The point guard situation the Timberwolves have entering the 2023-24 NBA season features Mike Conley and Jordan McLaughlin, though McLaughlin's $2.3 million salary isn't guaranteed and based on what insider Jon Krawczysnki wrote Friday, backup point guard will be a priority for Minnesota this summer.
"There are two names I really like on the free-agent market, with a major problem," Krawczysnki wrote in an answer to a question from a fan. "Tre Jones and Ayo Dosunmu are both young guards who could complement (Anthony) Edwards well. But they’re both restricted free agents, making their acquisition, especially for a team so tight in the financial realm, unlikely."
Unlikely doesn't mean in impossible and if we've learned anything over the years it's that when Krawczynski talks, it's wise to listen.
Jones, the Apple Valley native who like his big brother Tyus Jones won the Mr. Basketball award as the top senior high school player in Minnesota, is entering his fourth NBA season. Last season, the 23-year-old averaged 12.8 points and 6.6 assists while shooting 45.9% overall and just 28.8% from 3.
As a restricted free agent, the Spurs have the right to match any offer Jones receives. And while Minnesota would represent a homecoming for Jones, it wouldn't be the starting job like he had last season in San Antonio. Why leave to be a backup when he could stay and be the starter?
As for Dosunmu, he's started 81 of 157 career games with the Bulls. He's averaged 8.7 points and just under three rebounds and three assists in two seasons, while shooting 50.6% overall and 34.4% from 3.
The Wolves could run it back with McLaughlin as Conley's backup. McLaughlin had a down season that was significantly strained by a calf injury.
"I do think [the Timberwolves] will look hard at adding a point guard. Jordan McLaughlin has been a great story, but he struggled mightily after coming back from his calf injury last season," Krawczynski wrote in his Friday mailbag. "When he’s humming, he can help a team. But they may look for more consistency at the position so they don’t have to rely as heavily on Conley as they did."
Krawczynski also wrote that he thinks Taurean Prince could be traded to free up money to help Minnesota bring back Naz Reid and/or Nickeil Alexander-Walker, both of whom are unrestricted free agents.
Prince's $7.5 million 2023-24 salary becomes guaranteed on June 28, so if he's going to be traded it will happen soon. The NBA Draft is next week (June 22), and that could be a period of high activity in the NBA.
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