The Timberwolves have a few different ways they could go before next season tips off, but one of the cleaner paths runs through a trade. Minnesota could stick with the roster it has, fill in around the edges with veteran minimum deals, and keep Jaden McDaniels at the four. Or, in the version of reality that would send Wolves fans spiraling into pure fantasy, LeBron James could pick Minnesota as his next stop and sign for cheap.
The more realistic route, though, is the one that uses Josh Green’s $14.6 million expiring salary to bring in a power forward. And one name that deserves more attention is Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin.
Toppin checks a lot of boxes for what Minnesota needs. He would give LaMelo Ball the kind of athletic lob threat he has tended to click with in the past, and the clearest comparison is Miles Bridges. Toppin’s game would mirror a lot of what Bridges brought Ball in Charlotte, especially as a dynamic finisher who can turn a simple pass into an easy bucket.
That’s the headline trait, but it’s not the only one. Toppin is one of the most athletic players in the league, and he’d be a natural fit in transition with Ball feeding him on the move. He also brings real value as a floor spacer at the four, having knocked down at least 35 percent of his 3-pointers in each of his three seasons in Indiana.
That kind of spacing would matter next to Rudy Gobert, and Toppin’s ability to sprint the floor would fit well with Ball and Ayo Dosunmu. The defensive limitations are part of the package, which is why he probably wouldn’t be a 30-plus-minute player every night. But as a fifth starter, with a role that puts him around sixth or seventh in minutes, he makes a lot of sense.
He also looks like one of the more attainable names on the market. Indiana is expected to be closer to full strength next season, and Toppin’s playing time could dip. He was already fighting for minutes with Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, and Jarace Walker, and the Pacers have now added Kelly Oubre Jr. on a two-year deal, which only tightens the forward rotation.
The contract fit is simple, too. Green and Toppin both make $14.6 million annually, which makes the deal easy to line up.
Green is on an expiring contract, while Toppin has one year after this next one at $16 million. From Indiana’s side, moving Toppin for Green’s expiring money, with a second-round pick potentially included, would make some sense.
For Minnesota, the appeal is obvious: a chance to finish the starting lineup without giving up a ton to do it. That’s the kind of move that can quietly change the shape of a roster.
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Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report has even gone as far as to flag Edwards as one of the next stars who could eventually ask out if the Timberwolves keep coming up short. The concern is less about one bad stretch than the possibility of another season that starts unevenly or ends with more frustration than progress, and that is the kind of backdrop that can change the conversation around a player of Edwards' stature fast. [Read more 🡒]
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The appeal starts with fit and ends with opportunity. Minnesota already has enough talent to matter, but adding James would give the Wolves a different kind of gravity, one that could help them chase the franchises first championship while giving him a chance to change the story again in a fourth NBA city. The question is whether that kind of pairing is realistic, or whether this is just the rare rumor that feels plausible because the pieces almost line up too neatly. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Are About To Learn If Joan Beringer Is Ready
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Summer League will offer the first clear checkpoint, and it should reveal whether Beringer is moving beyond raw tools and into dependable production. The biggest questions are familiar for a young big: staying disciplined on defense without getting into foul trouble, and adding more to his game offensively than just finishing plays around the rim. If he can show progress in those areas, Minnesotas frontcourt picture gets a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]