The Minnesota Timberwolves will certainly be more than a bit eager to bolster their roster this season, and without a lot of help from the NBA Draft, that means that this team will be running the gamut of the NBA Free Agency market. Will the same historic NBA Blockbuster trade involve the Timberwolves for the second year in a row?
Perhaps not, but there is certainly a sense that this Timberwolves roster is oh-so-close to getting over the hump. The only question that remains is: Will the Minnesota Timberwolves be patient enough to allow the team to grow and improve organically? Or will the Minnesota Timberwolves front office try to force the issue by tweaking this roster once more?
Bet on the latter.
Building a roster versus building roster buzz
When the Minnesota Timberwolves new ownership hired Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly to steer the team going forward, he was not asked to exhibit patience or, like a farmer, watch the crops grow. He was hired to create a buzz, sensationalize the Minnesota Timberwolves, and make this team a spot that the uppermost tier of NBA free agents would seek to play for. So far, that buzz hasn’t happened.
But what has happened to those who have closely followed the Minnesota Timberwolves is the realization that this team can win without a constant contribution from PF/C Karl-Anthony Towns, that this team is powered by the indomitable will of All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards, and that despite a lot of adversity, these Timberwolves did compete for the second consecutive year in the NBA Playoffs.
Free Agent IV: SG Gary Trent
What is the connection between Minnesota Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch and Toronto Raptors shooting guard Gary Trent? They were both members of the 2020-21 Toronto Raptors, a team that finished with a record of 27-45. Since that time, Coach Finch has gone on to pilot the Minnesota Timberwolves to respectability.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a stockpile of talent, in theory, at shooting guard. But Trent is a player who can compete with the starting-5, or come off the bench to spark a rally either on the offensive or the defensive half of the basketball court. And you have to believe that the Timberwolves front office understands the importance of depth at key positions. After all, the Timberwolves roster for the 2022-23 NBA season appeared very robust, but it only took an injury or two to have the team scramble.
Why the Timberwolves wouldn’t pursue him: The Minnesota Timberwolves are still in the dark as to what this full and healthy 2023-24 Timberwolves roster is capable of. Without knowing where this roster is currently at, the team’s powers-that-be cannot have a clear picture of what is needed to get to the next level. Without that pinpoint accurate understanding, would the team pursue any free agent?
Why the Timberwolves would pursue him: While there are some free agents that would necessitate the Timberwolves to reshuffle their roster, I don’t think that Gary Trent is one of them. And the Timberwolves have little depth behind starting small forward Jaden McDaniels and shooting guard Anthony Edwards. A veteran like Trent would be an ideal bridge veteran for this Timberwolves roster that needs more versatility and depth.
Free Agent III: SF Josh Hart
Do the Minnesota Timberwolves need another wing player who can defend the perimeter and score points? If he is 3-and-D wing specialist Josh Hart, the Timberwolves roster will find an open slot. So what is the connection between Hart and Finch? (It sounds like a good bookstore, doesn’t it?)
This duo was on the New Orleans Pelicans at the same time, from 2018-2020. While the Pelicans were not exactly competing in the postseason during that time frame, Hart and Coach Finch became familiar and comfortable working together. Much like Gary Trent above, the versatility of Hart to play at either 2 or 3 on the Timberwolves roster is a tempting reason for the Timberwolves to pursue him. And his ability to defend at such a very high level is a solid value to a Timberwolves team that has struggled to defend the perimeter at times.
Why the Timberwolves wouldn’t pursue him: There is no denying that the Minnesota Timberwolves improved their overall defense through the course of the 2022-23 NBA season. But there is an undeniable tradeoff whenever a team attempts to amplify one quality. Oftentimes, other qualities suffer. Hart could be seen as a duplicitous investment, that is, he does much of what Jaden McDaniels can do.
Why the Timberwolves would pursue him: The Timberwolves have a strong interest in getting stronger, particularly when it comes to the NBA Playoffs, and defense can be of particular value when it comes to postseason competition. Hart is versatile enough and proficient enough to add value to the Timberwolves roster, a mini-me version of power forward Kyle Anderson, and that is one more power tool in the chest for Coach Finch. Much like Gary Trent, Hart can fill the role of starter, or come off the bench to spark the Timberwolves. While his 2022-23 season average of 51.9 percent scoring from the perimeter is unlikely to be matched in 2023-24, it’s awfully shiny.
Free Agent II: SG James Harden
There is no shortage of NBA rumors buzzing about the future destination of Philadelphia 76ers veteran combo guard James Harden. To be fair, the Minnesota Timberwolves are not among the teams that have been linked to the phenomenal guard who simply scores at will. But perhaps they should be?
While Harden does not hit the obvious profile of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ goal to build around SG Anthony Edwards, keep in mind that James Harden did play for Coach Chris Finch and the Houston Rockets from 2012-16, and during that time together, Harden did move from shooting guard to point guard and played at an elite level. And Harden himself pledges to only show interest in NBA teams with a competitive roster. Bingo! That’s the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Why the Timberwolves wouldn’t pursue him: The cost to sign James Harden would force the Timberwolves to shed one of their two bigs. For all intents and purposes, that would likely be the more marketable center/power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who may have run his course with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But, will the team part ways with him at the lowest point of his trade market value to add a veteran who has already played 14 seasons in the NBA? Probably not.
Why the Timberwolves would pursue him: If the Minnesota Timberwolves are adopting a roster build that is designed to get the most out of Anthony Edwards, then a veteran like James Harden is a timely addition to mentor Edwards to step up to the next level. Even as Harden’s offensive production is waning, he was a perennial juggernaut, a guy who clobbered opponents from anywhere on the floor when the basketball was in his hands.
No, he is not ‘that guy,’ any longer, but he could be the one to pass that basketball mojo to Anthony Edwards, who could be the next elite NBA shooting guard. Best of all, he played point guard for Coach Finch in the past and would be able to flip to point guard for Coach Finch once more.
Free Agent I: PG Fred Van Vleet
There are plenty of reasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves to have an interest in Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet. For one thing, the team would be able to turn back the hands of time at their all-too-important point guard position.
But another reason is that this team would be able to pair up an outstanding point guard with plenty of NBA Playoff experience with rising star shooting guard Anthony Edwards. After all, he is 29 years old, with seven years of NBA experience. That is the sweet spot for NBA Players to come into their own. And the Timberwolves would love to add a young accomplished point guard to pair up with Anthony Edwards for the foreseeable future,
Why the Timberwolves wouldn’t pursue him: How many NBA superstars can the Minnesota Timberwolves realistically add to this roster? Right now, the Timberwolves roster boasts elite contracts at the center and power forward starting position and is lining up to make both their small forward and shooting guard starters very rich as well.
The only modestly rich starter on the Timberwolves team projected heading into the 2023-24 NBA season is the point guard position. Just how much of an upgrade is VanVleet over Mike Conley Jr.? That is a debate that the Timberwolves front office has yet to have, and may end up with two thumbs down for this one.
Why the Timberwolves would pursue him: The key to the Timberwolves’ future right now is to build this roster around young star shooting guard Anthony Edwards, and the addition of a relatively young and solid point guard to the roster for the 2023-24 NBA season brings with it a ton of potential for advancing deep into the NBA Playoffs.
While VanVleet has never resembled an NBA player to me, there is no denying that he is incredibly effective as a starting point guard. And his salary is comparable to the salary cap hit of veteran Mike Conley Jr.
The Minnesota Timberwolves would be an ideal landing spot for Fred VanVleet, and that is what makes this option so very appealing. The Timberwolves would love to give VanVleet a long-term home, and VanVleet would relish the chance to pilot this Timberwolves roster into the NBA Playoffs year after year.