The Minnesota Timberwolves are facing a tricky situation. They desperately need a power forward after trading Naz Reid and Julius Randle, but per Bobby Marks of ESPN, they only have access to minimum contracts in free agency. A trade is possible, but not something to bank on at this moment.
There are some intriguing free agent options to fill this major void. The problem is it might be tough to convince players to take less money.
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic offered a perfect counter to this concern, though, mentioning that Minnesota offers players an opportunity to earn real minutes, which could later help them earn a bigger deal. I'd add to this that the Wolves also offer a perfect chance to contribute to winning basketball.
Wolves have very little to spend on a PF. What they do have to offer is opportunity. That should be enticing for a player who needs to bet on himself for a year.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) June 29, 2026
Currently, Jaden McDaniels is slated to be Minnesota's starting power forward, and even after a signing (or a trade), this is likely to continue. Regardless, the Wolves sorely need some forward depth, and whoever they sign to fill this void will earn a substantial role.
Who knows if this will be enough for the Wolves to make an unexpected signing in free agency, but there's at least a chance.
Options for the Timberwolves to fill their power forward void
The Timberwolves have registered interest in John Collins. Now, the chances of him taking a minimum contract are slim. Could the opportunity with Minnesota be enticing enough for Collins to take a sizable pay cut? It's not something I'd bank on, but you never know. Collins' blend of athleticism and floor spacing would make him a dream fit.
I don't consider signing Collins anything close to likely. However, signing him would be the best possible outcome for the Wolves if a veteran opts to take a pay cut in order to contribute to winning basketball.
Sandro Mamukelashvili and Dean Wade are two other options who seemingly have robust markets. While this might price them out of Minnesota's plans, it's not entirely impossible that they opt to take less money to have a substantial role with a title contender.
Again, it's not likely, but the Wolves can hold out some level of hope in this proposition.
Signing someone like Kenrich Williams or Marvin Bagley feels a bit more realistic, and frankly neither would be an awful consolation prize.
Ideally, though, the Wolves can sign someone who is in a slightly higher tier than Williams or Bagley -- and if they do, it will be because of the chance to play a meaningful role on a winning basketball team.
Timberwolves fans shouldn't necessarily get their hopes up that the team will make a fantastic value signing -- but there is an outside chance the basketball situation is appealing enough to free agents that they pull off an unexpected move.
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