RealGM Basketball Wiretap

27 June 2026

• Wolves Discussed Josh Giddey Trade With Bulls

  The Minnesota Timberwolves held trade talks with the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey in their attempts to improve the point guard position before moving forward with their deal for LaMelo Ball.

  The Wolves wanted to alleviate the burden Anthony Edwards faces against opposing defenses by adding another playmaker.

  Minnesota also discussed a Jaylen Brown trade with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics were seeking a trade package back from the Wolves that was similar to what they sent to the Charlotte Hornets plus Rudy Gobert. While Brown is considered a better player than Ball, his fit wasn't as ideal.

  Giddey averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 32.1 minutes across 54 games last season for the Bulls.

  Giddey signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Bulls during the 2025 offseason as a restricted free agent and has three seasons remaining on the deal.

• LaMelo Ball Surprised By Trade But 'Very Excited' To Join Anthony Edwards With Wolves

  LaMelo Ball entered the offseason expecting to remain with the Charlotte Hornets and his trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves was unanticipated.

  "I kind of got the impression that LaMelo didn't see this coming," said Brian Windhorst on the Pat McAfee Show.

  The Hornets never shopped Ball on the market and instead listened to trade offers and were compelled by the Wolves' package of a 2033 first round pick, three pick swaps, three second rounders and Naz Reid.

  Ball was happy with the Hornets, especially following their second half surge this past season that led to the play-in.

  Ball will now join one of the NBA's biggest superstars in Anthony Edwards with clear championship aspirations in a tier in the Western Conference immediately below the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

  Despite the surprise of the trade, Ball is excited for the opportunity.

  "My understanding is LaMelo Ball is very excited to go play with Anthony Edwards to try to win championships," said Shams Charania. "He knows the task at hand. Those two guys, from my understanding, are friends. They've had communication in the recent past."

• LaMelo Ball Trade Viewed As 'Gutsy Move' To Keep Anthony Edwards With Wolves

  There were rumblings this week that the Minnesota Timberwolves were under pressure to improve their roster around Anthony Edwards, especially when it appeared as though their trade of Julius Randle was merely to avoid the luxury tax to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu.

  But Tim Connelly was looping in Edwards throughout the process as they pursued a significant upgrade to their roster with the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown before acquiring LaMelo Ball.

  "The whole league, as soon as Giannis gets traded, they're thinking Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards," said ESPN's Brian Windhorst on Thursday's First Take. "How long until Ant is there? Obviously, the Timberwolves were stressed about this. We know they were stretched about this because they tried to trade for Giannis and they looked into Jaylen Brown.

  "This move-yes, it is a vote of confidence in LaMelo Ball. Yes, it is a vote of confidence in everything he can bring to a team. This is a move to keep Anthony Edwards engaged in being in Minnesota. Because you're entering the segment of his career where it is a danger zone.

  "This is a gutsy move to keep their franchise star in Minnesota."

  The Wolves are now paying the luxury tax for the third consecutive season despite being one of the NBA's lower revenue markets.

  Edwards was frustrated by the extent of the double teams he faced this past season and also watched Karl-Anthony Towns, his former teammate, win a championship with the New York Knicks. Edwards enjoyed better offensive chemistry with Towns than with Randle.

• Wolves Discussed Jaylen Brown Trade With Celtics Before LaMelo Ball Move

  The Minnesota Timberwolves held trade discussions with the Boston Celtics on Jaylen Brown before moving forward with their deal for LaMelo Ball, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

  The Wolves decided that Ball was a better fit for what they needed while also coming at a lesser cost than Brown. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that the offers the Wolves made for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brown weren't strong enough to be accepted.

  The Celtics are evaluating trade scenarios for Brown after offering him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo. With the Wolves making their trade for Ball, that is one additional team off the board for a potential Brown trade with the Celtics.

  The Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers have also been linked with Brown. The Toronto Raptors were involved in trade conversations for Ball.

  ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that there is "a sense of purpose" with how the Celtics are engaging in Brown trade conversations even though it has not been determined that they will absolutely trade him this offseason.

  Brown has three years and $183 million left on his contract entering the 2026-27 season. He's also eligible to sign a two-year, $141.8 million extension in July.

• Wolves Acquire LaMelo Ball From Hornets For Naz Reid, 2033 First Rounder, Three Swaps

  The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033). The Wolves will also acquire Josh Green.

  The Hornets also discussed a Ball trade with the Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers and his sudden availability emerged on Wednesday immediately after the second round of the NBA draft. While Charlotte never shopped Ball on the market, they listened to offers and moved forward with the Minnesota deal that allows them to accrue additional draft capital and reset their core around Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. The Hornets will attempt to re-sign Coby White in free agency.

  The Hornets now control the second most future first round picks in the NBA.

  The Wolves will fold this trade into their deal earlier this week where they sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets. The Wolves will now feature Anthony Edwards alongside Ball and Jaden McDaniels on the perimeter with Rudy Gobert continuing to anchor the defense.

  Edwards and Ball were in the same 2020 draft class and while Edwards has become a multi-time All-NBA player, it was Ball that won Rookie of the Year.

  Tim Connelly consulted with Edwards on several roster machinations over the past few weeks and executed this bold trade for Ball. Connelly has previously pursued other stars such as Kevin Durant in 2025 and Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline and again in June. The Wolves will remain in the luxury tax following the trade.

  Ball has three seasons remaining on his five-year, $203.9 million contract signed with the Hornets in 2023 and is represented by Sam Permut.

  Ball appeared in 72 games last season with the Hornets, averaging 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 28.0 minutes. Ball had injury issues in his third, fourth and fifth seasons but was healthy and helped lead the Hornets to a second half surge and into the play-in.

  "He's going to make everybody better," a source told Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. "That was the thing that was missing."

  During the Connelly era, the Wolves previously made significant moves for Gobert and also a draft day trade for the draft rights to Rob Dillingham, who struggled to establish himself with Chris Finch. The Wolves, however, converted Dillingham to Ayo Dosunmu, who was re-signed on a five-year, $112 million deal.

• Wolves Make Jaden McDaniels Off Limits In LaMelo Ball Trade Talks; Prefer To Keep Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid

  The Minnesota Timberwolves are "undeniably serious" in their pursuit of LaMelo Ball, sources told Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

  The Wolves have taken Jaden McDaniels off the table in any trade discussions.

  The team prefers to "do right" and keep Donte DiVincenzo, who suffered a torn Achilles in the playoffs last season.

  The Wolves also prefer to keep Naz Reid.

  With the Wolves' trade of Julius Randle unable to be finalized until July 6, that deal could be expanded to help complete other transactions.

  Ball was reportedly looking forward to playing this upcoming season with the Hornets.

  With the Raptors already mentioned as another team pursuing Ball, the Bucks have also registered interest in the point guard.

• Anthony Edwards 'Super, Super Excited' About Wolves, Consulted By Tim Connelly On Roster Moves

  Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly pushed back Tuesday against speculation surrounding Anthony Edwards' future with the franchise, saying the superstar is "super, super excited" about the team .

  Connelly said his conversations with Edwards are "constant" and that he spent several hours at the guard's home a few weeks ago discussing both roster construction and Edwards' continued development.

  "We have such high hopes for him," said Connelly. "We think he can go down as one of the best players of all time."

  The speculation was fueled in part by ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who reported Edwards has grown frustrated with the frequency of double teams he has faced since Minnesota dealt Karl-Anthony Towns two years ago. Edwards has not publicly or privately expressed any serious desire to leave the organization.

  Connelly said Edwards plays an active role in roster decisions, describing his input as "invaluable."

  "When you go to your leaders like Ant and say, 'It takes this to get that (trade),' and the conviction he has in our guys is evident when you say, 'We're not trading this guy,'" said Connelly. "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."

  Minnesota moved off Julius Randle's salary this week, dropping five spots in the draft order in the process. Connelly also confirmed he attempted to trade back into Tuesday's first round without success. The Wolves had previously engaged in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discussions before the deal fell through, with reports indicating Jaden McDaniels, whom Edwards frequently calls his "favorite player," would have been required in any package.

  Ayo Dosunmu, who agreed to a five-year, $112 million deal Monday, joins Edwards, McDaniels and Naz Reid as cornerstones of Minnesota's core going forward.

• Anthony Edwards' Camp Confirms He Remains Committed To Wolves

  Sources close to Anthony Edwards have pushed back firmly against mounting speculation that he could eventually seek a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, calling the franchise the "ideal" situation. The dismissals come as prominent NBA voices began publicly questioning Edwards' future with the franchise following Monday's Julius Randle trade.

  One source told the Star Tribune there was no truth to the rumors. Another said Edwards and his representatives view the Timberwolves' situation favorably and remain committed to the organization.

  ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon were among the reporters raising questions about Edwards' long-term future, with MacMahon noting that league "vultures" are monitoring the situation closely in the wake of the Randle deal.

  Edwards still has three years remaining on his contract. Under NBA rules, the Timberwolves would be able to offer significantly more money on his next extension than any outside team, provided he earns another All-NBA selection. A trade would eliminate that financial advantage, as Luka Doncic discovered when the Dallas Mavericks dealt him to the Los Angeles Lakers, costing him supermax eligibility.

  The Randle trade, a three-team deal completed Monday, signals Minnesota's intent to reshape its roster around Edwards. His departure from the starting lineup elevates Naz Reid to a full-time starting role and should improve floor spacing. The Timberwolves still require additional ballhandling and shot creation, areas they will look to address through free agency or further trades.

• Anthony Edwards Being Monitored As Next Potential Superstar Who Could Be Traded

  Anthony Edwards has been identified around the NBA who could become the next superstar to consider a trade at some point in the future. The Minnesota Timberwolves have built a roster around Edwards good enough to reach the Western Conference Finals in 2024 and 2025, but used up many of their best assets in the process and made a cost-cutting move in trading Julius Randle on Monday in order to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu. The Dosunmu signing was reported just minutes before Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat.

  "I'm not declaring anything with certainty except for the fact that the NBA vultures are swirling around Ant in anticipation of him potentially becoming the next superstar who is available on the trade market," said Tim MacMahon on Tuesday's episode of the Hoop Collective.

  "That's exactly right," replied Brian Windhorst.

  "Or who pushes his way to the trade market," said MacMahon.

  "It's fascinating on this because if you were to say who is next after Giannis, we would have said Ant and that this trade happened at the same exact time as Giannis trade is fascinating," said Windhorst.

  "Ant has been really frustrated since Towns was traded on how he gets double teamed.

  "They have to do something this offseason about addressing the Ant double team situation, especially knowing you may not have DiVincenzo. And I don't think Ant was the biggest Julius Randle fan, but it's not so much as Randle being traded, it's Randle being traded in a salary dump."

  Windhorst added that "there was some serious disconnect between" Edwards and Randle by the end of last season.

  Edwards remains under contract with the Wolves for the next three seasons and is eligible for a two-year, $122 million extension this offseason. Edwards will become eligible for a four-year, $300 million supermax extension if he makes an All-NBA team in 2027.

  During an ESPN Radio New York spot on Tuesday, Windhorst added that Edwards may not be currently complaining at all about the situation but he's on a "watch list."

• Micah Nori Hired By Blazers As Head Coach

  The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Micah Nori as head coach on a one-year deal with team options for Year 2 and Year 3. Nori has been the lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves over the past five seasons.

  Nori has been a candidate for multiple head coaching jobs in recent seasons.

  The Blazers were searching for a new head coach following Chauncey Billups federal arrest last October. Tiago Splitter was interim head coach for the remainder of the season and exited the Blazers this offseason to become head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

  The Blazers reached the playoffs in 2026 for the first time since their trade of Damian Lillard.

  New York Knicks assistant coach Chris Jent and Boston Celtics assistant coach Tyler Lashbrook were the other finalists for the job.