It’s been an incredibly difficult start for Minnesota. But of late, they’ve won three-straight and resemble something closer to the basketball team we saw go to the Western Conference Finals last summer…. but not really.

Minnesota Timberwolves win streak is a good sign… right?

The Wolves are +7.5 point underdogs tonight vs the Thunder because this team still has not recovered from splitting up Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns during the offseason. Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo — both acquired in the KAT trade — have not lived up to expectations, which has led to the Timberwolves’ underwhelming start to 2024-25.

I swear on my life I've never seen a basketball player more prone to this exact mistake than Julius Randle. Knicks fans don't even need to watch, they know what's coming.pic.twitter.com/GZQYRwhnxM

— Hot Hand Theory (@HotHandTheory) December 30, 2024

As the season advances towards the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, the Minnesota Timberwolves are one of many teams expected to be shopping for significant improvements. Given how things have gone thus far, Randle’s name is expected to be among the names being repeatedly entered into the trade machine over the next month+.

The freshly turned 30-year-old two-time All-NBA power forward is averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists, numbers that are down across the board vs what he has done the past four seasons — 266 games (2021-24): 23.3 PTS, 9.9 REB, 5.0 AST). But more importantly, this Randle + Wolves experiment isn’t working on or off the court.

Julius Randle for Jerami Grant?

Today, I stumbled upon this piece from a basketball writer named DC Hendrix (Sporting News), who suggested the Wolves rid themselves of Julius Randle by trading him to Portland for 30-year-old scorer Jerami Grant.

“There could be a move that could help both Randle and the Wolves get back on track. Minnesota could send Randle to the Portland Trail Blazers for high-volume scoring forward Jerami Grant. 

Both players have been associated with trade rumors all season long. Grant has been decent in Portland this year but would be able to score a bit more frequently playing alongside a player the caliber of Anthony Edwards because he demands so much attention. “

In other words, exploring a trade that lands a wing player who can help space the floor for a what is a very muddy Minnesota Timberwolves offense right now could be a win/win for everyone. And a quick google search will tell you that Hendrix is absolutely correct about how open to trading Grant the Blazers are.

HIGH OCTANE HOOPS pic.twitter.com/ifPMny36yb

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 29, 2024

It took Jerami Grant a handful of years in the league before he was able to blossom into the 20 point scorer he is today, which is why he does not have near the accolades as Julius Randle, even though they are the same age. Last season, Grant averaged 21 points (.402% from 3PT), 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Blazers.

This season, the former 2014 2nd round draft pick has not been quite as productive (remind you of someone else in this article?) posting 15 points, 3.6 rebounds an 2.3 assists per game. In theory, he’s the type of player who should complement superstar Anthony Edwards in a much more natural way than Randle does.

Is this trade feasible?

Same goes for Grant’s theoretical fit with Rudy Gobert. Unlike Randle, Grant has yet to make All-NBA or even an All-Star appearance. In 2024-25, Jerami Grant is making just over $29 million, Randle makes $33 million. Thus, a straight swap does work, according to the NBA trade machine.

Related: Former First Round Guard Linked to Minnesota Timberwolves

In conclusion, a trade between Randle and Grant does seem viable, if both teams are as motivated as they seem. Do the Minnesota Timberwolves like Jerami Grant? Would the Trail Blazers be interested in Julius Randle? Those are questions we cannot answer, as of now.

What we do know is that both teams are interested in being active at the deadline and both Randle and Grant are among the most likely names to be moved from both rosters. So if the rest lines up… why not. Grant is currently under contract until the 2027-28 season (player-option) after signing a five-year, $160 million deal in 2023.

Randle has a player option that he is likely to exercise at the end of the season. Could the Trail Blazers value the flexibility trading for Randle could bring them? It’s certainly not impossible.

But it was Ant’s non-basketball comments after the game that perked some ears. In a way only Edwards can, the Minnesota wing wondered out loud to media why Portland guard, Anfernee Simons, has the same “Ant” nickname he does. Here he is trying to make sense of the situation.

Ant No. 2

I asked Anthony Edwards about Anfernee Simons’ big night and whether or not there’s enough room in the NBA for two ANT’s.

His response: pic.twitter.com/4E9Wx28jIn

— Kyle Theige (@KyleTheige) December 13, 2021

“He’s pretty good. I don’t know why they call him Ant. How is his name spelled?” Edwards said as he looked down at a nearby boxscore. “A-N-F. So I don’t get it. I think they should call him a different name. My name is A-N-T, you get where I’m coming from? His name is A-N-F.”

“But as far as basketball players, he’s really good. He makes tough shots. He defends. Like, he can play. So if they want to call him Ant, then can call him Ant No. 2. But it’s cool.”

Quote via Star Tribune

Anthony Edwards is an American treasure and must-see TV every time a camera turns on and he has a microphone in his face. Yes, he is a great young basketball talent but this kid is already the best interview, by a large margin, in the Minnesota Timberwolves locker room.

And he’s right. Anfernee Simons’ nickname doesn’t make sense and we can’t have two young up-and-coming players in the NBA with the same nickname. Something has to change. Edwards is better on the basketball floor and the “Ant” nickname makes more sense on him.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The basketball season isn’t over but the NBA and much of its following probably feels like it is. Viewership numbers continue to fall and now LeBron James is out of the playoffs after a game-6 1st round knockout by Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.

Let’s talk more important matters, though… like Minnesota Timberwolves trade rumors. That’s usually a more enjoyable exercise for Wolves’ fans, though it may not be the case today. On ESPN’s First Take Friday morning, Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman were discussing the likelihood that Damian Lillard stays in Portland long term, after he sent some cryptic tweets Thursday following his own playoff elimination.

That’s when Stephen A Smith received a text message he felt compelled to read on-air. It was apparently from someone who “has incredible credibility when it comes to basketball”. Well, that incredibly credible person mentioned Karl-Anthony Towns joining Lillard in Portland.

Here’s the exchange.

"I just got a text from somebody … and they mentioned to me Karl-Anthony Towns maybe in Portland."

???? @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/Lnpcf0sUEp

— First Take (@FirstTake) June 4, 2021

I don’t know who this “nameless” insider is, who texted Stephen A Smith, but the back and forth felt more like a speculative pipedream than it did actual steam. But this is something we’ll have to get used to when it comes to KAT.

That’s not all bad. It’s clear that Karl-Anthony Towns is building his rep back up within NBA circles. When rattling off Trailblazer players it would take to pry KAT from the Wolves, Smith led off with both Yusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum, just to get the conversation started. That perked my interest, slightly.

Now, Karl has emphatically stated his intent to win with the Minnesota Timberwolves and I believe there’s ZERO chance Rosas trades him away before the start of next season. But, it’s nice to see his stock rising, if nothing else.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan