keeping Wiggins, I am moving on from Rubio. I trade him for whatever I can get and worry about the PG further down the road. Kris Dunn looks a good replacement in the draft.

I would try to get a veteran PF to help Towns. He needs some experience next to him. Preferably someone with physicality but there are not many quality PFs like that these days. I would offer top 5 pick around for Favors or Ibaka. See if there are any biters. If not, Al Horford would be awesome. I'd make him a max offer in free agency. A great veteran leader to show these young Wolves how to win in the NBA. Personal connection to Towns too. If I can't get a veteran guy, I go with someone like Terrence Jones who I really like and think Houston are wasting. Motiejunas if he proves his health in Detroit before season's end would be another alternative.

I want a starting two guard to move Wiggins back to SF if he stays. McLemore would be a good target. Courtney Lee would be a good option. Maybe Fournier. The team needs more perimeter shooting at the non-Wiggins wing slots and PG slot.

Jeff Teague would be a good PG target in free agency if Rubio is traded and no Dunn draft pick.

..... Oh, and I would fire the coach. I liked Sam Mitchell in Toronto (average coach) but he is doing a bad job in Minnesota and I do not think he is the right man for Towns.

Towns is untouchable.