Latest news with #Timberwolves'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA rumors: The Timberwolves player untouchable in Kevin Durant trade talks
The post NBA rumors: The Timberwolves player untouchable in Kevin Durant trade talks appeared first on ClutchPoints. When the Phoenix Suns acquired Kevin Durant in a 2023 trade, Anthony Edwards virally declared that the Minnesota Timberwolves would be fine since they had Jaden McDaniels. Two years later, the Timberwolves' front office clearly feels the same way about McDaniels as Edwards does and is not willing to include him in trade discussions. Advertisement Despite not being one of Durant's three preferred trade destinations, the Timberwolves are keeping themselves in the discussion. However, while open to trading several key players, they are not willing to include McDaniels, per The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. 'Getting close to KD's salary to make a trade mechanically possible is a challenge,' Krawczynski wrote. 'The Wolves are not including Jaden McDaniels in any KD trade talks, per team sources, which means that one of [Julius] Randle or Rudy Gobert would have to be the primary salary eater in the deal.' Without including a player like McDaniels, the Timberwolves do not figure to have enough firepower to pull off a Durant trade. The Suns would not relinquish Durant for a deal centered around Julius Randle or Rudy Gobert, even if Minnesota includes its 2025 and 2026 first-round picks. With the teams involved, Phoenix will almost certainly have better offers on the table. However, if the Timberwolves somehow pull it off, a hypothetical trade would reunite Edwards and Durant. The two were teammates on Team USA at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, where they were seen spending a lot of time together. Edwards previously called Durant his role model, admitting he emulates a lot of his game. Timberwolves' 2025-2026 salary situation Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports After an exit in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2025 playoffs, the Timberwolves enter the offseason without much room to work. If Minnesota makes any significant roster changes, it will likely have to come by trade. Advertisement The Timberwolves have Edwards, McDaniels and Gobert booked on lucrative deals through the 2026-2027 season. Randle and Naz Reid both have player options for the 2025-2026 season, with the former's worth $30.5 million. Early reports suggest both will stick around for at least one more year. In addition to their larger contracts, the Timberwolves also have Donte DiVincenzo and Mike Conley Jr. making over $10 million in 2025-2026. Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., Leonard Miller and Jaylen Clark all also return, though on minor deals. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who made just over $4 million in 2024-2025, is the team's only rotational player hitting the open market. Related: Timberwolves rumors: Insider reveals why Kevin Durant trade is 'incredibly difficult' Related: Stephen A. Smith's Kevin Durant-Heat fit comes with Timberwolves warning
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Knicks must stop trying to poach rival coaches
For the June 11th, 2025 edition of the Morning Take, Brandon London sounds off the Knicks repeatedly getting denied opportunities to interview the Timberwolves' Chris Finch and the Rockets' Ime Udoka for New York's vacant head coach position.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brian Windhorst Doubts Timberwolves Can Retain Julius Randle, Naz Reid, And Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Brian Windhorst Doubts Timberwolves Can Retain Julius Randle, Naz Reid, And Nickeil Alexander-Walker originally appeared on Fadeaway World. After the Minnesota Timberwolves' exit in the Western Conference Finals, the franchise now faces a pivotal offseason filled with difficult decisions. Despite a strong playoff run, the team is staring at major financial constraints that could force it to part ways with several key players. ESPN's Brian Windhorst addressed this looming dilemma during an appearance on Pardon My Take, stating bluntly: Advertisement 'I don't think they can keep this team together. The core they can, but… Julius Randle's a free agent. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a free agent. Naz Reid is a free agent. He has an opt out, which I'm sure he's going to take. Ant's contract is very large… I would be surprised if they were able to re-sign all three guys.' And the math backs him up. Julius Randle has a $30 million player option for next season, but the former All-Star is expected to opt out and test the open market, likely seeking a longer-term deal. Randle, who averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists this season, has proven himself as a strong secondary scorer and shot-creator. His physicality and playmaking fit well with Minnesota's system, but it's uncertain if the team can afford him moving forward. Advertisement Naz Reid, the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year, is also likely to opt out of his $15 million player option. Coming off a stellar season where he averaged 14.2 points and 6.0 rebounds while anchoring the second unit, Reid is expected to command significant interest in free agency, possibly even starter-level money. For a Timberwolves team already deep into the luxury tax, retaining him would require sacrificing depth elsewhere. Nickeil Alexander-Walker presents a similar dilemma. He had a breakout campaign as one of the league's better 3-and-D wings, averaging 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while also consistently guarding opposing stars. As an unrestricted free agent, he will likely garner offers from multiple contenders that could outprice the Timberwolves' budget. Advertisement The root of the issue lies in Minnesota's financial structure. The Timberwolves are already a second-apron team, meaning they're well over the salary cap and face the harshest penalties in the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement. These restrictions limit their flexibility when it comes to mid-level exceptions, aggregating salaries in trades, or even signing replacement players if someone leaves. Last year, they traded Karl-Anthony Towns not just for fit, but also to duck the repeater tax, a clear sign that ownership is hesitant to spend deep into the tax multiple years in a row. While the Timberwolves' front office has done a remarkable job building a competitive team around Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, tough decisions now loom. Advertisement The problem is simple but stark: the Timberwolves are already above the second apron and are projected to pay a luxury tax bill of approximately $92 million this season. Given that the franchise previously traded Karl-Anthony Towns partly to ease their financial burden, there's little indication they're willing to shoulder another massive tax hit just to retain a supporting cast. That financial pressure could lead to a worst-case scenario, all three of Randle, Reid, and Alexander-Walker leaving in free agency. While Edwards and Gobert remain under contract, losing that much depth would be a massive blow to a team trying to keep pace with Western Conference powerhouses like Oklahoma City and Denver. Advertisement The Wolves have shown they can build a contender, but sustaining it in this punitive salary cap environment is another challenge entirely. As Windhorst said, while Minnesota might retain its core, the pieces around it may soon be wearing different uniforms. The Timberwolves are walking a financial tightrope, and with free agency looming, their next moves will shape the future of this franchise for years to come. Related: Leaked Chats Expose Naz Reid Using Slurs With Fan, Wolves Player Reveals Sensitive Contract Details This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Belfast Telegraph
04-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Irish basketball star earns pre-draft workout with NBA team
The 22-year-old guard, who currently plays for college side the Charleston Cougars, will take part in the event in a bid to impress the Timberwolves' coaches ahead of the NBA Draft, which begins on June 25. Fulton, the son of former Ireland international Adrian, started his career with St Malachy's College and Belfast Star in Northern Ireland before securing a move Stateside in 2020, joining the Winchendon School in Boston. A switch to Lafayette University followed after securing a basketball scholarship and he would then move on to Charleston, whom he featured for in college basketball's annual 'March Madness' tournament last year. Now he will get a shot at standing out in front of an franchise that only just missed out on going to the NBA Finals this year, losing the Western Conference Finals for the second year in a row, beaten by the Oklahoma City Thunder after missing out to the Dallas Mavericks a year ago. Were he to break into the NBA then Fulton would follow in the footsteps of Dublin's Pat Burke, who played for the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns in the early 2000s, while Susan Moran featured for the WNBA's New York Liberty in 2002. Fulton could make history, however, as he would the first Irish-trained player to reach the NBA should be dress for a game at any point as Burke, while Dublin born, moved to Cleveland, Ohio when he was just three-years-old. While he is not currently listed inside the top-100 expected draft picks, that does not mean the Belfast man could not forge a successful career for himself, with the likes of Artis Gilmore and Randy Smith (both 1971) having been drafted outside the top-100 and gone on to become All-Stars.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Marcus Morris Slams The Timberwolves' Defense Against SGA
Marcus Morris Slams The Timberwolves' Defense Against SGA originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Any team would struggle to play against a star like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He rightfully earned the 2024-25 regular season MVP on the back of a 68-win season as the Oklahoma City Thunder's best player. Advertisement He has a unique style on offense with his excellent control of his pace, which is a problem for most defenders. The Minnesota Timberwolves tried multiple defenders on him, but they were unable to crack the code. Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images For most of the Western Conference Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander's primary matchups were his cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaden McDaniels, and Donte DiVincenzo. Sometimes, Anthony Edwards would defend him, but that was less often than expected. That was criticized by people like Marcus Morris, who wanted him to step up. Most of the time, Edwards had limited defensive responsibilities because he needed to spearhead the Timberwolves' offense. Advertisement Related: Chris Finch Reacts To Anthony Edwards Embracing All The Pressure As The Star Morris Disliked Alexander-Walker Defending Gilgeous-Alexander For Morris, he did not like the Timberwolves' defensive scheme of putting Alexander-Walker on the 2024-25 MVP. He felt Alexander-Walker did not have the same oomph as other defenders like Edwards and McDaniels. "Let me say this, his cousin guarding Shai might be the worst decision I've ever seen. Why would you put his cousin on him? That doesn't make sense to me because there's not gonna be any bad blood," Morris said on The Kevin O'Connor Show. McDaniels showed potential because, in Game 1, McDaniels held Gilgeous-Alexander to 2-of-13 shooting from the field in the first half. The MVP would bounce back and lead his team to the win, but McDaniels proved he could hang with OKC's superstar guard. Advertisement That did not remain consistent throughout the series because Gilgeous-Alexander kept facing different coverages. While it was difficult to score against them, he still found ways to get his rhythm. The Timberwolves Have More Room To Grow On Defense Despite being one of the league's best defensive teams, the Thunder were above the rest. Coach Chris Finch has the tools to be a top-tier defense, he needs to maximize everyone's talent. Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert make for a strong defensive foundation. At the same time, the rest of the team can improve, especially with Julius Randle and Mike Conley Jr. Advertisement Edwards, Alexander-Walker, and DiVincenzo are all solid defenders, but if they want to compete, they must be gritty like the Thunder. It will be a challenging level to reach, but the Timberwolves can do it. After two Western Conference Final exits, the Timberwolves know they are close to the top. They need to keep pushing and improving on aspects of their team that could be elevated. Related: Rudy Gobert Gets Honest About Playing Against "Relentless" OKC Thunder Defense This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
