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Chris Finch reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are missing a true floor general.
Mike Conley has been good over the last few years, but at 38 years old, he just isn’t the player he once was.
They’ve been starting Donte DiVincenzo at point guard through their first five games, but it hasn’t worked out as well as they hoped.
The former Villanova standout is averaging 3.8 assists to 2.2 turnovers per game.
If the Timberwolves want to take a step further towards championship contention, they’re going to need to find a point guard on the trade market.
Because relying on Conley, DiVincenzo, and superstar Anthony Edwards to handle the entire playmaking workload is not a recipe for success.
Timberwolves Trade Proposal Lands Lakers’ Austin Reaves
In a trade idea first proposed by Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz, the Minnesota Timberwolves could acquire Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves.
“Austin Reaves is a better overall version of DiVincenzo, as he averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and shot 37.7 percent from three for the Los Angeles Lakers last season,” wrote Swartz.
“Contract concerns could cause the Lakers to sniff around Reaves’ trade market, however, as the 27-year-old will almost certainly decline a $14.9 million team option and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.”
With the way the Timberwolves are currently constructed, Reaves would be a seamless fit into Minnesota’s starting lineup.
His explosive start to the season has made Reaves one of the hottest names in the NBA, averaging 34.2 points per game to go along with 10 assists.
With both Luka Doncic and LeBron James out, the former undrafted free agent has been the featured player in the Lakers’ lineup and has miraculously filled in for All-NBA-level players.
His only weakness seems to be defense, given his size and athleticism. But the Timberwolves have defenders all over their roster, and that depth could be used to cover up Reaves’ deficiencies.
Given his current contract situation, the Timberwolves would have to give the Oklahoma product a contract extension as soon as he walked through the door, but a backcourt pairing of Reaves and Edwards could dominate for years to come.
Would the Lakers Part With Reaves?
Given Reaves’ explosive start to the 2025-26 NBA season, you would be hard-pressed to believe the Los Angeles Lakers would be willing to trade him.
But given the contract situation and the redundant skillset he shares with Doncic, it may be something that’s on the table.
Siddhant Gupta of Fadeaway World theorized that a potential trade package could look something like this:
Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Austin Reaves
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Donte DiVincenzo, Terrence Shannon Jr., first-round pick
“Meanwhile, the Lakers could also see merit in this deal. Aside from the draft compensation, a reliable veteran like DiVincenzo and a talented guard with developmental upside like Shannon Jr. could be worthwhile investments,” wrote Gupta.
“On a $13.9 million contract, the Lakers guard routinely delivers above and beyond his contract value. But in the event of a trade negotiation, given the 27-year-old’s output and his significance to the Lakers, Los Angeles would demand equivalent compensation, if not more.”
If the Lakers aren’t interested in giving Reaves the contract he is projected to earn in the summer of 2026, it would behoove them to recoup some value on him before he’s lost for nothing.
And with the potential of impending free agents such as Trae Young, Zach LaVine, and maybe even Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2027, Los Angeles may covet that cap space for a more impactful player.
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