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The Minnesota Timberwolves threw everything they possibly could at LeBron James to try to persuade him to chase a championship with them. Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball got on the phone with him. Alex Rodriguez led ownership’s pitch given their common ground as superstar athletes who have become business moguls. Tim Connelly’s longstanding working relationship with Rich Paul helped the two have extended conversations on the fit for James in Minnesota. Throughout the process, team sources said, the Timberwolves felt like James and his camp were giving them full consideration for his 24th season. Those sources spoke on condition of anonymity to be able to speak candidly about private negotiations. They always knew it was a long shot, but the prospect of putting James in a starting lineup alongside Edwards, Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert was something they had to pursue all the way to the end.
The Wolves have been in regular contact with Rich Paul, James’s agent and close friend, to try to sell them on the idea of teaming up with Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert to make a run at the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the West. “The recruitment is just this team,” Connelly said. “Obviously, he’s an unbelievable player. Whatever decision he makes is going to be the right one. There’s a lot going on. When you’re as great as he is, you should have optionality. When you look at our team, it’s hard not to be excited about what we have.”
Jon Krawczynski: Tim Connelly and Rich Paul have had a strong relationship for a long time. Also notable that Paul mentions Wolves ownership group. And “We got Jaden McDaniels.” Whatever happens, Wolves are at least in the mix. Would’ve been unfathomable just a few years ago.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have ramped up their push for LeBron James, with full belief that they are very much in the hunt to land one of the greatest players in NBA history, league sources told The Athletic. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations, said the Timberwolves have been in contact with James’ representatives with a bold pitch: team up with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert to go after the kind of championship that could end any discussion about who is the greatest player of all time.
Jon Krawczynski on LeBron James: Tim Connelly and Rich Paul have had a strong relationship for a long time. Also notable that Paul mentions Wolves ownership group. And “We got Jaden McDaniels.” Whatever happens, Wolves are at least in the mix. Would’ve been unfathomable just a few years ago.
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“He makes Ant better, Jaden (McDaniels) better, Rudy and Joan (Beringer) better,” one team source said. “How many other players in the league would make your three best players better without getting in their way?”
The once supersized Wolves are now looking very thin in the frontline. They will have a difficult time finding an upgrade with no draft picks left to trade. They might need to part with one of Terrence Shannon Jr. or Joan Beringer to get a team interested. Otherwise, they’re looking at starting a lineup featuring LaMelo Ball, Ayo Dosunmu, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert. The Wolves would have limited options for upgrading the frontcourt. They will no longer create a $33 million trade exception and lose access to all trade exceptions created last season, including the $10.8 million one. They also lose the $5.5 million bi-annual exception and get the reduced $6 million taxpayer mid-level exception instead of the $15.5 million one. They are highly unlikely to get a starter with that amount.
A car belonging to the Minnesota Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels was stolen at the 25-year-old's Los Angeles home, the LAPD told NBC4 Investigates. McDaniels walked outside his residence Wednesday morning to find his 2022 Dodge Charger missing from his parking space. McDaniels, whose team was at the center of NBA trade talk Thursday morning, visited a LAPD station, where officers took at stolen car report. Law enforcement sources told NBC4 Investigates they do not believe the former Washington Husky was targeted in the theft.
Minnesota has maintained that perimeter defensive ace Jaden McDaniels is off limits in trade conversations. Sources say that the Wolves also prefer to "do right" by injured guard Donte DiVincenzo and keep the Villanova product out of their offseason business after he sustained a devastating torn Achilles during Minnesota's first-round playoff victory over Denver. The Wolves, sources say, would also prefer not to part with 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid, but it is difficult to see how they could construct a credible trade offer for Ball without including Reid or fellow big man Rudy Gobert.
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One of the reasons the Wolves were unable to complete a trade for Antetokounmpo is that they resisted the Bucks’ demands that Jaden McDaniels be included in the deal, a team source said. “I think the whole room is excited,” Connelly said. “I think we’re ready to continue to try to take the next step. But Ant’s just such a competitive guy. He wants to make sure we’re moving in the right direction and we keep getting better and better.”
Q What's up, Jaden? Did you see the Julius Randle news? Jaden McDaniels: What do you mean? Q. He just got traded. McDaniels: For real? Q. Brooklyn. McDaniels: Oh, that's crazy.
Jon Krawczynski: Naz Reid is going to be the starting power forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first time in his career. This move is a big statement of belief in Reid and Jaden McDaniels to take the next steps in their development.
The Wolves have been holding firm on saying no on McDaniels, team sources said. Center Joan Beringer is also a player the Wolves want to keep because of his size, athleticism and feel for the game. What the Wolves do not want to do is liquidate their depth in making a trade to pair the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo with Edwards.
