The Timberwolves were pessimistic about keeping Kyle Anderson, a vital member of their bench the last two seasons, before NBA free agency got underway on Sunday.
Anderson and the Warriors reached a $27 million three-year agreement on Tuesday. The Warriors will sign Anderson via a sign-and-trade with the Wolves. In exchange, the Wolves will get cash and a future second-round selection.
The Wolves’ already hefty luxury tax bill—which stood at over $84 million after the draft night trade to acquire Rob Dillingham with the eighth overall pick—would have increased significantly with Anderson’s contract.
In November of the previous year, Anderson was instrumental in salvaging the Wolves season when Karl-Anthony Towns suffered a serious calf injury. As the starting power forward, Anderson played strong defense on the opposite end of the court while using his playmaking abilities to keep the Wolves offense afloat. In the locker room, he also gained respect for himself as a voice that was never reluctant to express his opinions or counsel younger players.
Anderson had eye surgery at the conclusion of that season after getting into a collision during the playoff defeat to Denver. Anderson’s shooting stats declined this past season, so recovering from the operation wasn’t easy. He dropped from 41% to 23% three-point shooting and sometimes showed hesitation to shoot.
Fans at home were irritated by Anderson’s uneven performance this season as he attempted to recover from his eye injury and played more small forward.
“I was hit with a lot of things. Playing the three also was an adjustment, so that sort of threw me off also,” Anderson said after the season. Over the course of the season, I improved at it. If I get to play the three, I want to keep improving at it wherever I wind up in the next year. I have to prepare for it. However, I firmly believe that a four is my natural position in this league, and I have always performed well there.”
Due to his basketball IQ and ability to fit in on the defensive end, he was able to maintain coach Chris Finch’s backing even if his scoring dropped to 6.4 points per game from 9.4.
When Towns needed knee surgery late in the season and could once again play power forward, he produced his finest basketball.
“[Finch] trusted me with decision-making, trusted me to play my game, allowed me to have the ball in my hands,” Anderson said. “That meant a lot to me, because I came across a lot of coaches who haven’t let me do that.”
Josh Minott, Terrence Shannon Jr., Leonard Miller, and other younger players on the team now have more chances as a result of Anderson’s departure.
Guard Monte Morris signed a contract with the Suns on Tuesday, so Anderson wasn’t the only former Wolves player to go.
With twelve players on the NBA roster, the Wolves must add at least two more. Following the organization’s Monday agreement to terms with Luka Garza, Jordan McLaughlin, a member of the team from the previous season, is still free agency.
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