Analysis: Will the Timberwolves consider trading the Cavaliers Garland? The top 4 attracting situations in the NBA draft

Will the Timberwolves consider trading Dalius Garland? Here are four possible situations in the trading market before the NBA draft.

The 2025 NBA Draft is less than four weeks away. From now until then, NBA teams will explore the possibility of which teams will trade in the draft, which will become a hot topic. In addition, there are various trading situations involving All-Star players, and these trades will also become one of the many rumors in the NBA trading market.

Where will Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves go after losing the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive season?

Edwards obviously won't leave, but the Timberwolves are under enormous pressure to find potential upgraders in the trading market, especially with Alex Rodriguez and Mark Lore in full control of the team. Now is the time for Minnesota to win, which has raised questions about potential All-Star players in major NBA trading platforms.

Kevin Durant has long been associated with the Timberwolves, dating back to the trade deadline. It’s no secret that he and Edwards are close, but is there a realistic way to chase Durant? If Minnesota has no choice this offseason, what about Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Dalius Garland?

The Cavaliers also face lineup problems after entering the offseason after losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals for two consecutive seasons. Since they won 64 games in the regular season and were a favorite to enter the NBA Finals, Cleveland has been thinking about it all summer long.

Although Ultraman Kobe and Cavaliers management have always been committed to maintaining a roster with All-Star Donovan Mitchell as the core, recent rumors suggest that the deal involving Garland is definitely worth discussing ahead of the June NBA Draft.

In addition to Garland's situation in the East, the Boston Celtics are also facing financial difficulties. Jason Tatum is out indefinitely due to a torn Achilles tendon, and Brad Stevens will face a difficult task that requires him to readjust Boston’s roster and maintain the highest level of competitiveness possible.

Many teams have expressed interest in adjusting their draft picks by June 25. So, in the weeks leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, we may see the following four NBA trading options, first involving Garland and the Timberwolves.

Timberwolves finally solved the backcourt problem with the help of Dalius Garland

Timberwolves won: defender Dalius Garland, 2025 NBA draft 49th pick

Cavaliers won: forward Jaden McDaniels, defender Mike Conley, forward Leonard Miller, 2025 NBA draft 17th pick

Western Conference Finals lost again, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Timberwolves, especially considering their financial situation and the major punishments faced by the No. 2 player's layoffs. The Minnesota Timberwolves are about to usher in a change, and it is hard to imagine that new boss and executive Tim Connery will maintain the status quo of the team.

The Timberwolves will not only watch how Julius Randle handles his $30.9 million player option, but Naz Reid is also expected to choose to abandon his $15 million player option and become one of the stronger free agents in the weak market.

If Reed was to stay with the Timberwolves, they needed to offer him a generous contract, which led to doubts about the future of Dont Divinsonzo, Mike Conley and Nikil Alexander-Walker.

Not everyone can earn a salary of over $20 million, which is why the Minnesota Timberwolves are ready to give up some key players. Meanwhile, Connery won't back down. It is no coincidence that Edwards led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive seasons, and they have proved that they are one of the strongest teams in the Western Conference.

This is why the Timberwolves should actively lay out in the trading market to strengthen the key areas they need in desperate need: the backfield.

Edwards has obviously been unable to play alone and become the only organizational core of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the past two seasons. Although Conley has always been a key veteran of the team, at the age of 37, he is no longer the mainstay of the team.

As the Timberwolves desperately need a point guard who can score and create opportunities for teammates, will Dalius Garland be their main trading target ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft?

Although Rob Dillingham was the first round pick last season and they had the chance to pick another defender with the 17th pick in this year's draft, it would be wiser for the Minnesota Timberwolves to bring in a famous backcourt star.

Garland was selected for the second All-Star in Cleveland this season, averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game, and a three-point shooting percentage of up to 40.1%.

Garland's scoring and passing ability are perfect. If the Timberwolves want to go all out, then Garland is undoubtedly their perfect trading goal. The only question for the potential suitor of the Cavaliers defender is whether Cleveland will actually trade him and whether the Timberwolves will be content to trade Jaden McDaniels.

The Cavaliers are expected to be the top team in the Eastern Conference again in the 2025-26 season due to Jason Tatum's Achilles tendon injury and Giannis Antetokounmpo's future uncertainty with the Milwaukee Bucks. Rather than trading Garland for Conley, McDaniels and some young players, it makes sense to let them regain control of the team and have four All-Star core players.

When it comes back, Conley played a huge success with Donovan Mitchell at the Utah Jazz a few years ago, and McDaniels is the ideal wing player Cleveland has always longed for.. There are certainly advantages to making such deals involving Garland, especially the Cavaliers can use the No. 17 of this deal to sign another young, flexible defender as a long-term replacement.

From the Minnesota Timberwolves' perspective, McDaniels has been one of their most reliable players on both ends of the offense and defense for many years. If the Timberwolves trade him, then no player in the Timberwolves will be able to replicate McDaniels' two-way defense ability on the front line and be able to defend the opponent's strongest player.

For Garland, is it worth giving up McDaniels, experienced Conley and the precious first-round pick this year? The Cavaliers are willing to discuss any possible deal options, and Garland will be very suitable for pairing with Edwards and Randall. Perhaps the two teams are discussing a deal between Garland and McDaniels.

One thing to note about this deal: Assuming Randle or Reed chooses to jump out of the contract, the Timberwolves can complete the deal financially.

Can the Boston Celtics save money through the deals between Christapus Porzingis and Nikola Vucevic?

Celtics won: center Nikola Vucevic, 45th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

Bulls won: center Kristaps Porzingis, forward Julian Phillips*, 28th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

Celtics need to cut costs. At some point this offseason, they will trade at least one player to reduce the team’s tax burden.

However, Brad Stevens made it clear at the end of the season that the team will not be fully rebuilding and he still believes that the team has a chance to compete for the championship, regardless of whether Tatum is healthy or not. That's why Boston isn't ready to give up everything for any possible value, in exchange for players like Jaylen Brown and Derek White.

The two players don't seem to leave in the short term, which has raised questions in the trading market about the future of Christapus Porzingis and his value in the NBA. Porzingis is about to enter the final year of his contract and his salary in the 2025-26 season will reach $30.7 million.

Although he is an integral part of Boston's core roster and championship battle, trading his contract during the offseason is the most reasonable choice. So, which team is willing to accept Porzingis' high salary and can also provide a key player for the Celtics? The

Chicago Bulls are the best example, and they used Nikola Vucevic as a trader as last summer. Vucevic is an experienced NBA veteran. He is not only a double-double machine in the inside, but also a powerful three-point shooter. Last season, Vucevic scored 40.2% from three-point shooting percentage with the Chicago Bulls, averaging double-double per game.

From the perspective of Boston, the biggest benefit of exploring the possibility of swap between Porzingis and Vucevic is that the Bulls big man will receive a salary of $21.4 million in the 2025-26 season, the last year of his contract. Moreover, his tradability is also more reliable than Porzingis.

If the Celtics want to convince the Bulls to make this two-man swap, they need to use the 28th overall pick in this year's draft to attract the Chicago Bulls. By exchanging the 45th pick with the 28th pick, Stevens and Boston management will give the Bulls a reason to use Vucevic in this deal.

The Chicago Bulls are also likely to hope to raise Porzingis to higher value by the 2026 NBA trade deadline, provided he is healthy and performs well.

The deal could eventually turn into a bigger deal involving other teams and players, as the Bulls only need a little cap space to absorb the $30.7 million contract that Porzingis is about to expire.

Bulls could include Julian Phillips in this deal with the Celtics to make the deal worth the money; or, if Jevin Carter chooses to execute the player option, the deal may also be completed, but that seems unlikely.

Cam Johnson's trade brings reliable outside shooters to Houston. David Richard-Imagn Images

The Rockets win: Forward Cam Johnson, 19th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, 27th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

Nets win: Forward Jabary Smith, forward Cam Whitmore, center Jock Langdale, 10th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

The Brooklyn Nets seem to eventually give up Cam Johnson. The Nets are currently in the reconstruction phase, dreaming of getting Giannis Antetokounmpo through trades, so they are not competitive in the Eastern Conference, and Johnson's value will only decline as they hold it longer.

Many teams have asked about Johnson's transfer over the past year, but none of them gave the value Sean Max and his management have been looking forward to. Can the Houston Rockets get the players the Brooklyn Nets want in the trade, especially before the 2025 NBA Draft? It's no secret that the Nets hope to get a second lottery in this year's draft. The Brooklyn Nets not only have the eighth pick in the lottery, but also the 19th, 26th and 27th picks in the late first round. This has sparked speculation in the league circle that the Nets are exploring all possibilities to strive to surpass the eighth pick.

The Houston Rockets currently have the 10th pick, and there are many attractive options on the draft for a team like the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets have said they are willing to use the 10th pick to explore other avenues, and in this case, they may use the 10th pick to trade with the Nets Johnson.

While chasing Johnson will cost the Rockets the 10th pick, Jabarry Smith and Cam Whitmore, they will benefit from the Nets' two first-round picks with the 19th and 27th picks respectively. In these positions, the Rockets have the opportunity to fill Smith’s vacancy in the rotation and immediately bring in some more experienced and more mature college players.

Losing Smith will not damage the Rockets' second-seeded status in the Western Conference. As the 2024-25 season progresses, Smith's role gradually weakens, and the Rockets are continuing to look for more opportunities to let Tari Ethan play. Ethan and Johnson will fill the vacancy left by Smith, and the Rockets will also have a significant improvement in three-point shooting percentage, which is a key area they need to improve during the offseason.

From the Nets' perspective, they will get their coveted second lotto sign, giving them a chance to sign two top ten players in the 2025 NBA Draft. Smith and Whitmore will also provide the Nets with athletic talent and long-term depth to help them build a core squad around Cam Thomas.

The Brooklyn Nets will still have the 26th pick and the 36th pick in the second round, which allows them to explore more draft options based on the players who are out of the first round.

Celtics maintain the championship window for a lower price

Celtics won: defender/forward Herb Jones, defender Josh Green, center Mark Williams

Pelicans won: center Christaps Porzingis, defender Nick Smith II, 2025 NBA Draft 28th pick (from BOS)

Hornets won: guard Jordan Hawkins, center Kelly Olynick, forward Sam Hauser, 2025 NBA Draft No. 32nd pick (from BOS), 2026 second round pick (from BOS)

Although we have mentioned the Celtics before, they are one of the first batch of fallen dominoes in the NBA trading market and will trigger turmoil in the NBA trading market. The team can try a variety of options, such as trading Porzingis and Ju Holiday out to ease the financial burden on management and team owners.

Porzingis can create certain market value in teams in both leagues because his upcoming $30 million contract, as a space-based big man, has unlimited potential. After all, he is one of the first 7-foot big players in the league, and with his franchise protection and shooting ability, he has brought the team a new center position.

In the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans found themselves at a crossroads after hiring Joe Dumas to replace David Griffin. Dejunta Murray, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones all suffered serious injuries during the offseason, while Brandon Ingram currently plays for the Toronto Raptors. The Pelicans will be in lineup restructuring and trade negotiations during the offseason, which has raised concerns about Jones' future on the team. During Griffin's leadership, Jones was untouchable, and this wing player with both offense and defense was always rejected by the Pelicans. Will this mentality continue under Dumas’ leadership? Or will this defensive player suddenly become an optional asset to increase future value?

If Jones can trade, he is the player the Celtics and several other NBA playoff contenders need to target in the trade negotiations. While Jones suffered a right labrum tear in the 2024-25 season, Jones could help fill the void left by Tatum, who will recover from a tear in the Achilles tendon for most of the 2025-26 season.

The Celtics could send Porzingis and the 28th overall pick this year to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jones, and they might also consider including the Charlotte Hornets in the scheme of the tripartite deal to get Josh Green and Mark Williams to enhance the depth of the lineup.

Green is a scoring guard with outstanding athleticism and offense, just like Derek White when the Boston Celtics acquired him; and Williams quickly strengthens the Boston Celtics' frontcourt depth. Despite the worrying long-term health of Williams, he could be portrayed in the Celtics as Robert Williams III — a center with strong blocking ability and threatening every possession. The Hornets are willing to trade contracts and money for future value of the draft pick, and they will get a 32-pick pick from the Celtics, as well as scorer Sam Hauser. This will give the Charlotte Hornets the second round picks with the 32nd, 33rd and 34th picks, making it possible to advance and get an additional first-round pick.

This deal actually gave the Celtics a more comprehensive lineup depth and younger players at a more reasonable price that could represent the team’s future, thus retaining their hopes of winning the championship.

Since Dumas took over the New Orleans Pelicans, he has stressed that the team needs more depth and talent in the frontcourt. Porzingis offers these, another former All-Star player the team wants to rise from the bottom of the West.

In Charlotte, Hauser and Hawkins will become two key wing three-pointers around Lamelo Ball, and they can continue to increase their draft capital.