The Timberwolves have the flexibility to add another player, but that doesn’t mean they have to do it.
After moving Josh Green for Cody Williams and John Konchar, with Konchar quickly waived, Minnesota is in position to carry 15 players and still stay below the second tax apron. That setup naturally sparked talk that the Wolves would fill the spot, especially with their thin frontcourt.
But there’s a real financial hurdle here. According to Spotrac, Minnesota’s estimated tax bill sits at $23.3 million, and even a minimum-contract signing would push that number up by another $8.5 million. That’s the kind of price tag that forces a front office to stop and think.
The obvious counterargument is that new majority owner Marc Stad should just eat the cost. And sure, the case for spending is easy to understand.
But the bigger question is whether paying an extra $8.5 million in tax for a player who would probably spend most nights on the bench is the best use of that money. The Wolves could certainly use more frontcourt depth, but that doesn’t automatically make the move worth it.
By all accounts, Stad is willing to spend and help Minnesota chase a title. Signing Jonathan Kuminga showed that much.
And compared with plenty of other owners around the league, he’s already operating in a different financial lane. Still, not every luxury tax decision is created equal.
That’s the key here: adding a 15th player likely doesn’t move the needle much on Minnesota’s championship odds. In the apron era, teams have increasingly been comfortable carrying an open roster spot, and the Timberwolves already did it last season.
If they do decide to sign someone, it won’t be a shock. Kevin Love would make for a terrific story, and a player like Drew Eubanks would at least address the depth issue. But it would also be easy to see why Minnesota might decide that neither move justifies the extra cost.
Keeping the spot open has another benefit, too. It preserves flexibility for later, whether that means absorbing a player in a deadline deal or waiting until the season unfolds to make a move. The Wolves could also use the season to cycle through 10-day contracts and see who fits best.
So while the roster spot is there, filling it is hardly a lock. For Minnesota, the decision comes down to whether a depth piece is worth the tax hit - and right now, leaving the spot open makes plenty of sense.
In Other News...
Hornets Fans Have One Big Reason To Watch Minnesota's Next Move
The Timberwolves have already made their biggest splash of the offseason by landing LaMelo Ball from Charlotte in a deal that sent Naz Reid and multiple draft picks the other way. They also added Jonathan Kuminga, who will wear No. 24, giving Minnesota a newer, more athletic look around a roster that is clearly being reshaped with an eye on the future.
For Hornets fans, though, the real reason to keep one eye on Minnesota is the possibility that the Wolves are not done making major moves. With a veteran center carrying a complicated contract situation and Minnesota showing a willingness to lean younger in the frontcourt, there is at least a path toward another significant change down the line. Nothing has been finalized, but the next Timberwolves move could end up mattering just as much to Charlotte as the one that already did. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Could Bring Back A Familiar Veteran Presence
Kevin Loves name keeps circling back to Minnesota, and this time the fit makes a little more sense on paper than it has in years. The Timberwolves have a roster spot available and the cap space to add a veteran if they choose, which has turned a possible reunion into more than just nostalgic talk. For a young team that has spent the last few seasons building toward contention, Love would bring something the room still can use: a player who has lived through deep playoff runs and knows what winning habits look like.
The appeal is not about asking him to be a centerpiece again. Love spent last season in a limited role in Utah, and at this stage of his career he would be more of a low-minute stabilizer than a nightly rotation driver. For Minnesota, the question is whether a familiar voice with championship experience is worth the roster spot, especially if the plan is to keep leaning on youth while adding a steadying veteran presence around it. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga's New Situation Could Change How Hawks Fans Feel
Jonathan Kumingas move to Minnesota is the kind of signing that can look straightforward on paper and still carry a lot of intrigue once the roster fit comes into focus. He picked the Timberwolves over other suitors, including the Lakers, and the deal gives him a fresh start on a team that has built its identity around length, pressure and defensive versatility.
Still, there is at least some skepticism about how quickly Kuminga will find a clear lane in the rotation, especially with established pieces already in place. His agent, Aaron Turner, framed the choice as a fit-for-defense decision, but the second year of the contract is a player option, which keeps this from feeling like a simple long-term lock. [Read more 🡒]