Photo: Peter Baba

The Minnesota Timberwolves are likely to explore trading Josh Green for a lower-salaried player as they work to create enough financial flexibility to complete Jonathan Kuminga’s signing, according to The Athletic.

Minnesota needs to clear approximately $3 million to remain below the NBA’s second salary-cap apron, and Green’s $14.6 million salary makes him the most obvious candidate for a cost-cutting move. The Wolves could also waive and stretch Green’s contract rather than complete a trade.

Green, 25, has one season remaining on his three-year, $41 million contract. Minnesota acquired him from the Charlotte Hornets alongside LaMelo Ball in the four-team trade finalized in July.

The Wolves’ preference, according to The Athletic, is likely to be a trade that brings back a player earning less than Green. Such a move would preserve a roster spot and potentially add a contributor while generating the room required for Kuminga’s reported two-year deal.

Green’s recent production could make him a movable contract. He appeared in 58 games for Charlotte during the 2025-26 season, averaging 4.3 points in 15.7 minutes while shooting 45.9% from the field and 42.0% from three-point range.

His reduced role followed a much larger workload in 2024-25, when he started 67 of 68 games and averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 27.8 minutes. He also shot 39.1% from beyond the arc that season.

Over six NBA seasons, Green has appeared in 349 games and made 129 starts. The Australian wing owns career averages of 6.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 38.7% from three-point range.

The potential move comes after an aggressive Minnesota offseason that reshaped its roster around Anthony Edwards. The Wolves acquired Ball while also bringing in Green, then reached a deal with Kuminga to fill a frontcourt role after the departures of Julius Randle and Naz Reid.

Minnesota finished the 2025-26 regular season 49-33, good for sixth place in the Western Conference, before losing to the San Antonio Spurs in six games in the Western Conference semifinals. Edwards averaged 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 61 regular-season games.

The projected starting group of Ball, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga and Rudy Gobert would give Minnesota five players with substantial starting experience, but the Wolves must first complete the necessary financial maneuvering.