RealGM Basketball Wiretap

01 July 2025

• Luka Garza, Celtics Agree To Two-Year, $5.5M Deal

  Luka Garza and the Boston Celtics have agreed to a two-year, $5.5 million deal that is fully guaranteed. Garza spent the past three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

  In 39 games in 2024-25, Garza averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.6 minutes for the Wolves.

• Jesse Edwards Agrees To Sign Two-Way Qualifying Offer With Wolves

  Jesse Edwards has agreed to sign his Two-Way qualifying offer with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Edwards, who is represented by Joe Smith, went undrafted out of West Virginia last year.

  Edwards appeared in just games last season with the Wolves. In 34 G League games, Edwards averaged 11.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 25.1 minutes with a PER of 20.0.

• Joe Ingles, Wolves Agree To One-Year, $3.6M Deal

  Joe Ingles has agreed to re-sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a one-year, $3.6 million deal. Ingles, who is represented by Mark Bartelstein, joined the Wolves last offseason after his $11 million option with the Orlando Magic was declined.

  Ingles appeared in 19 games with the Wolves in a veteran leadership role.

• Hawks Favorites To Acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker Via Sign-And-Trade

  The Atlanta Hawks are emerging as favorites to acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker via sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line and Jake Fischer of The People's Insider. The Detroit Pistons are also rumored to be candidates for Alexander-Walker. Alexander-Walker, who is represented by Aaron Mintz, averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists with a PER of 11.5 last season.

  The Hawks would use their $25.3 million traded player exception they created from the Dejounte Murray deal last summer to absorb Alexander-Walker's contract.

  The Hawks acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics and drafted Asa Newell so far this offseason.

• Timberwolves Decline Team Options For Luka Garza, Josh Minott

  The Minnesota Timberwolves declined team options for center Luka Garza and forward Josh Minott. Both players will now be free agents this offseason.

  Garza appeared in 39 games last season as the Wolves third center. The 26-year-old big man averaged 3.5 points and shot 49.5% from the field.

  Minott appeared in 46 games last season. The 22-year-old forward averaged 2.6 points and shot 48.9% from the field.

• Julius Randle, Wolves Agree To Three-Year, $100M Contract

  Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a three-year contract worth $100 million. Randle, who is represented by Aaron Mintz and Steven Heumann, will opt out of his $30.9 million contract for next season in order to sign the new deal with Minnesota. The contract will carry a player option for the 2027-28 season. Randle is coming off a four-year, $117 million contract signed with the Knicks in 2021.

  Randle was acquired by the Wolves ahead of last season in the trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. The Timberwolves have now signed both Randle and Naz Reid to new contracts before free agency opens.

  In 60 games with Minnesota, the veteran forward averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Randle upped his production to 21.7 points on 50% shooting in the playoffs, as the Timberwolves made it back to the Western Conference.

  Randle was particularly instrumental in the Wolves' playoff series wins in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers and in the second round against the Golden State Warriors.

• Pistons, Hawks Contenders To Sign Nickeil Alexander-Walker

  Nickeil Alexander-Walker has emerged as one of the better free agents available this offseason. The Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks are contenders to sign Alexander-Walker. Both teams would likely offer deals starting near or at the Non-Taxpayer MLE amount of $14.1 million.

  The Minnesota Timberwolves luxury tax and apron status means that Alexander-Walker could be available this summer for more than the Wolves can pay him. Minnesota recently agreed to a new deal with Naz Reid worth $125 million over five years. The Timberwolves are also expected to bring back Julius Randle, who has a $30.9 million player option for next season.

  Detroit could be looking for backcourt upgrades, as free agent guard Malik Beasley is being investigated for gambling related to NBA games. In addition, Dennis Schroder is attracting interest around the NBA as a free agent.

  The Hawks are resetting their depth this offseason. Atlanta acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics, and drafted Asa Newell at the 2025 NBA Draft. Those moves have Atlanta looking for backcourt depth behind starters Trae Young and Dyson Daniels.

• Pistons Were Preparing To Make Offer For Naz Reid In Free Agency

  The Detroit Pistons were preparing to create enough cap space this summer to make an offer for big man Naz Reid. However, Reid has agreed to a five-year, $125 million contract to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

  The Pistons may consider making a run at Memphis Grizzlies restricted free agent big man Santi Aldama. Detroit would like to add a stretch big to their frontcourt group. Wolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker could also be a target for the Pistons this summer.

  Detroit is considered likely to re-sign Malik Beasley on a multi-year deal. Re-signing Beasley has been the priority for the Pistons for several months now.

• Julius Randle, Wolves Expected To Sign New Contract

  The Minnesota Timberwolves took care of keeping Naz Reid in the fold by agreeing to a five-year, $125 million contract. Next up, is believed to be another frontcourt signing for Minnesota with Julius Randle.

  Randle holds a $30.9 million player option for next season. There's been a belief that Randle and the Wolves will come to an agreement on a long-term deal. Randle could pick that option up, then sign an extension. Or Randle could decline that option and sign a new deal, as Reid did.

  Either way, Minnesota may look to bring Randle's salary figure for next season down from the $30.9 million he's currently owed. That could give the Timberwolves the ability to stay under the second apron, or to possibly create some tax savings to re-sign Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

• Naz Reid, Wolves Agree To Five-Year, $125M Contract

  Naz Reid and the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to sign a five-year, $125 million contract. The deal represents one of the largest contracts ever signed by a player coming off the bench and solidifies Minnesota's commitment to their core rotation after consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals.

  Reid, who is represented by Sean Kennedy, will decline his $15 million player option for the 2025-26 season to sign the new contract. The contract includes a player option in the fifth year, providing Reid with additional security and flexibility when he is 30. Reid previously signed a three-year, $42 million contract in June 2023.

  Reid averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season after winning Sixth Man of the Year in 2024. Reid's versatility as both a traditional center and stretch-five gives head coach Chris Finch valuable lineup flexibility. Reid turns just 26 in August and was an undrafted free agent in 2019 after one season at LSU.

  Reid's path from undrafted rookie to $125 million player represents one of the NBA's great success stories. After going unselected in the 2019 NBA Draft despite solid production at LSU, Reid joined Minnesota's Summer League roster and earned a training camp invitation.

  Minnesota's commitment to Reid also reflects the modern NBA's emphasis on versatile big men who can space the floor and defend multiple positions. His ability to play alongside Gobert or anchor second units makes him invaluable to championship aspirations.

  Retaining Reid was critical for the Wolves after they decided to trade Karl-Anthony Towns before the 2024-25 season. Towns will earn $53.1 million next season, which is more than twice the amount Reid will make on his new contract.

  The Wolves still face important roster decisions with Julius Randle and Nickeil Alexander-Walker both hitting free agency.