The Minnesota Timberwolves still have a glaring hole at power forward, and the need is pretty simple: they need someone who can give them about 20 quality minutes a night next to Jaden McDaniels.
That’s why the recent buzz around Mario Hezonja’s possible NBA return is worth watching - and also why it probably shouldn’t go any further for Minnesota. Hezonja, a former lottery pick, is reportedly set to come back after five years overseas.
Jack Borman of Locked on Wolves pointed out that Hezonja and Trey Lyles were teammates for Real Madrid last season, and noted that Tim Connelly has never been shy about thinking outside the box. He also said the Wolves have done extensive scouting in Europe.
“Striking out on LeBron and turning to a duo from the EuroLeague would be something. But Tim Connelly hasn’t been afraid to think outside the box and his team has done extensive scouting in Europe.”
Still, signing Hezonja would be a strange answer to Minnesota’s forward problem. Unless that move is tied to a late offseason trade, the Wolves would be stuck piecing together their forward rotation until the trade deadline. For a team with title aspirations, that’s a risky way to live.
There’s also the simplest reason to pump the brakes: Hezonja hasn’t been in the league for five years for a reason. Across five NBA seasons, he put up 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 41.7/31.9/81.2. That kind of scoring profile and shot creation just hasn’t translated well enough, and expecting a 31-year-old to suddenly flip the script feels like a long shot.
Lyles, at least, was already the kind of international swing that could maybe grow into a rotation piece. Even then, with Minnesota’s lack of forward depth, he still looks more like an end-of-bench option than a dependable answer. The Wolves can’t afford to make the same bet on Hezonja.
To be fair, this isn’t an easy spot for Minnesota. The team only has the veteran minimum to work with and doesn’t have many obvious trade chips. On top of that, it has to wait until September 9 to aggregate Josh Green’s salary in a trade.
Even with those limitations, Hezonja still wouldn’t be the move.
A minimum signing is the easiest path, and while none of the options are exactly going to send fans into a frenzy, someone like Georges Niang makes more sense as a stopgap. He can stretch the floor, connect pieces on offense, and give the Wolves those 20 or so minutes while they keep working toward a bigger upgrade at the deadline.
There are other names worth kicking around, too. The Wolves could see whether they can pry Spencer Jones away from the Denver Nuggets or convince Jonathan Kuminga to accept a minimum deal. Jeremy Sochan is another intriguing gamble, though his spacing would be an issue.
So yes, Minnesota has options - just better ones than rolling the dice on Hezonja. And maybe Connelly has a trade already lined up that changes everything. Until then, passing on the Hezonja comeback bid looks like the smart play.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Could Be Eyeing Their Riskiest Power Forward Fix Yet
Minnesotas search for help at power forward has a familiar feel to it: the Timberwolves need size, athleticism and a little more juice on the front line, but they also have to shop carefully. Jonathan Kuminga fits the profile of a high-upside swing, and his age and physical tools make him an intriguing name for a team that could use another versatile forward in the mix.
The catch is that any pursuit would come with real risk, because Kuminga has not exactly been a clean fit everywhere he has played and his next stop would almost certainly be judged through the lens of opportunity as much as talent. For the Timberwolves, the appeal is obvious if he is willing to bet on himself and accept a smaller deal in exchange for a bigger role, but that kind of arrangement would still leave plenty of questions about whether Minnesota is buying upside or inviting another volatile frontcourt experiment. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Lose Another Coach As Finchs Staff Keeps Taking Hits
Another change is coming to Chris Finchs staff, with assistant coach Max Lefevre moving on after a run that began in Minnesota in 2019. Lefevre worked his way through player development and video roles before being elevated to a full assistant coach last year, making him one of the more familiar behind-the-scenes figures in the organization.
His exit adds another offseason hole for the Timberwolves to fill at a time when the bench has already been reshuffled. Minnesota has been trying to keep continuity around Finch, but the staff keeps getting thinner, and the next move on the coaching side will matter as much for stability as for any new voice it brings in. [Read more 🡒]
Wolves Just Lost The Veteran Backbone That Kept Everything Steady
The Timberwolves have spent the offseason looking a lot different than the group that reached the playoffs in 2023-24, and the most obvious change is not just on the floor. Only three players remain from that run, and with Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson and Joe Ingles gone, Minnesota has lost the steady veteran presence that helped keep the room organized when the season got bumpy. Those players were more than rotation pieces - they helped regulate the mood, keep the focus where it needed to be and make sure the group stayed on track.
President Tim Connelly has already pointed to the inconsistency that followed, saying the Wolves were not locked in enough from night to night. Now the burden shifts toward younger voices, with Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels expected to take on more of that leadership load. For a team still trying to define its identity after so much turnover, replacing production is one thing, but replacing the calm that held everything together is another challenge entirely. [Read more 🡒]