Minnesota Timberwolves must use 2023 cap space now
By Nate Ackert
Keeping pace with the improved Western Conference
An improved Western Conference means that the Timberwolves cannot simply run things back In the same fashion with the same roster and expect another playoff appearance. Nor should the team want to. By definition, if the team is not actively pursuing getting better, the team will fall behind.
There are major needs on this roster – size, rebounding, shooting, physicality, and defense – that need to be addressed if the Minnesota Timberwolves want to make the playoffs again, let alone advance even further. Waiting for the right NBA players’ contracts to expire in the hopes of attracting that player to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves is a huge uphill battle. Players want money, fame, endorsement deals, and big NBA markets.
The team does not score highly in many of those categories just yet.
A laundry list of NBA free agents
Sure, it would be nice to have the available salary-cap space to pursue non-max players like Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, and Seth Curry in the 2023 NBA free agency market. But which 2023 ‘big-name’ free agents would the Minnesota Timberwolves even realistically pursue? Will they sign Los Angeles Lakers’ venerable star forward Lebron James? Or perhaps the TImberwolves will fancy the much-maligned Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook?
Perhaps the Minnesota Timberwolves should target Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton? Would the pursuit of Washington Wizards versatile center Kristaps Poringas make sense? Or does the Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic make more sense? What of Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving? Would New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson be a good fit? As things sit today, pursuing any of the top free agents in next year’s NBA free agency market seems like a bit of a stretch.
Of course, reciting a laundry list of potential NBA Players who the Timberwolves may have options to sign in 2023 is an exaggerated effort to display the utter futility of waiting for NBA expired contracts to create the only options to improve the team’s roster.