The Timberwolves pulled off an interesting move late Friday night, sending Josh Green and his $14.7 million contract to the Utah Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar. This whole deal screams “cap space,” making room for free agent Jonathan Kuminga and keeping the Wolves under that brutal second apron.
Tim Connelly’s Cap Space Masterclass
Listen, the Wolves knew they had to make a move once they inked Jonathan Kuminga to round out their starting five. Kuminga’s $6.1 million taxpayer midlevel exception meant Josh Green’s $14.7 million deal had to go if they wanted to stay under that harsh second apron. Tim Connelly wasn’t messing around. He could’ve just waived-and-stretched Green, but that would’ve cost nearly $5 million in dead cap every year for three years. Instead, by trading him and waiving-and-stretching Konchar’s $6.2 million deal, they’re only looking at a little over $2 million in dead cap per year for three years. That’s a huge difference and a smart play to keep options open. Konchar, at 30, was a bench guy for the Grizzlies and isn’t expected to crack the rotation, so he’s gone for roster flexibility.
Taking A Big Swing On A Rough Diamond
Now, the real gamble: Cody Williams. He’s only 22 in November, a former lottery pick, 10th overall by the Jazz two years ago. Through two seasons and 117 games, averaging 7 points, 2.7 boards, and 1.7 assists, with a brutal 24 percent from three? The source says he’s been ‘among the worst players in the NBA.’ His advanced metrics scream ‘below-replacement-level.’ Ouch. But Tim Connelly isn’t stupid. Williams is a 6’8″ wing, a five-star recruit, a top-ten high school prospect. He went one-and-done at Colorado, putting up 12 points a game on 55 percent shooting, hitting 41 percent from deep in a small sample. He’s struggled, sure, but he also played on one of the absolute worst teams in the league, a Jazz squad that went 39-125 over two seasons. The glimmer of hope? He got better, jumping from 32 percent overall as a rookie to 47 percent last year. And get this: down the stretch of last season, from March 5 onwards for 19 games, he averaged about 16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and a steal a night, shooting 47 percent. He dropped a 34/7/7 game against the Kings and scored 24-27 points four other times. He had two games with 11 rebounds and five games with seven or more assists in that span. The Wolves are betting on that upside.
This whole move screams financial gymnastics and a huge swing on potential. Tim Connelly made the numbers work, no doubt. Now, the big question: can Cody Williams, who’s been a tough watch, finally find his footing and become the player that five-star recruit hype promised? It’s a high-stakes gamble for the Wolves, and it’s gonna be fascinating to see if it pays off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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