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Timberwolves a Top Landing Spot for Damian Lillard?
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- Timberwolves a Top Landing Spot for Damian Lillard?
Candice Ward-Imagn Images
We think the Minnesota Timberwolves are finished with most of their heavy offseason lifting for 2025. They've re-signed Naz Reid and Julius Randle , declined team options on depth big men , Luka Garza and Josh Minott , and completed a sign-and-trade that sent Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Atlanta .
Now up against the 2nd apron of the NBA luxury tax, Minnesota's expected to mostly run it back from here. But that doesn't mean Tim Connelly isn't moving in the shadows down at Mayo Clinic Square. If the Wolves president of basketball operations does have an offseason trick up his sleeve, what could it be?
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Well just in case you hadn't heard, there is a new point guard on the market, after 7x All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard was released Tuesday by the Milwaukee Bucks , a move that cost them over $100 million in salary cap penalties over the next handful of years. And now, one NBA team's sunken cost will become another team's dirt cheap treasure.
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Could Minnesota Timberwolves be a favorite to land Damian Lillard?
At some point soon, Lillard will sign a minimum contract with his next NBA team, an imminent reality that has driven national NBA talk shows all day. Which brings us to Wednesday's episode of NBA Today on ESPN, where league insider Marc J. Spears prepared a list of top landing spots for Dame. And at number one… were your Minnesota Timberwolves.
Where could Dame go next? #nba #nbatoday pic.twitter.com/3B9AOJsRK5
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 2, 2025
"Number one is the Minnesota Timberwolves. They would be an amazing pick. With all due respect to Michael Conley, if they brought [Lillard] in running point next to Ant, imagine the shooting in that backcourt, imagine the boost Minnesota would get. Imagine Mike coming in behind him…He and Ant-Man have a relationship."
The other panelists on NBA Today erupted in surprise and excitement over Spears' No. 1 landing spot for Dame. Brian Windhorst seemed to be in utter disbelief, admitting "that's something I hadn't considered". In 2024-25, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game (58 games).
Is this Damian Lillard's best moment as a Buck? pic.twitter.com/CtqkFnmAhl
— Bucks Lead (@BucksLead) July 2, 2025
Does Lillard to the Wolves make any realistic sense?
Let's be honest, Damien Lillard would be a really good fit for the Minnesota Timberwolves, in a lot of ways. They need point guard help and they have no money to buy any. When healthy, Dame is one of the best point guards in the league, even at 34-years-old, and now he basically comes free.
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Of course, there's one major issue with signing Lillard. He isn't expected to play at all in 2025-26, after suffering a torn achilles tendon during the Bucks' latest playoff run. So whoever signs him will have to wait a full season before seeing him take the floor in his new uniform.
Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Hang Onto Popular Coach
By then, Rob Dillingham will be in year three of his rookie contract and Mike Conley may very well be out. In all reality, going from Conley to Lillard would be a nice little veteran PG upgrade, even if Dilly has taken the next step in his development by then.
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