The Timberwolves cleared nearly $5 million off their salary cap Saturday by waiving veteran center Cole Aldrich, as expected.
The team waived him hours before the NBA’s free-agency period begins at 11 p.m. Saturday Central time.
By doing so, they will pay him $2 million on $6.95 million due him for this coming season after he signed a mostly guaranteed three-year, $21 million contract in July 2016.
A Bloomington Jefferson High School star who played on Kansas’ 2008 NCAA title team, Aldrich was drafted 11th overall by New Orleans in 2010 and his draft rights were traded to Oklahoma City, the first of six NBA teams for which he has now played.