Confirmed: Timberwolves Very Much in on LeBron James

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LeBron James and Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards while playing together on Team USA
Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

It was a bit surprising when reports came out earlier this week that the Minnesota Timberwolves were shooting their shot with 41-year-old legend LeBron James. At the same time, if you know how Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly operates, it wasn’t shocking at all.

That’s what Tim does. Good, bad or otherwise — our PoBO is a high-volume shooter. If there’s a talented player available, the MN Timberwolves are calling to gauge interest in a possible connection. The way Connelly sees it, you just never know… which is how Rudy, Randle and now LaMelo all landed here.

But how serious are they as a landing spot for LeBron James, who claims that money is not part of his decision-making process this time around, as he searches for a new city to presumably ride off into the basketball sunset with?

Minnesota Timberwolves in daily talks with LeBron James

While it remains a longshot that LeBron ultimately chooses Minnesota, the Timberwolves are not going to go away quietly. According to Darren Wolfson (KSTP) on SKOR North, James continues to show enough interest in the Wolves that the two sides have been talking all week.

And not just Tim Connelly, either. It sounds like owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are in on this recruiting process, as well.

“I think there’s a good amount of credibility [to the LeBron James + Timberwolves reports]. I felt confident when we went on the air, on channel 5 here in the Twin Cities Tuesday at 6 p.m., reporting that the Wolves had reached out to LeBron, his representation, and that continued into Wednesday. There have been multiple conversations.

Now, if I’m handicapping this thing, I’m not giving the Wolves this great chance, but I appreciate the effort being made. I mean, this goes all the way up to ownership, right? when you are recruiting a player of this type of stature, why wouldn’t you lean on Alex Rodriguez, right? Marc Lore, right? This goes beyond Tim Connelly and the front office, but yes, there is all sorts of recruitment going on.”

Darren Wolfson – SKOR North (Flagrant Howls)

Related: Mike Conley Moving On From Minnesota

If the Minnesota Timberwolves remain in daily contact with James’ agent Rich Paul, then they are still in the fight, right? At least for now, it is clear that James is at least showing enough interest in the Wolves to keep them on the phone.

Now, as we’ve already mentioned and Wolfson pointed out, the Wolves are not considered front-runners for James, who averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game (60 games) as a 40-year-old Laker last season.

Rich Paul lists Timberwolves on his whiteboard of options

But if you have any doubts over Doogie’s reporting, or just the idea that Minnesota has a chance to land LeBron… let’s ask his mega-agent Rich Paul — who actually hosts a podcast with former ESPN media personality, Max Kellerman. And on Thursday, Paul created a whiteboard filled with LeBron’s most likely destinations.

And right there, under James’ name — in the middle of the whiteboard that will undoubtedly be viral by the end of the morning — you’ll find the Wolves (“Ant, Melo, McDaniels and Gobert”) listed among the five teams with the best chance at reeling in the King — along with Philly, Miami, Denver and Cleveland.

Related: Timberwolves Low on Free Agent Funds

According to Paul’s whiteboard, the Wolves appear to be in a better spot than Boston, Dallas, Golden State, San Antonio and the New York Knicks, who all seem to be on the outside looking in, at least for now.

As has been reported (and as you can see on the whiteboard), if LeBron’s decision really comes down to best basketball fit, there is no better landing spot than Minnesota, where they are a good starting power forward away from being a legitimate Western Conference contenders.

However, inject LeBron into that slot and suddenly, the MN Timberwolves would be NBA Championship favorites. And that is why the 4x Larry O’Brien winner can’t help but be interested in moving up north for his final hoorah…

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