National Basketball Association

Wolves add second-round pick Robinson to fold with guaranteed contract

Published Sep. 16, 2014 4:41 p.m. ET

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MINNEAPOLIS -- The 2014 Timberwolves' roster shift is far from completion.

According to FOX Sports 1 NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the franchise and second-round draft pick Glenn Robinson III have agreed to a guaranteed deal that ensures he'll be in Minnesota for the start of training camp Sept. 30. President of basketball operations and coach Flip Saunders lauded Robinson's abilities after drafting him 40th overall and intimated he'd have a good chance at earning a roster spot.

"At 40, we were thinking it would be a guy we would put over in Europe, a guy that might not have the ability to make our team," Saunders said after the draft. "That changed when the draft unfolded with some of the players. And he was definitely one of the players."

It also means the Wolves will have 16 players under guaranteed contract, one over the NBA's roster limit, for the upcoming season.

So someone is on his way out the door.

The best bet has long been J.J. Barea, whom Saunders reportedly tried to deal at last year's trade deadline and later tack on alongside Kevin Love in the blockbuster deal that brought Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young to Minnesota. But the Wolves have been unable to move the fiery guard's contract after three up-and-down years in Minneapolis.

Last year, Barea shot 38.7 percent from the floor, his worst mark since his rookie season in 2006-07. He's never quite fit congruently into Minnesota's rotation, backing up Ricky Rubio at the point though he carries some traits of a shooting guard.

If Saunders isn't able to deal the former Dallas Maverick by the time the season starts, he may consider buying him out. Minnesota owes him $4.5 million for the upcoming year, the last on his contract before he'll become an unrestricted free agent.

That's a hefty sum, but one owner Glen Taylor may consider forking over in order to stabilize the roster. Barea's part of a guard logjam that includes Mo Williams and Zach LaVine.

The Wolves signed Williams to a one year, $3.75 million deal this offseason, further insinuating that Barea's time in the Twin Cities is drawing to a close.

The only other buyout possibility would be forward Robbie Hummel, who impressed enough in his rookie season to earn a one-year, $880,000 contract in July. That's an easier financial pill to swallow, but Minnesota probably wouldn't have guaranteed Hummel's deal so early if its brass was leaning toward dumping him before the season begins.

The Wolves hope to be even deeper at forward with Robinson's athleticism and transition abilities. The son of former NBA start Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson started all 76 games in his two-years at Michigan and averaged 12 points on 52.5 percent shooting and 4.9 rebounds per game.

"He's a first-round talent," Saunders said. "We're really excited about him."

Said Robinson after the draft: "I knew my name was going to be called, and I was just grateful to have the opportunity to be behind this Timberwolves organization, and I'm just very excited to get going."

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