No Major Free Agents? No Problem For The Timberwolves

With almost $30 million of cap space available heading into free agency, most Timberwolves fans were hoping for more exciting signings than Cole Aldrich, Jordan Hill, and Brandon Rush.

The new additions are scheduled to be paid a combined $33.5 million—less than what the likes of Austin Rivers, E’Twaun Moore, or Dwight Powell signed for individually.

Despite several high-profile rumors surfacing, there have been no fireworks to date on the trade front, either. All in all, it has been a quiet summer in Minnesota, but don’t be misled. The silence hasn’t been a fizzling out; it’s just the eye of the storm.

The 2016 class of free agents had several alluring names that would have made sense for the Wolves. The thought of bidding for Nicolas Batum or Pau Gasol had many fans drooling, but the timing is less favorable than the excess of cap room may lead one to believe.

The Timberwolves were not alone in entering the off-season with money to spare. Virtually every team could work out a major signing if the opportunity arose thanks to the steep salary cap spike brought on by the NBA’s fresh, $24 billion TV deal. Consequently, a lot of teams were prepared to throw out a lot of money in hopes of luring in not so many free agents, which is exactly what happened.

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As a result, many players were given deals worth more than their market value. For teams hoping to retain a fan favorite or bring in what they hope will be the last piece of a championship puzzle, overpaying is sometimes the best course of action. For a team in transit, like the Timberwolves, free agency is a matter of value.

A big name could certainly speed up the process of becoming a winner, and the front office would be foolish not to stick its feet in the water for some of the bigger names, but Tom Thibodeau & Co. were right to avoid the temptation to pounce. For a team hoping to build a long-term contender, what’s another year?

Teams will have less money to compete with in a year thanks to the gaudy contracts that have been signed (and will continue to be signed) this off-season. Coincidentally, a litany of high profile players are expected to hit the market next time around. A team that can afford to be patient stands to reap the rewards in the summer of 2017, and the Timberwolves can afford to be patient.

It’s natural for Timberwolves fans to expect results quickly. The team’s ongoing playoff drought of twelve seasons (the longest in the NBA) continues to tax even the most dedicated die-hards. With as promising a core as the team has had during that period and a new head coach that made the playoffs every season in his prior job, the objective seems like a no-brainer: win now.

The sobering truth is that there is no such rush to win. Minnesota could compete for a spot in the playoffs with the current roster, and that may be enough to temporarily satisfy the fans. However, the team will have just as much flexibility next off-season, with a much better chance of making a major splash.

There will be better free agents. There will be fewer teams competing for those free agents. The Timberwolves core should look even more promising to a potential newcomer after another year of grooming, particularly as Thibodeau establishes himself as the team’s leader. From all angles, 2017 is the time to strike.

Apr 13, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) and forward Andrew Wiggins (22) talk during a free throw by the New Orleans Pelicans in the third quarter at Target Center. The Pelicans win 100-88. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

The only player that will be expensive to re-sign will be restricted free agent Gorgui Dieng, who (barring an injury or unforeseeably awful season) should garner offers for eight digits per season. Shabazz Muhammad will also be a restricted free agent, but he has not yet established himself as a meaningful part of Minnesota’s core. There will not be a shortage of available money next off-season.

The window for landing a major free agent will end in 2018 when the Timberwolves will re-sign Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine to contracts, putting the team well over the cap.

It would have been satisfying for fans to see the team land a major free agent this summer, but the door has closed on that opportunity. A blockbuster trade is not out of the question, but even that is unlikely, as the team will probably prefer to wait until the trade deadline before pulling the trigger on a high stakes swap.

It seems counter-intuitive, but a quiet off-season is exactly what the Timberwolves need in 2016. Some fans may be disappointed in the short term, but that won’t matter much if Minnesota can land a big fish next summer.

Next: On The Timberwolves Roster Crunch: What's Next?

After all, the goal isn’t to light a few firecrackers tonight — it’s to set off fireworks tomorrow.