After the Timberwolves reached a five-year, $125MM contract agreement with big man Naz Reid on Friday, there’s a “growing belief” that they’ll bring back power forward Julius Randle on a new multiyear deal as well, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
That might make Nickeil Alexander-Walker the odd man out in Minnesota, since re-signing the free agent guard to a market-value deal (perhaps in the range of the $14.1MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception) would push the Wolves’ salary well above the second tax apron, unless Randle takes a substantial pay cut.
According to Fischer, with Alexander-Walker’s future in Minnesota seemingly uncertain, the Pistons and Clippers have been continually identified as possible suitors for the veteran free agent guard. The Magic, who were previously identified as a team with potential interest in Alexander-Walker, are still being mentioned too, Fischer says, though their cap situation could complicate their ability to make a viable bid.
As Fischer details, it appears increasingly likely that Sacramento will make an aggressive play in free agency for Pistons free agent guard Dennis Schröder, so Detroit could look elsewhere for backcourt help and Alexander-Walker would make for an appealing target.
The Pistons have a few balls in the air, however. Sources tell Fischer that the club was prepared to make the roster moves necessary to put a competitive offer on the table for Reid before he agreed to re-sign with the Wolves. Detroit remains in the market for a floor-stretching big man, prompting Fischer to wonder if the front office might turn its attention to Santi Aldama, though the Grizzlies‘ power forward will be a restricted free agent.
The Pistons are also expected to work out a new multiyear deal with sharpshooter Malik Beasley, Fischer writes, despite only holding his Non-Bird rights. Given the team’s limited ability to offer a raise with the Non-Bird exception, Detroit would likely have to re-sign Beasley using cap room or its mid-level exception, which would further cut into the team’s spending flexibility.
As for the Clippers, the expectation is that they’ll be in the market for guard depth this summer. In Kris Dunn, L.A. already has one talented defensive stopper in its backcourt, but Alexander-Walker is more of an offensive threat than Dunn, having knocked down 38.6% of his three-point attempts over the past two seasons.
Depending on where a new contract for James Harden comes in, the Clippers should have their full non-taxpayer mid-level exception available this summer.
Love this young player. Dog.
He was their best on the ball defender in the playoffs. He can shoot the 3 ball.
Might win best 6th man award someplace but he is good enough to start
He fits perfectly with a ball dominant pg like Curry or Harden or Cade or Maxey
$14.1MM sounds low but I guess he has never started.
T-wolves will be hard up to match any offers for Walker. I doubt only the Pistons are talking to him.
I’d rather have NAW than Randle.
Where do you think he lands?
You would think the Nets would get involved or even Hawks. Jazz could with how young he is and still potential.
My one wish for the offseason is LBJ sliding in the chair to take a major haircut for NAW
He said he’d do it for KLay (who knows if it was serious) and NAW is a much much better fit
Its like a poor kid wishing for an expensive gift at xmas , proabably not gonna happen but maybe the longshot Santas Little Helper hits at the dog track on Xmas Eve and we find a gift under the tree ……**Def Old head reference there that probably fly’s over most heads
I never believe players when they say that. Last year Payton said he would take a pay cut to help the warriors but he wanted his contract extended out more years if he did it.
Crunch, would you be counting on keeping both DFS and NAW?
Yes
Dfs at ~15
Naw 14.1
Lbj would have to chop off like 20-25 M to stay 2 M under apron 1 ( where they’d be hard capped ) for a buy out later for the 15 th spot after Trade deadline
Big ask, no doubt, but the guys a billionaire , not holding my breath
Not that familiar with Lakers, but every Lakers personnel question seems to come back to having all 3 of LeBron, Luka, and Reaves playing at once.
There’s no easy way to fill the defensive holes with those 3. You need a true big, obviously. But that leaves only 1 slot for a wing/PoA defender. NAW would fill that slot really well, but that’s still not enough to make up for the other 3.
You have to address the biggest problem first. Addressing the smaller ones before doesn’t work.
Valid concern but wrong timing to try and do a surgery imo
They need to find out how long Lbj is staying and probably just. Need to wait to extend Reaves next summer before they really get into the nuts and bolts of Luka future. ( could be 27 summer if patient/. I’m not opposed tbh ) In the meantime just sit back and analyze while keeping your assets in tow
I think Naw would be a BIG step forward tho if they can lock him up 4 yrs full Mle ( 60.1)
Those POA defenders w low usage who can knock down. A 3 are pretty rare to obtain and work. W Luka oh so well
If you can lock one up you do imo , you guys woulda loved Melton if he stayed healthy last year
But is it really “surgery”? I’d argue exactly the opposite: it makes all decisIons easier.
It seems straightforward to trade Reaves now for a quality big (Kessler, Turner, etc). At that point, the Lakers have a much easier path to a championship roster. DFS is already on-board to fill one slot. NAW could fill the other slot beautifully, but there are lots of other candidates.
It’s by refusing to address the big problem that the Lakers make everything else more complicated.
Hard to get proper value for Reaves bc he could just bounce in 365 days with new team
His salary is also so low currently
Now if he had a diehard locale team he wanted to get to and extend ( on a handshake ) possibly , but he’s a Laker fan himself so that’s out –
Kinda similar to Jk sitch ( kinda, less beef) where it’s probably just best to extend on a higher number and parcel later if need be even if it’s not a perfect fit currently . Both are young and exciting and have there best days still ahead , they’ll always be a market for that
He was originally a member of the jazz when he was traded to Minnesota as a throw in in the Mike Conley deal. Full circle if he goes back.