Nearly 24 hours into free agency, the Minnesota Timberwolves have yet to solve their most pressing need: a power forward. Currently, Jaden McDaniels is the Wolves' lone forward.Â
Don't get it twisted -- there's still plenty of time to make a move. However, one way or another, the Wolves might need to part ways with Josh Green (who was acquired in the LaMelo Ball trade) to fill this void.
Currently, the Wolves only have the spending power of a minimum contract, which limits their options. As such, the Wolves' best path to landing a power forward could be to either trade Green or waive and stretch him.
Why parting ways with Green might be the Timberwolves' best chance to solve their power forward void
Trading him is pretty straightforward, as the Wolves would dangle his expiring $14.6 million contract (possibly adding a sweetener like Terrence Shannon Jr.) in exchange for a rotational-level power forward. By waiving and stretching Green, the Wolves would have just over $10 million, though they'd have to pay him for three years.
Still, this would give the Wolves some extra spending power, and they might need it.
As it stands, four power forwards are already off the table, including John Collins, Dean Wade, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Tobias Harris. Wade's contract (four years, $39 million) is the cheapest of the bunch. Collins (three years, $51 million), Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million), and Harris (two years, $31 million) all earned far more lucrative deals.
This sets a clear bar for rotational power forwards, and without any maneuvering, the Wolves can't afford these types of players. At the time of writing this, Jonathan Kuminga and Rui Hachimura are both still available, but unless the Wolves waive Green, they likely can't sign one of these players.
Even players such as Kenrich Williams and Marvin Bagley, who could feasibly be signed to a minimum contract, might prove to be more expensive than expected.
Now, the Timberwolves have expressed interest in LeBron James, and he's seemingly willing to take a sizable pay cut. However, the Wolves signing James still feels like a massive long shot at this point.
Simply re-signing Kyle Anderson could give the Wolves some extra forward depth behind McDaniels. Anderson is a fine role player, but re-signing him can't be the Wolves' lone move due to his limitations as a floor spacer.
Considering all of this, parting ways with Green, either by trading or waiving him, could prove to be Minnesota's best path to solving their need for a power forward.
Of course, it's not a guarantee that the Wolves go this route, but if they end up landing a rock-solid rotational forward, don't be surprised if this is connected to a move involving Green.
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