Roster decisions may hinge on Banks
BY RICK ALONZO
Pioneer Press
Drafting Randy Foye on Wednesday was the first step toward restocking the roster. Now the Timberwolves enter Phase II, as free agency began at midnight Friday.
Without space under the salary cap, the Wolves´ options are limited, and much of their fate will be tied to negotiations with their free-agent point guard, Marcus Banks.
Banks will field offers from other teams, and his price could be driven higher than the Wolves would like in their quest to re-sign him. And if Minnesota commits significant resources to Banks, that would eat up a significant chunk of the team´s available money to pursue other players.
All-star Kevin Garnett has asked the Wolves to add veterans to complement him, and the team wants to keep him happy. The Wolves need a long-range shooter and help near the basket, as well as more leadership in the locker room. A veteran point guard who could be plugged into the starting lineup also would help, and that´s where the picture gets cloudy.
Do the Wolves move forward with Banks at point guard, hoping he will continue to learn and improve after a half-season of ups and downs with the team? Or do they sign an experienced point guard who is solid but not flashy?
Team officials appear intent on trying to re-sign Banks, provided the price is right.
Speculation has swirled for months that Banks could be headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, who he grew up following. His agent, however, says the Wolves have as good a chance as any team, maybe better, to sign Banks.
"I don´t know if there´s a better fit than Minnesota right now," Michael Higgins said.
Higgins said he expects a number of teams to express interest in his client, but it´s clear, though, that the Lakers might be Minnesota´s biggest competition for Banks.
Exactly how much it would take to get Banks is unclear, but ESPN.com reported that a few teams might be prepared to offer him the full midlevel exception of $5 million a year. That price probably would be too steep for Minnesota.
Wolves coach Dwane Casey has said he hopes the confidence the team has shown in Banks will help in re-signing him for a reasonable offer.
Banks came to Minnesota having spent 2½ seasons in Boston as a backup. His career got a boost when Casey made him a starter for the final 28 games of the season.
"He likes Casey, he likes the players," Higgins said of Banks. "He just thinks they need time to mesh. I think he likes it there. The ball is also in Minnesota´s court. Now that they drafted Randy Foye, I don´t know what level their interest is going to be."
Foye was the team´s big acquisition during Wednesday´s NBA draft, a top-10 draft pick expected to contribute right away as a rookie. He is a shooting guard who can also play the point, which could affect the Wolves´ guards.
Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said Thursday he plans to pursue Banks, who averaged 12 points and 4.8 assists in 40 games with the Wolves last season.
The Wolves hope they will have enough money to add other players, apart from Banks, who can improve their depleted roster. The team has the $5 million midlevel exception and the biannual $1.6 million exception. It also can sign players to the veteran´s minimum of about $1 million.
McHale also has a $4.2 million trade exception that could be a valuable asset. The Wolves could add a standout player in free agency if they work out a sign-and-trade deal with that player´s team.
Banks isn´t the only point guard available. Dallas free agent Jason Terry and Toronto free agent Mike James are the top of the market but are out of Minnesota´s price range. New Orleans/Oklahoma City veteran Speedy Claxton could be a good fit, and he might not command as much as Banks.
Claxton, a quick change-of-pace guard, averaged 12.3 points and 4.8 assists in 28.5 minutes as a backup to Chris Paul last season.
The Wolves would love to add a frontcourt player such as Denver free-agent forward Reggie Evans, who is the type of bruiser and rebounder the team needs. Minnesota could have an edge because Casey lobbied hard for Evans to make the Seattle SuperSonics´ roster before Evans made a name for himself. Evans, though, should attract significant interest.
The Wolves´ group of free agents numbers just four players, including Banks. Forward Justin Reed is a restricted free agent, meaning Minnesota can match any offer made by another club. Guard Anthony Carter and forward Ronald Dupree are unrestricted free agents.
Twincities.com
C´est ce que je dis depuis le debut:
faut-il faire confiance a Foye et Banks(qui est gourmand au niveau salarial) pour le role de meneur ou bien enroler un meneur experimenté(solution que je prefererais) en la personne de Claxton(j´aurais preféré Knight mais il me semble qu´il a resigné vu qu´il n´est plus sur la liste des FA)
fodra aussi viser plus haut niveau recrutement mr mc hale