The Minnesota Timberwolves have three key free this offseason in Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Wolves could theoretically keep all three players, but keeping both Randle and Reid appears more likely than also retaining Alexander-Walker along with them. Alexander-Walker’s value around the NBA has increased significantly over the past two seasons with the Wolves.
“The Timberwolves have taken some steps to keep their team very competitive,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on Friday’s First Take. “They are going to have some big moves in the next few days. They have three key free agents: Julius Randle-who I expect them to get re-signed. Naz Reid, who was last year’s Sixth Man of the Year and plays a very important role for them. He is going to opt out of his contract over the weekend. I think they’ve prioritized re-signing him.
“I’m not so sure about Nickeil Alexander-Walker. I’m sure there are methods that they have to try to keep the three of them, but one of the reasons they went out last year and got a couple of first-round picks was to try to pay-was to try to replace Nickeil Alexander-Walker.”
Alexander-Walker, who is represented by Aaron Mintz, averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 38.1 percent on three-pointers. Alexander-Walker’s ability to shoot nearly 40 percent from three has allowed him to become a key rotation player on a team making deep playoff runs as opposed to being a throw-in player with his trade from the New Orleans Pelicans to Utah Jazz in 2022.
The Wolves re-signed Alexander-Walker during the 2023 offseason to a two-year, $9 million deal. Alexander-Walker could now sign a contract starting at or above the midlevel exception of $14 million.