The Minnesota Timberwolves have ramped up their push for LeBron James, with full belief that they are very much in the hunt to land one of the greatest players in NBA history, league sources told The Athletic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations, said the Timberwolves have been in contact with James\u2019 representatives with a bold pitch: team up with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert to go after the kind of championship that could end any discussion about who is the greatest player of all time.<\/p>\n
The Wolves firmly believe they have the best situation for the 41-year-old James as he prepares for his 24th season. They have a core headlined by Edwards, Ball and McDaniels that can take a lot of the offensive pressure off James\u2019 shoulders. They have McDaniels and Gobert to help ease James\u2019 workload on defense, as well.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, they have a story for James to tell. Unlike several of the other options on the table for him, including the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and James\u2019 hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, the Timberwolves have never won a championship. The Vikings and Wild are title-less as well. The Twins\u2019 World Series win in 1991 marks the last time a Minnesota men\u2019s professional sports franchise won it all, the longest drought among U.S. markets with all four major sports. The people of Minnesota are desperate for a championship.<\/p>\n
The Wolves think if James picks them over all the other suitors \u2014 cold weather and lack of spending power be damned \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
The next stop for LeBron should be…<\/p>\n
David Aldridge, Joe Vardon and more<\/p>\n
On the most recent \u201cGame Over\u201d podcast, Rich Paul, James\u2019 longtime agent and close friend, laid out all of the options<\/a> with co-host Max Kellerman. The Timberwolves were among the teams most prominently featured in the debate, along with the Cavaliers, Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets. The Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks were also mentioned, but the Wolves were one of the five teams in the middle of Paul\u2019s whiteboard<\/a>, with Edwards, Ball, McDaniels and Gobert listed by name.<\/p>\n Paul also shouted out Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, coach Chris Finch and the Wolves\u2019 ownership group, helmed by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.<\/p>\n \u201cYou remember when Ant said, \u2018It\u2019s OK, we\u2019ve got Jaden McDaniels?’\u201d Paul said, referring to an interview Edwards did several years ago<\/a> shrugging off the Phoenix Suns\u2019 addition of Kevin Durant. \u201cIt\u2019s OK. We\u2019ve got Jaden McDaniels. Then you have Gobert. Plus Tim Connelly and that ownership group.\u201d<\/p>\n