The Timberwolves are picking up their 2021/22 options on Josh Okogie and Jarrett Culver, Darren Wolfson of KSTP tweets.
Okogie’s fourth-year option is worth approximately $4.09MM. The 20th pick of the 2018 draft has been a rotation player since his rookie campaign.
He has started all three games for Minnesota this season, averaging 8.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 1.7 APG in 25.0 MPG. The shooting guard is making $2.65MM this season.
Culver’s third-year option is worth approximately $6.4MM. The 6th overall pick of the 2019 draft averaged 9.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 1.7 APG in 23.9 MPG as a rookie while appearing in 63 games.
He’s coming off the bench this season, averaging 10.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 0.7 APG in 23.3 MPG. The swingman out of Texas Tech is pulling in $6.1MM this season.
The most popular debate today
Wiggins and 2021 top-3 protected pick (or 2022 unprotected pick) for DLo
Who gets a better deal?
Wolves also attached 2021 unprotected second round pick
Seeing how the Warriors are looking so far you’d have to say the Wolves did.
Warriors they will end up with a better record and the wolves pick if k.a.t. misses a quarter or half the season
Culver has looked good this yr. Nice to see him playing. Minny wants to stay in hunt for playoffs. They should sign a center. KAT is going to miss at least half the yr if not more. And they don’t have their pick next yr. Warriors do (top 3 protected). A lottery pick next yr. Is a very good pick. So top 10 is can’t miss pick.
There is no one out there who could help they have to step up layman hernangomez and reid,also d russell has to play better or it was not a good trade for mn if they miss playoffs and lottery which the pick goes to the warriors anyway it was a wasted season,how about trade culver or okogie and layman or hernangomez and a 2nd round pick for collins of atlanta or p.j. washington in charlotte or the dude in orlando could be had .
Culver makes a good Butter Burger Too !!
Lauri markenen might be available so might be julius handle or aaron gordon the wolves should not rush k.a.t. back it might affect his shot,game,so they should look at these options
Pretty much no-brainers for the Wolves given both guys’ play, the roster construction, cap situation, etc.
Okogie isn’t as good on offense as he thinks he is but is (arguably, now that we have Rubio) the best defender on the team.
Culver has shown some good signs of taking the next step in his development so far this year and in preseason. Really want to see him get more run to figure out where he’s at.
Wolves definitely need a solution though at the 4. I don’t buy into the Okogie-guarding-opposing-PFs narrative. Layman is a scrub imo and should hardly be playing, much less starting.
We paid Juancho his Restricted FA deal that is twice the value this year of Layman, why isn’t he starting and earning that cash? I now he’s not a plus defender but neither is Layman and he has to be better for the team on the offensive end at the very least, or else why did we pay him? Need to see some action there.
We don’t need out PF to be even the 3rd scoring option when team is healthy (KAT, Dlo, Beasley/Edwards 1-3), just a guy who can’t be entirely ignored on the offensive end in order to prevent hard double teams and keep some decent spacing, while preferably being a plus-defender who can guard the better of the opponent’s 2 bigs.
I liked RHJ for that role IF we assume he’s really made offensive strides and can do some damage if teams ignore/don’t respect him, but there are easier options to acquire that aren’t flashy but are way cheaper than say an Aaron Gordon, etc. that would overall improve the team. Ship out say Layman + Vanderbilt along with a couple 2nd-rounders for the receiving team’s trouble.
One idea:
MIL gets:
Jake Layman
Jarrod Vanderbilt
2022 2nd-round pick (better of PHI or DEN)
2023 2nd-round pick
MIN gets:
DJ Wilson
— Note: Milwaukee is starved for picks in general right now and DJ Wilson is only playing 11 MPG in first 3 of this season. MIN might actually be overspending for Wilson but it’s worth it to open space for RHJ and keep the one roster slot they want open.
MIN then also re-signs RHJ and since they went 2 out for 1 in during trade, still have that roster spot they want open
PG: Russell / Rubio / J-Mac
Wing: Beasley / Edwards / Culver / Okogie / Nowell
PF: Juancho / Wilson / RHJ / McDaniels
C: KAT / Reid / Davis
You play Wilson or RHJ next to KAT when he’s on the floor for the plus defense while KAT provides the scoring, then when KAT rests and Reid comes out or Wilson goes to the 5, Juancho becomes the primary frontcourt scorer while still being at best the 3rd option on the floor at any time to reduce pressure.
A lot of ideas here and I might be wrong in the end, but I just really want Layman benched or flat out off the team haha. Just don’t see anything from him.
Layman should not be a 4. What’s up with Naz Reid?
Surprised anyone is excited about Wilson! Not a bad fit though, maybe less would have to be offered. They may want a true 5 and could sacrifice Wilson for some assets for flipping.
RondaeHJ was already waived by MIN, maybe a mistake but def a situation to consider.
Yeah, it was hard to value DJ Wilson to be honest. I know he’s not a “sexy” addition, and really not all that exciting, but it’s a low-cost, low-risk move for a plus-defender. Maybe we could retain Vanderbilt there but Milwaukee is trying to win now so they’d want immediate help replacing Wilson’s minutes. Went with the 2nds just bc the Wolves have them and Milwaukee is short on draft picks in next 5+ years. Could be:
MIN gets Wilson
MIL gets Layman, the 2022 2nd-round pick (better of PHI or DEN), and then EITHER Vanderbilt or the 2023 2nd.
Biggest point of moving 2 players for one was to meet the team’s goal of keeping a 15th roster spot open for future moves while acquiring both Wilson and then RHJ back.
None of this really matters in a season that feels like it’s over before it started again bc of KAT’s wrist, unless he’s back in like 2 weeks, but fun to theory-craft.