Minnesota Timberwolves: The General Manager Game 2.0

Unrestricted Free Agency

The salary cap line is currently projected to be around $115 million. The luxury tax line is around $139 million next season. With the Timberwolves being under the salary cap to start the season, they do not qualify for the mid-level exception. Rather, they will be able to use the room exception (up to $5 million for two seasons), along with the bi-annual exception (up to $3.6 million for two seasons). We will also be able to sign any player that agrees to a veteran minimum contract.

Jakob Poeltl

The Minnesota Timberwolves need a true rim protector to have behind Karl-Anthony Towns. While Naz Reid may be good in the long-term, he won’t help the Wolves make a playoff push in 2020.

Jakob Poeltl averaged five points and five rebounds this pasts season for the Spurs. However, he also averaged almost two blocks per game in only 17 minutes. While Poeltl will not bring much in terms of spacing the floor, he is worth the two-year bi-annual exception worth up to $5 million per season.

Moe Harkless

The Timberwolves also need more small forward depth. Moe Harkless was not productive as he could have been for the Clippers and did not perform well on the Knicks. That said, he is worth a one-year, $3 million flyer for the Timberwolves.

Free Agency Recap

Jakob Poeltl signs two-year contract ($10 million total value, $5M AV)
Moe Harkless signs one-year contract ($3 million total value)

Updated Roster:

PG: Russell, McLaughlin
SG: Beasley, Haliburton, Hughes, Nowell*
SF: Okogie, Culver, Harkless, Evans
PF: Johnson, Williams, Hernangomez, Layman, Vanderbilt*
C: Towns, Poeltl, Reid*, Spellman

*Unguaranteed contracts

~$140 million total payroll