Timberwolves Out on Top Point Guards, Now What?
The Minnesota Timberwolves are currently slated to pick No. 28 overall in Tuesday’s NBA Draft. From the sounds of it, though, Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has little to no interest in actually making that pick.
Instead, Connelly’s been working for weeks/months trying to trade the 28th pick in tomorrow’s draft away, in exchange for something that can help transform Minnesota into a legitimate NBA Finals contender more quickly.
Minnesota looking for blockbuster trade up or out of the first round
According to Timberwolves insider and beat writer Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic), Connelly is exploring a couple of different paths to getting what he wants… but one seems a heckuva lot easier to travel than the other.
The first is no surprise, but it’s the increasingly more difficult path. It’s no secret Minnesota’s been trying to trade for a star-caliber veteran guard/wing to pair in the backcourt with Anthony Edwards for years. It’s been difficult, and isn’t getting easier.
Meanwhile, a surprise workout over the weekend with Labarion Philon Jr. — who’s expected to hear his name called in the first 15 picks Tuesday night — has suddenly opened an avenue to a possible trade up in the first round.
President of basketball operations Tim Connelly has been canvassing the league looking for trade opportunities, team and league sources told The Athletic. They were granted anonymity because talks are ongoing and no deals have been completed. The Wolves’ scenarios include trading the 28th pick as part of a package for a veteran or moving up in the first round.
Jon Krawczynski – The Athletic
While Jon reported what he was hearing on Philon’s visit, he remained skeptical over the timing and circumstances surrounding it. That proved to be some foreshadowing, when Monday night, the MN Timberwolves traded Julius Randle and their No. 28 overall pick to Brooklyn in a pure salary-dump move.
Connelly is itching to make a deal after he fell short in his pursuits for Kevin Durant before the 2025 trade deadline, then missing on Giannis Antetokounmpo back in February. However, he doesn’t want to get desperate either.
Timberwolves falling short in trade conversations…
And still Connelly is still expected to find backcourt talent. However, even Krawczynski is struggling to figure out where that guard help is going to come from.
Wanna start with Kyrie Irving? Jon says the Wolves have been out on him for “some time”. Thus, trade talks with the Mavericks appear dead. Unfortunately, it’s not looking good on the Derrick White or Josh Giddey fronts either, despite recent reports that the Timberwolves are interested.
Actually, from the sounds of it, Connelly appears to be falling short of asking price with all these guards, in general.
Whether [Dallas’ determination to keep Kyrie Irving] is genuine or they do not like what the Wolves have to offer is unclear and, ultimately, irrelevant. The Wolves have been looking elsewhere for guard help for some time.
Minnesota has been most aggressive in pursuing White… [who] turns 32 next month… but so far the Celtics have rebuffed the Wolves’ advances. Giddey is another intriguing name… But the Wolves have not received indications that the Bulls are willing to deal him, at least for what Minnesota can offer.
Jon Krawczynski – The Athletic
What about Ja Morant?
Or maybe… Connelly is lying in the weeds for Ja Morant? That’s what some have been wondering lately, as the Wolves seemingly fall out of other trade sweepstakes. And notably, Jon K. didn’t include any Morant steam in the article you’ve read clips from above.
Well, the longtime Timberwolves insider got on KFAN Radio Monday evening where he explained why Ja Morant was left off his trade speculation piece from earlier that same day.
It’s because, at the time his article was posted, he was not caught up enough with his sources on the Morant situation, and any interest Minnesota might have. However, he did bring an update to his appearance with Dan Barreiro.
Surprise, the Wolves aren’t interested in him either, and this time I cannot blame them. Too much baggage.
“Initially, I’ll be completely honest, I didn’t have a great read on the situation. I didn’t feel confident enough one way or the other, to put something in print and kind of just throw it out there. So I kept him out initially because of that. I needed some more information, needed to talk to more people.
As things stand right now, after having more conversations throughout the today, I don’t believe that Ja [Morant] is on the Timberwolves’ radar right now. I think, a combination of the money he makes. All the things he’s gone through injury-wise and off-the-court-wise, I just think there’s a lot of stuff going on there.
So on the list of players that the Wolves are trying to figure things out on, I just don’t think Ja is on there right now. Could that change if they swing and miss a bunch, and get a little desperate, I’m not going to rule that out. But as of right now, I don’t think that Ja Morant is in the Timberwolves’ thinking.”
Jon Krawczynski – KFAN Radio
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