The Minnesota Timberwolves are a really good team that has made it to two consecutive Western Conference Finals. To get over the hump, however, they might need to add another offensive weapon alongside Anthony Edwards. Would Austin Reaves give them what they need - and is he worth the price?
The Los Angeles Lakers are a team with the opposite problem from the Timberwolves: they have three on-ball stars whose values diminishes when they don't have the ball in their hands. Luka Doncic obviously deserves the ball; LeBron James has earned the ball; and that leaves Austin Reaves in the lurch.
He is still a good player for the Lakers, but his value is quite duplicative with Doncic. Does it make sense for them to pay Reaves a lucrative new contract given those fit concerns? Or would it make more sense to trade him to a team that can better use his skillset and instead target defense with that salary slot?
Could the Timberwolves trade for Austin Reaves?
The Timberwolves blasted the Lakers in the playoffs last year, but this summer Minnesota got a little worse and the Lakers got a little better. With Mike Conley aging, the Wolves desperately need Rob Dillingham to blossom into a dynamic offensive threat at point guard. Waiting for him to develop may not make sense for Minnesota.
Longtime NBA writer Tom Ziller proposed the Timberwolves as a team that should consider a trade for Austin Reaves. The fifth-year undrafted guard would immediately step in at point guard with his improved playmaking and confident scoring and give the Wolves a 1-2 punch in the backcourt. Reaves will also be well-protected defensively playing next to Edwards and with Rudy Gobert on the back line. The fit is strong -- but does the cost make sense?
To build a trade for Reaves, the Lakers will want back a defensive difference-maker; that means Jaden McDaniels. He is long, defensively versatile and on a long-term, cost-controlled contract. He would solve the Lakers' biggest need and be an excellent fit next to Luka Doncic long-term.
Here is what such a trade could look like, as proposed by longtime NBA writer Tom Ziller:
The Lakers get McDaniels and move off of the money owed to Jarred Vanderbilt to help them in their cap space race of 2026. Reaves is likely a more valuable overall player than McDaniels -- he has truly leveled up in terms of his shot creation and playmaking -- but the fit on the Lakers motivates them to make this trade.
What about Minnesota? They get the offensive boost from Reaves and have to hope that there is enough defensive infrastructure behind him to shore up his weaknesses in that department. Reaves is not an impact defender by any means, but he does play hard and was a part of some better-than-their-parts defenses the last two years in L.A.
What has made the Wolves special the last few seasons is their athleticism and defense; this would erode that identity. Can Terrance Shannon elevate into that role? Will Jarred Vanderbilt balance out some of the length and defense lost? Is this a better balance between the two sides? Will Julius Randle fold without the defensive support of McDaniels beside him?
These are fair questions. This is not an easy trade to make. Reaves is in line for a major payday, one that may unbalance the Wolves' books. In the end, the questions may be too numerous to make the deal.
Tim Connelly is no stranger to massive swings, however. This would be a bet that they have the pieces in place to replace McDaniels better than finding someone to fill the No. 2 scoring role next to Edwards (slotting in Randle at No. 3 where he is likely best deployed). If this deal is floated their way, the Timberwolves likely think long and hard about it.