The Minnesota Timberwolves have a Anthony Edwards problem. It’s a good problem — he’s a superstar in the making. But after five straight playoff exits that ended sooner than expected, the front office knows the roster around him isn’t cutting it.
Edwards can carry a team for stretches, but even Michael Jordan needed Scottie Pippen. Right now, the Timberwolves have a collection of role players who flash potential but lack the consistency to take pressure off their franchise cornerstone.
Julius Randle and Naz Reid can light it up on any given night — and disappear the next. Rudy Gobert is a defensive anchor, but his offensive game remains limited to lobs and putbacks. Jaden McDaniels shows flashes, but he’s not a reliable second option. And Mike Conley Jr., once a sharp floor general, is now 37 and clearly past his prime.
The result? A team that’s good enough to make the playoffs but not built to survive a seven-game series against elite competition.
Trade Buzz Around the No. 28 Pick
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Minnesota is actively shopping its No. 28 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The target, per Stein: a plug-in ballhandler who can immediately upgrade the backcourt.
“The Stein Line has learned that Minnesota is very much in conversation to move its No. 28 selection, with rival teams saying that the Wolves are searching for another ballhandler to bolster their backcourt,” Stein wrote on his Substack.
The Timberwolves have not confirmed any trade talks, but the logic is clear. Conley is the only natural point guard on the roster, and at his age, relying on him for 70-plus games is risky.
Is Sergio de Larrea the Answer?
If Minnesota keeps the pick, league personnel have identified Sergio de Larrea as a name to watch. The 20-year-old Spanish guard, who recently won Liga ACB Best Young Player honors while playing for Valencia, is viewed as a potential first-round lock.
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel has de Larrea at No. 28 in his latest mock draft, noting that his size — 6’6″ with a 6’9″ wingspan — makes him a natural fit for Minnesota’s system.
“Sergio De Larrea is trending up the week before the 2026 NBA Draft, with many believing he has locked himself into being a first-round pick. At 6’6″ with a 6’9″ wingspan, de Larrea is a bigger guard who actually fits in with the Minnesota Timberwolves really well,” Siegel wrote.
De Larrea turned down offers from major U.S. college programs to develop in Spain. That decision appears to have paid off, as he could now step into an immediate role as a backup ballhandler behind Conley.
It’s a high-stakes pivot for a Timberwolves front office led by Tim Connelly. Drafting for need in the late first round is risky. Trading the pick for a veteran could provide instant help — but it could also backfire if that player doesn’t mesh. Either way, the message is clear: Minnesota knows it can’t waste another year of Anthony Edwards’ prime.
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