4 Former Timberwolves players who are still available in free agency
By Will Eudy
We have officially reached the dog days of the NBA offseason. With the draft behind us, free agency is in full swing, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have been busy. Most of the major signings around the league have already occurred, as is typical in the opening days after the free agency period begins.
Now, basketball fans continue to wait for an eventual Damian Lillard trade. Once that happens, more signings will inevitably go down that are being held up by Lillard right now. This has become the new norm, where one major star’s move ultimately sets up others.
Minnesota appears to have already made most of their major roster moves, but the end of the bench will still likely see some change. Nathan Knight and Austin Rivers’ contracts were not renewed, but Jordan McLaughlin and Jaylen Nowell may actually be returning.
In the NBA free agent market pool, there are quite a few former Timberwolves who are still looking for a new team. These are not necessarily players Minnesota should be looking to sign, but it is always interesting to see where former beloved names have been recently.
These 4 former Timberwolves are still available in free agency:
1. Taj Gibson
One of the most recognizable names from the Tom Thibodeau era in Minnesota is Taj Gibson. Signing with the Wolves in July 2017, Gibson was part of the 2018 squad that reached the playoffs and ended the franchise’s 14-year postseason drought.
Thibs, Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Gibson were all former members of the Chicago Bulls upon arriving in Minnesota, which led to a lot of good chemistry and allowed the team to flourish. But after missing the playoffs in 2019 and Thibodeau’s firing, Gibson departed the Twin Cities for his hometown in New York.
He became a Knick and saw two separate stints in the Big Apple, before joining the Washington Wizards in July 2022. At 38 years old, he is now one of the oldest players in the NBA. Gibson is another post player who has adapted his game after previously employing a more traditional post-up style. We will see if he has one more go in him.