3. Trade James Johnson
Like Hernangomez, James Johnson only played 14 games for the Timberwolves. He also scored the ball well, going at 12.0 points per game.
However, that is where the comparison ends. At 32, Johnson is at the wrong end of his career to fit with the Timberwolves timeline. He also has a player option of $16 million due for next season, should he choose to take it, and why wouldn’t he?
The veteran still has some trade value left and the Timberwolves could do so much more with this cap space. One possible trade is to send Johnson to the Sacramento Kings in return for Harrison Barnes.
The former Golden State Warrior has been relatively successful with the Kings. He is five years younger than Johnson and brings championship experience with him. He would then be able to mentor some of the younger Timberwolves.
This trade will allow the Kings to offer some of their younger stars bigger money in the long term. Johnson has only one year left on his deal and then will probably be happy to sign for the veterans minimum which fits Sacramento’s timeline better than the Timberwolves.