One of the biggest advantages of the Minnesota Timberwolves salary-dumping Julius Randle was that it opened up the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. With the Wolves seemingly wanting to keep Rudy Gobert, this feels like their best path to using their cap space and, in turn, upgrading their roster.
It was hard to pinpoint who the Timberwolves could target in free agency. However, the Charlotte Hornets selecting Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson in the first-round might have opened the door for an ideal free agent target for Minnesota: Coby White.
Coby White is a perfect free agent target for the Timberwolves
While White proved to be an ideal fit with the Hornets since arriving at the trade deadline, it's worth wondering how secure his future is with the team drafting Anderson. Given his blend of 3-point shooting and playmaking, Anderson could be a highly impactful guard from the get-go, which could spell doom for White.
If he's available, Minnesota should pounce on the chance to add White and the NTMLE salary of $15.1 million seems like fair value for him.
Ideally, the Wolves will add a guard to upgrade their roster. It's no secret that they need extra playmaking and shot creation alongside Anthony Edwards. They'll have some options to fill this void in free agency with White, Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons. All players are high-end sixth men microwave scorers.
Of the bunch, though, White is the best playmaker, which could make him the top target for Minnesota.
The Timberwolves registered interest in White leading up to the trade deadline, ultimately trading for his teammate Ayo Dosunmu.
While Ayo proved to be a great fit, the Wolves are still in need of extra ball-handling and perimeter creation, making it logical to pursue White with their new cap space.
I don't expect White to step in and be a true second option. However, White is a quality scorer at all three-levels and has playmaking chops to boot. Notably, he averaged 17.4 points and 4 assists this past year.
Honestly, I always assumed that he would stay in Charlotte. As noted earlier, White fit like a glove with the Hornets and he filled a clear void as a sparkplug scoring guard.
Drafting Anderson has to factor into things at least a bit, though, right? Anderson's arrival doesn't guarantee that they'll let White leave, but it opens up that chance and the Wolves should be delighted by this possibility.
In the modern NBA, having three point guards isn't a bad thing (and White is a true combo guard). All the same, Charlotte's frontcourt could still be improved, which, paired with Anderson's arrival, could make them feel comfortable letting White walk.
Timberwolves fans are anxiously awaiting any updates that definitively link them to any free agent targets. For now, though, they should feel at least intrigued with the possibility of White being a free agent target.
