Julian Phillips Is Out and Minnesota's Roster Looks Like an NBA 2K Fantasy Draft
Yo, did you see what's happening in Minnesota? The Timberwolves are making some MOVES. Jon Krawczynski from The Athletic dropped the bomb: they're declining Julian Phillips' $2.4 million team option for the upcoming season. That means Phillips, a 2023 second-round pick, is hitting unrestricted free agency. Trust me, that's just the tip of the iceberg for how wild their offseason is shaping up!
The Young Wing Who Couldn't Find His Place
Phillips, only 22, was a journey-man even before Minnesota. Picked 35th overall by the Celtics in 2023 after one Tennessee season, he bounced to the Wizards, then Bulls, all in the same week. Wild, right? He spent time in the Bulls' rotation but never locked consistent minutes. The Wolves grabbed him in a February trade with the Bulls this year, a deal that brought Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota, sending Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and some second-round picks Chicago's way. He played 13 regular season games and five postseason contests as a reserve, even scoring 16 points in their final regular season game. But ultimately, that $2.4 million option was too much for a reserve who hadn't carved out his role.
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Minnesota's Mega-Trade and the Cap Space Tightrope
Okay, here's where it gets bonkers. This Phillips move isn't happening in a vacuum. It's part of a larger, insane puzzle. The Timberwolves still await a massive multi-team trade including LaMelo Ball, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and others. Plus, they're sorting new contracts for Dosunmu and Jaylen Clark. Seriously, it sounds like someone hit the 'randomize' button on an NBA 2K roster!
Their projected 2026-27 roster, per Tim Garrison of The Daily Wolves, is already expensive:
- Anthony Edwards: $48.9 million
- LaMelo Ball: $41.3 million
- Rudy Gobert: $36.5 million
- Jaden McDaniels: $26.2 million
- Ayo Dosunmu: $19.3 million (estimated)
- Josh Green: $14.7 million
- Donte DiVincenzo: $12.5 million
- Joan Beringer: $4.4 million
- Jaylen Clark: $3.1 million (estimated)
- Terrence Shannon Jr: $2.8 million
- Isaiah Evans: $1.4 million
Rocco Zikarsky, Enrique Freeman, and second-round pick Trey Kaufmann-Renn are slated for two-way contracts. After all that, they're only about $9 million under the second apron, where they're hard-capped. They still need to fill at least three more standard roster spots to hit the required 14. This team is navigating a seriously tight financial spot. The Phillips decision freed up needed breathing room. Moving Josh Green's expiring contract could create more flexibility, especially to use all of their $6.1 million taxpayer mid-level exception.
So, Phillips is off to find his next team, but the real story is Minnesota trying to squeeze every dollar to build a contender. High-priced talent, a pending mega-trade, and few roster spots left to fill. They might even try bringing back Kyle Anderson or Bones Hyland cheaply, if the price is right. It's gonna be fascinating to watch how this shakes out. Seriously, keep an eye on the Wolves, because their moves could define their future, and it's far from over!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.