Minnesota Timberwolves rumors: MIN “checked in” on Markkanen
The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly “checked in” on new Cavaliers big man Lauri Markkanen throughout the past year, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Minnesota Timberwolves Rumors: Wolves “checked in” on Lauri Markkanen
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been on the hunt for more frontcourt help alongside Karl-Anthony Towns for some time now, but Krawczynski confirmed one of their targets was Lauri Markkanen on Friday.
The Wolves had checked in on Lauri Markkanen several times over the last year. They set their sights elsewhere earlier this summer when his contract wishes became clear. They did not want to go that high.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) August 27, 2021
Markkannen was traded yesterday as a part of a three-team sign-and-trade – one which sent Larry Nance Jr. to the Portland Trail Blazers and Derrick Jones Jr. to the Chicago Bulls. Markkanen agreed to a 4-year, $67 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers – that breaks down to almost $17 million annually. Krawcynzki mentioned that the Minnesota Timberwolves were unwilling to meet his contract demands – and rightfully so at that particular price point.
Lauri Markkanen was rumored as a Timberwolves target over the past few months, as he was a relatively young power forward that brings a very modern skill set. The process to actually go about acquiring him was tough, though, for Minnesota. They would have had to send away a decent sized contract. And even with outgoing salary, it is not totally unlikely that the Timberwolves would have hit the luxury tax following a Markkanen sign-and-trade.
Minnesota Timberwolves Rumors: Wolves “checked in” on Lauri Markkanen
The Minnesota Timberwolves have gone about addressing needs in an interesting fashion this offseason – one which they have had no draft picks or salary cap space to really do anything notable. Going about acquiring Markkanen would have been difficult, but the salary he required made is nearly-undoable for a Timberwolves team that already has a lot of project guys on their roster.
Reminder that the #Timberwolves had early interest in Lauri. But Chicago was never really engaging back. Wolves had lots of interest last year in Nance Jr. and Jones Jr., two of the other players involved in today’s 3-team trade. https://t.co/1O0ElsdOE0
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) August 27, 2021
See the price it took. There wasn’t a match here. Wolves weren’t moving high end assets for him.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) August 27, 2021
The Timberwolves reportedly were not willing to move high-value assets in order to go out and acquire Markkanen, which absolutely makes sense. He is a phenomenal shooter and does unlock a large portion of the half-court offense, but his value is less apparent next to a player such as Karl-Anthony Towns.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves likely made the correct move in not going out to acquire Lauri Markkanen. He could become a better player for the Cleveland Cavaliers than he was in Chicaago (especially if you look at the cast of coaches that the Bulls have had over the past four years), but that is a big risk for a massive contract that could have put Gersson Rosas and the Minnesota Timberwolves into the luxury tax.