The Minnesota Timberwolves are making a play for LeBron James in free agency. And it’s not just a casual call. According to reporter Jon Krawczynski, the team has been in contact with James’ representatives with a specific pitch: come to Minnesota, pair up with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, and chase a championship that would settle the GOAT argument once and for all.
James, who just turned 41, is an unrestricted free agent after deciding to leave the Los Angeles Lakers following eight seasons. He finished his 23rd NBA campaign averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games. In the playoffs, those numbers ticked up to 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game. He’s still one of the best players in the league, even if he’s not the same guy who carried the Cavs in 2016.
The Timberwolves finished this past season with a 49-33 record, good for the sixth seed in the West. They stunned the Denver Nuggets in six games before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in six. That’s a team with pieces. Edwards is a legit superstar. Ball gives them ball-handling and flash. McDaniels is a defensive ace. Gobert is still a force in the paint. Add James to that mix, and you’ve got a squad that could hang with anyone.
But here’s the thing Minnesota has to overcome. The cold weather. The lack of spending power compared to some other suitors. The fact that James has been linked to Miami, Cleveland and Golden State already. The Timberwolves aren’t exactly the glamour destination. Krawczynski’s sources said the Wolves think if James picks them over everyone else, it would be the biggest possible statement he could make in the long-running greatest player of all time debate between him and Michael Jordan.
Is that realistic? Maybe not. But it’s a hell of a pitch. James is nearing the end of his career, and helping a team win its first-ever championship (he did it with the Cavs in 2016) might be his goal for next season. The Timberwolves have never won a title. Doing it in Minnesota, with this roster, against all the talk about cold weather and market size, would be a legacy move.
LeBron’s next move isn’t decided yet. But the Timberwolves are making sure they’re heard. Whether James listens or not, it’s a bold attempt from a franchise that’s not afraid to dream big.
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