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Former Hornet Josh Green Faces Saturday Waive-and-Stretch Deadline in Minnesota
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- Former Hornet Josh Green Faces Saturday Waive-and-Stretch Deadline in Minnesota
(Scott Kinser-Imagn Images)
Minnesota has until Saturday to waive Josh Green and stretch the final year of his contract across three seasons, a step the Timberwolves will take if they cannot find a trade for the former Charlotte Hornets guard, league sources told ESPN's Shams Charania .
Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with Minnesota, including a player option for the second year. His $6.1 million salary next season exceeds the Timberwolves' second-apron hard cap. Minnesota needs to clear about $3 million and prefers trading Green for a lower-salary player to keep a roster spot.
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Green will earn $14,679,012 in 2026-27, the last year of the three-year, $41 million extension he signed with the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 23, 2023. The stretch provision spreads an expiring salary over three seasons. Minnesota's cap charge for Green would fall to roughly $4.9 million a year, and it would stay on the books through 2028-29.
Green cannot be aggregated with another contract in a trade until Sept. 10. Minnesota also has to sign a 14th player at the $2.45 million minimum. Spotrac's Keith Smith put the full amount to be cleared closer to $4.1 million.
Charlotte agreed to send Green and LaMelo Ball to Minnesota on June 25. The Hornets received Naz Reid , a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, and second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033. The transaction was completed in July as a four-team deal. Ball and Green were introduced in Minneapolis on July 14.
Green came to Charlotte in July 2024 in the six-team trade that sent Klay Thompson to Dallas. He started 67 of the 68 games he played in 2024-25 and averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, with a career-high 1.1 steals and 39.1% shooting from 3-point range.
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Surgery on his left shoulder was on June 20, 2025. Green missed Charlotte's first 24 games last season and debuted on Dec. 12 against Chicago . In 58 games, he averaged 4.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists in 15.7 minutes, shooting 45.9% from the field and 42% from 3-point, his career-best from distance. In a 121-90 play-in loss to Orlando , he went 0-of-2 in 10 minutes.
Charlotte made several trades: Miles Bridges to the Suns for Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, Tre Mann to the Cavaliers for Dennis Schroder , and Dorian Finney-Smith from the Rockets. Coby White re-signed for three years, $74 million. Charlotte also drafted Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson in 2026.
Green turns 26 on Nov. 16. He is scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2027.
Charlotte opens the 2026-27 season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets . The home opener is against the Atlanta Hawks .
