The Minnesota Timberwolves’ blockbuster offseason could have taken a dramatically different direction.
Before Minnesota ultimately acquired LaMelo Ball, the organization held legitimate trade discussions with the Boston Celtics about Jaylen Brown, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski. Those talks, however, ran into a major obstacle when Boston’s asking price reportedly included both Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid.
“The Wolves did have real discussions with the Celtics about Jaylen Brown,” Krawczynski said. “The Celtics wanted Rudy and Naz, and it was going to be just too high of a price to pay.”
That would have represented a massive reshaping of Minnesota’s roster.
Gobert has been the foundation of the Timberwolves’ defense since arriving from Utah, while Reid has developed into one of the league’s most valuable frontcourt pieces. Giving up both for Brown would have meant sacrificing much of Minnesota’s size, defensive identity and depth in order to add another elite scoring wing next to Anthony Edwards.
Brown’s talent was never the question. The five-time All-Star had already established himself as one of the league’s premier two-way wings and was only two years removed from winning Finals MVP with Boston. But Minnesota had to consider not only how much talent it would surrender, but also how Brown’s skill set would fit alongside Edwards.
That appears to be where Ball became the more attractive option.
“I do think the Wolves are happier with the LaMelo fit, a little more than they would’ve been with the Jaylen fit,” Krawczynski said.
Minnesota’s need for high-level playmaking was obvious. Edwards had increasingly carried the burden of both creating his own offense and generating opportunities for teammates, and Ball offered something fundamentally different from Brown: an elite passer capable of organizing the offense, pushing the pace and creating easier scoring opportunities for Edwards and the rest of the roster.
The Timberwolves ultimately acquired Ball from Charlotte instead, choosing a younger lead guard whose strengths arguably complement Edwards more naturally. Minnesota was also able to avoid paying Boston’s reported price of Gobert and Reid – only trading Reid and draft compensation – in the process.
Boston eventually found another destination for Brown, sending him to Philadelphia in a deal that brought Paul George to the Celtics.
