The Minnesota Timberwolves won 49 regular-season games and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. Shooting guard Anthony Edwards is the franchise player.
As teams like the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder look to continue to battle for conference supremacy and a spot in the NBA Finals, what does that leave for Minnesota? Two NBA insiders gave their take on what the Timberwolves can do to elevate their status into a contending team in the West.
Timberwolves Could Pursue Either Kyrie Irving or Ja Morant Via Trade
As mentioned, Edwards remains the centerpiece of the team. In addition, the emergence of Jaden McDaniels gives Minnesota a two-way player who can function as a second or third option. Sam Amick and Eric Nehm from The Athletic wrote that Irving and Morant could be viable options.
The Timberwolves have shown interest in Kyrie Irving and Ja Morant, per @TheAthletic
“Few decision makers around the NBA have been as aggressive as Wolves president Tim Connelly, whose team went to back-to-back conference finals before falling to San Antonio in the second round… pic.twitter.com/3dhkKNPvfy
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 12, 2026
“Few decision makers around the NBA have been as aggressive as Wolves president Tim Connelly, whose team went to back-to-back conference finals before falling to San Antonio in the second round of this season’s playoffs this spring.”
Along the way, Connelly pursued stars like Kevin Durant and Antetokounmpo (at the February trade deadline) while showing some level of interest in others like Kyrie Irving and Ja Morant, but has yet to land a high-profile running mate for Anthony Edwards.”
In the modern NBA, successful one-man teams are the exception, not the rule. As a result, a second star becomes extremely important. Defenses cannot key on one person. Instead, another star forces the defense to spread out, weakening them. While both Morant and Irving are point guards, they are different in approach, technique, demeanor, and presence.
Of the two, Morant is the far more explosive, choosing to attack the rim and finish like a forward. Meanwhile, Irving uses a smooth handle with speed and spacing, using the outside shot as a weapon, gliding by to lay the ball in.
Technically, Morant is the far better athlete with length, while Irving possesses the build of a typical point guard. From a mental health perspective, Irving does not get into trouble with the authorities. While he can be perceived as testy, the veteran keeps his emotions in check.
On the other hand, Morant’s history teems with incidents, many involving a gun. The league has suspended him on multiple occasions. Leaving Memphis for Minnesota could signal a new start for Morant.
However, what would that cost the Timberwolves? First, the financial consideration slides into focus. In July 2022, Morant signed a contract extension worth $197 million.
According to Spotrac, he is owed over $86 million over the next two seasons. Plus, what would the Grizzlies want in return?
A player of Morant’s magnitude will require a combination of picks and current players. Lastly, on the court, Morant plays a ball-dominant style, needing to control the offense, as does Edwards. Will the Timberwolves make the deal?
