The Minnesota Timberwolves, it's been known for weeks, plan on aggressively pursuing D'Angelo Russell in free agency this summer. The problem for Karl-Anthony Towns and his team is that the Timberwolves, as currently constructed, lack the cap space to sign the Brooklyn Nets' guard outright, and prevailing wisdom is that they're also absent the tradable assets needed to create that necessary financial flexibility.
But with news of Russell beginning his foray into free agency by first meeting with Minnesota comes word that president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas is confident he can shed his team's most onerous salary. According to Keith Smith of RealGM, the Timberwolves are optimistic they can trade Andrew Wiggins, likely freeing up enough cap room to bring Russell to Minneapolis on a max-level contract.
Multiple teams have heard that Minnesota is confident that they can trade Andrew Wiggins this summer. Doing so could open up the cap space necessary to sign D'Angelo Russell, who is tight with Karl-Anthony Towns. https://t.co/97qfsxL0Xd
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 29, 2019
Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, has four years and just over $122 million remaining on the max extension he signed two summers ago. After underwhelming in 2017-18 while playing a more supporting offensive role beside Jimmy Butler, Wiggins disappointed last season, too, dipping to new lows of efficiency while making only marginal strides as a three-point shooter and defender.
Still just 24 with a rare athletic and shot-making profile, though, there's a possibility certain teams value Wiggins more highly than the rest of the league. He performed far better in 2018-19 after Ryan Saunders took over on Minnesota's sideline, putting the ball in his hands on a consistent basis rather than utilizing him more as a spot-up shooter, a la Tom Thibodeau.
Russell, 23, enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Nets last season, earning his first All-Star appearance.
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