Minnesota Sports Forum

There seems to be quite a bit of confusion and nail biting about NAWs contract status with the Wolves. Larry Coons CBA FAQ states bird rights are accrued with 3 consecutive years of service with one team which can include a partial year as the first year. It can be a 3 year deal, 3 one year deals or other combination of. If he isn't traded this season he will meet this criteria with the Wolves.

There might be some confusion out there, but I am confident we have his full Bird Rights. And it is way more than 3 years, because a player acquired by trade includes his years of service with his prior team(s). The only ways Bird Rights are lost is if a player becomes a FA and signs with a different team, or if his current team renounces its Bird Rights to create room under the salary cap to acquire another player, which did not happen here.

But the Wolves are still navigating salary cap hell with the aprons and luxury tax. This take may change over the next few weeks, but in my mind Randle is quickly become a "Must Keep" player for the Wolves. But in the next group of Jaden, NAZ or NAW, NAW ought to be highest priority as they navigate salary cap hell.