RealGM Basketball Wiretap

03 July 2026

• Rui Hachimura In Contact With Warriors, Timberwolves

  Rui Hachimura's representatives are in contact with the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

  Hachimura is reportedly the Timberwolves' top choice to replace Julius Randle and Naz Reid at the power forward position.

  Hachimura was also a candidate to sign with the Spurs before the team signed Tobias Harris.

  The Nets remain a possible destination for Hachimura.

• Enrique Freeman, Wolves Agree To Two-Way Deal

  The Minnesota Timberwolves re-signed Enrique Freeman to a two-way deal, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  Freeman averaged 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds last season.

• Bones Hyland, Wolves Agree To One-Year Deal

  Bones Hyland has agreed to re-sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency on a one-year minimum.

  Hyland appeared in 71 games with the Wolves last season, averaging 8.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 16.6 minutes.

  Hyland was drafted by Tim Connelly when the Wolves' executive ran the Denver Nuggets.

• Heat Targeting Mike Conley, Tim Hardaway Jr For Backcourt Depth

  The Miami Heat are looking for depth after agreeing to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat are particularly shorthanded in the backcourt. That has Miami expected to target veteran guards Mike Conley and Tim Hardaway Jr. when free agency opens on Tuesday, June 30.

  Conley spent the last three-and-half seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, around a couple of different trades at last season's trade deadline. Last season, the veteran point guard averaged 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 18.4 minutes per game.

  Hardaway spent last season with the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 13.5 points per game off the Nuggets bench last season. Hardaway shot 40.7% on 6.9 three-point attempts per game as he finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

• Jaylen Clark, Timberwolves Agree To Three-Year, $10M Contract

  The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a three-year, $10 million contract with Jaylen Clark. The Wolves will now keep Clark in the fold, as they continue their roster transition in the wake of acquiring LaMelo Ball and Josh Green for Julius Randle and Naz Reid.

  Clark averaged 4.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game over 68 appearances. The 6-foot-5 wing has shown 3&D potential for Minnesota. As the Timberwolves retool their rotation, and with Donte DiVincenzo expected to miss most, if not all, of next season, Clark is in line for a bigger role.

• 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.