Timberwolves Trying to Trade 2nd Round Pick for Future 1st?

Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, did the unthinkable on Thursday. He stood pat at pick No. 17 and drafted the Wolves’ favorite overall prospect still on their board, 18-year-old French big man, Joan Beringer, considered one of the best rim protectors in the draft.

Beringer is a raw talent, but he’s considered by most to have huge upside. After the draft, Wolves general manager Matt Lloyd confirmed that Joan will play on Minnesota’s summer league team next month, which likely means the 7-foot, 240 lb youngster will spend his first professional season in the USA as a member of the Iowa Wolves.

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Of course, the NBA Draft is far from over, especially for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who hold the first overall pick in the second round, which begins Thursday evening at 7 p.m. CDT. So, what do you think Connelly and his front office are doing today, while they wait to go on the clock?

Minnesota Timberwolves trying to trade for future 1st round pick…?

They’re on the phones shopping No. 31 overall, of course, another thing GM Matt Lloyd confirmed late Wednesday night, in his post-draft interview. And what is Minnesota seeking in trade talks, you ask? Well, this is the second year that the NBA Draft has been a two-day event, and that could help increase offers.

Last year, it was the Toronto Raptors who held the first overall pick in the 2nd round. And according to what Minnesota’s GM has been told, the Raptors were taking calls this time last year on offers that included future 1st round picks, something Lloyd seemed excited about possibly happening for the Timberwolves today.

“We were just watching the end of [of the first round]. I’m sure [Tim Connelly] is upstairs right now talking to agents about what the assessment of the draft will be. But there are going to be good players there and I think teams will be [calling].

It’s the second year of the two-day draft. Someone told me last year that ‘Toronto was getting offered future first round picks, dada dadada’. So we’re going to have to kind of line that up and see what the offers are. We may just draft another guy so we just don’t know yet.”

Matt Lloyd – Minnesota Timberwolves GM

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Lloyd only confirmed what we already knew during his interview . There is no doubt Tim Connelly is dangling pick No. 31 to teams who might be salivating over 1st round talents who dropped into the 2nd round — guys like Maxime Raynaud (C – Stanford), Rasheer Fleming (F – St. Joe) and Beringer’s fellow Frenchman, Noah Penda.

Why trading No. 31 makes sense for Wolves

This is a great opportunity for a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves, who could probably use future first round draft pick far more than they do a 2nd round project. The Wolves have talented youngsters waiting in the wings at just about every position, up and down the organization, something Lloyd believes will reveal itself during Summer League play.

What the Timberwolves currently do not have, though, is a first round draft pick in 2027. On top of that, Minnesota’s 2026 1st round pick is almost guaranteed to be a late one, thanks to various pick swap scenarios that are impossible to fully understand.

This is the Wolves' 1st round pick swap scenario for next draft (via @RealGM). Any questions…….? 🤕 pic.twitter.com/AlYQkKJhGg

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) June 26, 2025

Thus, if the Minnesota Timberwolves can trade a future first round pick that isn’t protected by so much red tape that it doesn’t feel real, then I’d imagine Connelly jumps at the opportunity. Unless, of course, he sees one of the remaining talents as players the Wolves can’t pass up on. But those weren’t the vibes coming from their GM last night.

Either way, we will find out soon enough.