The Minnesota Timberwolves enter the offseason in a tough spot: they need to elevate the roster, but they also have to be mindful of the second tax apron, as it significantly limits roster building and flexibility.Â
The bright side is that they are $27 million under the second apron (assuming they use their first-round pick). However, they'll have to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu, have six other free agents, and want to trade for a star. To create financial flexibility, ESPN's Tim Bontemps suggested that the Wolves could trade Donte DiVincenzo.Â
"Minnesota simply cannot afford to let Dosunmu walk. That's why sources around the league expect he will be back with the Wolves, but for a price slightly above the midlevel exception (roughly $15 million), which is what most rival teams could offer. Doing so might require Minnesota to move off DiVincenzo, who will miss at least most of next season with a torn right Achilles, to avoid going into the second luxury tax apron," Bontemps wrote.Â
There's no denying that trading someone who has recently suffered a devastating torn Achilles injury is harsh. Plus, in his two years with the team, DiVincenzo has been a crucial part of the Wolves' success. However, to balance re-signing Ayo and pursuing a trade to give Anthony Edwards a legitimate co-star, trading Donte could be possible.
To be clear, nobody in the organization wants to trade Donte, and the fan base would be sad to see him go. Even discussing the possibility feels uncomfortable given his injury, and it's fair to imagine that the Wolves will have some difficult conversations about DiVincenzo this offseason.
Trading DiVincenzo would feel wrong, but it's something the Timberwolves could consider
While the Wolves are optimistic about DiVincenzo's chances of returning at some point in the 2026-27 season, nothing is guaranteed, and the best possible outcome is that he returns shortly after the All-Star break. Â
DiVincenzo is set to make $12.5 million next season -- he's one of the few contracts the Wolves could use to either match salaries in a blockbuster trade or help the team free up money for Ayo. Whether it's for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, or just about any other star you could think of, trading Donte would make a blockbuster trade easier.
Given that he won't play much, if at all, next season, from a pure basketball perspective, trading him as part of a bigger deal could make sense.
The human element must be considered, though. Frankly, it feels wrong to trade someone who is recovering from such a brutal injury and doing everything it takes to return.Â
DiVincenzo has been a vital part of the Wolves' success given his elite 3-point shooting, connective playmaking, and relentless hustle. Additionally, his leadership and experience as an NBA champion are highly valuable.Â
Ideally, the Wolves can re-sign Ayo and trade for a star, so they wouldn't have to trade DiVincenzo. But what if DiVincenzo is the sticking point in a possible star deal? Or what if trading DiVincenzo is necessary to afford Ayo's new contract? That will leave Tim Connelly with a brutal dilemma. There's really no easy answer.Â
If the Wolves are firm about keeping DiVincenzo (which to me is the right call), it's worth wondering if they'll be forced to settle for a less-than-ideal trade target.Â
It's also important to note that dipping into the second apron is a genuine possibility. However, this would be the second time the Wolves have done so in three years. The roster-building penalties get more severe for repeat offenders, making it an undesirable outcome for the Wolves, and they'd have to have a pathway to get out of it by the 2027-28 season.
Hopefully, the Wolves can land a high-level star, re-sign Dosunmu, keep DiVincenzo, and avoid the second apron, but unfortunately, there's a chance that at least one of these four things won't happen.
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