Timberwolves may acquire veteran NBA champion to bolster backcourt | Sporting News

The Minnesota Timberwolves will have to try and recover from their sluggish start to the 2024-25 season.

Still working through chemistry issues and including new rookies into their rotation has been a challenge.

At times there are some new players in the rotation who look comfortable while others are struggling to find their role.

Although Minnesota is limited in what they can do, there are some possible moves that can be made. With trade rumors arising, Bleacher Report added three new names that could be great trade targets for the Wolves. The name mentioned that makes the most sense is Utah Jazz guard Patty Mills.

He would address one of the Wolves’ biggest needs. Mike Conley’s early struggles have been an ongoing problem for the Wolves backcourt this season. He is only averaging 7.5 points on 31% shooting. At 37 years old, Conley is one of the few veterans on this team. 

Mills seems perfectly fine with taking on the veteran mentor role, and because the Jazz don’t have championship aspirations, finishing his career with a team like Minnesota would allow him to retire on a high note.

In a conversation with the Deseret News, Mills appeared comfortable with his role in Utah.

“From my conversation with Will (Will Hardy, Jazz coach), there was an understanding of what this was about, the guys that were here, my value, and what I could bring. That conversation went from a place of understanding the role, accepting the role, and then envisioning what I needed to do,” Mills said.

Bringing in Mills would not only give them a guard that can mentor the younger guards on the team, but while he is on the court, he can run the offense and knock down some shots from the arc.

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