Now that the Minnesota Timberwolves are officially eliminated, all eyes are on the offseason. After pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline, the Wolves will certainly try to trade for him again. The idea of pairing Anthony Edwards and Giannis together is tantalizing.
At the same time, the Wolves have extremely limited draft assets, making trading for Giannis difficult. Within all likelihood, a third team would have to get involved to grant the Milwaukee Bucks their wish of draft capital. Furthermore, Jaden McDaniels would likely have to be traded to pull off a move, but it's not a certainty that the Wolves would feel comfortable trading the 25-year-old two-way monster.
I would never count out Tim Connelly from making a big move. However, it's easy to see that the Wolves don't end up landing Giannis, given the hurdles they'll face.
After these playoffs, it's undeniable that Ant needs a high-end co-star, and Connelly will try to work his magic to pull off a big move. If it's not Giannis, Kawhi Leonard feels like an ideal (and more attainable) target for the Wolves to pursue.
Kawhi Leonard would be a perfect co-star alongside Anthony Edwards
The Los Angeles Clippers traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the deadline, signaling a new era. That, paired with the Clippers missing the playoffs and Kawhi's looming salary cap circumvention scandal, likely puts Leonard on the trade block.
With one year left on his deal and him turning 35 this summer, Leonard could be a far more cost-effective trade target than Giannis. While trading for Giannis would (likely) cost the Wolves McDaniels, it's feasible for the Wolves to trade for Kawhi with a package centered around Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.
To be clear, this would likely be a three-team deal, with Randle going to the Clippers, and Gobert going to a third team, to give LA some extra draft capital. A deal like this could prove to be an attractive offer for Kawhi.
Now, the Wolves will have to ensure that Leonard is comfortable signing an extension in Minnesota. It's long been noted that Leonard enjoys being close to family in California. Still, it's possible that Kawhi wants to make a championship push, and Minnesota is a perfect spot to do so. It's also worth noting that Kawhi and McDaniels are friends who work out together in the offseason.
Basketball-wise, Kawhi would be a seamless fit alongside Ant. He is an elite three-level scorer and a fantastic on-ball defender. As someone who can fill the need for secondary creation next to Ant and mesh with the Timberwolves' defensive identity, you would be hard-pressed to find a better fit than Kawhi.
Leonard's age and injury history might serve as a red flag. However, he is coming off one of his best seasons ever, averaging a career-best 27.9 points, on stellar 50.5/38.7/89.2 shooting splits. Playing alongside Ant and a well-rounded roster could lessen the risk of injury for Kawhi.
Without a doubt, Kawhi will be linked to the Timberwolves this offseason, and he is one of the best paths to landing a high-end co-star next to Ant.
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