Timberwolves trade Josh Green to Jazz, clearing way for Kuminga signing

The Minnesota Timberwolves recently made a significant move to secure free agent Jonathan Kuminga, but there was a prerequisite to make this happen: they needed to create enough cap space to accommodate his contract. The team was hard-capped at the second apron, falling short by more than $6 million. To address this issue, the Timberwolves executed a late Friday night trade, sending wing Josh Green to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Cody Williams and John Konchar.

This trade cleared Josh Green's $14.7 million contract from the books, enabling Minnesota to acquire the necessary cap space for Kuminga's signing.

While Minnesota will retain Cody Williams, the team decided to take a chance on the No. 10 pick from two years ago. Standing 6'8", Williams had an inconsistent season, shooting just 21.4% from beyond the arc in the previous season. The Jazz, on the other hand, welcomed six-year veteran Josh Green. Although Green struggled in Charlotte after recovering from shoulder surgery, he showcased his shooting prowess, averaging 42% from long-range.

The Jazz believe that Green's defensive abilities, which have always been strong, will contribute to their team this season, and he could potentially earn more playing time off the bench due to his defensive skills. With this trade, Minnesota now has about $10.6 million under the second apron, providing them with ample room to sign Kuminga and make any further season adjustments if required.