The Minnesota Timberwolves have spent the offseason building a roster that can go toe-to-toe with anybody in the NBA, and they’ve done it with a few moves that definitely raised eyebrows.
The biggest shock came first, when Minnesota swung a deal for LaMelo Ball. ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk reported the terms this way: “The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid and a series of draft picks, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday.
In addition to Reid, the Hornets will receive a 2033 unprotected first-round pick and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033). Charlotte also gets first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030," ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk wrote.
Minnesota kept going after that, adding another proven name late in the summer. Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Timberwolves, plus a player option, and ESPN’s Shams Charania noted that he would start alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on the West contender.
Even with those additions, there’s still a hole to fill after the departure of Naz Reid. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn thinks the answer could come from Dallas, with Minnesota sending Donte DiVincenzo to the Mavericks for PJ Washington.
Quinn wrote, “The Mavericks have a million forwards. Masai Ujiri tends to prefer having a million forwards, but this is excessive even by the standards his Raptors teams set.
Washington was acquired and extended by Nico Harrison, so he's an obvious candidate to cash out on that forward surplus. Minnesota does as well, though both teams are lacking in tradable draft capital.
Donte DiVincenzo's shooting would look nice in Dallas, though,” Quinn wrote.
Washington would give Minnesota another athletic, flexible option next to Edwards and Ball, and his arrival could also open the door for Kuminga to slide into the small forward spot. That kind of lineup versatility is exactly what makes this idea intriguing for the Timberwolves.
Dallas has already been floated as a possible trade destination for teams eyeing the versatile forward, so this is one to keep watching. If Minnesota can add another difference-maker to an already loaded group, it only strengthens the case that the Timberwolves are becoming a serious problem in the Western Conference.
In Other News...
Cooper Flagg Sees One Big Difference In These Mavericks
The Mavericks have spent the past year remaking themselves after the firing of general manager Nico Harrison, and the early results have at least pointed in a better direction. Between the trades, the coaching changes and the front-office reshuffling, Dallas has opened this season 7-4, a far different place than the club was in at this point a year ago.
Cooper Flagg has been one of the players reflecting that shift, both in the way he is producing and in the way he describes the group around him. The rookie has pointed to a more positive atmosphere inside the locker room, a notable contrast from the heavier tone that came with last season's struggles, and it is one more sign that the Mavericks believe the reset is starting to take hold. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper Flagg Is Already Forcing The Mavericks To Rethink Everything
Cooper Flaggs second NBA season has already changed the conversation around the Mavericks. Through his first 10 games, he has been producing across the board at a level that looks far beyond a normal early-career leap, and the buzz around him has only grown as teammates and analysts watch his development accelerate in real time. What looked like a promising young piece is starting to feel like a player Dallas may need to build around sooner than expected.
The latest reminder came in a big scoring night against Indiana, when Flagg poured in 43 points and helped push Dallas to another win. The performance only added to the sense that his ceiling is rising fast, with talk already centering on his All-Star potential and his importance to the Mavericks long-term plans. For a team trying to sort out its direction, Flagg is making the future look a lot more immediate. [Read more 🡒]
Mavs Fans Can Finally See A New Direction Taking Shape
The Mavericks have spent the past stretch trying to put the chaos of last season behind them, and the early signs of a reset are finally starting to show. Patrick Dumont taking full operational control marked the beginning of a different approach, and the front office overhaul that followed has given Dallas a fresh structure around the roster instead of the uncertainty that hung over the franchise for months.
Cooper Flagg has already given fans a reason to lean in, with his early play hinting at the kind of cornerstone the team has been searching for, and Kyrie Irvings return from injury adds another layer of intrigue to what this group can become. Add in the arrival of Morez Johnson Jr. and a new basketball operations setup under Mike Schmitz and Dusty May, and the Mavericks suddenly look like a team with a direction again, even if the real test is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]