Timberwolves Linked to Blockbuster Trade for Controversia...

By Alex Kirschenbaum

Contributing Sports Writer

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After reaching the Western Conference across each of the last two seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves headed into the 2025-26 season expecting to emerge among the best of the West yet again.

But their offseason was one of subtraction, rather than roster addition, as the Timberwolves saw key reserve swingman Nickeil Alexander-Walker ditch Minnesota for a four-year, $60.5 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks — although at least Minnesota didn't lose him for absolutely nothing. Alexander-Walker agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta, netting Minnesota a 2027 Cleveland Cavaliers second-round pick (from an earlier trade) and $1.5 million in cash.

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Terrence Shannon Jr. was expected to shoulder some of Alexander-Walker's minutes this season, while former lottery pick Rob Dillingham was going to help point guard Mike Conley and reserve off-guard Donte DiVincenzo bolster Minnesota's backcourt around two-time All-NBA Second Team shooting guard Anthony Edwards.

Shannon has already missed nine contests this year due to a left foot fifth metatarsal bone bruise, although he's been back for the past three games. The second-year University of Illinois alum has yet to piece together the kind of consistent scoring output this season that Alexander-Walker had refined as a critical reserve option.

Alexander-Walker, meanwhile, has been averaging a career-best 19.3 points on .459/.361/.848 shooting splits in a starting shooting guard role for the Hawks. Through nine games entering Saturday (he has since played a tenth), Shannon had been averaging 5.0 points while slashing .444/.467/.667, plus 2.2 boards and 1.0 dimes.

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Conley, meanwhile, has taken such a massive step back that he has been fully demoted to a reserve point guard role behind DiVincenzo, while Dillingham has been too raw to warrant a regular rotation role.

Edwards, though, remains elite. All-Defensive small forward Jaden McDaniels, too, is still at the peak of his powers. Four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, 33, appears to have perhaps lost a step, although he's still a double-double machine in the post. 2024 Sixth Man of the Year big Naz Reid and three-time All-Star power forward Julius Randle are as formidable as ever.

But the point guard spot could use help.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that one very-available embattled former superstar could cure what ails Minnesota, and indicates that the Timberwolves have inquired about his availability: two-time All-Star Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant.

"The Minnesota Timberwolves have been aggressive on the trade market in the Tim Connelly era, including acquiring Rudy Gobert in 2022, trading Karl-Anthony Towns in 2024, pursuing Kevin Durant at last year’s trade deadline, and inquiring on Ja Morant already this season," Scotto writes.

Sources have informed Scotto that Edwards is not going to be made available on the trade market, while McDaniels is borderline-untouchable.

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Clearly, team president Connelly doesn't want to waste any of Edwards' prime, and is amenable to making a deal for a major upgrade at the point over DiVincenzo, who's not a natural point guard.

"While Edwards and McDaniels are viewed as young pillars for the Timberwolves, Minnesota’s due diligence on Morant signaled the team’s desire to upgrade at point guard and will continue to be on the agenda leading up to the trade deadline, league sources said," Scotto adds.

Morant appears to be at odds with Memphis brass, and has already been suspended by his own flailing team once this season for appearing to question his head coach. Through 12 healthy games, the 6-foot-2 Murray State product, still just 26, has been averaging a mediocre-for-him 17.9 points on a horrific 35.9 percent shooting rate from the floor (16.7 percent from distance), plus 94.2 percent shooting from the foul. He's also dishing out 7.6 dimes and 3.5 boards a game.

But Morant has looked obviously disengaged often, and has already had some injury issues early into the year. He's been shelved since Nov. 15 for the 8-12 Grizzlies with a right calf strain. Memphis has gone 3-2 since Morant's latest ailment.

Perhaps a change of scenery would do Morant well, although the Timberwolves would likely need to sacrifice a big contract — or, more likely, combine two — plus some draft equity to accommodate Morant's $39.4 million salary for 2025-26.

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