Jerry Zgoda's Sunday Insider: Check back in 7 months

The Wolves will have valuable cap space and draft picks next summer, so it's never too early to start speculating.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: November 30, 2009 - 12:59 AM

Print this story

More from Timberwolves

The Timberwolves suffered November's pain in the hope that things will get much better.

Next summer.

That's when they could own as many as three first-round picks in the June draft and have more than $20 million to spend in the free-agent market.

Of course, such a bet on the future begs a couple of questions:

• At this pace -- 1-15 through their first 16 games -- will they be able to convince anybody with other options to come to Minnesota without vastly overpaying him?

• And presuming they can, just how might they spend their money?

July 1 is seven long months away, but here's a little handicapping:

Wishin' and hopin' and prayin'

The 2010 free-agent class has received unprecedented publicity because it theoretically will contain, among many others, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki and Tracy McGrady.

An impressive list over which Wolves supporters won't have to spend much time deliberating. Neither James, Wade nor Bosh is coming to Minnesota. By the time all the dotted lines are signed, expect more players in that free-agent class to stay with their current teams than not.

Best-case scenario

The Wolves' needs are many -- MANY -- but foremost is a young, athletic wing player who can shoot the three and really score.

Signing Johnson -- a 6-7 guard who's on the next rung of free agents beneath Wade, Bosh and LeBron -- would be a dream. The Wolves could throw more money at him than perhaps the Hawks could afford.

But Johnson has labored in Atlanta for four seasons and the Hawks, with an 11-4 start, just now are fulfilling the promise they showed taking Boston to seven games in the playoffs two seasons ago. Even if he leaves Atlanta at age 29, he'll be wooed and many other destinations -- Houston? -- are more attractive.

Rolling the dice

All the aforementioned players are unrestricted free agents, but the Wolves could pursue a restricted free agent such as Memphis' Rudy Gay -- to a deal too painful for the cost-conscious Grizzlies to match. It'd be a gamble because the offer would have to be really big and because as gifted as he might be, Gay hasn't shown proven himself gritty enough to build a team around.

Still, he won't yet be 24 by then and you have to factor this if you're worried about his attitude or mental makeup: He has played his entire NBA career with the Grizzlies (yes, we know that's not any different than playing it all with the Wolves).

Plan B

Here's a name to remember: Portland forward Travis Outlaw.

He's long and athletic -- just what the Wolves lack -- and he can shoot the three. And he's only 25. He also might miss the rest of the season with a broken foot, but he's the kind of player whose attributes and contract demands just might fit, perhaps in addition to signing another free-agent player.

Another option

Watch this possibility: The Wolves acquire a star player signed to a long-term deal at the February trade deadline. NBA owners are hurting, too, in this economy and Glen Taylor could decide to spend now on a sure thing rather than gamble in July. Players who could be on the move: Sacramento's Kevin Martin or Phoenix's Stoudemire if the Suns think he'll exercise a $17.7 million player option for 2010-11.

Recent Timberwolves stories

Rajon Rondo has 22 points, 14 assists in Boston's 107-102 win over Miami - November 30, 2009

Rajon Rondo has 22 points, 14 assists in Boston's 107-102 win over Miami - Rajon Rondo had 22 points and 14 assists in his second straight outstanding game against the Miami Heat, leading the Boston Celtics to a 107-102 victory Wednesday night. More