Tim Connelly is always going to do his due diligence. So, of course, when it was announced that LeBron James would be playing next season, but for a new team and not the Los Angeles Lakers, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been reported as a team that has interest.
From a basketball sense, its hard to find a better fit for LeBron than the Timberwolves. We also know that fans are allowed to have a small amount of hope that they can get him, but realistically, they have to know how unlikely that is.
It’s up to Connelly and the rest of the front office to also realize this and not lose the plot in acquiring a power forward, the clear position of need for the club.
The front office needs to work on improving the power forward depth chart
It’s easy to envision James sharing a frontcourt with Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert. That’s two of the best defenders in the world, which can allow LeBron to focus on doing what he does on the offensive end.
Again, it would be shocking if this were to happen, though. The Timberwolves finally acquired a star lead guard in LaMelo Ball to share the backcourt with Anthony Edwards. They also traded both Julius Randle and Naz Reid, which puts a glaring hole in the power forward depth chart.
For now, it looks like Jaden McDaniels will be the starting power forward. It may not be ideal if it takes away his ability to take on the opposition’s best perimeter player on defense, but it’s a sacrifice that was made in order to add Ball.
Otherwise, the rest of the big men on the roster are strictly centers (Gobert, Joan Beringer, Rocco Zikarsky).
Unless they make a trade, they probably aren’t going to find someone to start at power forward via free agency. They can still grab someone that can fit in their rotation. Minnesota has already been priced out of possible options John Collins and Dean Wade.
There are some nice depth pieces that the Wolves could potentially grab, though, such as Kenrich Williams or Marvin Bagley III. Kyle Anderson is also an option to be brought back.
Even at the age of 41 (turns 42 in December), it’s understandable that Wolves fans are having fleeting thoughts of LeBron on their squad. Those thoughts need to be brief, though, so there isn’t much of a letdown when James (likely) is announced to be joining a different team.
The front office needs to work under the premise that he isn’t coming and sign a power forward of their liking before they get grabbed by someone else.
