By: Nick LaPorte, 6/30/2019
The Timberwolves are interested in Free-Agent guard D’angelo Russell, but as of now they don’t have the requisite cap space. One contract that is, in no uncertain terms, hogging their cap space, is Andrew Wiggins’ $27 million per year. Wiggins signed the deal that keeps him under contract until 2023 at a whopping 5 years, $147 million dollars. That’s simply too much money for an inefficient scoring wing that plays lackadaisical defense, doesn’t rebound, and has trouble as a playmaker.
If the Timberwolves have any chance to sign D’angelo Russell, they will have to unload Wiggins’ contract. Russell, for what it’s worth, is likely looking for a new home after the Nets sign Kyrie Irving sometime later this week to a contract. Irving and Russell have a similar skillset, and the Nets won’t pay both. The Lakers, Suns, and Timberwolves are the primary suitors of Russell. While the Lakers or Suns could sign Russell outright to an offer sheet of 4 years, the Timberwolves would have to clear the cap space or execute a sign-and-trade with the Nets.
There is little incentive for the Nets to work with Minnesota on a sign-and-trade. The Timberwolves have few quality assets that can help the Nets add to their playoff core. Forward Robert Covington is a quality 3-and-D role player, and Minnesota has control of their first round picks, but the Nets are probably better off renouncing Russell’s right and using their cap space on a free agent; read more here. Wiggins’ contract is the one that needs to come off the books, for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, Russell should be their #1 priority, as pairing the All-Star with All-NBA center Karl Anthony-Towns may make Minnesota a playoff contender. Wiggins is overpaid, and as long as they have him, the Timberwolves will have difficulty improving their team.
This is a disappointment in many ways for the Timberwolves, as they made a major investment in Wiggins. Former All-Star Kevin Love was traded by Minnesota to Cleveland in the summer of 2014, and Wiggins was the main asset the Wolves received in compensation. There were plans to build a contender around Wiggins in the future, and Minnesota seemed primed to do that. They added Towns, and traded for All-Star Jimmy Butler. However, Butler soured on the team because he had issues with the work ethic of some players; mainly Wiggins. With Wiggins and Towns under contract, the Timberwolves are capped out and can’t radically improve their team, which has only made the playoffs once in Wiggins’ tenure.
Since Minnesota’s goal is to open up space for Russell, the time to trade Wiggins is right now. Marc Stein reports that the Timberwolves are confident they can open up the space. This means Minnesota has some trade partners in mind. The question is who wants Wiggins? The answer might be the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since LeBron left them last summer, the Cavaliers have entered a full-blown rebuild. Young guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland are the 2 building blocks they have, and Wiggins could be a perfect buy-low candidate. In the right system, Wiggins may be able to regain some of that potential that made him the #1 overall pick in 2014. Also, the Cavaliers have enough cap space to absorb him, and wouldn’t have a problem paying him that much money since they don’t need to pay their young players until Wiggins’ deal is done.
Another situation that makes sense for Wiggins is the Charlotte Hornets. After letting All-NBA guard Kemba Walker leave, the Hornets are in desperate need of young talent. Since they are already capped out, the Hornets need to look at other avenues to add good players. Why not trade for Wiggins and see if he just needed a change of scenery. This would also benefit the Hornets because the Timberwolves would likely include up to 2 first round picks in the trade, and the Hornets need those assets more than any team. Taking on Wiggins’ contract is a tough pill to swallow, but for a rebuilding team like the Hornets, it’s a move you have to make to get the first round picks.
One other team that could emerge as a Wiggins destination is the New York Knicks. The Knicks were prepared to enter free agency as the favorites to land Kevin Durant, and had enough cap room to pair him with another star like Kyrie Irving. Well, Irving is in Brooklyn, Durant may join him or stay in the Bay, and the Knicks may strike out on all of their hopeful signings. The Knicks are in a rebuild anyway, and missing out on the free agents means there’s still plenty of cap space left over, even if they sign Boogie Cousins. The Knicks could take on that salary and the picks that come with it, and draft more young talent to pair with RJ Barrett. The only problem is Wiggins would likely take minutes away from Barrett, and that’s not something the Knicks want. Having said that, the Knicks could find a way to play them together; after all, in this era of seemingly positionless basketball, Wiggins and Barrett would be able to play together.
Although Stein reports the Timberwolves are confident they can free up cap space by trading Wiggins, I don’t know if I believe that. His contract isn’t the worst in the NBA, but it’s close. If Wiggins is ever going to succeed though, it’s not going to happen in Minnesota.
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