The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to prove they are one of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s biggest competitors.

Do they have enough to get it done? One mock draft put together by Bleacher Report suggests that a boost in the backcourt could be a better fix for Minnesota.

In one hypothetical scenario, the Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Brooklyn Nets engaged in a three-team deal, which would have many moving pieces.

Who Do the Timberwolves Give Up to Land James Harden?

Brooklyn only benefits from a 2027 second-rounder from Minnesota in this case. The rest of the package would go to LA.

Joe Ingles, Rob Dillingham, Mike Conley, and Naz Reid would get an opportunity to hit California and give the Clippers a different look, as they struggle throughout the start of the 2025-2026 NBA season.

In return, the Timberwolves would pick up Jalen Wilson from Brooklyn, along with Harden and Chris Paul. Minnesota would link the $244 million star Anthony Edwards with one of the top guards in the game.

“Adding a high-level playmaker, shooter, and dynamic scorer in Harden, even at age 36, significantly changes Minnesota’s offensive attack,” BR’s Eric Pincus writes.

“…He wouldn’t need to do nearly as much for the Timberwolves, helping top scorers like Randle and Edwards get their shots.”

James Harden’s Still Got It

The 36-year-old dynamic guard was believed to be on a steep slope of regression when he was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers a couple of years ago.

Last year, Harden silenced those critics as he put together another All-Star run for the first time since 2022. In 79 games, Harden produced 22.8 points per game and dished out 8.7 assists per game. He knocked down 35 percent of his threes and 41 percent of his shots from the field.

This year, Harden turned his production up a notch so far. With his scoring, he has averaged 26.8 points while shooting 36 percent from deep. He is producing 8.3 assists per game, along with 5.4 rebounds.

Why It Gets Complicated

At this point, Harden might be a ticking time bomb in LA. He’s no stranger to forcing his way out. But the Chris Paul saga with the Clippers makes the situation complicated.

Paul isn’t expected to play for the Clippers again, but moving to Minnesota amid his final season seems like it could be a dealbreaker for the veteran guard who wanted to play in California to close out his career.

That kind of uncertainty should be enough for the Timberwolves to either look for another piece or look away altogether.

It’s also logical to question whether the Timberwolves would be willing to part with some of the pieces, specifically Naz Reid and Mike Conley. The former just signed a new deal with the Timberwolves and has become a franchise favorite at this point.

The Timberwolves can’t move Reid until mid-January, at the earliest. So, they have plenty of time to figure out what they look like closer to the deadline. If the Clippers continue to slide, Harden just might be an intriguing piece.

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