NBA Rumors: Timberwolves about to part ways from Taurean Prince?
By Bret Stuter
On June 28, 2023, the Minnesota Timberwolves fully guarantee the $7.5 million salary for power forward Taurean Prince. That means that the Timberwolves’ front office has a huge decision to make about their ongoing relationship with Prince, as once his salary is fully guaranteed, the number of options for the Timberwolves’ roster shrinks considerably.
Why is that?
Well, the Timberwolves have an opportunity to make use of their Mid-Level Exception this year, but to do so requires a bit of wiggling the current Timberwolves roster. For starters, to achieve sufficient cap space to employ their MLE, the Timberwolves will be forced to waive Taurean Prince in the next few hours, before his $7.5 million salary for the 2023-24 NBA season is fully guaranteed. The team will also need to part ways with Nathan Knight and Jordan McLaughlin as well.
What a royal headache
Thanks to the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA salary cap aficionado, Dane Moore, we can plot the path for the Timberwolves to make use of their MLE. By waiving Prince, Knight, and McLaughlin, that frees up enough space for the Timberwolves to extend Nickeil Alexander-Walker, sign both rookies Leonard Miller and Jaylen Clark to minimum salaries, sign one veteran player to a minimum contract, and then shop with their MLE to add a more robust NBA free agent:
As the idea of the Wolves using the full MLE ($12.4M) is gaining some steam, a reminder: A team can only use that MLE if they stay below the 1st apron.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) June 27, 2023
Even if paying the tax were approved, they don't have space below 1st apron to do all three of: MLE; guarantee TP; re-sign NAW. pic.twitter.com/SaAuzdFtea
If you need a clue about how the situation is developing, there is this foreshadowing event:
TP has unfollowed the Wolves. https://t.co/XtMDqkfc44
— The Daily Wolves (@TheDailyWolves) June 27, 2023
This is a rapidly developing situation, so we urge you to stay tuned. Events could happen in rapid succession, or simply transpire as disconnected individual events.
BREAKING UPDATE:
Per ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Minnesota Timberwolves have opted to part ways with Taurean Prince.
The Timberwolves are declining to guarantee Taurean Prince’s $7.4M contract for the 2023-2024 season, sources tell ESPN. Prince — who’s averaged 10.4 points in his seven years — joins the free agent market.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2023
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be shopping the NBA Free Agent market now
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There are a number of names that are currently being mentioned in the discussion of NBA free agents who the Timberwolves may sign on with this extra bit of funding. We will monitor the situation and share any information that appears to be gaining some traction. Stay tuned.