Minnesota Timberwolves: Top Five Most Likely Players to be Traded

December 27, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Chase Budinger (10) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

#2 – Chase Budinger

The Wolves want to move Chase Budinger. This is the classic example of something that they want to do, but the obstacle is another team even be willing to take on his contract. Here’s the latest:

Budinger is being paid $5 million this year, which wasn’t crazy when he was healthy and shooting threes at an above-average rate, but given that he’s been hurt since he began playing with Minnesota and has seemingly lost all of his previously all-world athleticism, it’s a ridiculous number.

He has a player option for $5 million next season, and given how unproductive he’s been for the past 1 1/2 years, he’ll certainly excercise that option regardless of what team he’s with. Understandably, he doesn’t want to be with the Wolves anymore, so he’d love to be traded to a contender with which he’s remain next season to the tune of $5 million.

But that’s exactly why he might not be moved — nobody wants to commit to a struggling Chase Budinger for a season beyond this one. If it were an expiring contract, it would be a lot easier to move. But it’s not, so it’s probably a 50-50 proposition that it happens.

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