As the NBA trade deadline approaches, the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in a familiar position: contenders with a clear need, but limited flexibility to address it. Sitting near the top of the Western Conference standings with a deep, defensive-minded roster and a rising superstar in Anthony Edwards, the Wolves are built to win now. But if there’s one area that could use a boost, it’s at point guard-and the front office knows it.
The problem? Their options are constrained, and a big reason why traces back to a move they made just seven months ago.
The Dillingham Dilemma
Minnesota made a bold bet on draft night in 2024, trading up to the No. 8 pick to select Rob Dillingham. The cost wasn’t cheap: an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap. That’s a steep price in any context, but especially for a team already short on draft capital after the Rudy Gobert trade.
Fast forward to now, and Dillingham is out of the rotation. The second-year guard struggled early in the season, and with the Wolves in win-now mode, there’s been little room for developmental minutes. It’s not just that Dillingham hasn’t panned out-at least not yet-it’s that the cost of acquiring him is now limiting what Minnesota can do at the deadline.
Limited Ammo in a Competitive Market
Minnesota is one of only two teams in the league-alongside Phoenix-that doesn’t currently have a tradable unprotected first-round pick. That’s a tough spot to be in when you’re trying to upgrade a contending roster.
They do have a 2028 pick swap to dangle, but swaps don’t carry the same weight as outright picks, especially when the team is already performing well. With Edwards just 24 and the core of the roster locked in, that 2028 swap doesn’t exactly scream “premium asset.”
The Wolves’ front office has already gone all-in once, sending a haul of picks to Utah to land Gobert. That move has paid off-two straight trips to the conference finals and a defensive identity that’s become the team’s calling card. But the Dillingham swing hasn’t had the same payoff, and now it’s tying their hands.
What’s Still on the Table?
Despite the limitations, Minnesota is actively exploring upgrades at the point guard spot. Names like Collin Sexton and Coby White have surfaced as potential targets-players who could bring energy and scoring punch off the bench or even compete for starting minutes depending on the matchup.
But without the kind of draft capital that typically sweetens the deal, Minnesota may find itself on the outside looking in when it comes to higher-end options. A player like Jalen Suggs, for example, might be just out of reach unless the Wolves can get creative or find a partner willing to take a flyer on Dillingham as part of a larger package.
Could they still make a move? Absolutely.
There are always deals to be made at the deadline, and the Wolves have enough talent and urgency to make something happen. But the ceiling on what they can accomplish is lower than it might have been if that 2024 draft-day trade had gone differently.
The Bigger Picture
This is the kind of situation that underscores how every move matters for a contender. Minnesota is in the thick of the title race, but the margin for error is razor-thin. A single misstep-especially one involving future assets-can ripple forward and limit your ability to course-correct.
The Wolves are still in a strong position. They’ve got a top-tier defense, a franchise cornerstone in Edwards, and a clear identity.
But the next step-turning that into a Finals run-might require one more piece. Whether they can find it with the limited assets they have remains the big question heading into the deadline.
One thing’s for sure: the Timberwolves are buyers. But how much they can actually buy is going to depend on how creative-and how aggressive-they’re willing to get.