Minnesota Timberwolves: 4 free agency options still on the market for the Wolves
By Ben Beecken
NBA free agency options on the market for Minnesota Timberwolves: Taj Gibson
As long as we’re talking about defensive-minded 4s who can’t shoot the 3-ball, we have to talk about old friend Taj Gibson.
Gibson signed a two-year deal with the New York Knicks last summer, but they declined the team option this week and he’s now a free agent. While he was paid $9.8 million last year with the Knicks and had a solid season, it would be a surprise if he commanded that much in this year’s market.
Gibson put up a career-high in scoring average back in 2017-18 with the Wolves as he helped Towns and Jimmy Butler lead Minnesota to their first playoff appearance in 14 years. He averaged 12.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 57.7 percent from the field, enjoying operating with plenty of space as Towns sucked defenses to the other side of the court.
The calling card for Taj has always been defense, although he’s far less switchable than he was even during his first year in Minnesota. Now 35 years old, Gibson doesn’t handle switching onto guards well. He mostly played center in New York, and the Wolves would probably want him to play both 4 and 5 off the bench.
The ideal scenario would be signing Hernangomez at $4 to 5 million and use the rest of the mid-level exception to bring in a defensive-minded player, such as Hollis-Jefferson or Gibson.
Given Hollis-Jefferson’s relative youth, athleticism, and switchability, he would be the better option as the primary backup 4 for the Wolves. But if the Wolves aren’t entirely sold on Naz Reid on the defensive end, Gibson could be the primary backup behind Towns and play some 4 next to Towns depending on the situation.
There’s one more veteran out there that should be the most affordable of these options…