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Minnesota shocked many around the NBA by trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo after a run to the 2024 Western Conference Finals. The move was more about finances than basketball, with the Timberwolves eager to make their way under the league’s restrictive second apron by the 2025-26 season (projected at $207.8 million).
Randle provides offensive firepower for the Timberwolves, but they’re believed to prefer a more defensive-minded identity with a less ball-dominant forward. This trade would get them a look at Ball, who fits that defensive identity and is on an expiring contract. If he fits well and Minnesota is convinced that he’s past his knee troubles, he could re-sign this offseason at a more economical price than his current $21.4 million.
Hield has three more seasons on his contract, but at $9.2 million next year, he’s much cheaper than Randle’s player option. After 2025-26, only $3 million of Hield’s salary is guaranteed. Hield’s shooting would help in the wake of DiVincenzo’s toe injury, and Minnesota would also get a look at Phillips, a young wing on an inexpensive contract.
Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has strong connections to Chicago’s front office. He previously worked with Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas with the Denver Nuggets, and his brother, Pat Connelly, is one of the Bulls’ assistant general managers.
After getting out from Randle’s contract, the Timberwolves would have up to nearly $53 million to spend on Reid, Alexander-Walker and Ball. They would have a new level of flexibility to build around their core of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.
