The Minnesota Timberwolves made waves Monday night by sending three-time All-Star forward Julius Randle and the 28th overall pick to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal that also included the Chicago Bulls. In return, the Timberwolves landed the 33rd pick, while the Bulls acquired center Nic Claxton.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the move "frees up significant salary with the remaining two years of Randle's deal, giving them more flexibility to retain Ayo Dosunmu and use exceptions." The Nets, meanwhile, add a proven scorer and a first-round pick into their cap space, while Chicago fills a need at center with room left to spend.
Almost immediately after the trade broke, Timberwolves fans and NBA observers began connecting the dots. The consensus? Minnesota is positioning itself to make a run at Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints noted that the Timberwolves had been exploring packages involving Randle, Donte DiVincenzo's contract, and the 28th pick for weeks. "Now, MIN frees up significant cap space to build around Anthony Edwards, possibly to target Ja Morant," he wrote.
Social media erupted with theories. One fan declared, "Yeah Ja Morant coming to Timberwolves confirmed with this move." Another wrote, "I'm fully convinced this is a salary dump to trade for Ja Morant. I doubt Minny would make a push this late for Giannis."
The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski has also mentioned the Timberwolves as a potential suitor for Morant, adding weight to the buzz. For a team that already features rising star Anthony Edwards, pairing him with Morant would create one of the most explosive backcourts in the league.
However, Morant's recent production has raised questions. After averaging 27.4 points per game in 2021-22, his scoring dropped to 19.5 points per game this past season. A change of scenery might reignite his game, and in Minnesota, he wouldn't need to carry the offense alone. With Edwards as the primary option, Morant could pick his spots and thrive in a complementary role.
The biggest lingering question is whether the Timberwolves are willing to take on the off-court baggage that has followed Morant in recent years. That decision will ultimately determine if this blockbuster pairing becomes a reality.
