Kyle Anderson returns as Mn Timberwolves add veteran after Grizzlies buyout
The mn timberwolves are set to bring back Kyle Anderson after he agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and was placed on waivers, and he could be available to play as soon as Sunday at Denver.
Mn Timberwolves bring back a familiar locker-room leader
Anderson, 32, will rejoin the Wolves after a tour through several teams since leaving Minnesota in free agency. He spent two seasons with the franchise from 2022 to 2024 and was a key member of the group that advanced to the Western Conference finals in 2024. The Grizzlies confirmed Anderson was placed on waivers following his buyout agreement, and he intends to sign with Minnesota once he clears waivers.
How Anderson fits and what he brings back
Known during his first Minnesota stint for his playmaking and defense, Anderson averaged 7. 3 points, 4. 3 rebounds and 4. 5 assists across his two seasons with the Wolves, starting 46 games in his first year and helping the team reach the playoffs. This season he appeared in 24 games overall after opening with Utah (20 games) and then joining Memphis, and across those appearances he averaged 7. 5 points, 3. 3 rebounds, 2. 7 assists and 1. 2 steals in 20. 4 minutes per game while shooting 56. 3 percent from the field and 67. 4 percent from the line.
The Wolves’ recent roster moves — including trading for Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips, re-signing Mike Conley the buyout market, and adding a two-way guard — set the stage for another veteran addition. Minnesota will add Anderson’s versatility, playmaking and leadership without using a draft asset or trade slot; Memphis plans to fill the vacated roster spot by signing veteran Taj Gibson.
Buyout timing and playoff eligibility
The buyout clears a path for Anderson to join a playoff-contending rotation, but teams must complete buyouts or releases by March 1 for a player to be eligible for postseason play with his new team. Because Anderson has been placed on waivers and intends to sign once he clears, the Wolves could activate him quickly if roster and salary mechanics allow.
Contract details in the record show Anderson remained under contract beyond this season with a non-guaranteed salary scheduled for 2026/27; he was still owed a portion of this season’s pay at the time of the buyout. He opened the year with Utah, where he appeared in 20 games before the trade that sent him to Memphis, and then logged a brief stint of appearances with the Grizzlies.
Coach Chris Finch praised Anderson’s high basketball IQ and leadership during his earlier time with the team, traits that often did not fully show up in box-score numbers but that helped the Wolves in late-game actions and defensive assignments. In his first Minnesota season he started and helped the team adjust to new frontcourt pairings; in his second season an eye injury carried over from the previous playoffs and affected his shooting early in the year.
With the buyout complete and waivers processed, the next concrete steps are clear: Anderson must clear waivers and then sign with Minnesota, after which the team can decide availability. The immediate scheduling note is that he could be available to play as soon as Sunday at Denver once those formalities are finished.
