The Timberwolves will pass on Justin Patton‘s third-year option for the 2019/20 season, putting the young center on track to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, according to Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Patton, 21, has been plagued by injuries since entering the NBA as the 16th overall pick in the 2017 draft. Acquired by the Timberwolves on draft night as part of their Jimmy Butler blockbuster with the Bulls, Patton broke his left foot in a workout before even getting a chance to play for Minnesota’s Summer League team.
After initially undergoing surgery on his left foot last July, Patton underwent a follow-up procedure in April, then broke a bone in his right foot in September and had surgery to repair that injury. As a result of his constant health problems, Patton has appeared in just one game for the Wolves, making his NBA debut on April 1. He played four minutes in that contest.
If Minnesota had exercised Patton’s 2019/20 option, it would have guaranteed his $3,117,240 cap hit for that season. By declining the option, the Wolves now won’t be permitted to offer a starting salary larger than that amount if they change course and want to retain the big man next July.
As our tracker shows, Patton is the fourth player confirmed to have his 2019/20 rookie scale option declined, joining Dragan Bender (Suns), Henry Ellenson (Pistons), and Malachi Richardson (Raptors). A handful of other players, including Marquese Chriss (Rockets) are also still at risk of having their options turned down.
That Butler trade just looks better and better
Remember how much sh** everyone gave the Bulls for having to give up that pick?
Just because the wolves screwed the pick up doesn’t mean it wasn’t a bad move. Patton could have been Kuzma, Collins, Anunoby. The crap people gave the Bulls made sense, and if it was a stable organization was on the other end it really would have made the Bulls look bad.
Right. Coulda had Markkanen, Dunn and LaVine and been really good right now. Instead they will have ZERO assets from that trade on the roster by the end of the year. FIRE TIBS
I can’t see keeping him on the roster and not exercising the 3rd year option, unless they believe they can use his (now) expiring contract in a trade.
What an unfortunately series of events for Patton, who looked like he had a shot at being a decent pro.
Hopefully he can overcome those injuries and get another shot with a less dysfunctional franchise.