Tim Connelly Might Be Eyeing a Draft Night Trade for Alabama Guard Labaron Philon

The Minnesota Timberwolves front office isn’t exactly known for sitting still. Tim Connelly, the team’s president of basketball operations, has a track record of shaking things up almost every year. The Rudy Gobert trade. The Karl-Anthony Towns deal. Those were big swings, and they changed the franchise’s direction completely.

Now, after a second-round playoff exit, the Timberwolves are expected to get aggressive again. Specifically in the trade market. According to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, the team could make a significant move during the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Trade Scenarios

Krawczynski laid it out pretty clearly. The Wolves have the 28th pick. They could package it with something else to land a veteran. Or they could try to move up in the first round entirely.

If they go the trade-up route, there’s a name that keeps popping up: Labaron Philon. He’s a sophomore guard from Alabama, and he’s projected to go somewhere in the late lottery to mid-first round. That means he’d almost certainly be gone by the time Minnesota picks at 28.

But here’s the interesting part. Philon came to Minnesota for a workout in the days leading up to the draft. That’s not something you do if the team doesn’t have serious interest. And it’s not something the player does unless he thinks there’s a real chance they’ll make a move for him.

What Philon Brings

Philon is a skinny guard, but he can score from just about anywhere. He’s the kind of offensive weapon the Timberwolves might need, especially after trading Rob Dillingham. The team already has plenty of defenders. What they could use is another guy who can create his own shot and put the ball in the basket.

Reports say Philon performed well in that workout too. That only makes Connelly more likely to go after him.

Trading for a superstar sounds nice, but it’s complicated. Salary matching, assets, all that stuff. A draft-day trade up might actually be the easier path. And for a front office that likes making headlines, that could be exactly the kind of move they pull.