When reports leaked of Minnesota reaching an settlement with free agent Jonathan Kuminga — to large headlines and the pleasure of Timberwolves followers — there was one little drawback: Minnesota did not yet have the cap space to pay him. Yet. Minnesota was hard-capped at the second apron and just about $4 million below that quantity, but it needed more than $6 million in space to give Kuminga the promised taxpayer mid-level exception.
Enter a late Friday night time commerce: Minnesota is sending wing Josh Green to Utah and in return getting back Cody Williams and John Konchar, a story damaged by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed Saturday morning by the groups.
A Green commerce was expected, he had come to Minnesota as half of the LaMelo Ball commerce, and clearing his $14.7 million contract off the books was the cleanest manner for Minnesota to get the room under the apron it needed. Minnesota plans to keep Williams — taking a probability on the No. 10 choose from just two years in the past, a 6’8″ wing who was inconsistent, shot 21.4% from 3 last season, and never established himself with the Jazz — but will waive-and-stretch Konchar’s $6.2 million wage, which means a cap hit of just $2.1 million.
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Once all the strikes are accomplished, that gives the Timberwolves about $10.6 million under the second apron to signal Kuminga and have the respiration room for another transfer in season, if needed.
Utah lands Green, the six-year veteran who struggled last season in Charlotte after returning from shoulder surgical procedure and averaged 4.3 factors per sport, but did shoot 42% from beyond the arc. Where Green can earn minutes for Will Hardy in Utah is with his protection, which has always been good and is a level of emphasis for Utah this season. There are minutes for Green to earn off the bench, he will get his probability.
And now Minnesota will get Kuminga.
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