It was always a long shot that LeBron James would choose the Minnesota Timberwolves. It had to feel good for the fans to see their team considered, as the Timberwolves have never been considered a hotbed for notable free agents from outside the organization.
Of course, as I’m sure you have all heard, LeBron has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. Now it’s back to reality for the Timberwolves—and back to the drawing board. There is still a clear need at power forward, and unfortunately, there isn’t much available on the free-agent market. One player they should consider, whom they could sign for the veteran’s minimum, is Trendon Watford.
Watford has been a connector on offense throughout his career
Undrafted in 2021, Watford has found a way to carve out a five-year career in the league. The 25-year-old spent last season as a member of the 76ers after playing two years apiece with the Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets.
The 6.5 points he averaged in 2025-26 are actually a career low, but for the fourth time in his career, Watford shot better than 50 percent from the field.
Standing at 6-foot-8, Watford can remind Minnesota fans of Kyle Anderson with his ability to be a connector on the offensive end. Last season, he averaged 5.5 assists per 36 minutes. He’s willing to make the extra pass, and just as Rudy Gobert benefited from having Slo Mo on the floor, he could do likewise with Watford.
With a wingspan of around 7-foot-2, Watford has shown the defensive versatility to guard different positions. Those long arms haven’t exactly led to large block or steal numbers, though. He has played center in small-ball lineups in the past, but that probably wouldn’t be Minnesota’s preference, as the team would lose the rim protection it desires.
Earlier in his career, Watford showed the ability to knock down 3-pointers—albeit on low volume—but last season, he struggled mightily. He is shooting 32.5 percent from beyond the arc for his career.
Look, Watford certainly isn’t a sexy name, especially for those who had genuine hopes that LeBron would come.
However, there just isn’t much out there, and Watford has at least been a useful player throughout his career. He can engage in a training camp battle with new Wolves player Trey Lyles for depth chart positioning. There’s still a chance that Tim Connelly continues his gunslinging ways and finds a trade to bring in someone more established to play the four, but if not, signing Watford is a reasonable option.
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