JULY 8, 7:11pm: The signing is official, the team’s PR deparment tweets.
JULY 2, 8:23pm: Vonleh’s $2MM deal is worth slightly more than the league minimum, so the Wolves will have to use part of the mid-level or bi-annual exception to sign him, Krawczynski writes in his full story on the deal. According to Krawcznyski, the Wolves offered Vonleh a deal worth more money that would have had a team option in year two, but he wanted the opportunity to reach the open market again next year.
5:09pm: The Timberwolves and free agent forward Noah Vonleh have agreed to terms on a contract, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that it will be a one-year deal.
Krawczynski adds (via Twitter) that the agreement will be worth $2MM. Vonleh’s minimum salary for 2019/20 will be $1,882,867, so that figure may be rounded up. Otherwise, the capped-out Wolves would have to use part of another exception to sign him.
Vonleh, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft, will be joining his fifth NBA team and hasn’t developed into the sort of impact player that his draft spot might suggest. However, he had a very solid year in New York in 2018/19, averaging 8.4 PPG and 7.8 RPG with a shooting line of .470/.336/.712 in 68 games (25.3 MPG) for the Knicks.
Vonleh will slot into a Timberwolves frontcourt rotation that is expected to feature another newcomer in Jordan Bell alongside incumbents like Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng. Vonleh will help shore up the power forward spot with Dario Saric and Taj Gibson not returning.
Quality replacement for Gibson.
I wish the Knicks had brought him back. Faded toward the end, but was a good 2 way guy for most of the season playing under difficult circumstances. Like most people on the planet, he’s a better defender than Randle or Portis, and as good a rebounder.
Didn’t the Knicks already sign like 12 PFs?!
Not really, just overpaid big for 3 of them. Vonleh at this amount would have been a better option.
Wow lol. Vonleh and Chandler signed for 1 year $4.5 million combined and the Knicks paid Bobby Portis $31 million for 2 years and Taj Gibson $20 million over 2 years.
Smart moves from the Timberwolves. Vonleh will get to play in the paint with KAT and Covington providing spacing. He will help reduce to load on KAT because he will get Boards. If they can do some kind of Deal involving Wiggins and a pick or 2 for Dloading then they have a real good team here. Russell Culver Covington Vonleh and KAT plus young role players Jones Okogie and Bell
Not much invested in him. One year deal so he’s looking to play well for his next contract. I like it. Bell and him replace Saric and Taj. Might not quite get the #’s from them , but have a heck of a lot less $$ invested in them.
Game 1 – 27 46.7% from 3.
Game 27 – 68 27% from 3.
Kinda get why he didn’t gain traction on the trade market.