The Minnesota Timberwolves will reportedly meet with free agent D’Angelo Russell on Sunday, and could be about to trade Andrew Wiggins to clear up cap space for him.
Citing league sources, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes revealed on Saturday that the Wolves will meet with the Nets’ guard at the start of free-agency, which starts at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Minnesota Timberwolves to meet with Brooklyn Nets restricted free agent guard D’Angelo Russell at the start of free-agency, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 29, 2019
New president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, head coach Ryan Saunders, and star player Karl-Anthony Towns – a friend of Russell’s – are reportedly going to be present at the meeting, per Yahoo Sports.
The same article notes it would take trading either Wiggins or a combination of Jeff Teague and Gorgui Dieng to free up the space needed to sign Russell, and the rumors are that it’s a Wiggins trade the Wolves are looking at.
Sports writer Mark Gunnels tweeted, citing league sources, that “The Minnesota Timberwolves are confident they’ll find a trade partner for Andrew Wiggins,” which is similar to what NBA reporter Kevin Smith tweeted on Saturday.
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
“Told that D’Angelo Russell’s team would not have set a meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves without assurances Wolves could clear the necessary cap space to sign Russell,” Smith later added.
“Minnesota has made it clear they believe they can get to the $27.25M max space necessary to sign Russell.”
