When the Minnesota Timberwolves emerged from the 2023 NBA Draft with a pair of rookies, both of whom were selected in Round 2 but with Round 1 draft projections, it felt as though the team had finally made peace with Karma. The team landed forward Leonard Miller and guard Jaylen Clark. It was a strange feeling, as it truly felt as though the team was oh-so-close to sealing the team’s efforts to reform the Timberwolves roster for a new 2023-24 NBA season.
Then came the news that everyone was eager to hear. The Minnesota Timberwolves had managed to extend young backup center, Naz Reid. While the hope was that would settle the team’s appearance in NBA rumors, the opposite effect happened. Reid’s extension fueled a new wave of rumors about the need to trade away center and power forward Karl Anthony Towns.
While the team may be at the cusp of doing so, the effort to fill the roster took a step in the wrong direction on Wednesday, June 28, when the team failed to guarantee the $7.4 million salary to retain forward Taurean Prince. While that money is now open to be spent on other players, it creates another roster slot vacancy.
And so, that brings us to the 2023 NBA Free Agency market. While the team was not expected to be huge players for free agents, the team clearly have plans in place. Do the Timberwolves have plans to target player(s) who have ties to head coach Chris Finch? Or does this team have other plans in place?
2023 Timberwolves free agents:
Taurean Prince(Lakers sign)Naz Reid(Extended)Nickeil Alexander-Walker(Extended)- Jaylen Nowell
- Austin Rivers
- Nathan Knight (rescinded Club option, $2 million)
- Luka Garza (restricted, two-way)
- Matt Ryan (restricted, two-way)
Timberwolves free agency tracker:
With free agency starting on Friday, June 30, be sure to continuously check back here for updates!
Update: Timberwolves extend Two-Way qualifying offers to both center Luka Garza and forward Matt Ryan, both players will now be restricted free agents on July 1.
These offers were almost a certainty, as both Matt Ryan and particularly Luka Garza not only played lights out for the Iowa Wolves, but both were integral in plugging roster holes in the Timberwolves rotation with the injury absences of PF Karl-Anthony Towns, PF Taurean Prince, and C Rudy Gobert.
Update: The Timberwolves did not extend a $7+ million qualifying offer to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, paving the way to his entering the NBA Free Agency market. There is the belief that the Timberwolves will try to re-sign NAW to a less expensive multi-year contract.
Update: The Timberwolves declined Nathan Knight’s team option of just under $2 million. The Timberwolves could bring Knight back for a lesser salary if interested, but as of now, Nathan Knight is heading for the NBA Free Agency market as well.
Update: The Timberwolves and free agent SF Troy Brown have agreed to terms.
Update: The Timberwolves and free agent SG/SF Nickeil Alexander-Walker have agreed to a new two-year deal. This was a deal that suits both parties.
Update: The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to terms with former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Taurean Prince.
Update: The deadline to negate the team option has passed, and it appears that the Minnesota Timberwolves have consented to another year for Jordan McLaughlin to remain as a PG option.
Update: The Timberwolves and free agent SG Shake Milton have agreed to terms.