Sessions, a restricted free agent, last Friday signed a four-year, $16-million offer sheet with the Timberwolves that the Bucks have until the close of the business day Friday to match. Sessions’ agent, James “Chubby” Wells, doesn’t believe they will.
“We don’t think they’re going to match,” Wells told FanHouse on Wednesday. “That would put them in luxury-tax territory. I feel pretty confident that they’re not going to match.”
Wells said he has been in regular contact with Bucks general manager John Hammond. While Hammond said no final decision has been on Sessions, he did say the Bucks do not plan to exceed the luxury-tax threshold of $69.92 million this season, meaning they would need to make a deal to shed salary in order to match the offer sheet.
The Minnesota Timberwolves should find out Friday afternoon if they will gain the services of Ramon Sessions as the Milwaukee Bucks have until mid-day to render their decision. Sources close to the situation in Milwaukee say the general consensus is they will pass on Sessions unless they can find a trade that moves out a salary between now and Friday.
The Wolves did lose out on Rodney Carney, who agreed yesterday to a one-year deal to return to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Wolves were said to be interested in retaining Carney, but did not get a deal done.
If Milwaukee trades Thomas, they drop around $1.5 mil below the cap.
If they trade him for “The Buck Shot’’ and then release Buckner, they drop around $3 mil more below the cap.
If Milwaukee can slip that far below the cap, they can re-involve themselves in the retention of Ramon Sessions, their restricted FA who has signed an offer sheet with Minnesota. They can afford to keep Sessions to do with what they wish — but they would have to make their decision to retain Sessions by Friday, meaning they’d have to complete this room-creating deal before that time.
Mark the Calendar for Sep 27, 2009, Minnesota and Boston Have Engaged in Low Level Talks Concerning Chucky Atkins and Damien Wilkins …
So now Flynn has Sessions to compete with, and it would seem almost impossible Flynn could take the starting point guard position from the free agent (if he does, Flynn will be your hands-down 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year). Once again, with only rookie Wayne Ellington and possibly Damien Wilkins or Corey Brewer (both ideally small forwards) as options at the shooting guard position, it’s quite possible Flynn (and Sessions) will see time at the two-guard spot. It’s possibly Flynn could become a standout third guard, someone in the vein of Bobby Jackson, if he embraces the role.
The only thing that is really for sure when it comes to Flynn is that he must continue to be flexible. That flexibility is going to the key to any success he has a rookie.
Sam Presti of the Oklahoma City Thunder, David Kahn of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Pritchard of the Portland Trail Blazers and Chris Wallace of the Memphis Grizzlies … Four NBA front office executives who are at various stages of essentially the same task: Shake a franchise down to its core, build a new winning culture, and kiss goodbye to a past of mediocrity.
With their actions and words, all have demonstrated that draft picks and cap space rule their long-term strategy. In each city, a few wins here or there may be nice in the short term, but nothing is more important than the development of key young players. If Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, James Harden, Russell Westbrook begin to really matter in the NBA, the Thunder will matter, too. In Minnesota, Jonny Flynn, Kevin Love and Al Jefferson will determine the fate of the franchise, much like Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden do in Portland.
2. Kevin Love – As a rookie last year, Love averaged a ridiculous 9.1 rebounds per game in only 25 minutes a night. So this year, with new coach Kurt Rambis finally letting the big fella play, he could potentially lead the league.
