Days before the NBA’s 2026-27 season opens, the Minnesota Timberwolves waived Puerto Rican forward Enrique Freeman, who had a two-way contract. Freeman, 26, had a quiet preseason with Minnesota, scoring four points in three games in under 10 minutes per game, after averaging 7.4 points and 7.8 rebounds in Las Vegas summer league. He had a similar two-way deal last season, playing four games with averages of 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds, and debuted in the NBA in 2024-25 with the Indiana Pacers.
If he does not sign a new deal, he would be available to wear the Puerto Rico national uniform again in FIBA 2027 World Cup qualifying: Puerto Rico plays in Panama on November 24 and hosts Uruguay on November 29 at the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón. Freeman belongs to the Vaqueros in the BSN.
Meanwhile, guard Julian Strawther, 24, will miss the start of the season with the Denver Nuggets after spraining his left knee in a preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers; he will be reevaluated in six weeks. He had been averaging 13.2 points in nearly 20 minutes in preseason and is entering his fourth Denver campaign after 7.2 points over 57 games last season.
Forward Phillip Wheeler, 24, was cut from the Phoenix Suns roster after a training-camp deal; he is expected to join the G-League’s Valley Suns.