Why the Cody Williams Trade Reshapes Timberwolves and Jazz Roster Plans
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz swapped wings and salary in a deal that sends Josh Green to Utah for Cody Williams and John Konchar. The reported trade, first covered by theScore, is a small move with big implications for how both teams manage their cap sheets and build their rotations.
What Minnesota Needed: Cap Relief and a Young Wing
The Timberwolves had already agreed to a contract with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, according to HoopsHype. That deal pushed Minnesota dangerously close to the NBA's second-apron hard cap. To finalize Kuminga's contract, the team needed to clear salary and create roster room. Moving Josh Green – whose future in Minnesota CBS Sports described as "unlikely to crack the rotation" – accomplishes that goal.
In return, Minnesota gets Cody Williams on his rookie contract, which carries a $6.8 million average annual value and a $7.6 million team option for next summer, per SI.com. The Timberwolves also absorb John Konchar's expiring $6.1 million deal for the 2026-27 season. Those contracts give Minnesota immediate cap flexibility. Konchar's deal can be waived or used as a trade chip before the deadline. Williams, a 2024 lottery pick, gives the team a young, low-cost wing to develop behind Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
Utah's Long Game: Collecting Veteran Presence and Cleaning the Books
The Jazz entered the trade with limited tradeable contracts beyond Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., as SI reported. By sending out Williams and Konchar, Utah clears two roster spots and avoids the decision on Williams' team option next summer. In exchange, they bring back Josh Green, a 25-year-old guard who can defend multiple positions and hit spot-up threes.
The J-Notes characterized the deal as a signal Utah is prioritizing a certain kind of roster construction. Green is not a star, but he is a proven rotation player. The Jazz, deep in a rebuild, may value his professionalism and two-way fit alongside younger pieces like Keyonte George and Taylor Hendricks. The trade also leaves Utah with fewer long-term financial commitments, preserving cap space for future moves.
Contract Math That Drives Decisions
On paper, the trade nearly swaps salary. But the structure matters. Williams' rookie deal is below market value for a top-10 pick, giving Minnesota a cost-controlled asset. Konchar's expiring contract is a pure financial tool: the Timberwolves can let it expire, stretch it, or bundle it in a later trade. Green's salary (not publicly detailed in available reports) is presumably similar, but the Jazz gain a player who can contribute immediately without blocking their younger core.
What It Means for Both Rotations
For Minnesota, the addition of Williams adds depth behind their established wings. The team now has a developmental piece who may not play major minutes this season but could grow into a rotation role. Konchar, meanwhile, is a reliable defender and passer who can log spot minutes when injuries hit.
Utah gains a plug-and-play guard in Green, who started 52 games last season for the Dallas Mavericks and Timberwolves. He is not a future star, but he fills a need for perimeter defense and ball movement. The Jazz also shed two contracts that, while small, limited their flexibility in future negotiations with their core players.
This is not a headline-grabbing trade. It is a cap-sheet trade, the kind that lets a contender like Minnesota stay under the second apron and a rebuilder like Utah keep its books clean. Both sides got what they needed. The names on the jerseys may change, but the logic is the same: every dollar of salary and every roster spot shapes what a team can do next.