Damian Lillard shockingly entered free agency after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. ESPN’s Marc Spears listed the Minnesota Timberwolves as his favorite destination for Dame. While this isn’t an official report, Spears is connected to Lillard, so it could mean Dame is open to landing with the Wolves. Spears also listed the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics as destinations for Lillard. Let’s dive into why a Wolves-Lillard pairing makes sense for both sides.
Where could Dame go next? #nba #nbatoday pic.twitter.com/3B9AOJsRK5
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 2, 2025
The Wolves are a perfect landing spot for Dame
Mike Conley will turn 38 before the start of next season and is a free agent in 2026. It’s possible that Conley will retire in 2026 or play one more season with a different team. As a result, getting another point guard could make sense for the Wolves. Lillard will likely miss all of next season with a torn Achilles. Nevertheless, the Wolves offer him an ideal situation to compete for a title while having a significant role when he returns in the 2026-27 season.
The offensive upside in a backcourt with Lillard and Edwards is incredible, even though Dame likely won’t be his normal self after such a devastating injury at 34. With Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid, plus these two in the backcourt, Minnesota would have one of the league’s most explosive offenses. Perhaps more importantly, with McDaniels, Edwards, and Rudy Gobert, the Wolves have the defensive personnel to cover up Lillard’s deficiencies on that end of the floor.
Lillard would also be the perfect mentor for Rob Dillingham. The second-year point guard is poised for a breakout season. Once Dame returns, the offensive upside of that point guard rotation is immense.
Minnesota is coming off back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances and offers Lillard a legitimate chance to win his first title. The Warriors, Lakers, Celtics, and Heat all have confirmed interest in Lillard. However, many of these teams have questions: Would Dame want to play behind Stephen Curry or Luka Dončić? While playing in South Beach is appealing, the Heat don’t have a clear path to contention.
Of these teams, the Celtics offer Lillard the best chance to win a title in the 2026-27 season. Still, they have a loaded guard rotation with Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Anfernee Simons. Perhaps Lillard is looking for a different role at this stage of his career. However, the Wolves can offer him the best of both worlds when considering Dillingham’s development. Ultimately, the Timberwolves offer Lillard the best opportunity to have a sizable role on a contending team.