For any NBA observer, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a glaring problem at the point guard position, with Mike Conley aging and Rob Dillingham not meeting his potential.
For Minnesota to reach the NBA Finals, they need to take some of the offensive burden off Anthony Edwards, and there may be one solution to fit.
A Timberwolves Trade for a Title-Winning Season
As NBA insider Marc Stein alluded to in early December and Clutch Points’ Bailey Bassett also mentioned, the Timberwolves should try to acquire James Harden.
Harden, who signed a two-year, $81.5 million contract in June 2025, has been one of the only bright lights in a subpar Los Angeles Clippers season thus far. The 36-year-old veteran has evolved from one of the most dangerous shooting guards in the league to become a dual-threat point guard who can create and score effectively.
The 2018 MVP is a three-time scoring champion and a two-time assists leader and could be the missing piece of the jigsaw to help Edwards reach the NBA Finals. This season, Harden has been in All-Star form, averaging 25.6 points and 7.9 assists (6th in the NBA). The only thing missing on his resume is a championship, and at 36, he needs to win now.
According to Clutch Point’s Bassett, the Timberwolves would need to give up their current point guard rotation of Conley and Dillingham, Naz Reid, and another low-contract player.
Both Dillingham (1.8 assists per game) and Conley (3.0Â assists per game) are not creating enough shots for Julius Randle and Edwards, leaving superstar Edwards to both initiate the offense and score the basketball.
‘Ant-Man’ has averaged 28.9 points this season and has the team sitting in fourth in the Western Conference, but come playoff time, when defenses become more suffocating, Edwards will need a strong playmaker to find him in quick-react situations.
Harden suffered the same offensive burden during his time with the Houston Rockets, having to initiate the offense and score at will to give his team a chance to win.
Harden never got past the Western Conference Finals in his time with Houston, and a partnership with Edwards could be the missing formula for the pair to reach the Finals together.
The Clippers have the oldest roster in the NBA, and giving up Harden while he’s still playing at an All-Star level could help them build a younger roster for the future. With the Clippers sitting in 11th in the West and no sign of a deep playoff run coming in the near future, it could be in the best interests of both parties to move Harden on.
Harden is also an 11-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA First Team member, an NBA Sixth Man of the Year, and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. The only thing missing is an NBA championship. Can he win it with Edwards and the Timberwolves this season?
