The NBA free agency tampering period opened at 5 p.m. Friday and reported deals are flying like hot cakes, including two involving the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Athletic’s Jon Krawcyznski reports that guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker is returning to Minnesota on a two-year deal, while ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski says the Wolves are signing free agent small forward Troy Brown Jr.
Brown, 23, averaged 7.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game last season and shot 50.5% from inside and 38.1% from 3.
Alexander-Walker did not receive a qualifying offer from the Wolves on Thursday, so he was a free agent. Terms of the his deal keeping him in Minnesota have not been reported, but Krawczysnki tweeted that bringing Alexander-Walker back for the 2023-24 season was a “priority” for the Wolves.
Krawcyznski also tweeted that the Wolves were planning to offer Anthony Edwards a five-year max contract as soon as the tampering period began, so news of him signing that deal could break any day now.
Meanwhile, Bruce Brown, a member of the champion Denver Nuggets were was linked to the Wolves in free agent rumors, has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Indiana Pacers.
And Taurean Prince, who was waived by Minnesota on Wednesday, is reportedly heading to the Lakers. Woj reports that it’s a one-year deal worth $4.5 million. He would’ve made $7.4 million if Minnesota had picked up his contract for the 2023-24 season.
ESPN reporting with @malikaandrews: Free agent Bruce Brown has agreed on a two-year, $45M deal with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann of @CAASports tell ESPN. Denver — limited in what it could pay — loses a key piece to its repeat hopes.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2023
