The Minnesota Timberwolves have a roster problem that’s hard to ignore: they are thin at forward. Right now, Jaden McDaniels and Trey Lyles are the only forwards on the roster, and that leaves a glaring hole for a team trying to chase a title.
That’s why waiting until the trade deadline feels risky. The Wolves may end up taking that route, but leaving such an obvious weakness untouched heading into the season would be a mistake that could come back to bite them, even if a midseason fix is part of the plan.
This is not about adding another piece like Lyles. It’s about landing a forward who can actually give them around 20 minutes a night and hold up in a real rotation.
The LeBron James situation is part of the picture, but it’s starting to look like the Cleveland Cavaliers are in control there. And even with the appeal of LeBron in Minnesota, that has always felt like a long shot. The Wolves need backup plans, and they need them now.
There’s also the reality of where this team is. Anthony Edwards turns 25 in August, and this season is set to be the first of his true prime. The trade for LaMelo Ball pushed Minnesota closer to legitimate title contention, but it also exposed the need for another forward.
McDaniels can play the four, and that’s fine. But he cannot be the only proven rotational forward on a contender. That kind of setup is asking for trouble, especially in a loaded Western Conference where one weak spot can drag a team behind the pack fast.
A deadline move might still happen, but there’s no guarantee the right deal will be there later. And if Minnesota waits too long, it could end up being too little, too late.
If the Wolves miss out on LeBron, they need to turn to another proven rotational forward, either in free agency or on the trade market. Free agency is thinning out, though Jonathan Kuminga is one name worth considering.
A trade may be the cleaner path, and P.J. Washington sits at the top of the list.
A deal for Washington would likely mean sending out Josh Green and Terrence Shannon Jr. The Wolves can extend the LaMelo Ball trade before July 9; after that, NBA rules would require them to wait 60 days before they can aggregate Green with another player.
Even so, there are still ways for Minnesota to make something happen before the season starts. Moving Green’s expiring $14.6 million contract is one of the easiest routes, and while giving up Shannon would sting, it would be worth it for a quality rotational forward at a position of need.
The path may not be simple, but the urgency is clear. If the Timberwolves want to give themselves the best shot at maximizing this title window, they have to fix the forward depth issue before opening night. Tim Connelly has a reputation for being aggressive, and this offseason is the time to prove it.
In Other News...
Jaden McDaniels Buzz Suddenly Feels Bigger For The Timberwolves
Jaden McDaniels spent last season showing more of the offensive game Minnesota has long hoped would arrive, and it came at a time when the Timberwolves were still sorting out what his ceiling might look like. He put together a career-best year at the scoring end, with better efficiency across the board, and that has only added to the sense inside the organization that his next step could be a meaningful one.
The bigger question now is how that growth fits into a reshaped rotation. McDaniels had briefly looked like a possible second scoring option after Julius Randle was traded, but the addition of LaMelo Ball changes the picture again and gives Minnesota a different kind of lead guard to work with. James White and Tim Connelly have both sounded encouraged about where McDaniels is headed, and the Timberwolves seem to believe the real test is no longer whether he can handle more, but how much more they can ask of him. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Are Testing A Frontcourt Look Fans Havent Forgotten
The Timberwolves are giving a familiar-looking frontcourt experiment a summer showcase, planning to run Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky together as a double-big look in summer league. Both are second-year players from the 2025 draft class, with Beringer going 17th overall and Zikarsky coming off the board at 45th, and the team wants a closer read on how their size can work in tandem rather than just in theory.
There is a reason this pairing has caught attention beyond July games. Zikarsky brings enough offensive range to at least open the door to a frontcourt fit that echoes the kind of spacing-and-size balance Minnesota has chased before, while Beringers comfort shifting to the four gives the Wolves another way to test the idea. Even so, this is still more of an evaluation than a preview of the regular season, where the club is unlikely to lean on the look heavily. [Read more 🡒]
One Quote Just Raised A Painful Question About The Wolves' Gamble
Micah Noris move from the Timberwolves to the Portland Trail Blazers already made him an interesting link between two franchises, but a recent comment from Jrue Holiday gave that connection a sharper edge. Holidays view of what Minnesota has been building only adds to the sense that the Wolves are operating with real expectations now, especially after making a major swing to install LaMelo Ball as their starting point guard.
The gamble is obvious from a roster-construction standpoint: Ball brings offense and a different kind of playmaking, but the fit next to Anthony Edwards has to work on both ends for Minnesotas ceiling to stay where it wants it. For a team that has leaned on its defensive identity, the concern is whether adding Ball helps push the Wolves forward or asks them to give up too much of what made them dangerous in the first place. [Read more 🡒]