5 players the Timberwolves could pursue on the buyout market

Minnesota has two open roster spots.

The NBA trade deadline has passed but the Minnesota Timberwolves still have a chance to bolster their roster for the second half of the season.

Armed with the best record in the Western Conference, the Timberwolves are an intriguing destination for players who have recently been bought out and it presents an opportunity to add shooting, size and an extra defender as they make a push toward a playoff run.

Here's a look at five players the Timberwolves could target as they dive into the buyout market.

Danilo Gallinari

Gallinari, who has been wavied, would fit multiple needs for the Timberwolves as an elite shooter and an extra big man if Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert gets into foul trouble.

At 6-foot-10 and 230 pounds, Gallinari has a diverse game that could help the Timberwolves at multiple positions but the wild card is his shooting. The 35-year-old is a career 38.2% 3-point shooter and shot just under 40% from deep from 2019 to 2022.

Gallinari's effectiveness has gone down since tearing his ACL while playing for Italy in a FIBA World Cup qualifier in 2022 and he's only shooting 35.5% on 3-pointers this season while appearing in 35 games for the Detroit Pistons.

Still, Gallinari could work off the rust with some extra playing time. If he's able to find his form, he could be a solid pickup for the Wolves.

Evan Fournier

Fournier has yet to be bought out by the Detroit Pistons but could be another target once the anticipated move is made.

Fournier played in just three games for the New York Knicks before he was traded in a deal for Bojan Bogdanovic earlier this week and Gobert, who played with Fournier on the French national team, believes his time on the bench was more about his relationship with Tom Thibodeau than his game.

"I think he can contribute and help a lot of teams," Gobert said after a preseason game in New York last October. "I think everybody knows it. But it's kind of weird when you end up on the bench and you don't really know why. Sometimes you can be stuck in a situation. I know he's going to have an opportunity again and everybody will understand that he can help and win."

To Gobert's credit, Fournier averaged 14.1 points and had a .389 3-point percentage when he started 80 games for the Knicks in 2021-22 but played in just 27 games during the 2022-23 season before being mothballed this year.

A veteran who could add depth to the backcourt, Fournier is a name worth monitoring.

Seth Curry

While it wouldn't make up for passing on his brother twice in the 2009 draft, Curry could add another shooter to the lineup if he comes to Minnesota. Of course, he'd ned to be bought out by Charlotte after being traded by Dallas last week. 

Curry is a 43.2% 3-point shooter in his career and a veteran of eight different teams. While he's struggled to get consistent playing time with the Mavericks, a lot of that had to do with a plethora of guards in front of him including Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Dante Exum and Jaden Hardy.

Unfortunately, that's what could make Curry a hot commodity for teams down the stretch. Several teams are looking for shooting and like many of the names on the list, there isn't much of a "what if" factor as Curry is knocking down 36.1% of his 3-pointers in 37 games this season.

Curry would be a great fit for the Wolves but his arrival feels like more of a pipe dream than a sure thing.

Delon Wright

If the Timberwolves can't add a shooter in the buyout market, they could lean into their defense by adding Wright. The 6-foot-5 combo guard has been a strong defender during his career which has offset his streaky offensive profile as a career 35.4% 3-point shooter.

The good news is that Wright is connecting on his shot with a 37.8% clip from downtown this season and that defense could form an impenetrable trio with Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards or Nickeil Alexander-Walker on the perimeter.

A 3-and-D player would satisfy both needs for the Timberwolves even if they would still need to add another player on the buyout market. After having reported interest in Wright at the trade deadline, it would make sense if Tim Connelly made the call once he hits the market.

Patty Mills

While the Timberwolves need 3-point shooting and an extra defender, they also need some playoff experience. Marcus Morris Sr. could be one player who could fill this role but his declining game could steer Minnesota away.

That could lead Minnesota to Mills, who has 95 career playoff appearances over his 15-year career. The 35-year-old also has several connections to the Wolves after playing with Kyle Anderson in San Antonio and is represented by Steven Heumann of CAA Sports, who also represents Mike Conley.

Mills, who would need to be bought out by the Hawks, isn't much of a defender and his addition would be more of a voice in the room with the addition of Monte Morris earlier this week. But Mills could add a calming influence to a team short on playoff experience and help lead them on a long run in May.

Danilo Gallinari / Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports