Alex Rodriguez had an elite batting average (.295) in his colorful MLB career. But as the co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he keeps on missing their swing for NBA stars.
According to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania, the Timberwolves were one of the two teams that ended up as runners-up in the Damian Lillard sweepstakes.
“Over a dozen teams made minimum and mid-level exception offers to Damian Lillard. Two teams in particular, I’m told, that Damian Lillard really considered, and that’s the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Charania said on “NBA Today” on July 18. “He held calls with both teams at different points.”
So close but not quite.
While Lillard had an interest in coming to Minnesota to join Anthony Edwards in their backcourt, the nine-time All-Star point guard prioritized his family over money and championship aspirations.
“But to be in Portland back home with his three young kids, that was by far the most important factor I was told in his return to the Trailblazers,” Charania said. “And he was going to spend the year rehabbing in Portland anyway from that Achilles tear. But to return to Portland, the franchise that he, obviously, is an icon in, that meant a lot to him.”
Lillard is expected to miss next season. He will be 36 when he returns for the 2026-27 season.
Lillard averaged 24.6 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds in his two seasons in Milwaukee.
Timberwolves Keep on Swinging and Missing
It was the third miss for the Timberwolves, who also pursued stars Bradley Beal (buyout market) and Kevin Durant (via trade) this offseason.
The Timberwolves are one of the five teams that have “confirmed interest” in Beal, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
“The Clippers, Lakers, Warriors, Timberwolves and, yes, Giannis’ Bucks are teams with a confirmed interest in signing Beal once he reaches the open market … with the Clippers widely regarded as a particularly strong contender to land the 33-year-old former All-Star,” Stein and Fischer reported on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter on July 12.
Beal opted to join the Los Angeles Clippers, who will pose a great threat to the Timberwolves next season. The three-time All-Star guard will join James Harden and Kawhi Leonard to form a new Big 3 in the loaded Western Conference.
Unlike Lillard, Beal did not consider joining the Timberwolves.
Beal considered the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks aside from the Clippers, Fred Katz of The Athletic previously reported.
Rudy Gobert Offered in Kevin Durant Trade Talks
GettyAnthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert during a regular-season game between the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Utah Jazz on April 13, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves dangled center Rudy Gobert to the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Suns “had in-depth discussions” with the Timberwolves on a Durant trade before they accepted the Houston Rockets‘ offer.
Aside from Gobert, the Timberwolves would have sent Donte DiVincenzo, promising forward Terrence Shannon Jr. and the 17th pick of this year’s NBA draft to the Suns for Durant, Windhorst reported, citing sources.
“But Durant had made it known that the Wolves were not on his short list of preferred teams. And with just one season left on his contract, Durant had leverage. The talks faded,” Windhorst wrote.
Thus, the Timberwolves will run it back next season minus Nickeil Walker-Alexander, who bolted to Atlanta for a four-year, $62 million deal, which they could not match.
It’s going to be interesting how Gobert and DiVincenzo take the news that they came close to getting traded.
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