The Minnesota Timberwolves are rumored to be one of the teams targeting Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball at the NBA trade deadline. They are reportedly still pursuing the former No. 2 overall pick.
According to NBA insider Michael Scotto, the Timberwolves previously held discussions to land Ball and have continued to monitor his availability.
Ball, who will turn 27 next season, signed a two-year, $20 million contract extension to remain with the Chicago Bulls. However, if traded, he would serve as the perfect stop-gap point guard, especially with Mike Conley nearing the end of his career.
Ball has struggled with nagging knee injuries since the 2021-22 season. Last year marked his first relatively healthy stretch, during which he averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.
The Bulls have several young guards on their roster, notably Coby white and Josh Giddy, who would make Ball expendable.
When he is healthy, he has demonstrated that he remains an elite playmaker with a defensive upside. These attributes could prove valuable to a Timberwolves team looking to break through in a crowded Western Conference.
The Timberwolves fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. It was the second consecutive year the team fell short in the conference finals.
With their eyes on the franchise’s first NBA Finals berth, the Timberwolves would enter the offseason with their eye on several key stars, notably Suns All-Star forward Kevin Durant. Potential trades for both stars would involve the Timberwolves sending out valuable players, such as notable stars like Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid, both of whom emerged as key contributors to the team’s postseason run.
