Agreeing to add Jonathan Kuminga to the roster on a two-year, $12.4 million deal (he'll make $6 million this upcoming season) will put the Minnesota Timberwolves over the second tax apron (they'll need to shed around $3 million), a position they can't be in. Because of that, another move is coming, and it's already clear what the team is trying to do, per ESPN:
To complete the transaction, the Timberwolves will work through trade scenarios with reserve wing or, if they are unable to find a landing spot, waive and stretch him before the Saturday deadline, league sources told Charania.
As noted, Minnesota will have until Saturday to waive-and-stretch the $14.8 million Green will receive this season; if that date passes and he's still on the roster, they'll continue to try to find a trade, which would be the preferable route anyway.
It will also be the most challenging because of his salary, and also because his salary can't be aggregated in a trade with another player until 60 days (Sept. 10) after the LaMelo Ball trade that landed him with the Timberwolves becomes official, so after the waive-and-stretch deadline.
For that reason, and the fact that Minnesota doesn't have the assets to attach to Green's contract, it didn't seem all that likely that he'd be gone before the season began. That was before Kuminga, though.
Timberwolves are trying to trade Josh Green
There's not a long list of teams (or maybe even a list at all) willing to take on the final year of Green's contract, but the Lakers could be interested; if they are, they could wait and see whether the Timberwolves waive-and-stretch his contract.
Green isn't in high demand, so holding out wouldn't be a risky move for LA, and if Minnesota finds a trade, it wouldn't be the end of the world for the Lakers either. What should pique their interest is his three-point shooting, and although he's not a high-volume shooter, he shot 42% this past season with the Hornets on 2.4 attempts per game.
Outside of LA, it's hard to think of another team that would take on Green's contract without being incentivized to do so. If there's someone who can make something happen, though, it's Tim Connelly, who can make even the impossible seem, well, possible.
Timberwolves can waive-and-stretch Green's contract
If the Timberwolves don't find a trade partner within the next couple of days, they could waive-and-stretch his contract, meaning Minnesota would have $4.9 million in dead money on its books for the next three seasons.
While that wouldn't be preferable, it could pay off if Kuminga is the acquisition the Timberwolves need him to be, and even more so if Minnesota finally reaches the mountaintop. The money they owe him will look like nothing if that happens.
Connelly has already done a lot of offseason maneuvering, from the Julius Randle trade to acquiring Ball and now agreeing to sign Kuminga, but the work isn't over. Figuring out what's next for Green is at the top of the to-do list now, and while it comes with its own complications, you can trust in the front office to figure something out.
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