RealGM Basketball Wiretap

16 January 2026

• Rudy Gobert To Be Suspended One Game For Flagrant Foul Accumulation

  Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is facing a one-game suspension for accumulation of flagrant foul points. Gobert is now at six flagrant foul points, which automatically triggers a one-game suspension. The Wolves center has four Flagrant 1 fouls and one Flagrant 2 foul.

  This latest flagrant foul was for a reckless closeout against Victor Wembanyama during Minnesota's victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. Wembanyama landed on Gobert's foot following a three-point attempt.

  Gobert will miss Tuesday's game at the Milwaukee Bucks. Any subsequent flagrant fouls for Gobert will result in a two-game suspension. The counter will then reset when the playoffs begin.

• Trae Young Has Interest In Wolves, Nets; Neither Team Pursuing Trade

  Trae Young's camp has proposed the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets as attractive trade destinations as he and the Atlanta Hawks work on his exit, but neither team are currently interested in a deal.

  The Wolves have a clear need at point guard as Rob Dillingham has been unable to emerge as a successor to Mike Conley Jr. However, the Wolves would need to send out substantial salary that would compromise their rotation in order to acquire a high-salaried guard such as Young. Minnesota is prioritizing a more affordable guard.

  Brooklyn controls their own first round pick this season, but they won't in 2027. The Nets haven't signaled any interest in making an in-season trade that would potentially improve their team immediately. Also, the Nets haven't provided any signals that they have interest in Young specifically.

  The Sacramento Kings have also been speculatively linked with Young in the past, but that no longer is the case under Scott Perry. Zach LaVine's representatives at Klutch Sports reportedly tried to build support for a trade of their client to the Hawks for Young in the offseason, but the Kings weren't interested.

  The Washington Wizards have been the only team confirmed to have interest in acquiring Young.

• Anthony Edwards Leaves Bench During Wolves' Blowout Loss At Hawks

  Anthony Edwards scored 30 points in three quarters but left the bench area in frustration as the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a 126-102 blowout loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. The defeat marked Minnesota's second lopsided loss in three games.

  Edwards threw a towel in the air when Chris Finch pulled the starters with 7:52 remaining. He then departed for the weight room beneath State Farm Arena and declined to speak with media after the game.

  "Ant's obviously frustrated with the performance, and rightfully so, but he needs to stay out on the floor and root for his team," Finch said.

  The Hawks dominated despite playing without All-Star guard Trae Young, ending a seven-game losing streak. Atlanta scored 64 points in the paint against Minnesota's full-strength lineup and led by 27 points in the second quarter.

  Minnesota dropped to 21-13 after also losing 123-107 to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. The Timberwolves reached the Western Conference finals in each of the previous two seasons.

  "Not like a team that wants to play for the championship," Rudy Gobert said. "It didn't seem like we had any type of energy .. any type of life.... Offensively, it just seems like we were playing an individual sport, and defensively it just feels like there's not any extra effort. I think the two are connected."

  Kristaps Porzingis returned from a 10-game absence due to illness and provided 16 points in 17 minutes for Atlanta. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 34 points on 15-of-22 shooting, adding 10 rebounds and six assists.

  Minnesota faces a weekend back-to-back against the Miami Heat and Washington Wizards.

  "We have another tough game coming up against another team that plays really, really hard and runs full court," Finch said. "So, we've got to regroup."

• Wolves' Owners Made Kevin Garnett Reconciliation Top Priority

  Kevin Garnett has rejoined the Minnesota Timberwolves as an ambassador and agreed to have his No. 21 jersey retired, ending a nearly decade-long estrangement between the franchise icon and the organization, The Athletic reports.

  The reconciliation comes after four years of negotiations between Garnett and new majority owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, who finalized their purchase in June 2025. The jersey retirement date has not yet been announced.

  "It was crystal clear that was one of the most impactful things we could do as owners is retire KG's jersey and bring him back to Minnesota," Lore told The Athletic. "And mend the relationship because he meant so much to the fans, all the community."

  Years-Long Feud With Former Owner
  Garnett's relationship with the Timberwolves deteriorated after his 2007 trade to Boston and completely fractured upon his 2016 retirement. The superstar believed former owner Glen Taylor had promised him a pathway to ownership, while Taylor maintained he only encouraged Garnett to assemble an ownership group.

  Garnett vowed never to associate with the franchise while Taylor owned the team. He appeared at Target Center only once since retirement, for a November 2018 game celebrating Prince-inspired uniforms.

  "There was a stretch where we really were getting into it about it because I wanted him to come back here and accept it," said Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who remains close to Garnett. "If you know Kevin, he is a principled man. And I got it. I understood it."

  Lore and Rodriguez identified healing the relationship as a top priority when they joined as limited partners in April 2021. Fans flooded their social media demanding Garnett's return.

  "Everywhere we went around, not only Minnesota, but all around the country, all Minnesota Timberwolves fans wanted to know was, when is Kevin coming back into the organization?" Rodriguez said.

  The owners hosted Garnett for dinner at Lore's New York apartment in November 2023, where conversations about a potential partnership began in earnest. Negotiations accelerated after Lore and Rodriguez won their arbitration battle with Taylor in February 2025.

  "In many ways, he's our Babe Ruth for the Yankees, right?" Rodriguez said. "So it was important to start kind of going down a path of mending a relationship."

  Garnett's new role includes content creation and community initiatives. Former Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns, now with the Knicks, confirmed he will attend the jersey retirement ceremony.

• Terrence Shannon Jr Out At Least Two Weeks With Foot Strain

  Minnesota Timberwolves wing Terrence Shannon Jr. will miss at least two weeks due to a strain in his left foot, the team announced on Saturday. Shannon exited the Wolves loss on Christmas early due to pain in the foot. An MRI confirmed that Shannon suffered an abductor hallucis strain.

  Shannon has averaged 4.5 points in 12.8 minutes per game off the Minnesota bench this season. Shannon has shot 40.5% on 1.7 three-point attempts per night for the Wolves.

• Timberwolves Register Interest In Coby White, Collin Sexton; Will Not Trade Jaden McDaniels

  The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to look to add a point guard in the trade market, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

  The Wolves have registered interest in both the Bulls' Coby White and Hornets' Collin Sexton.

  The Bulls have signaled that they are more open to trading White than they have been in the past.

  The Hornets are reportedly opening to making some deals in an effort to make the postseason this year.

  The Wolves will not trade Jaden McDaniels in any deal. The 25-year-old is averaging 15.0 points and 4.6 rebounds on the year.

• Kevin Garnett To Rejoin Wolves In Business, Community, Content Development Role

  Minnesota Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett is rejoining the franchise in a role that will involve business, community and content development. Garnett has largely stayed away from the Timberwolves after his playing career ended due to a fallout with former owner Glen Taylor.

  Garnett had refused to let the franchise retire his number. Now, after building a rapport with new Wolves owners Mark Lore and Alex Rodriguez, Garnett will see his No. 21 jersey retired by Minnesota.

  Garnett played for the Timberwolves from 1995 through 2007. In the summer of 2007, Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics. Garnett helped the Celtics win the NBA Finals in 2008, then make a return trip in 2010. After one-and-a-half seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, Garnett was traded back to the Wolves to finish his Hall of Fame career in 2016.

• Wolves Express Interest With Bulls On Coby White

  The Minnesota Timberwolves have legitimate interest in Chicago Bulls point guard Coby White, though his looming unrestricted free agency presents a significant obstacle to any potential deal.

  The Chicago Sun-Times first reported Minnesota's inquiry about White this week. Jon Krawczynski reported there is "nothing cooking" in terms of active trade talks between the teams.

  White is making $12.8 million in the final year of his contract. The 25-year-old guard is widely expected to seek a major raise this summer as an unrestricted free agent.

  A Wolves source confirmed legitimate interest in White. However, the uncertainty surrounding his next contract creates a "rental" situation that significantly lowers his trade value. The Wolves don't currently have any tradeable first round picks, but they do have three swaps available.

  Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has established himself as one of the NBA's most aggressive executives. The Timberwolves pursued Kevin Durant this summer before he was traded to the Houston Rockets.

  Minnesota also monitored the Ja Morant situation with the Memphis Grizzlies. That move appears very unlikely at this point.

  The Timberwolves started 10-8 after reaching consecutive Western Conference Finals. Minnesota has won five of their past six games and stands at 15-9, sixth in the Western Conference.

  The slow start mirrors last season's trajectory. Minnesota began 8-10 and stood at 13-11 through 24 games before winning 17 of their final 20 contests.

  The Timberwolves' due-diligence approach will likely generate numerous trade rumors before the February 5 deadline. Most speculation involves point guard additions to support franchise cornerstone Anthony Edwards.

• Wolves Turn To Bones Hyland As Rob Dillingham Loses Rotation Spot

  The Minnesota Timberwolves inserted Bones Hyland back into their rotation Monday night, replacing Rob Dillingham as Chris Finch searches for more offensive production off the bench. Hyland scored 14 points in 16 minutes during a 108-105 loss to Phoenix, his first meaningful action in nine games.

  Finch made the change after 24 games to inject a spark into a second unit lacking scoring punch. The Timberwolves have struggled with slow starts despite their 15-9 record and sixth-place standing in the Western Conference.

  "We're 24 games in, and I thought it was time to try something different," Finch said. "He's been patient. He's been playing really well in practice, doing everything we ask him to do. We need a spark there."

  Hyland shot 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range against the Suns. The performance provided the quick-strike scoring Minnesota has lacked from its reserves, though he committed three turnovers in his expanded role.

  Anthony Edwards, who finished with 40 points, has been a vocal supporter of Hyland receiving more playing time. Timberwolves president Tim Connelly originally drafted Hyland while running the Denver Nuggets.

  "Sometimes you can just see some people are meant to be a star," Edwards said. "And I feel like I may not know the criteria to being a star, but if I think I do, I think he's one of them."

  The move comes as Minnesota searches for consistent point guard play. Dillingham has shot just 35 percent from the field with only six made three-pointers in 21 games this season. Mike Conley, 38, has delivered inconsistent performances and struggled Monday, going 0 of 5 from the field.

  The loss was compounded by Rudy Gobert's third-quarter ejection for a Flagrant-2 foul. Gobert now has five flagrant foul points this season, with a suspension looming if he reaches six.

• Anthony Edwards Embraces Point Guard Role As Timberwolves Adapt Without Traditional One

  Anthony Edwards is transitioning into a full-time point guard role as the team moves away from traditional floor generals. Edwards scored 31 points with eight rebounds and five assists in a 111-105 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.

  Timberwolves coach Chris Finch confirmed the shift before the Western Conference finals rematch. He explained that Edwards has become Minnesota's primary ball handler despite Donte DiVincenzo starting at point guard.

  "Anthony's probably more of our point guard than Donte is our point guard," Finch said. "He has the ball. He is our lead guard in that regard."

  Edwards acknowledged he is still adjusting to the responsibilities of initiating offense and handling late-game pressure. The sixth-year guard struggled with decision-making in crucial moments, including a late-game sequence where he failed to make himself available for an inbound pass.

  "I just got to get used to being a point guard, going to get the rock at the end of the game, bringing it up, even though they pressure," Edwards said.

  "Sometimes I'm thinking, let somebody bring it up and then come get it," Edwards said. "Just to take the pressure off my teammates, I just got to bring the ball up the court and get us into an action."

  The Timberwolves lack viable point guard options with Mike Conley declining at age 38. Conley went 1-for-4 against the Thunder and Minnesota was outscored by 17 points in his 12:32 on court. Rob Dillingham, at 20 years old, is not ready for significant minutes in the role. The Wolves are emerging with motivation on the trade market due to their need at the position.

  Edwards has scored 41, 43 and 31 points in his last three games while increasing his playmaking responsibilities. Finch noted Edwards is handling double teams better than last season, though the team must find ways to reduce the defensive pressure he faces.

  "With no designated point guard, I think I got to be the one to bring the ball up," Edwards said. "It's just that simple, so we don't turn it over, get us into action, get my teammates shots."