Josh Green 's tenure with the Timberwolves turned out to be an offseason blip. The Hornets included the swingman in the late-June trade that also involved two much better-known players — LaMelo Ball and Naz Reid — and then, two months later, the Timberwolves flipped Green to Utah for two lesser-known players — Cody Williams and John Konchar .
But in an offseason marked by much bigger moves, the Josh Green trade could end up being one that sets them up for success both in the immediate future and the longer term.
Green's days with the Timberwolves were numbered as soon as the team agreed to sign forward Jonathan Kuminga . Kuminga's two-year, $12.4-million deal was largely seen as a steal for the Wolves, but it still put them over the second apron. So before they could complete the deal, they had to shed some salary. Green was the most likely candidate to ship out because his contract was in the sweet spot: big enough to clear space for Kuminga, but not so big that it would scare away teams looking for a "3-and-D" wing who can guard multiple positions and space the floor offensively.
Shipping out Green also made sense for the Wolves from a roster standpoint, who are particularly deep at the wing. Bringing in Kuminga is likely to push Ayo Dosumnu to the bench, where he will immediately become a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year. Terrence Shannon Jr. has shown flashes of star potential and will command more minutes this year. The Timberwolves drafted another tall wing in Isaiah Evans early in the second round.
Green is a useful player and, at times, even a starter in Charlotte. But the Timberwolves did not need him as much as many teams did — particularly the Jazz, who were among the worst defensive teams in the NBA last year. So they shipped him out to sign Kuminga, who is a big part of their plans for the upcoming season.
Trading Green was largely a financial decision for the Wolves, but it could end up being a savvy swap in terms of the personnel they got back too. The X-factor there is Williams.
The Wolves almost immediately waived Konchar, a little-used 30-year-old guard, in another cost-saving move. But it appears that they're keeping Williams, an intriguing project who is affordable because he is still on his rookie contract.
The Timberwolves knew what they were giving up in Green — at 25 years old with six years in the league, he has largely reached his potential. They don't yet know what they're getting in Williams. The Jazz thought highly enough of him to select him with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft after one college season at Colorado. But his career never took off in Utah, where he topped out at 8.8 points per game last year. He struggled to shoot, averaging just under 24% on three-pointers in two years there, while the team struggled mightily around him as well.
Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (12) and center Deandre Ayton (5) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Photo Credit: Kirby Lee, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
But it's possible the Jazz gave up on him too soon. Williams is only 21 years old. He's a raw athlete whose 6-foot-8, 190-pound build is similar to another raw athlete the Timberwolves have developed into a star: Jaden McDaniels . Williams has the height, quickness, and wingspan to be a great defender, and there are signs that he's a better shooter than he's shown. He shot 41.5% from three-point range at Colorado, and though the college three-point line is shorter, a difference of one or two feet does not really explain the gap between 24% and 41.5%.
Remember that Williams played on bad teams in Utah, where they won just 39 games combined over his two seasons. In Minnesota (where they've won more than that each of the last five seasons), he will play with teammates that draw a lot of defensive attention. That should allow him many more open jumpers, particularly from the corners, where the NBA three-point line is closest to the one Williams thrived at in college.
Williams has potential. In a March 15 game against Sacramento, he poured in 34 points on 12-20 shooting (including 3-7 from three), and also recorded 7 rebounds and 7 assists. It's just one game — against another bad team — but he's shown that it's possible.
Barring several injuries, Williams is unlikely to get a lot of minutes for the Timberwolves this year. But he's a player with a lot of room to grow. If he becomes another McDaniels, then the Green trade will go down as a steal for Minnesota, even if it was mostly designed to make Kuminga's contract fit.
Jonathan Kuminga Chose Minnesota For A Surprising Reason, Reveals Agent
Timberwolves Roster Built to Steal West's No. 1 Seed
Photo Credit: Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
