After trading Josh Green to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Cody Williams and Jon Konchar (who was quickly waived), the Minnesota Timberwolves have room to sign one player to a veteran minimum contract and still remain under the second apron.
Now, they have 14 players signed to standard contracts. Minnesota is allowed to keep its one open spot unfilled, as it did last season. If the team does decide to have a full 15-man roster, they should look to add a big man.
The centers currently available aren’t great, but at least some are serviceable
Looking at the Timberwolves’ roster, they currently have Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer to man the center position. Rocco Zikarsky is on a two-way contract, but it doesn't seem like he would be a candidate to fill the available roster spot. A lackluster summer league further showed that Zikarsky isn't quite ready for a standard deal.
Of course, Minnesota often had Naz Reid there to be the backup center during his seven years with the club, but he was traded this offseason to the Charlotte Hornets. Minnesota now has Trey Lyles, who is more of a power forward but has played center at times during his 10-year career.
Lyles doesn’t possess the length that Gobert and Beringer do, though, and the team would lose the benefit of having a rim protector on the floor at all times if either of its centers were forced to miss time.
There are still some players capable of giving the Timberwolves minutes in the middle and providing at least some rim deterrence. Centers who are still available that can do so include Bismack Biyombo, Mason Plumlee, Drew Eubanks, and Tony Bradley.
Other centers wouldn’t provide as much rim protection but are still capable NBA players, such as Kelly Olynyk and someone Wolves fans are quite familiar with: Kevin Love.
Bringing Love back to where his NBA career started wouldn't be the worst idea. Turning 38 years old in a little over a week, Love is still an excellent rebounder and a good catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter. It was more than 12 years ago now when the Timberwolves traded Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Obviously, none of these players are the sexiest names—though Love may be to some Minnesota fans. Not much can be expected when looking to fill the final roster spot with a veteran's minimum contract.
The Timberwolves can still use a third center, and perhaps more names will become available once players are waived closer to the regular season.
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