How the KAT, Ayo, & LaMelo Trades Extended Minnesota's Championship Window
# Wolves 9-man rotation 2023-2024, pre-KAT trade:
Mike Conley (36), Anthony Edwards (22), Jaden McDaniels (23), Karl-Anthony Towns (28), Rudy Gobert (31), Naz Reid (24), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (25), Kyle Anderson (30), Jordan McLaughlin (27)
\- Average age of starting five: 28 y/o
\- Average total age: 27.33 y/o
# Wolves 9-man rotation 2024-2025, post-KAT trade:
Mike Conley (37), Anthony Edwards (23), Jaden McDaniels (24), Julius Randle (30), Rudy Gobert (32), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (26), Donte DiVincenzo (28), Naz Reid (25), Jaylen Clark (23)
\- Assets sent: Karl-Anthony Towns (29)
\- Assets received: Julius Randle (30), Donte DiVincenzo (28), Joan Beringer (18)
\- Assets retained: Naz Reid (24)
\- Average age of starting five: 29.2 y/o
\- Average total age: 27.55 y/o
# Wolves 9-man rotation 2025-2026, post-Ayo trade:
Donte DiVincenzo (29), Anthony Edwards (24), Jaden McDaniels (25), Julius Randle (31), Rudy Gobert (33), Ayo Dosunmu (26), Naz Reid (26), Kyle Anderson (32), Mike Conley (38)
\- Assets sent: Rob Dillingham (21), Leonard Miller (22), $10M Mike Conley (38), four 2nd round picks
\- Assets received: Ayo Dosunmu (26)
\- Assets signed: vet min Mike Conley (38)
\- Average age of starting five: 28.4 y/o
\- Average total age: 29.33 y/o
# Wolves 9-man rotation 2026-2027, post-LaMelo trade:
LaMelo Ball (25), Anthony Edwards (25), Jaden McDaniels (26), Jonathan Kuminga (24), Rudy Gobert (34), Ayo Dosunmu (27), Terrence Shannon Jr. (26), Joan Beringer (20); Bones Hyland (26) or Donte DiVincenzo (30)
\- Assets sent: Julius Randle (32), Naz Reid (27), Joshua Jefferson (23), 2033 1st rounder, three 1st round pick swaps, three 2nd rounders
\- Assets received: LaMelo Ball (25), Isaiah Evans (21), Cody Willliams (22), ~~Josh Green (26), John Konchar (31)~~
\- Assets signed: Jonathan Kuminga (24)
\- Average age of starting five: 26.8 y/o
\- Average total age with Donte: 26.33 y/o
\- Average total age with Bones: 25.88 y/o
**Bonus hypothetical 2026-2027 stats:**
\- Average age of core five, sub Rudy for Joan: 24 y/o
\- Average total age, excluding Rudy and Donte: 24.87 y/o
\- Average total age, excluding Rudy and Bones: 25.37 y/o
# Conclusion:
\- The KAT trade gave us Rudy Gobert's replacement in Joan Beringer, and the flexibility to retain and trade players. Without it, there would be no LaMelo trade.
\- The Ayo trade helped offset the loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and cleared the books of overpaid players like Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham who weren't contributing relative to their salaries.
\- The LaMelo trade gave Ant a long-term co-star at a position of need. It also allowed the Wolves to trade back to the 2nd round and still get their guy in Isaiah Evans without paying a 1st round salary. Trading two PFs in Randle and Reid made it possible to offer Jonathan Kuminga a starting spot in free agency.
Overall, the Timberwolves were a team that was vulnerable to aging out of contention like the Warriors or Clippers. These three trades by Tim Connelly gave Minnesota a potential long-term starting five of either LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, and Joan Beringer; or LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaden McDaniels, and Joan Beringer if Kuminga doesn't re-sign next offseason. Simply an incredible pivot for a team that was lacking draft capital after the Rudy Gobert trade.