Nearly two and a half months after Minnesota knocked Denver out of the playoffs, the Timberwolves may get another shot to sting the Nuggets.
The latest possibility centers on Spencer Jones, with Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports speculating that Denver may not bring back the restricted free agent. If that happens, Minnesota could be in position to swoop in and add a player who fits a clear need.
Jones would give the Wolves help at power forward, a spot that still needs more attention even after the team signed Trey Lyles. And if Denver does move on, Minnesota would have the added bonus of taking a useful piece from a division rival it has already beaten in the postseason.
The Nuggets added another wing on Sunday, agreeing to a one-year deal with Alpha Diallo. The 29-year-old has never played in the NBA, but he is coming off a EuroLeague season in which he won Defensive Player of the Year.
Peyton Watson is also a restricted free agent, though most expect Denver to keep him. With those two in the mix, Denver’s wing group could get crowded fast, which might open the door for Jones to land elsewhere.
Jones, who is 6-foot-7, started three of the six playoff games against Minnesota at power forward when Aaron Gordon was out. He didn’t take a ton of shots, but he made them count. In the regular season, he hit 39.6 percent of his 3-pointers, then shot 69.2 percent from deep in the playoffs.
There’s also a real chance Denver renounces Jones’ rights, which would make him an unrestricted free agent. If that happens, Minnesota would likely only be able to offer a minimum deal unless it clears out Josh Green’s contract. That means the Wolves would need to sell him on a rotation role and on joining a team with championship aspirations.
Jones’ rise has been one of the quieter success stories in Denver. He began last season on a two-way contract, then outperformed expectations as a clear 3-and-D option and started 37 games. The Nuggets rewarded that stretch by converting him to a standard contract in mid-February.
Minnesota’s offseason has already been a strong one, headlined by the trade for the star lead guard it wanted in LaMelo Ball. Even so, the Timberwolves still have work to do at power forward. Adding Jones would help cover that need and give them a chance to make life a little more uncomfortable for Denver in the process.
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