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The Minnesota Timberwolves will already have a completely different starting lineup next season as they traded away Julius Randle and added LaMelo Ball to the mix.
The team will also be without Donte DiVincenzo, who started all 82 games last season, after he suffered a torn Achilles in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs against the Denver Nuggets.
Minnesota has inquired about adding LeBron James to the team after he informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning to the team after eight seasons. Minnesota is on LeBron's shortlist, as revealed by Rich Paul on his podcast with Max Kellerman.
Minnesota has a big need at power forward after they salary-dumped Julius Randle and a first-round pick for a second-round pick, and then traded Naz Reid as part of the LaMelo trade.
The team signed Trey Lyles, who might end up being the starting power forward unless they decide to go small with Jaden McDaniels at the four and Ayo Dosunmu at the three.
Should they sign LeBron, he easily slots in at the power forward position. LeBron has a similar build to Julius Randle, who spent the past two seasons as the starting power forward on the Timberwolves.
The starting lineup would then have LaMelo Ball at point guard, Anthony Edwards at shooting guard, Jaden McDaniels at small forward, LeBron James at power forward, and Rudy Gobert at center.
Overall, that's a much better starting lineup than the one that won 49 games in each of the last two seasons in the Western Conference and made the Western Conference Finals in 2025.
There might be some growing pains and some sacrifice from LaMelo and Edwards to play off the ball a bit more, but on paper, it has all the ingredients to be an effective starting lineup.
LeBron is a more well-rounded and complete player than Randle, and LaMelo is more of a threat on the offensive end than DiVincenzo.
If LaMelo is comfortable moving off the ball, he could get some of his cleanest looks from three with Gobert's screening and LeBron's passing. If Edwards is comfortable moving off the ball, he could get easy baskets at the rim with his cutting and back screen from Gobert.
The lineup has spacing on the perimeter and Gobert as a threat in the dunker spot. It's a group that can attack off the dribble, pressure the rim, and make the right play.
All Minnesota needs is the commitment from LeBron.
Continue reading...
The team will also be without Donte DiVincenzo, who started all 82 games last season, after he suffered a torn Achilles in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs against the Denver Nuggets.
Minnesota has inquired about adding LeBron James to the team after he informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning to the team after eight seasons. Minnesota is on LeBron's shortlist, as revealed by Rich Paul on his podcast with Max Kellerman.
The Starting Lineup With LeBron
Minnesota has a big need at power forward after they salary-dumped Julius Randle and a first-round pick for a second-round pick, and then traded Naz Reid as part of the LaMelo trade.
The team signed Trey Lyles, who might end up being the starting power forward unless they decide to go small with Jaden McDaniels at the four and Ayo Dosunmu at the three.
Should they sign LeBron, he easily slots in at the power forward position. LeBron has a similar build to Julius Randle, who spent the past two seasons as the starting power forward on the Timberwolves.
The starting lineup would then have LaMelo Ball at point guard, Anthony Edwards at shooting guard, Jaden McDaniels at small forward, LeBron James at power forward, and Rudy Gobert at center.
Overall, that's a much better starting lineup than the one that won 49 games in each of the last two seasons in the Western Conference and made the Western Conference Finals in 2025.
Would It Work?
There might be some growing pains and some sacrifice from LaMelo and Edwards to play off the ball a bit more, but on paper, it has all the ingredients to be an effective starting lineup.
LeBron is a more well-rounded and complete player than Randle, and LaMelo is more of a threat on the offensive end than DiVincenzo.
If LaMelo is comfortable moving off the ball, he could get some of his cleanest looks from three with Gobert's screening and LeBron's passing. If Edwards is comfortable moving off the ball, he could get easy baskets at the rim with his cutting and back screen from Gobert.
The lineup has spacing on the perimeter and Gobert as a threat in the dunker spot. It's a group that can attack off the dribble, pressure the rim, and make the right play.
All Minnesota needs is the commitment from LeBron.
Continue reading...
