NBA Free Agency 2018: One signing every team should make

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Nemanja Bjelica #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against Ryan Anderson #33 of the Houston Rockets in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockets defeated the Timberwolves 119-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Timberwolves — Nemanja Bjelica

The Timberwolves are effectively capped out from making any major moves, as they are only $5.7 million under the luxury tax line with Jamal Crawford’s cap hold still on the books and Nemanja Bjelica’s $7.5 million restricted free agent cap hold on the books as well. Barring some kind of clearout of salaries like Gorgui Dieng or Cole Aldrich (whose $6.9 million non-guaranteed deal should be 100 percent off the books sooner rather than later) there won’t be a significant move for the Wolves this summer.

Bjelica’s restricted free agency is the one internal move that figures to cost Minnesota. There may not be a huge market for him this summer, but there’s also not a workable way for the Wolves to replace what he offers. Among their more traditional bigs supporting Karl-Anthony Towns up front, Bjelica is the one player who spaces the floor and offers a little bit of playmaking. It’s not much, but it matters on a team that doesn’t have a ton of it.

How they approach his restricted free agency will be telling. Will they try to get ahead of the most and sign him early in the process? Will they try and wait him out and see if team on the market signs him to an offer sheet? And just how expense will it get? Bjelica may not be the biggest salary on their ledger, but as they get closer to Towns’ extension kicking in and Jimmy Butler’s free agency, every dollar counts. So, can they keep a useful piece a price that won’t doom them moving forward?

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