The Minnesota Timberwolves are back on the hunt for a point guard who can solidify their efforts to get past the Western Conference Finals. Rob Dillingham has struggled during his second season, Mike Conley has become more of a backup than a starter, and internal development isn't quite as favorable an option as it once appeared to be.
With rumors spreading that the Timberwolves are evaluating their trade options around the NBA, Andrew Nembhard has emerged as a speculative choice worth going all-in on.
Nembhard is mere months removed from starting for the Indiana Pacers during their run to the 2025 NBA Finals. He's thoroughly established himself as one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA, as well as a capable scorer, improved shooter, and underrated playmaker.
With the Pacers struggling to win games without Tyrese Haliburton, it's suddenly pertinent to reference Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reporting that the Timberwolves are exploring the trade market for point guards.
"While Edwards and McDaniels are viewed as young pillars for the Timberwolves, Minnesota’s due diligence on Morant signaled the team’s desire to upgrade at point guard and will continue to be on the agenda leading up to the trade deadline, league sources said."
Nembhard isn't the traditional point guard considering he plays alongside Haliburton when the superstar is healthy, but that actually makes him the perfect complement to Anthony Edwards.
Andrew Nembhard is the perfect point guard for the Timberwolves
Nembhard, 25, is a 6'4" playmaker who's currently averaging 18.3 points, 6.4 assists, 1.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 1.9 three-point field goals made per game. He's shooting just 34.5 percent from beyond the arc, but that's up 5.4 percent from 2024-25 and contenxtualized by Indiana's horrid team play.
It's also worth noting that Nembhard is shooting 43.5 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, which would likely be a significant source of his offense in Minnesota.
Nembhard's greatest appeal is that he's an elite defender who locked down top-tier players during the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He forced Damian Lillard to shoot 23.1 percent from the field, Donovan Mitchell to convert 23.2 percent of his attempts, Jalen Brunson to shoot 38.2 percent, and reigning MVP, Finals MVP, and scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to convert at 38.3 percent.
With Nembhard in the lineup, the Timberwolves could trust him to defend elite guards on opposing teams and thus take a significant amount of pressure off of Edwards.
Offensively, Nembhard is comfortable in both on and off-ball roles alongside high-usage scorers and playmakers. He's also experienced in creating for bigs such as Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner, which bodes well for a potential partnership with Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle.
The Timberwolves need a player who can provide consistent value on both ends of the floor, and Nembhard is the perfect player to bring in without disrupting team chemistry—at a cost.
Trading for Andrew Nembhard could cost Timberwolves Naz Reid
The unfortunate truth of trading for Nembhard is that a package of Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham likely wouldn't do the trick. Minnesota is also devoid of first-round draft picks that it can move, and second-round compensation for a top-tier defensive player is unlikely to get the job done.
As such, the Timberwolves would likely only be able to acquire Nembhard if they were willing to build the offer around former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid.
It's an offer Indiana would be likely to consider after losing Myles Turner and failing to replace him at the center position. That doesn't necessarily mean they'd agree to losing Tyrese Haliburton's defensive safety blanket, but it's a conversation worth exploring.
Reid, who's only one year older than Haliburton, would be able to step in as a proven and productive big man who has won in the playoffs and should be able to thrive alongside Pascal Siakam.
In the event that Indiana is open to a potential trade, Minnesota should consider it thoroughly. It would be losing its sixth man and the third piece of its three-headed monster down low, but it would also be adding an elite defender and improved shooter and playmaker who can instantly resolve the point guard problem.
It's never a fun process to acquire an impact player, but Nembhard would have a chance to push the Timberwolves toward its first-ever title.