After the Minnesota Timberwolves traded for Josh Green for Cody Williams, it was natural to wonder if they would sign one more player to round out their roster, since they could now do so while staying under the second apron. Doing so could've allowed the Wolves to bolster their frontcourt depth; reuniting with franchise legend Kevin Love was a rumored possibility.
Nevertheless, during a radio appearance with Chad Hartman on WCCO, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch all but shut down this possibility.
“I think we are going to hold tight,” Finch told Hartman when asked if the Wolves would sign another player. “That’s what we’ve been talking about. We like the flexibility. Obviously, there is cap sensitivities, too. We just feel like we have enough of what we need right now.”
While Finch didn't outright say there's a zero percent chance that the Wolves make another addition, he made it sound highly unlikely. And this makes sense for several reasons. Firstly, training camp is nearly upon us, so a move at this juncture is unlikely. Moreover, the Wolves' luxury tax bill would increase by $8.5 million if they signed a player to a veteran minimum contract; for a depth piece, this price wouldn't be worth it. Likewise, frontcourt depth isn't a pressing roster need that could derail the season.
Finch's mention of flexibility is relevant; by entering the season with 14 players, the Wolves can take back an extra player via trade or, what I think is more likely, sign a veteran who gets bought out around the deadline.
Why the Timberwolves could wait until the season to fill out their roster
Last season, the Wolves signed Kyle Anderson after he was bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies. With frontcourt depth being the team's biggest need, I'd expect it to be addressed on the buyout market.
As poetic as a reunion with Love would be, the reality is that he wouldn't make much of an impact. Nor would any player who is still available in free agency. The exact pool of players might not be the same in February, but the quality of players will likely be similar.
With that being said, the savings would be significant. Last season, adding Anderson cost the team just $567,470—that's a major difference from $8.5 million in luxury tax payments.
Barring injuries, the Wolves can get to February just fine with Joan Beringer and Trey Lyles as their only two frontcourt players. Perhaps this group exceeds expectations, and they don't need a frontcourt player after all. Regardless, I believe that adding a depth piece would be helpful in case of injuries, and frankly, the Wolves don't have many other flaws.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly who could be available nearly six months from now, but a few candidates that come to mind based on roster needs would be Micah Potter, Mo Bamba, and an old friend, Luka Garza. These players would give Minnesota some extra frontcourt depth while being able to play in a pinch.
That's all you can ask for from a buyout player or a late offseason signing, which further explains the Timberwolves' logic behind waiting for a roster move.
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