The Minnesota Timberwolves owe a lot of thanks to the Utah Jazz for their success over the past two years. The acquisitions of Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley have played a huge hand in their two consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals over the last two years. And now, the Jazz played a hand in what could be a diamond in the rough addition for the Timberwolves: Johnny Juzang.
ESPN's Shams Charania confirmed that the Timberwolves have signed Juzang to a one-year deal, adding a floor-spacer with size to a team that will need all the help they can get if they want to get over the hump.
Free agent guard Johnny Juzang has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. Juzang played his first three NBA seasons in Utah and averaged 8.9 points and 38% 3-point shooting in 19.8 minutes per game in 2024-25.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2025
While it's not like the Jazz intended for this to happen, they played a role in how this situation ended with yet another one of their alumni on the "Minnesota Jazz." In what was arguably the most shocking twist of Utah's offseason, the Jazz waived Juzang even though he proved last season that he belonged in the NBA. Not to mention, he was on a very team-friendly deal.
It's also not like Juzang was a star or anything, but the numbers spoke for themselves last season. In 64 games, 18 of which he started, Juzang averaged nearly nine points and three rebounds a game while shooting nearly 43% from the field and 37.6% from three.
He may have been playing on the NBA's worst team, but Juzang proved he brought something to the court. While a one-year deal that will likely only be a few million sounds about right for the Jazz alum, he deserves the legitimate shot Minnesota will give him.
He fits the mold of a talented player who hasn't been given much shine that could very well give some extra flavor to a contender if he takes his role and runs with it. Not only will he do that in Minnesota, but he will also join fellow Jazz alumni Gobert, Conley, and Joe Ingles.
Juzang could replace another Jazz alum with the Timberwolves
The Timberwolves already accomplished their offseason goals when they retained most of their rotation at a modest price. However, their most notable loss this offseason was ex-Jazzman Nickeil Alexander-Walker, a former journeyman who very much came into his own as a two-way wing on the T-Wolves, who joined the Atlanta Hawks.
Juzang is not Alexander-Walker, but his abilities as a three-point sniper could help offset the loss that was Alexander-Walker for Minnesota. In the NBA, contending teams try to find that player who turns out to be even better than many peg him as. On paper, Juzang fits the mold, but it will be on him to prove it.
Nonetheless, there's a lot to like about what he could do for the Timberwolves this coming season, and if he works out like Alexander-Walker did, that is yet another in what seems to be a growing line of massive favors the Jazz have done for the Timberwolves over the last three years.