Only a few short weeks remain until the NBA offseason. When the Finals conclude, the draft and free agency will commence shortly afterward. For the Minnesota Timberwolves, signing free agents will be of the utmost importance, considering their current lack of draft picks this year.
The Wolves will look to build off of their solid free agent class from last summer when they brought in Kyle Anderson, who has proved to be one of the most impactful free agent signings in franchise history. Executing more home run moves like this will ensure Minnesota’s front office makes the most of their offseason.
It will also be paramount for the Timberwolves to work on retaining their players currently under contract who are set to become free agents. To no one’s surprise, several teams around the league are already expressing their interest in signing Naz Reid away from Minnesota.
Report: Lakers interested in acquiring Naz Reid https://t.co/72NaqhZakG
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 30, 2023
When does NBA Free Agency begin?
All free agents will officially be allowed to begin negotiating contracts beginning on June 30, eight days after the NBA Draft. This is the date when fans can expect to see breaking news of numerous new deals being announced across the league.
Any discussion between players and teams of new contract details before June 30 is considered tampering, and the league will likely crack down hard on any non-compliance. One of the most recent examples of this came in 2021 when the NBA stripped the Heat and Bulls of second-round picks due to premature free agency conversations.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have seven total players set to become free agents this summer. The biggest names of which are Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Jaylen Nowell. Alexander-Walker will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Wolves will have the ability to match any offer sheet he receives from another team.
Reid and Nowell are both set to enter unrestricted free agency, giving them the option to explore new deals with any team in the association. However, Minnesota owns Bird rights for both players, allowing them to re-sign either (or both) for up to five years without going over the cap limit.
The decisions the Timberwolves make in free agency will be instrumental in determining their direction as a franchise. If Tim Connelly can keep his hot streak going, the team will be in excellent shape to keep building for the future.