The Minnesota Timberwolves explored a trade for Jaylen Brown before the Boston Celtics ultimately sent the All-Star forward to the Philadelphia 76ers, but the discussions never gained serious momentum because of Boston’s asking price.
According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the Timberwolves held conversations with the Celtics about Brown, the Milwaukee Bucks about Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Chicago Bulls about Josh Giddey as president of basketball operations Tim Connelly searched for another star to pair with Anthony Edwards.
Krawczynski reported that Boston wanted “a king’s ransom” for Brown, with the proposed framework including four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and significant draft compensation. Minnesota also questioned the on-court fit between Edwards and Brown, viewing both as high-usage isolation scorers who thrive with the ball in their hands.
The asking price proved too steep for a Timberwolves team that had just finished 49-33, sixth in the Western Conference, before defeating the Denver Nuggets in the first round and falling to the eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs in six games during the conference semifinals.
Brown was coming off the best statistical season of his career in Boston. The five-time All-Star averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists while helping the Celtics finish 56-26 and second in the Eastern Conference. However, Boston’s season ended with a seven-game first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, accelerating the organization’s offseason reset.
Rather than meeting Boston’s demands, Minnesota pivoted in a different direction. The Timberwolves completed one of the biggest trades of the offseason by acquiring All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball in a multi-team deal that sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets and Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets. The move gave Edwards a primary playmaker instead of another scoring wing.
The Wolves also strengthened their perimeter depth by adding Josh Green and selected Duke sharpshooter Isaiah Evans with the 33rd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after maneuvering down the board. The offseason reshaping left Minnesota thinner in the frontcourt, creating an ongoing need at power forward behind Gobert and young center Joan Beringer.
Krawczynski also reported that Minnesota revisited its long-running pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo after previously exploring a deal before the 2025-26 season and again at the trade deadline. Those talks never came close to producing an agreement before Antetokounmpo was eventually traded to the Miami Heat.
Discussions with the Bulls regarding Giddey also failed to gain traction.
Brown ultimately landed with Philadelphia in a blockbuster deal that sent Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to Boston. The trade ended Brown’s 10-year tenure with the Celtics after he earned five All-Star selections and captured the 2024 NBA Finals MVP award.
