Latest news with #JonKrawczynski
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Timberwolves' Josh Minott Forces His Release: Report
Timberwolves' Josh Minott Forces His Release: Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Outside of big-money extensions for Naz Reid and Julius Randle, the Minnesota Timberwolves' offseason has largely been a reboot of the bottom of the roster. Advertisement The Wolves drafted centers Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky last week in anticipation of their plans to opt out of Luka Garza and Josh Minott's team options. However, those plans may not have been entirely on their own accord. Minnesota Timberwolves forward Josh Minott (8)© Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images A day after the Wolves let Garza and Minott go, The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski reported that younger players on the Timberwolves bench have grown "restless" with no path to playing time. "Younger players such as Josh Minott were getting restless sitting at the end of the bench with no clear path to a spot in the rotation. At the end of the season, team sources said, Minott asked for the Wolves to decline his option so he could seek a role on a team with the chance to play more," Krawczynski wrote on July 1. "Knowing that would have been difficult to accomplish in Minnesota with [Terrence] Shannon, [Jaylen] Clark and [Rob] Dillingham all ahead of Minott in the pecking order, the Wolves obliged Minott by declining to pick up his team option." Advertisement Krawczynski added that the Timberwolves could have played hardball to keep Garza in an "uncertain" role but did not want to be in his way of playing time any longer. Both Garza and Minott will move on to new teams after several years incubating in the Wolves' player development program for several seasons. Garza garnered plenty of interest from the Boston Celtics over the years and signed a two-year, fully guaranteed deal with Boston on Monday, July 31. He appears to have a clear route to playing time after the Celtics lost Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet. He's an example of the treasure trove of talent that the Wolves' player development program has produced but has not had the opportunity to see the floor. Advertisement This was largely a byproduct of the Wolves' slow start to last season that saw them enter playoff mode by February, where every game counted in a tight Western Conference. However, coach Chris Finch has also come under fire for not playing his younger players last season. Next season, the Wolves will have to rely more on their developmental talent, given the age and wear on veterans like Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley and the departure of Nickeil Alexander-Walker. This dynamic also explains the decision to re-sign Joe Ingles, who would be comfortable with limited playing time at 37 years old and is valued for his leadership and niche usage on inbound plays. Advertisement Related: Rudy Gobert Shows Gratitude To Nickeil Alexander-Walker After Exit To Atlanta Related: Timberwolves Fans React to Luka Garza Joining the Boston Celtics This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
28-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Naz Reid, Timberwolves agree to 5-year, $125 million contract: Sources
MINNEAPOLIS — Naz Reid is staying home. On Friday, Naz Reid and the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to a five-year, $125 million contract, team and league sources confirmed to The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. There is a player option on the last year of the deal. The deal ensures that the former Sixth Man of the Year will remain with the only team he has played for in his career and stay in a city that has embraced him as one of their own. Advertisement Reid averaged a career-high 14.2 points and 4.9 rebounds and shot 38 percent from 3-point range in his sixth season in Minnesota. He is the longest-tenured player on the Timberwolves roster. He was an undrafted free agent out of LSU in 2019 and has become one of the best player development stories in franchise history. Reid did not get chosen in the draft because of concerns about where he fit on the floor. Scouts saw him as too big and heavy to play power forward, but not tall enough to be effective as a center. It didn't take long for the Wolves to know they had a steal on their hands. Before Reid even got to training camp, he had a two-way contract. He spent time with the G-League team in Iowa in his first season, tearing up the competition and showing early signs of the ball-handling and shooting skills he possesses from inside and out. By his second season, Reid was playing 19 minutes per game and a firm part of the Timberwolves rotation. He reshaped his body, dropping about 30 pounds to turn himself into a lean, sleek combo forward with the handle of a guard. The Timberwolves fan base took note, seeing all the work that he put in and combining hit with a dynamic skill set to make him one of the most popular players on the team. Naz Reid towel night is the stuff of legend in Minnesota, a give-away that ended up going for over $100 on eBay. During the 2024 run to the Western Conference finals, a local tattoo parlor inked Reid's name on hundreds of Wolves fans throughout the Twin Cities. Folks in Alabama use 'Roll Tide' as a way to say hello and goodbye, to congratulate someone for getting married or graduating from college, a universal term of approval for any walk of life. In Minnesota, it's 'Naz Reid.' See a Wolves hat on a passerby at the Mall of America? Naz Reid. Driving by a local pizza place on the way home? Naz Reid. This story will be updated.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA rumors: Timberwolves playing hardball in Kevin Durant trade talks
The post NBA rumors: Timberwolves playing hardball in Kevin Durant trade talks appeared first on ClutchPoints. As the 2025 NBA Finals near a potential conclusion Thursday night with Game 6, trade rumors surrounding Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant continue to intensify. One of the latest developments involves the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are reportedly taking a firm stance in discussions with Phoenix. Advertisement According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Minnesota is unwilling to commit to a significant trade package unless Durant signals a clear interest in joining the Timberwolves. On Wednesday, Amick reported the franchise is standing by that condition. 'Minnesota is not gonna play ball until they get signal Kevin wants to play there,' Amick wrote. This sentiment echoes a Tuesday report from Amick and Timberwolves beat writer Jon Krawczynski, which outlined the delicate nature of the trade talks and both teams' respective positions. 'The Suns have made it clear to Durant's camp that they need to prioritize the best return for the team in a deal,' the report stated. 'What's more, they appear focused on landing the kind of impact players who can help now, as opposed to prioritizing draft picks.' Advertisement Phoenix's current trade strategy centers on maximizing Durant's value by targeting players who can contribute immediately, rather than entering a rebuilding phase centered on future assets. In that context, Minnesota is viewed as a viable trade partner due to its depth and win-now roster. Timberwolves resist major roster shakeup without Kevin Durant's commitment amid Suns' high demands Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Names floated in connection with a potential Timberwolves package include Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, the latter likely as part of a broader multi-team construction. Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, remains under contract and could appeal to the Suns as a frontcourt anchor alongside Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. Advertisement However, despite their potential to meet Phoenix's return criteria, the Timberwolves remain cautious. Sources close to the team indicate that Minnesota does not want to disrupt the core of a roster that reached the Western Conference Finals unless Durant is fully aligned with the move. With offers from the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Miami Heat reportedly falling short of Phoenix's expectations, league sources say the Suns are still holding out hope that Durant may warm to the idea of Minnesota as a destination. Durant, 36, averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists during the 2024–25 season, shooting 52.7% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. He is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, worth $54.7 million. The Timberwolves, led by rising star Anthony Edwards and a deep supporting cast, are seeking to build on their postseason breakthrough. But internal consensus remains firm: unless Durant expresses a clear desire to join, Minnesota will not mortgage its future or overhaul its conference finalist roster. Advertisement As Phoenix weighs its options, all eyes are on whether Durant signals openness to a Timberwolves partnership — or whether another suitor will meet the Suns' steep demands. Related: Ranking Suns' 4 best realistic Kevin Durant trade packages Related: Chris Finch's 2-word mic drop on Julius Randle, Naz Reid's Timberwolves future
CBS News
03-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota Timberwolves playoff tickets go on sale Friday
The Minnesota Timberwolves are prepping for a playoff run, and fans can get their hands on tickets starting Friday morning. As of Thursday morning, the Wolves hold the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. If that holds through the remainder of the season, they would avoid the play-in tournament and have a matchup with the No. 3 seed. But things are tight in the Western Conference race, with the current No. 7 and 8 teams — the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies — holding the same record as the Wolves. With five games left, the Wolves' seeding is still very much up in the air. Accordingly, the team is offering tickets for both play-in games and a potential first-round matchup. They'll go on sale Friday at 11 a.m. on the Wolves' website . Last season, the Wolves rode the No. 3 seed to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost in five games to the Dallas Mavericks. It was the team's best season in 20 years. While this year's team has taken a step back as it adjusted to an influx of new talent and dealt with injuries, the Wolves still rank in the top 10 in both offensive (9th) and defensive (6th) rating, making them a dangerous team heading into the postseason. On Wednesday, The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski reported an agreement is in place to transfer ownership of the Wolves and Lynx from Glen Taylor to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. The agreement comes after an arbitration panel ruled in favor or Rodriguez and Lore in a dispute over the final phase of the $1.5 billion sale. Taylor previously told WCCO's Mike Max he would not fight the panel's ruling and would move forward with the sale.
