Ranking the Minnesota Timberwolves’ top trade chips
By Ben Beecken
Ranking the Minnesota Timberwolves’ top trade chips: James Johnson
No. 3: James Johnson (and his contract)
James Johnson has exercised his player option for the 2020-21 season and is officially going to be on the books for more than $16 million.
The Wolves acquired Johnson from Memphis in exchange for Gorgui Dieng, who has an additional year on his deal. While Dieng had been the longest-tenured Wolves player, a great guy and a solid player, this deal made a lot of sense for the Wolves.
First, Johnson is a much better fit with what head coach Ryan Saunders wants to do. He can play the 3, 4, or 5 and is switchable and versatile. He adds a toughness and veteran presence that this team didn’t previously have, and Johnson can even run the offense in a pinch as well.
Secondly, Johnson’s contract is now an expiring deal. More likely than not, he will ultimately be traded as part of a larger deal, and ideally for a player that fits the Wolves’ future plans and the window of Towns and Russell.
Johnson’s contract doesn’t rank higher simply because it’s not something that another team is seeking out to acquire. Instead, it’s more of a necessary piece of any major deal that the Timberwolves are able to pull off.
In fact, because Towns and Russell are the only other players who make more than $6.1 million per year, virtually any trade for a star-caliber player would need to include Johnson.
Want Bradley Beal? Johnson is in the trade. Devin Booker? Johnson gets it done. Ben Simmons? Victor Oladipo? Zach LaVine? Yes, yes, and yes.
The only exceptions would be in a deal for a player who is extension-eligible but hasn’t yet signed, such as Atlanta’s John Collins or Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen. Johnson’s deal wouldn’t be required to match salary, which is one of the reasons why Rosas and Co. might consider such a deal; Johnson’s $16 million expiring salary could be used to land a bigger fish later, perhaps at the 2020 trade deadline.
At any rate, Johnson will almost certainly be dealt at some point in the next 12 months as the Wolves continue to search for pieces that will stick in their starting lineup long term.