RealGM Basketball Wiretap

17 May 2025

• Heat, Timberwolves Expected To Show Trade Interest In Kevin Durant

  The Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves are two teams who are expected to show interest in trading for Kevin Durant this offseason, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

  Pat Riley stated on Friday that Heat probably would not run it back with the same players next year.

  The Rockets have been considered "less likely" to pursue a deal for Durant.

  New Suns general manager Brian Gregory also hinted that the team could keep Durant heading into next season.

• Chris Finch Challenges Anthony Edwards To Bring Better Energy

  Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch wasn't happy with his team's effort and energy after they lost Game 1 of their second round series at home to the Golden State Warriors. Finch's primary issue with was with Wolves star Anthony Edwards.

  "It starts with Ant," Finch said. "I thought he struggled, and then you could just kind of see the light go out a little bit for a while."

  Edwards finished with 23 points on 9-of-23 shooting, after missing his first 10 shots of the game. Finch challenged his star player to keep bringing energy when his shot isn't falling.

  "What is there to talk about? You're the leader of the team," Finch said. "You've got to come out and set the tone. If your shot is not going, you still have to carry the energy. If I've got to talk to guys about having the right energy coming into an opening second-round game, then we're not on the same page."

  From his side, Edwards accepting the criticism, while saying what matters is that Minnesota lost.

  "People are going to try to blame whatever, blame whoever; they can blame me," Edwards said. "[But] we just didn't play good enough."

• Lakers-Timberwolves On Sunday Averages 7.35M Viewers

  Sunday's matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves averaged 7.35 million viewers on ABC.

  The number, up 32% from last season, is the second most-watched first-round playoff game since 2002.

  The game peaked at 10.27 million viewers.

  Game 4 between the Knicks and Pistons averaged 3.9 million viewers.

  The TNT matchups of Celtics-Magic averaged 3.78 million viewers, with the Bucks-Pacers averaging 2.74 million viewers.

• Tim Connelly Expected To Extend With Timberwolves

  Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has an opt-out for next season. However, most around the NBA expect Connelly to extend his run with Minnesota with a new deal.

  Now that Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are set to become the owners of the Timberwolves, the expectation is that they'll turn to keeping Connelly in charge of basketball operations. Minnesota could see competition for Connelly from the Atlanta Hawks or his former team, the Denver Nuggets.

  Connelly took over the Wolves front office in late May of 2022. He's made several major trades, including acquiring Rudy Gobert in 2022. Connelly also traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks ahead of this season.

• Wolves, Knicks Considered Teams To Watch For Kevin Durant Depending On Playoffs

  The Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks are two teams to watch as potential Kevin Durant trade destinations depending on each team's postseason results, league sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  The Suns are reportedly set to work with Durant on a trade this offseason.

  The Suns are looking for the Rockets to swing a deal for Durant, though previous reports state that they are less likely to pursue a trade.

  The Heat and Spurs are also in the discussion as potential Durant landing spots.

• Anthony Edwards Fined $50,000 By NBA For Vulgar Comments In Game 1

  Anthony Edwards has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for his vulgar comments directed towards fans of the Los Angeles Lakers during the Minnesota Timberwolves' Game 1 win on Saturday.

  Edwards was caught on video saying "my d--- bigger than yours."

  Edwards has received a number of fines for inappropriate language during media availability this season.

• JJ Redick: Lakers Weren't 'Physically Ready' For Wolves In Game 1

  The Minnesota Timberwolves recorded a comfortable 117-95 Game 1 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Wolves' physical style appeared to catch the Lakers off-guard.

  "It's not to say our guys weren't ready to withstand a playoff-level basketball game.... I'm not sure physically we were ready," JJ Redick said. "And really when [the Wolves] started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn't respond to meet that."

  "I think that they just physically beat us from the get-go," said Austin Reaves.

  The Wolves outscored the Lakers 67-33 from the start of the second quarter through midway in the third quarter.

  "Maybe it took us one playoff game to now get a feel for it and know what type of intensity, the type of physicality is going to be brought to the game," LeBron James said after finishing with 19 points. "But that's just the way they play. So we should be more than prepared for that on Tuesday night [in Game 2]."

• 2025 NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchups Set As Regular Season Concludes

  The Oklahoma City Thunder secured homecourt advantage for the duration of the playoffs with their 68-14 record and NBA-best +12.9 Net Rating. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were bunched together in second and third in both record and Net Rating.

  The best matchups of the first round figure to be the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves less than a year after Luka Doncic faced them with his former team in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets against either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies will also be close and contentious, as should the New York Knicks against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

  The opening games of the playoffs begin next weekend following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.

  Western Conference
  • (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies or Sacramento Kings/Dallas Mavericks
  • (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies
  • (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
  • (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers

  Eastern Conference
  • (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat
  • (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks
  • (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
  • (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
  
  NBA Play-In Tournament
  Western Conference
  • (8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15 - 10 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16 - 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)
  
  Eastern Conference
  • (8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15 - 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16 - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

• Anthony Edwards Eligible To Play Sunday After NBA Rescinds Technical Foul

  The NBA has rescinded the technical foul that Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards received on Friday night. That means Edwards will be eligible to play in the Wolves final game on Sunday. That has importance, as Minnesota is still fighting for playoff position in the Western Conference.

  Edwards had received his 18th technical foul in the Wolves win on Friday. That would have seen him serve a second suspension due to technical fouls. Players are suspended on their 16th technical foul, then ever other technical foul after that.

  Then the playoffs start, the technical foul counts from the regular season are cleared. That means Edwards should be fine to play in any upcoming playoff games for Minnesota.

• Anthony Edwards To Be Suspended For Regular Season Finale

  The Minnesota Timberwolves have a lot to play for on Sunday afternoon. The Wolves need a win to avoid playing in the Play-In Tournament. That's a win Minnesota will have to get without Anthony Edwards.

  On Friday, Edwards received his 18th technical foul of the season. Edwards is now set to be suspended for Sunday afternoon's regular season finale. Players are suspended for a game when they pick up their 16th technical foul on the season. They are then suspended on every other technical foul from that point.

  Edwards previously missed the Timberwolves loss at the Utah Jazz at the end of February, after picking up his 16th technical foul. In a twist of fate, the Wolves again play Utah on Sunday, this time in Minnesota.

  Technical foul counts are wiped clean when the playoffs begin. As such, it's unlikely Edwards will be facing any suspensions, should Minnesota make the playoffs.