Entering NBA free agency, the Timberwolves had most of the high-minutes players locked into contracts for next season. The moves they made as the chaotic frenzy began at 5 p.m. Friday were largely going to be about shoring up their bench.
Along those lines, they agreed to a two-year deal to re-sign guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker while signing free agents Troy Brown from the Lakers and Shake Milton from the 76ers.
Alexander signed a two-year deal worth $9 million, Brown signed a two-year deal worth $8 million and Milton signed a two-year deal worth $10 million. Brown's and Milton's deals each contain team options for year two. With these deals, the Wolves appear to have filled out their roster while coming in under the $165.3 million luxury tax threshold for next season.
Even after the Wolves didn't tender Alexander-Walker a qualifying offer of just over $7 million, which made him an unrestricted free agent, there was still optimism they could bring him back after a strong finish to the season. The Wolves were able to bring him back for less money per year than the qualifying offer.
Alexander-Walker, who came to the team via trade in February, was their best perimeter defender in the playoffs after forward Jaden McDaniels broke his hand on the final day of the regular season. Alexander-Walker averaged 5.9 points in 23 games after coming over from Utah in the Mike Conley-D'Angelo Russell three-team trade.
Alexander-Walker started for the Wolves in their play-in victory over the Thunder, in which he helped limit his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and then started games against the Nuggets in the first round, when he was assigned to follow fellow Canadian Jamal Murray around the floor.
He said multiple times how thankful he was to play in Minnesota after struggling to find a consistent role and fit with the Pelicans and Jazz.
Milton, a 6-5 combo guard who's 26, joins the Wolves after spending five seasons with the 76ers. He averaged 8.4 points last season while shooting 38% from three-point range, and the Wolves have valued adding shooting to their bench, especially after waiving forward Taurean Prince. The 76ers were also a better team defensively (110.2 points allowed per possession versus 112.7) when Milton was on the floor last season versus off it.