After Jake Layman struggled through his first two NBA seasons, the Trail Blazers surprisingly guaranteed his salary for last season. Layman responded with a fine season as a reserve/part-time starter.
Now, he’ll parlay that into a solid payday for a former No. 47 pick.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Portland restricted free agent F Jake Layman is signing a three-year, $11.5M deal with Minnesota, agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Minnesota is acquiring Layman in a sign-and-trade agreement with the Blazers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2019
Bobby Marks of ESPN:
Minnesota is acquiring Jake Layman into the trade exception that will be created when Dario Saric is traded to Phoenix. The PHX/MIN draft night trade will occur first on 7/6 before Layman can be acquired.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 4, 2019
The largest three-year contract the Timberwolves can give Layman with the Dario Saric trade exception is worth $11,283,256. Presumably, Wojnarowski/Bartelstein are just rounding generously.
Layman will join a deep group of players who can play forward in Minnesota – Robert Covington, Andrew Wiggins, Jarrett Culver, Keita Bates-Diop and Noah Vonleh. If the 25-year-old Layman sustains his improvement as an outside shooter and cutter/finisher, he’ll find minutes.
