The Minnesota Timberwolves’ postseason journey came to a crashing, unceremonious halt following a brutal 139-109 blowout loss to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Minnesota's high-priced frontcourt trio of Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid struggled mightily to find rhythm and cohesion against the Spurs' length and modern spacing. With the season officially over, all three big men find themselves entering murky waters.
Compounding the problem, the Timberwolves are facing a major logjam up front. French rookie sensation Joan Beringer—the 17th overall pick in the 2025 draft—has shown elite defensive flashes, including a historic 24-point, 7-block season finale performance in April.
To solve both their frontcourt crowding and their desperate need for an elite, secondary playmaker next to Anthony Edwards, NBA insider Jake Weinbach has floated a blockbuster trade framework that would shake the league to its core: Acquiring Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant.
"If the Timberwolves pursue a deal for Ja Morant, a trade package would likely include Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo’s expiring contract, and small draft compensat
ion," Weinbach reported. "A third team could also enter the framework if the Grizzlies are unwilling to absorb the remaining two years on Randle’s contract ($33.3M, $35.8M PO). The Wolves have registered previous interest in pairing Morant with Anthony Edwards in the backc ourt."
If this rumor sounds familiar, it’s because a Morant-to-Minnesota concept made the rounds last offseason when Memphis first began listening to offers for their lightning-rod guard. At the time, rumblings even suggested that Anthony Edwards was resistant to the idea, preferring to remain the undisputed primary engine of the offense.
But the circumstances in Minnesota have radically shifted.
1. Unburdening Anthony Edwards
Edwards was magnificent this season, but asking him to act as the primary scorer, perimeter stopper, and chief facilitator proved to be too heavy a lift against a disciplined Spurs defense. When defenses threw aggressive blitzes at Edwards, Minnesota’s offense routinely stagnated. Adding Morant—who averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists in a down, injury-riddled year—gives the Wolves a dynamic, downhill playmaker who can effortlessly orchestrate the offense and unlock Edwards as an off-ball weapon.
2. Maximizing the DiVincenzo Injury Pivot
Donte DiVincenzo’s devastating Achilles tendon injury during the first round means he is expected to miss the next 10 to 12 months. For a team trying to win right now, his $12.5 million contract becomes a distressed asset. Flipping his expiring deal alongside Randle allows Minnesota to consolidate salary into a high-upside superstar while opening up the frontcourt minutes that Beringer and Reid desperately require.
3. The Financial Leverage
Morant’s trade value is at an all-time low due to availability issues and off-court baggage.
A backcourt featuring Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards would instantly become the most athletic, terrifying, and culturally explosive tandem in modern NBA history. There are undeniable chemistry and defensive questions, but the Second Apron landscape rewards teams that take aggressive, calculated swings.
With Beringer ready to anchor the paint and Edwards needing a true partner in crime to alleviate his offensive burden, Tim Connelly shouldn't just consider this trade—he should be the one driving it.
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