Eric Bledsoe - MIN

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 11:22:48 GMT Jay Z said:

3. The chances of success with your team
advantage Houston on immediate success

While I agree with some of Charles' points, I am not sure I agree with you that Houston will be a better team next year than Minnesota.

Rockets Current Starting 5:

PG: Derrick Rose 85
SG: Bledsoe 84 *if signed*
SF: Antetokounmpo 77
PF: Love 88
C: Cole Aldrich 71

Total Rating: 405

Reserves: TJ Warren 76, Jusuf Nurkic 73, James Young 70

After signing Bledsoe in this hypothetical situation, the Rockets would remain over the cap and possess literally not depth. Furthermore, Rose's history of injuries in conjunction with the Love's inabilities as a basketball player, whether real or perceived, make the potential of this team unclear at best. To be honest with you, I plan to go on an epic crusade to get Love's rating lowered and I think Barber will unite with me. Additionally, I would bet money that Tristian Thompson beats Love out next season and makes him a bench player.


Timberwolves Current Starting 5:

PG: Bledsoe 84 *if signed*
SG: Victor Oladipo 79
SF: DeMarre Carroll 76
PF: Gorgui Dieng 77
C: Derrick Favors 82

Total: 398

Reserves: Okafor ?, Collie-Stein ?, Rubio 80, Shumpert 78, McDaniels 75, Meeks 74, Early 73, Barbosa 74, McCollum 72

The Timberwolves ratings remain hard to determine because obviously we do not know how high Okafor and WCS will be rated. With that said, however, both of them look promising and I think WCS will contribute to a team right away. Additionally, all of this depth remains conducive to trading for a star player.

---

You might disagree with how I assess the teams and that's fine, but it's not clear whose team will be better next year. In fact, I think the uncertainty around Houston really hurt them in this situation.

[Walt Frazier]

Jul 7, 2015 5:44:46 GMT Clyde Drexler said:

Bledsoe - Oladipo - Carrol - Favors - Okafor

Fuck, if one of these players can become a star this will be an incredible team.

Thanks Clyde. The development of Okafor is probably the biggest X factor here but I can also see Oladipo doing some very good things and bumping his rating up quite a bit still from where it is. Favors has some rating growth room too and Bledsoe could bump a couple points if he continues to refine his game.

Will be fun, that's for sure!

[Walt Frazier]

I agree with Vlade here to a point, and it's something I had to deal with so I eventually decided not to deal with it. Kevin Love isn't as big of a draw as he maybe "should" be in my opinion. Most in this league don't seem to value him that highly. Whether that's right or wrong, I decided to move on from him and not "deal with" the constant arguing to keep a guy's rating up who I didn't feel should need that much help to keep it up. People don't like White American players a lot of times. Especially a "slow, non-athletic" one like Kevin Love who "can't jump" etc. Just a reality I had to face.

So, he is not as good of a player to have as your highest rating Charles, sad but true.

Derrick Rose's injury history is also a big deterrent I'd have to imagine.

---

That said, to answer a question many of you seem to be posing about Rubio: Rubio will be traded before the season. And if he's not, Eric won't be happy and will leave the TWolves. So, there's your answer on that.

[Walt Frazier]

Oh and I also, honestly, thought Bryan's decision to say Bledsoe must be the lead guard and also that I had to trade Rubio were a little confusing. He has played combo guard his whole career and I've never heard that be a problem. Hanamichi, your quote/meme just says Bledsoe wanted to finally be a starter. Not necessarily a starting PG. Seems he understands the league is less about positions now than about matchups and lineups and skill sets.

I thought the opportunity to do something like a Rubio - Bledsoe - Oladipo - Batum (when I had him) - Okafor/WCS/Dieng lineup might be kind of fun at times on paper, but Eric wanted that PG job so I acquiesced.

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 13:12:47 GMT Walt Frazier said:

I agree with Vlade here to a point, and it's something I had to deal with so I eventually decided not to deal with it. Kevin Love isn't as big of a draw as he maybe "should" be in my opinion. Most in this league don't seem to value him that highly. Whether that's right or wrong, I decided to move on from him and not "deal with" the constant arguing to keep a guy's rating up who I didn't feel should need that much help to keep it up. People don't like White American players a lot of times. Especially a "slow, non-athletic" one like Kevin Love who "can't jump" etc. Just a reality I had to face.

So, he is not as good of a player to have as your highest rating Charles, sad but true.

Derrick Rose's injury history is also a big deterrent I'd have to imagine.

---

That said, to answer a question many of you seem to be posing about Rubio: Rubio will be traded before the season. And if he's not, Eric won't be happy and will leave the TWolves. So, there's your answer on that.

I love white American plays, but the dude doesn't bend his knees.

[Sam Bowie]

Jul 7, 2015 12:37:55 GMT Vlade Divac said:

Timberwolves Current Starting 5:

PG: Bledsoe 84 *if signed*
SG: Victor Oladipo 79
SF: DeMarre Carroll 76
PF: Gorgui Dieng 77
C: Derrick Favors 82

Favors is a FA. TWolves' best rated player at the time of the signing was Bledsoe's competition...

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 17:33:10 GMT Sam Bowie said:

Jul 7, 2015 12:37:55 GMT Vlade Divac said:

Timberwolves Current Starting 5:

PG: Bledsoe 84 *if signed*
SG: Victor Oladipo 79
SF: DeMarre Carroll 76
PF: Gorgui Dieng 77
C: Derrick Favors 82

Favors is a FA. TWolves' best rated player at the time of the signing was Bledsoe's competition...

I think you should look at the team as it will probably be not as it is currently constructed. Honestly, this logic probably sent Aldridge back to Portland.

Chris Mullins, you are REALLY starting to get on my nerves. I've debated confronting you about it because you are such a nice guy, but I really think you are the luckiest GM in history of GMs. Therefore, I am going to start calling you out on your bullshit. Let's be honest with each other, you only liked Bowie's post because Minny constitutes a bigger threat to your dominance over the West than Houston would with Bledsoe.

[Sam Bowie]

To be fair with Chris I edited the comment after he liked it. He liked when I said Favors is a FA which is a fact.

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 18:03:44 GMT Sam Bowie said:

To be fair with Chris I edited the comment after he liked it. He liked when I said Favors is a FA which is a fact.

Thank you for clarifying but I've felt this way WELL before this specific situations. In Game of Thrones terms, I refuse to "bow the knee" to Chris Mullins and proclaim him an elite GM. He's a good GM and I give him credit for drafting MCW, but he created this super team because of a loophole in the rules that I am going to exploit BIG TIME next year. Therefore, I make it my mission to destroy the Golden State Warriors and win a Pacific Division Title before this league ends.

[Chris Mullin]

Jul 7, 2015 17:58:42 GMT Vlade Divac said:

Jul 7, 2015 17:33:10 GMT Sam Bowie said:

Favors is a FA. TWolves' best rated player at the time of the signing was Bledsoe's competition...

I think you should look at the team as it will probably be not as it is currently constructed. Honestly, this logic probably sent Aldridge back to Portland.

Chris Mullins, you are REALLY starting to get on my nerves. I've debated confronting you about it because you are such a nice guy, but I really think you are the luckiest GM in history of GMs. Therefore, I am going to start calling you out on your bullshit. Let's be honest with each other, you only liked Bowie's post because Minny constitutes a bigger threat to your dominance over the West than Houston would with Bledsoe.

Vlade, what on earth are you talking about??

Every GM that has had success in D5 has had to have some luck at some point or the other, so not really sure what that's supposed to mean.

Calling me on "my bullshit." Again I have no clue what this is supposed to mean.

You can believe what you want, but I think Houston would have been a bigger threat out West next season than Minnesota had they retained Bledsoe. Contrary to what some D5 GMs believe it is very difficult to win a title with a team full of young guys. It just doesn't happen very often if ever. It takes most guys approx 5-7 years of being in the league before they are good enough to help their teams realistically contend for a title unless they are fortunate to get put into a good situation right off the bat. With this in mind IRL a team with Rose/Love would contend before a team of young guys like Minnesota has at the moment.

[Deleted]

Well, if you honestly believe, you are not as good of a GM as I gave you credit for. Yes, I am still mad about Dwight and Ariza, maybe the latter more than the former because I STILL HAVE DON'T HAVE A SOLID SF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, but I am coming for you buddy boy.

[Chris Mullin]

Jul 7, 2015 18:30:12 GMT Vlade Divac said:

Well, if you honestly believe, you are not as good of a GM as I gave you credit for. Yes, I am still mad about Dwight and Ariza, maybe the latter more than the former because I STILL HAVE DON'T HAVE A SOLID SF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, but I am coming for you buddy boy.

Lol whatever man, you didn't give me credit for being a good GM, you said I was a lucky GM. "The luckiest GM in the history of GMs" to be exact.

My point was every GM needs some luck to go their way to have success. Whether that be getting a high pick, signing a free agent, or making a favorable trade. It's a combination of both skill and luck to be successful here.

[Chris Mullin]

Jul 7, 2015 18:09:21 GMT Vlade Divac said:

Jul 7, 2015 18:03:44 GMT Sam Bowie said:

To be fair with Chris I edited the comment after he liked it. He liked when I said Favors is a FA which is a fact.

Thank you for clarifying but I've felt this way WELL before this specific situations. In Game of Thrones terms, I refuse to "bow the knee" to Chris Mullins and proclaim him an elite GM. He's a good GM and I give him credit for drafting MCW, but he created this super team because of a loophole in the rules that I am going to exploit BIG TIME next year. Therefore, I make it my mission to destroy the Golden State Warriors and win a Pacific Division Title before this league ends.

I know this isn't the place for this discussion, but I'm tired of hearing Vlade bitch about how I built my team. I have followed every single rule in this league to the letter of the law as it was presented to me and every other GM. If I was able to take advantage of those rules to further my team, don't be mad at me, be mad at the rules. Every other team could have done the exact same things I've done over the past 2.5 seasons.

Besides, how is Minnesota signing Bledsoe, but still having the ability to resign Favors any different than what myself & Philadelphia did last offseason?

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 19:07:56 GMT Chris Mullin said:

Jul 7, 2015 18:09:21 GMT Vlade Divac said:

Thank you for clarifying but I've felt this way WELL before this specific situations. In Game of Thrones terms, I refuse to "bow the knee" to Chris Mullins and proclaim him an elite GM. He's a good GM and I give him credit for drafting MCW, but he created this super team because of a loophole in the rules that I am going to exploit BIG TIME next year. Therefore, I make it my mission to destroy the Golden State Warriors and win a Pacific Division Title before this league ends.

I know this isn't the place for this discussion, but I'm tired of hearing Vlade bitch about how I built my team. I have followed every single rule in this league to the letter of the law as it was presented to me and every other GM. If I was able to take advantage of those rules to further my team, don't be mad at me, be mad at the rules. Every other team could have done the exact same things I've done over the past 2.5 seasons.

Besides, how is Minnesota signing Bledsoe, but still having the ability to resign Favors any different than what myself & Philadelphia did last offseason?

Don't mind Vlade, he says some weird stuff. I think he's been taking crybaby lessons from Kay over there.

[Alex English]

Jul 7, 2015 19:07:56 GMT Chris Mullin said:

I know this isn't the place for this discussion, but I'm tired of hearing Vlade bitch about how I built my team. I have followed every single rule in this league to the letter of the law as it was presented to me and every other GM. If I was able to take advantage of those rules to further my team, don't be mad at me, be mad at the rules. Every other team could have done the exact same things I've done over the past 2.5 seasons.

It's jealousy my friend. If I ever make a trade for a player with a big contract then apparently what I'm doing is extremely unfair and should be against the rules. Makes no sense to me. The 125% rule is still a thing so the salaries in all my trades have to match up. Then with you, your team just had a better situation last year to attract free agents. I am glad the rule was changed to implement cap holds, but at the time, you were just doing the obvious thing.

[Chris Mullin]

Alex English I agree with everything you've just said. Did I take advantage of the rules, absolutely but so did a couple other teams last year.

Did the cap holds really solve the issue from last off-season though? As long as your BR players sign after you spend your money, you're good. Right now Minnesota is in the same situation I was in last year basically.

[Alex English]

Jul 7, 2015 19:24:46 GMT Chris Mullin said:

Did the cap holds really solve the issue from last off-season though? As long as your BR players sign after you spend your money, you're good. Right now Minnesota is in the same situation I was in last year basically.

Not really. Based on last years rules, Walt would have an extra 11+ million to spend. That's a huge difference.

[Chris Mullin]

Jul 7, 2015 19:42:38 GMT Alex English said:

Jul 7, 2015 19:24:46 GMT Chris Mullin said:

Did the cap holds really solve the issue from last off-season though? As long as your BR players sign after you spend your money, you're good. Right now Minnesota is in the same situation I was in last year basically.

Not really. Based on last years rules, Walt would have an extra 11+ million to spend. That's a huge difference.

After the Batum trade & the Bledsoe signing wont he still have around $9-10 million to spend? What if he can sign someone else before Favors signed?

Maybe I'm missing something somewhere, but it seems very similar to the situations we saw last offseason.

[James Kay]

Jul 7, 2015 19:52:19 GMT Chris Mullin said:

Jul 7, 2015 19:42:38 GMT Alex English said:

Not really. Based on last years rules, Walt would have an extra 11+ million to spend. That's a huge difference.

After the Batum trade & the Bledsoe signing wont he still have around $9-10 million to spend? What if he can sign someone else before Favors signed?

Maybe I'm missing something somewhere, but it seems very similar to the situations we saw last offseason.

There is a cap hold of 11 million for Favors' contract. This is a new rule implemented this off-season for GM's retaining their players' BRs.

[Chris Mullin]

Jul 7, 2015 19:58:08 GMT James Kay said:

Jul 7, 2015 19:52:19 GMT Chris Mullin said:

After the Batum trade & the Bledsoe signing wont he still have around $9-10 million to spend? What if he can sign someone else before Favors signed?

Maybe I'm missing something somewhere, but it seems very similar to the situations we saw last offseason.

There is a cap hold of 11 million for Favors' contract. This is a new rule implemented this off-season for GM's retaining their players' BRs.

Yes, I see that there is cap hold on the Minnesota salary page for Favors and I understand the logic behind the cap hold.

However, right now the T-Wolves salary totals are at approx $72 million w/ the Bledsoe signing. This still includes the approx $14 million Batum was making so subtract that from the $72 million and you get approx $58 million in total salary with Favors cap hold included. If you can go over the cap to resign BR players (Favors) why couldn't Walt potentially sign another free agent before resigning Favors? Thus creating a similar situation of spending money you technically didn't have.

I understand what you guys are saying in regards to the cap holds, but do you guys follow what Im saying here?

[Jeremiah Hill]

Jul 7, 2015 20:06:27 GMT Chris Mullin said:

Jul 7, 2015 19:58:08 GMT James Kay said:

There is a cap hold of 11 million for Favors' contract. This is a new rule implemented this off-season for GM's retaining their players' BRs.

Yes, I see that there is cap hold on the Minnesota salary page for Favors and I understand the logic behind the cap hold.

However, right now the T-Wolves salary totals are at approx $72 million w/ the Bledsoe signing. This still includes the approx $14 million Batum was making so subtract that from the $72 million and you get approx $58 million in total salary with Favors cap hold included. If you can go over the cap to resign BR players (Favors) why couldn't Walt potentially sign another free agent before resigning Favors? Thus creating a similar situation of spending money you technically didn't have.

I understand what you guys are saying in regards to the cap holds, but do you guys follow what Im saying here?

Top Free agents don't typically sign a week and a half after free agency starts either so, there is that. 

[Jeremiah Hill]

If every player is just going to wait until the last day of free agency to sign with their team then we might as well not even freaking bother with cap holds because its the same, top teams get all the free agents and then wonder why half the league tanks.

[Kevin Hollis]

I have mentioned before that bird right players could be made to sign first to make things fair.

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 19:07:56 GMT Chris Mullin said:

Jul 7, 2015 18:09:21 GMT Vlade Divac said:

Thank you for clarifying but I've felt this way WELL before this specific situations. In Game of Thrones terms, I refuse to "bow the knee" to Chris Mullins and proclaim him an elite GM. He's a good GM and I give him credit for drafting MCW, but he created this super team because of a loophole in the rules that I am going to exploit BIG TIME next year. Therefore, I make it my mission to destroy the Golden State Warriors and win a Pacific Division Title before this league ends.

I know this isn't the place for this discussion, but I'm tired of hearing Vlade bitch about how I built my team. I have followed every single rule in this league to the letter of the law as it was presented to me and every other GM.2.5 seasons.

I think Golden State against Sacramento will turn into an epic rivalry if I can ever beat you. Furthermore, I know you followed the rules but I HATE the bird rights rule. Like I said, you are an extremely nice guy but I am giving into my anger now...I hope you don't take it personally.

If I was able to take advantage of those rules to further my team, don't be mad at me, be mad at the rules. Every other team could have done the exact same things I've done over the past

That's actually not true. Most teams do not start with Step Curry and can own him from the start in order to obtain his bird rights. Furthermore, not many GMs get the opportunity to sign Dwight Howard; I don't blame Barber for his decision but it pretty much came down to a coin toss between you and I.

Just to illustrate my point, my team could very easily be the following:

PG: Damian Lillard
SG: Russell Westbrook
SF: Trevor Ariza (he signs with me over you since I own Dwight)
PF: Anthony Davis (I earn the 1st and 2nd pick instead of the 2nd and 3rd pick)
C: Dwight Howard (sigh Dwight Howard)

I am not looking for a pity party but rather trying to put in perspective my frustration with you.

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 19:15:12 GMT Alex English said:

Jul 7, 2015 19:07:56 GMT Chris Mullin said:

I know this isn't the place for this discussion, but I'm tired of hearing Vlade bitch about how I built my team. I have followed every single rule in this league to the letter of the law as it was presented to me and every other GM. If I was able to take advantage of those rules to further my team, don't be mad at me, be mad at the rules. Every other team could have done the exact same things I've done over the past 2.5 seasons.

It's jealousy my friend. If I ever make a trade for a player with a big contract then apparently what I'm doing is extremely unfair and should be against the rules. Makes no sense to me. The 125% rule is still a thing so the salaries in all my trades have to match up. Then with you, your team just had a better situation last year to attract free agents. I am glad the rule was changed to implement cap holds, but at the time, you were just doing the obvious thing.

You made two or three raping trades *cough* Paul George *cough* that made you tough to beat. with that said, in all honesty, I would call you an elite GM and perhaps the best in the league.

[Deleted]

PS to everyone; I am going to make a MOCKERY of the rule when I sign Durant and Lebron next season.

[Jeremiah Hill]

Good luck convincing LBJ to play Power Forward.

[Kevin Hollis]

Goodluck convincing LBJ to go to the west.

[Kevin Hollis]

Not to mention keeping Westbrook when Lilliard is on the same team. No thanks.

[Hanamichi Sakuragi]

Jul 8, 2015 0:41:20 GMT Vlade Divac said:

PS to everyone; I am going to make a MOCKERY of the rule when I sign Durant and Lebron next season.

Dont be funny