1 Dream, 1 reach, 1 realistic free agent for the Timberwolves to target
By Austin McGee
The NBA offseason is off to the races. While most of the association's squads began plotting their next moves over a month ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves recently shifted their focus from an NBA Championship to the offseason.
The NBA Draft is up next, but free agency looms near after. The official NBA free agency window opens on June 30 at 5:00 p.m. CT—just three days after the draft's conclusion. Thus the Timberwolves brass has just over three weeks to figure out which players make the most sense.
Coming off perhaps the best season in franchise history, the Timberwolves offseason will be crucial. First, the Wolves retained one of the best personnel decision-makers in the business—Tim Connelly. Connelly was the orchestrator of the once-maligned Rudy Gobert trade which eventually led to Minnesota's top-ranked defense this past season.
With Connelly in the fold for at least one more season, smooth waters should be ahead. Although an impending ownership change is on the horizon, all things basketball should remain consistent. The Wolves' core roster is locked in. Minnesota will retain its top-seven scorers from a season ago.
The squad's only free agents are Kyle Anderson, Monte Morris, Jordan McLaughlin, T.J. Warren, Luka Garza, and Daishen Nix. Of the aforementioned free agents, only one (Anderson) recorded more than 1,000 minutes on the hardwood.
The Timberwolves' biggest needs will be a point guard to spell soon-to-be 37-year-old Mike Conley; a reserve forward; and additional shooting to bolster a relatively low-volume 3-point shooting squad. Below, we've identified three targets—a dream, a reach, and a realistic free agent acquisition for Minnesota.
Dream free agent: Kelly Oubre
To begin the list, we have former Philadelphia 76er Kelly Oubre. The 6-foot-7 wing is coming off a season where he averaged 15.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 30.2 minutes per game. What makes Oubre a logical signing is his potential price point and scoring acumen.
Although the former Kansas Jayhawk may have played himself out of Minnesota's price range, he signed a one-year, minimum contract just a year ago after averaging 20.3 points per game for the Charlotte Hornets.
Oubre's value is debatable. He's an athletic wing who can score the rock, but he does so inefficiently. Aside from his inconsistent shooting, Oubre's defensive tenacity wanes. This past season, he was serviceable on the defensive end, racking up more than a steal per game and allowing his opponents to shoot just 0.4 percent better when he acted as the primary defender.
Oubre may sign a contract worth $10 million or more per season. On the contrary, the 28-year-old wing may want to suit up for another squad with championship aspirations after appearing in just 18 playoff games throughout the first eight seasons of his career.
With Anderson hitting the market, the Wolves have a void at forward to fill. Oubre doesn't offer the same steady decision-making or fundamental defense as Anderson, but he'll add a much-needed scoring jolt.
The Wolves lacked on-ball scorers besides Anthony Edwards, and at times, Jaden McDaniels in the postseason. Oubre is a versatile scorer who excels both off-the-catch and off-the-dribble. Again, he may not be the most efficient, but neither was Anderson who averaged just 6.4 points per game this past season.