Report: Timberwolves shopping Budinger, Pistons and Rockets interested

The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly interested in parting ways with oft-injured sharpshooting wing Chase Budinger, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

The Timberwolves acquired Budinger in a deal with the Houston Rockets in 2012, and subsequently inked him to a 3-year, $15 million extension in 2013. He's owed $5 million in each of the next two seasons and with rookies Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins needing minutes on the wing, Budinger stands as an impediment to their development.

When healthy, Budinger is a useful bench piece. Over his first three seasons, all with the Rockets, Budinger averaged 9.4 points per game while connecting on 36.3 percent of his three-point attempts.

However, in the two seasons since, Budinger has appeared in only 64 of a possible 164 games, sinking just 33.8 percent of his triples.

Both the Rockets and Detroit Pistons are said to be interested in Budinger's services. The Pistons will be without recently acquired sharpshooter Jodie Meeks for two months due to a fractured back, while the Rockets have little depth on the wing.

Another report surfaced in June naming Budinger as one of the players the Timberwolves were looking to trade (see below).