From Chris Sheridan:
The waiting and wondering is finally over for restricted free agent Ramon Sessions, who agreed Friday to sign a four-year, $16 million offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
A source told ESPN.com that the paperwork on the deal was being processed Friday morning. After Sessions signs, the Milwaukee Bucks will have seven days to match the offer, which they are not expected to do.Sessions’ name had been linked with the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers throughout the summer. But New York was unwilling to guarantee more than one year — which would tie up the Knicks’ coveted cap space for the summer of 2010 free-agent market. And Los Angeles made a trade last month with Minnesota to acquire Sebastian Telfair as the backup to Baron Davis.
In Minneapolis, Sessions would compete for minutes with rookie Jonny Flynn of Syracuse, the sixth pick of the draft who was elevated to No. 1 on the Wolves’ point guard depth chart after efforts to acquire Ricky Rubio’s rights from the Spanish club DKV Joventut failed earlier this week.
That put the Timberwolves in the position of scrambling to find another playmaker, and the 23-year-old Sessions was the best option on the free-agent market after he and his agent, James “Chubby” Wells, decided weeks ago to hold off on committing to the Knicks in the hope a new opportunity would arise.
Unclear, though, is how the addition of Sessions for at least the next three seasons would impact Rubio’s status with Minnesota.
K.A. is running TrueHoop today, and had some thoughts on Sessions with Minnesota:
In some respects, this gives Minnesota an opportunity to see how two natural point guards operate in tandem. The Timberwolves have arguably the league’s most impoverished backcourt. Their guard rotation currently consists of two rookies — Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington — as well as Chucky Atkins and Bobby Brown. Sessions would immediately become the Wolves’ best guard and would likely be slotted alongside Flynn in the starting lineup, giving the team two expert ballhandlers in their first unit.
As Sheridan points out, Sessions will be under contract with the Wolves for three seasons, and possibly a fourth if he picks up his player option in 2012-13. Meanwhile, the franchise has a team option on Flynn for 2011-2012 for $3.4 million.
Is a Sessions signing a harbinger that Rubio is a lost cause for Minnesota, or could the Wolves feasibly go with a dynamic, three-guard rotation on opening night 2011 of Flynn, Sessions, and a 21-year-old Rubio, each averaging 32 minutes per game?
30 Responses
Seems like an odd landing place for Sessions to me with Minnesota being so high on Flynn.
4 years for 16 million is an amazing deal on a player of sessions caliber and potential though.
Would have loved to see him land with the clips, but I guess when it comes down to it a point guard that can’t shoot isn’t the need we have right now.
Posted on September 4th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
makes sense that he has a 3 year deal. in 3 years rubio wont be bound by the rookie scale.
Posted on September 4th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
David Kahn really wants 2 pgs on the floor, doesn’t make sense to me. Why stunt Flynns growth?
Posted on September 4th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Now I have no clue to Kahn’s plan. Rubio, Sessions, and Flynn can’t all be on the same squad, and play enough minutes to be worth full value.
http://www.NBATradeRumorsCentral.com – Latest NBA Trade Rumors
Posted on September 4th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
makes sense. what if Flynn got hurt or ends up a dud (not likely but…)
good for them and ramon.
Posted on September 4th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Now that it’s official and that the Clipper Nation can finally put Session out of its collective mind, what now? Is Dunleavy finished wheeling and dealing or is there another transaction (besides Steve Novak) in the making?
I don’t know why I feel this way, but I don’t think that MD is done yet.
Posted on September 4th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
First smart move by David Kahn as GM – partial redemption for the Rubio disaster.
Whoever at Clipper HQ decided that 4/16 for a player of Sessions’ caliber was too much should receive a severe beating.
Can’t wait for the excuses from Clipper brass and Lawler/Smith why the Clippers aren’t making the playoffs this year with Baron missing 15/20/25 (fill in your own blank) games.
Some things never change……….
Posted on September 4th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
@ stian
I love how you assume that Sessions was the one player that puts the clipps in the playoffs…just by your weak take, I know there is NO WAY you know how good Sesslons is going to be. He might be good, but Im not interested in pAying a guy who has only played 96 games for a team that has won very little the season and fith he’s played for them…
He mIght be good, I don’t doubt that, but I dont know. Not upset at throwing cap space away next year for a player who doesn’t do what the clipps need (shoot). Telfare isn’t going to be an all star, but he’s good enough.
Posted on September 4th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
@Keno
Sessions would’ve been great insurance for the injury-prone Baron, plain and simple. If Baron goes down for a significant amount of games we are screwed with Telfair and Collins who are both backups. Sessions on the other hand is a starting quality player who could’ve kept the Clippers in contention for a playoff spot even with Baron missing time. His numbers are very comparable to a guy like Rondo who is certainly doing the job in Boston, is he not? 4/16 for Sessions is a freakin’ BARGAIN. And we just blew it. He could’ve possibly made Baron expendable, too, and could’ve grown with our young core of Griffin, Gordon, et al.. Perfect fit. A great, young, pass-first PG with plenty of potential to become even better.
We will come to regret this………
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 1:09 am
Four years at 16 million is too much money for a back-up pt guard, even one of Sessions’ caliber. Especially when the salary cap is falling not rising. Apparently Minnesota sees him as a starter and paid him accordingly. He wouldn’t start in LA, so the Clips made the right move in not paying him starter money. Still, I now wonder if letting Taylor go was a bit premature.
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 10:33 am
As much as I would love having Sessions on the Clips, the management made the right move in not offering a deal similar to Minny’s. Sessions is reeking with talent and is definitely starter caliber – but why sacrifice a big chunk of the 2010 cap space the team has worked so hard for? Signing Sessions to a backup role for that much money makes no sense when we already have Bassy, who is more than a capable backup. Quite frankly, the Clippers shouldn’t even be in contention of signing Sessions, unless if they had plans to trade Bassy.
This may sound far fetched, even borderline delusional, but Joe Johnson and Lebron would seriously consider signing with the Clippers based on the talent that we already have. Cleveland’s and Atlanta’s supporting cast does not come close to the talents that the Clippers are assembling. I know it’s not a sure thing that we get one of those two, but the team needs to have as much cap space as possible.
So in conclusions, not signing Sessions = good move.
Stian Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Not signing Sessions to preserve capspace for a big time FA in 2010 is the epitome of delusional.
We are the Clippers, not the Lakers, remember?
Keep drinking the Kool Aid, people.
jgroove Reply:
September 6th, 2009 at 9:52 am
If you’re so pessimistic, no offense — why are you still a fan?
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
HA! Saw this one coming a mile away. Everything points to not signing sessions. The mentality of the clippers is changing and throwing good money at long shots is a thing of the past. The clip fans that want to dump 16 mil on sessions are caught up on a pipe dream and are the ones who should receive beatings. He is a liability and we have proven that we will either A. Sign quality players at a discount or B. Save our cash for the upcoming free agency of 2010. Have some faith in our starters and be less concerned about THE BACKUP TO THE BACKUP POINT GUARD. We need money for next year to complete the puzzle. We are the celtics of 2010 if we play our cards right. NOW THERE IS A PIPE DREAM YOU CAN BELIEVE IN MY DISHEARTENED LITTLE SESSIONS GROUPIES!
Stian Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Have some faith in our starters
++ Yeah, let me put some more faith in Baron Davis and Chris Kaman after last season. What are we – stupid?!
and be less concerned about THE BACKUP TO THE BACKUP POINT GUARD.
++ You’re confusing Sessions with Telfair. There is your backup to the backup.
We need money for next year to complete the puzzle. We are the celtics of 2010 if we play our cards right.
++ We are ‘the Celtics of 2010′?! – Yeah, I guess, we are – minus the 17 championship banners and winning tradition. Which makes us the Clippers.
clippafan4life Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Telfair actually is on the roster not sessions and obviously sessions wasn’t good enough to make a deal for so I don’t know how else to tell you but he isn’t all you make him out to be. The celtics of 2010 means making good deals to get a team that actually wins like the celtics did 2 years back after they pulled off the KG trade. Having faith in our players is what makes me a clipper fan. You being dense and yes a stupid individual is what makes you now a twolves fan.
Stian Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Yes, Sessions going to the Wolves must make me a Minny fan. GFYUSPOS.
clippafan4life Reply:
September 6th, 2009 at 8:55 am
I can see it now you and klove and the whole crew with your cute little sweaters. Must get cold up there huh stain?
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Finally some of u understand sessions is not the guy that makes us unstoppable I’ve Been saying it all along. Right now signing novak should be our last priority then we should focus on the guys we already have. And there are quite a couple of u that say baron is too injury prone, well stop whining look at it this way Amare stoudamure is injury prone he’ll kg missed all of the playoffs Yao Ming is injury prone t-mac hasn’t had a healthy year in forever stojakovic was supposed to be a 20plus score yet cuz of injuries you’ll be lucky to get 16 from him boozer also misses significant time yet which one would u not want on ur team
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
you guys are mad like if Sessions is deron williams or something
if im correct this guy was a d-leaguer not too long ago right?
Stian Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Who cares if he was the 56th pick and played in the D-league once? So did several other now established NBA players. Fact is, Sessions has worked his butt off and gotten better and better to the point where his numbers are now comparable to players like Rondo that start for good teams. That’s why Sessions would’ve been a major asset – especially on a team like the Clippers with an atrocious PG history and a starting PG, Baron Davis, who is both injury prone and mercurial and cannot be depended upon as last year proved.
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Good move for the Clippers in letting Sessions go. A PG that can’t shoot is not worth 4 years 16 million to be a backup. Call me delusional too, but I also have a feeling that the Clippers have a chance to land a top FA next season. I don’t know who it will be, but I have a feeling we will land someone. Our talent, our market, and and being in SoCal is too much to ignore. We need preserve our capspace for next summer, not this summer. Good move Clippers in not being fooled to offer Sessions that contract.
EricGordonsAnkleBrace Reply:
September 6th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Delusional.
RL Reply:
September 7th, 2009 at 1:36 am
delusional
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
People seem to forgetting in this lil’ argument that Sessions never really wanted to come to the Clippers. He doesn’t want to be a back-up PG, he wants to be a starter and we have Baron in that role. Sessions wanted the Knicks and he used as a bargaining chip, something I’m sure the PTB new, it was a bunch of blogs and reporters making it bigger than it was, he wanted more money and a multi-year contract. He got the multi-year contract in Minnesota and a probably starting job for a couple years, especially after Rubio has said he won’t be coming over for at least 2 years and probably 3 years. Yes, Flynn will be good, eventually. Clippers had a great offseason, don’t be too greedy some of you angry Sessions fans, he was just a back-up PG possibility.
Posted on September 6th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Had we landed Sessions at something like 4/16, the logical move would have been to trade baron. Assuming we could pull it off, would you rather have sessions for 4/16, or Baron for 4 years and the ~52 million left on his contract?
Sessions sounds a lot better huh?
That said, it does look now like we can have the kind of money for a Joe Johnson next year. This team could be very good.
clippafan4life Reply:
September 6th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Baron at 52 mil, easy choice. 16 mil for a backup that couldn’t beat out luke ridnour not a good choice.
Posted on September 6th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Yep, the Clips could have signed Sessions and traded Baron to the Knicks for Curry, Chandler, and Hill. Now the Clips have an aging, injury-prone point guard that doesn’t get along well with the coach. Did I mentioned that he’s owed more than $53 million over the next four years?
Posted on September 6th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
blake gonna fix everything. blake’s gonna be the mf’ing bomb as advertised and it will make baron right and other’s better and make guys want to come here. despite all the clipper bs. or maybe not.
but i’m psyched to be back in SoCal and in a posistion to roll to staples spur of the moment and see what’s up.
Posted on September 6th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
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