NBA free agency is underway, but the Minnesota Timberwolves have been relatively subdued. With their roster almost set and constrained by tight salary cap limits and luxury tax concerns, the team has limited room to maneuver.
Minnesota managed to re-sign Luka Garza to a minimum contract for two years. However, they are expected to lose several other players to free agency. Kyle Anderson and Jordan McLaughlin are unlikely to return, and it was confirmed on Tuesday that Monte Morris, arguably the most impactful of the trio, will also depart.
Minnesota Timberwolves lose Monte Morris to the Phoenix Suns
Monte Morris joining the Phoenix Suns for the league minimum reveals a few key points. Many expected him to reject the Timberwolves’ offer for a better payday elsewhere.
Free agent guard Monte Morris plans to sign a deal with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Suns lock in a reliable point guard entering his eighth NBA season. Morris has averaged 10 points, 39% 3-point shooting and 3.8 assists over career. pic.twitter.com/d1AUNCYIKm
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2024
Instead, he opted for a minimum contract with a Western Conference rival that is a contender. On the positive side, Denver acquired Morris in exchange for two bench players who weren’t contributing much and a second-round draft pick. However, the return on the investment was not as high as anticipated.
Minnesota traded for Monte Morris at the trade deadline of the 2023-24 season. He played 27 games for the Timberwolves but did not significantly boost their shooting or scoring as hoped by Connelly when the deal was made. Morris averaged just over 5 points and 2.3 assists per game in around 15 minutes of play per game.
Morris’s apparent lack of interest in re-signing with the Timberwolves might be related to the team already having Mike Conley and Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham, the eighth overall draft pick from last week. They could now be placing greater reliance on Dillingham than initially expected.
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