Minnesota Timberwolves: 4 free agency options still on the market for the Wolves

NBA free agency options on the market for Minnesota Timberwolves: DeMarre Carroll

In terms of veterans looking for jobs that the Wolves may be able to sign for something close to the veteran’s minimum, DeMarre Carroll might be the best option.

Carroll was a key starter on Dwane Casey’s 56-win Toronto Raptors squad that went to the Easter Conference Finals back in 2016 and the 51-win edition that lost in the second round in 2017. Since then, he bounced to Brooklyn, where he was on — you guessed it — the 2018 playoff squad with Russell and Co.

Last season, he was traded to San Antonio. Carroll was bought-out mid-season and landed in Houston, where he appeared in nine regular-season games primarily as a small-ball center.

At 34 years old, Carroll is far past his prime and usefulness as a starting-caliber player. But in short minutes he could provide adequate frontcourt defense. He isn’t as switchable as he once was, so opposing 4s would be the safest assignment. In theory, he can guard 3s and 5s a bit still, too.

Carroll shot only 24.2 percent on 3-point attempts last year, but in the six years prior he combined to shoot 36.4 percent from deep. If he can manage a number closer to that, he would fit the Wolves’ rotation nicely.

Again, Carroll isn’t going to be seeking a high dollar amount in free agency. He is being paid handsomely from his buyout with the Spurs, and while his first choice may be to sign with a contender, there is probably some appeal to gaining playing time with a team like the Wolves versus being buried on the bench with a surefire playoff team.

If Minnesota is struggling at the trade deadline, a trade or a buyout would be a possibility for Carroll, allowing him to latch-on with a contender.

If the Wolves could land Hernangomez and one of the other three options on this list, they’d be in solid shape at the 4.

No, none of these players are long-term answers, but they’re all NBA-caliber players that would allow head coach Ryan Saunders to cobble together a serviceable rotation of bigs and wings to play next to Towns.