John Collins Has Fans in Minnesota. The Timberwolves Probably Can’t Afford Him.

The Timberwolves just pulled off a blockbuster deal for LaMelo Ball. That changes everything about their offseason budget. And it might cost them a real shot at John Collins.

Collins is about to hit unrestricted free agency after a solid stretch with the Clippers. He’s a versatile forward who can score and stretch the floor. Teams like Orlando, San Antonio, and Philadelphia are already circling. But there was some buzz Minnesota might be in the mix too.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Collins does have admirers inside the Timberwolves organization. But the math gets complicated fast.

“League sources say John Collins certainly has fans in Minnesota, but it appears unlikely that the Timberwolves will have sufficient spending power to pursue the scoring forward, who spent last season with the Clippers,” Fischer wrote.

The LaMelo trade changed the financial picture

The deal for Ball didn’t just reshape the roster. It tightened the salary cap situation significantly. Minnesota now has less flexibility to offer the kind of money Collins is expected to attract on the open market.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel laid it out plainly in his free agency breakdown Friday. The Timberwolves just can’t match what other suitors can offer.

“After trading for LaMelo, Minnesota won’t be able to offer the recent LA Clippers forward what other teams can,” Siegel wrote. He specifically mentioned the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs as frequent rumored destinations. And the 76ers could get involved using their full mid-level exception.

Collins averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds per game with the Clippers. Those numbers make him a legit target for teams looking to add scoring up front. The Spurs just came off a Western Conference title and want to reload. The Sixers are always hunting for frontcourt depth. The Bulls? They could use just about everything.

Minnesota isn’t totally out of the running. But they’d need Collins to take less money or find a creative sign-and-trade scenario. Neither feels likely right now.

The Timberwolves still have other ways to improve. They could shop for cheaper veteran options. They could use their exceptions on role players. But adding a starting-caliber forward like Collins? That ship may have sailed the moment the Ball trade went through.