As we enter trade season and NBA rosters begin to shuffle, it is a natural time to reflect on previous roster moves, particularly the players that moved on from the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the Wolves are currently focused on potential moves to strengthen their current squad, it’s also interesting to check in on familiar faces who are now out of the league. Let’s check in on five former Timberwolves who are no longer in the NBA.
Leandro Bolmaro
Leandro Bolmaro was selected 23rd overall in the 2020 NBA Draft and acquired by the Wolves via trade. In the same draft that Minnesota selected Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, the team also traded the 25th and 33rd overall picks that night for the rights to Bolmaro.
After staying in Barcelona for a year, he officially joined the team for the 2021-2022 season. His role was primarily developmental, with limited playing time off the bench. His tenure in Minnesota lasted only one season, appearing in 35 games, before he was included in the blockbuster trade that brought Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves in July 2022.
Appearing in 14 games for the Utah Jazz in 2022-23, Bolmaro returned to Europe, playing for Lenovo Tenerife and later Bayern Munich in Germany. Bolmaro currently plays for Olimpia Milano in Italy, where he is averaging 7.4 points and 2.8 assists per game this season.
Bryn Forbes
Bryn Forbes was signed as a free agent in July 2022 to a Wolves team that had just acquired Rudy Gobert and was in need of shooting. Despite being a 41% career three-point shooter, Forbes struggled to find consistency in Minnesota, shooting just 30.4% from three in 25 games with the Wolves.
He was waived by the team in February 2023 after some off-court issues, and has not returned to professional basketball since his time with the Timberwolves.
Jake Layman
Jake Layman joined the Timberwolves in July 2019 through a sign-and-trade deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. As a regular in the rotation at 22 minutes a game, Layman averaged 9.1 points and 2.5 rebounds for the Wolves in his first and best season in Minnesota.
After his final season with the Timberwolves in 2021-22, Layman had a four-week stint with the Boston Celtics in training camp before signing with Baxi Maresa in Spain for six days, when the club terminated his contract due to an injury detected during his medical. Today, Layman plays for SeaHorses Mikawa in Japan, where he’s played since 2023. He is averaging 13.9 points and six rebounds per game this season.
Jarrett Culver
Jarrett Culver was drafted sixth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Timberwolves, who many speculated traded up to the sixth pick from the eleventh pick in an attempt to draft Darius Garland. Ultimately, Garland was taken with the fifth pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers, one selection before Minnesota's.
Culver struggled to adapt to the NBA game, averaging 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 97 games for the Timberwolves, including 28.8% from three and 50.3% from the free throw line. He was traded to Memphis in the Patrick Beverley trade in 2021, where his rookie team option was declined after one season.
He signed a two-way deal with Atlanta in 2022, where he was eventually involved in a G-League trade that sent him to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Culver currently plays for the Osceola Magic, Orlando’s G-League affiliate, where he is averaging 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this season.
Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverley joined the Timberwolves in August 2021 after being traded from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jarrett Cutler and Juancho Hernangomez. Known for his defensive tenacity and veteran leadership, Beverley played a pivotal role during the 2021-2022 season, helping Minnesota reach the playoffs for the first time in four years.
His time with the Wolves ended after one season in July 2022 when he was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of the Rudy Gobert deal. Beverley went on to have brief stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks before signing with Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel in 2024.
Beverley is currently playing for Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League and EuroCup. Beverley, who also has a podcast hosted by Barstool Sports, has averaged 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in seven games this season.
Whether they were promising young prospects or experienced veterans, these players' stories serve as a reminder of how quickly things can change in the NBA. As trade season heats up and Timberwolves fans look ahead to potential roster changes, reflecting on former players reminds us of the ever-evolving landscape of the NBA and the winding paths that careers can take.