twitter link<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The deal will begin in 2024\/25 and will be worth 35% of that season’s salary cap, with 8% raises in subsequent seasons. Since the ’24\/25 cap figure isn’t yet known, neither is the amount of Towns’ extension, but Wojnarowski projects it to be worth about $224MM over four years.<\/p>\n
The signing is something of a no-brainer for a Minnesota club on the rise. Towns, still just 26, enjoyed something of a comeback season with Minnesota in 2021\/22. Though his stats in recent years remained impressive, the team had been mired in middling lottery-bound purgatory for three straight seasons prior to 2022.<\/p>\n
In 2022, the 6’11\u201d center made his first All-Star team since 2019 and his first All-NBA Team since 2018. Towns also won the NBA Three-Point Contest during the 2022 All-Star Weekend, a rarity for a big Man. During 74 games last year, Towns averaged 24.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 3.6 APG, with guard-like shooting splits of .529\/.410\/.822.<\/p>\n
The three-time All-Star’s offensive prowess was a big reason the Timberwolves returned to their first playoff berth in four years. Led by Towns and second-year phenom Anthony Edwards<\/strong>plus guards D’Angelo Russell<\/strong> and Patrick Beverley<\/strong>, the seventh-seeded Timberwolves pushed the second-seeded Grizzlies in a tough, physical first-round series. Minnesota would ultimately fall to Memphis in six games.<\/p>\nA super-max contract extension for Towns, an exceptional offensive talent just reaching his prime, had previously been considered the top priority for Minnesota’s front office this summer.<\/p>\n
So far in free agency, the team has also added veteran small forward Kyle Anderson<\/strong> and re-signed tweener forward Taurean Prince<\/strong> to a two-year extension. The team also exercised non-guaranteed team options for 2022\/23 on Naz Reid<\/strong> and Jaylen Nowell<\/strong>.<\/p>\nIn the draft, the Timberwolves added several intriguing young players. Auburn big man Walker Kessler<\/strong>the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year, and Duke small forward Wendell Moore<\/strong>, were selected in the first round. Memphis drafted Memphis swingman Josh Minott<\/strong> and Vanoli Cremona shooting guard Matteo Spagnolo<\/strong> in the second round.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n