Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 trades for Cole Aldrich

This is another salary dump for the Wolves as they look to create more room to sign a free agent.

The Phoenix Suns are on record saying they are willing to move some of their veterans or take on contracts in order to receive future assets. Unfortunately for Minnesota, there isn’t a great fit with the players and the salary for the Wolves to pry away a big name like Eric Bledsoe.

Bledsoe is a great player that has been lost in the desert the past few seasons. It’s highly unlikely Thibodeau would even be interested in him as he already has his starting point guard in Jeff Teague.

Even a player like Jared Dudley might be attractive to the Wolves if they are willing to take on some extra salary.

In this case, Thibs ships Aldrich and the much-coveted Thunder’s 2018 first round pick in exchange for Derrick Jones.

Jones, 20 years old, has a non-guaranteed contract for the upcoming season which means the Timberwolves could waive him to maximize their money in free agency.

However, it might be a better idea to keep him as he’s only owed $1.3 million next year. It’s a good way for the Wolves to find a cheap player who is still very young and has time to develop.

Phoenix is likely to release Aldrich next season as they probably don’t have much use for the big man.

They would add another first rounder to their asset list and acquire another opportunity to hit big in the draft.