The Minnesota Timberwolves are not broken. They just have a crack forming in the backcourt. Anthony Edwards is their franchise. But one elite scorer can’t hold a guard rotation together when age, injury, and free agency are all pulling at the same loose thread. That tension is now pushing Tim Connelly toward the 2026 NBA Draft as the franchise enters its biggest summer.
Timberwolves’ Next Draft Pick Could Solve a Problem Anthony Edwards Can’t
Timberwolves’ Backcourt Is Starting to Leak
Mike Conley turns 39 this October. He has been steady and professional, the kind of veteran who keeps a locker room sane. But steadiness at 38 looks different than steadiness at 32, and no front office builds long-term depth around a player heading into the final chapter.
That alone would be manageable. Then the other issues arrived.
Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland are both entering unrestricted free agency. Minnesota traded real assets to bring Dosunmu in at the deadline, so losing him for nothing would sting. Hyland has shown he can create in short bursts off the bench. Both of them leaving would gut the second unit’s ability to initiate offense without Edwards on the floor.
Then came the real gut punch.
Donte DiVincenzo tore his right Achilles tendon during the playoffs, ending his season and pushing his return timeline deep into 2026-27. He was not a first option, but he was a reliable playmaker who could hold the ball and make decisions. Now that role sits empty.
Why This Draft Pick Suddenly Matters More
The Timberwolves hold the No. 28 pick in next week’s draft. Under normal circumstances, a late first-rounder is a low-pressure swing. Minnesota’s circumstances are not normal right now.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, rival teams believe Minnesota is exploring trade scenarios around the No. 28 pick and has identified Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a name that has surfaced on Connelly’s radar. Fischer reported that “the Wolves are searching for another ballhandler to bolster their backcourt,” which is about as direct a confirmation of the problem as you’ll find from a front office that rarely speaks in public.
Trading down rather than out is the key phrase here. Minnesota doesn’t need to exit the draft to get value. Moving back while keeping de Larrea in range is actually the smarter move, especially when the goal isn’t a star but a functional piece.
As we break down the 2026 NBA Draft international prospects, de Larrea has been developing with Valencia Basket for two seasons, averaging 7.0 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 39.5 percent from three.
Who Exactly Is Sergio de Larrea
He is not a name most American basketball fans know. That should not be confused with not being ready.
De Larrea is 20 years old, stands 6-foot-6, and reportedly carries a 6-9 wingspan. Playing in Spain’s Liga ACB and the EuroLeague, he averaged 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists this season while shooting 36.7 percent from three and 81.3 percent from the free-throw line against professionals who are, in many cases, a decade older than him. The efficiency at this stage is encouraging.
What scouts keep coming back to is how he processes the game. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie described him as a player who “does the right thing almost every time,” which sounds like a backhanded compliment until you realize how rare that quality is at 20 in a professional league. He reads pick-and-roll coverages, makes the right pass before the defense closes, and doesn’t force the action when it isn’t there.
He is not explosive. He will not win games by himself. He will need to add strength to survive NBA physicality. But late-first-round picks are not drafted to be saviors. They are drafted to be useful, and de Larrea’s profile is built around being useful in exactly the spots where Minnesota is exposed.
What Minnesota Actually Needs From This Pick
Edwards does not need another scorer next to him. He is one of the best offensive weapons in the league, and Minnesota’s offensive identity runs through him. What the Wolves need is someone who can operate beside him without creating chaos.
De Larrea functions as an off-ball mover and an on-ball initiator. He can push pace in transition, find the open man in half-court sets, and make Connelly’s system feel organized even in the minutes when Edwards rests.
Conley has been quietly excellent for years. But the Timberwolves cannot keep leaning on a 39-year-old as the primary backup if DiVincenzo is unavailable and free agency further thins the depth. The front office clearly understands this, and the de Larrea interest is the first public signal that Connelly is not waiting until the problem becomes a crisis.
The Draft Is Closer Than It Looks
Minnesota’s window is real and open right now. Edwards is 24, the core is competitive, and the Western Conference is not getting easier. A late first-round pick spent on a guard who knows how to play beats a wasted pick on a high-ceiling project who never develops.
De Larrea is not the loudest name on the board next week. He might be the most logical one for where the Timberwolves actually are.
Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
