Baby on the way; will contract follow?

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: April 16, 2008 - 9:46 PM

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Ryan Gomes got married and traded last summer.

"And I thought that was a big summer," he said.

This time around, he and his wife, Danielle, are expecting their first child, a girl due July 11. Two days before that is the NBA's first day to sign free agents and Gomes is one of five young Timberwolves who will be a restricted free agent come July 1.

"It'd be great if my wife gave birth and I got the phone call [guaranteeing a big contract] all in the same day," he said.

Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Kirk Snyder, Craig Smith and Chris Richard are eligible to negotiate through their agents with every NBA team starting July 1. The Wolves also have the right to match any offer made to any of the five players.

"It's going to be an interesting, important summer for a lot of guys," Smith said.

How many of those five players, and whom, the Wolves sign will depend greatly on one question: At what price? Gomes played his way into a valuable role in the starting lineup this season and likely is the team's top priority to sign. He said he is seeking financial security, which means the number of guaranteed years is important.

Gomes was one of five players acquired from Boston in last summer's Kevin Garnett trade.

"And two of the guys are already gone," Gomes said. "Me and Sebastian are the only ones left [unsigned, Al Jefferson is already signed to a $65 million, five-year contract extension]. You never know: Both of us might be back, neither of us might be back. "

$1 tickets?

The Wolves on Wednesday announced a promotion for next season in which fans could buy a full season-ticket package for as little as $1 a game, depending upon the results of next month's draft lottery.

The "Pay the Pick" deal works like this: If the team wins the No. 1 pick in the June draft, a season ticket for an upper-deck end location is $43, or a dollar a game. If they get the second pick, it's $86, or $2 a game, and so on.

Depending upon the results of the Wolves' game against Milwaukee and Memphis' game at Denver on Wednesday, the lowest the Wolves could draft is No. 7.

The offer is limited to the first 500 fans who place a $43 non-refundable deposit. There's a limit of 10 tickets per person. Visit timberwolves.com or call 612-337-3865 (DUNK).

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