The Timberwolves have been all over the NBA rumor mill lately, and a big part of the buzz is about Donte DiVincenzo’s trade availability. He came over in the blockbuster trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, DiVincenzo, and a couple of extras. The idea was to shake things up and make a run in the playoffs, but, honestly, it’s been kind of messy.
The big drama? Chemistry issues. Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle aren’t exactly hitting it off. There was even a moment in a game against the Raptors where Gobert got straight-up annoyed because Randle didn’t get him the ball, leading to a turnover. Anthony Edwards had to step in and calm things down—it’s been that kind of vibe.
That said, any move involving DiVincenzo won’t be simple. The Wolves are under the NBA’s second apron, meaning they can’t take back more salary than they send out, as they can not add more salaries (or players) in a deal for one or multiple players. This makes salary matching critical, limiting their options. With that in mind, here are five teams that could realistically land DiVincenzo and make the most of his 3-and-D potential.
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The Warriors Would Get Their Shooter Back
Potential Trade Offer: Gary Payton II, 2026 First-Round Pick, 2025 Second-Round Pick
The Golden State Warriors are on fire this season, sitting pretty at 12-5 and leading the West. Buddy Hield has been a monster, stepping in for Klay Thompson with 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting an insane 44% from deep. Defensively, Gary Payton II has been locking guys down, but his offensive contributions are a bit lighter at 4.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists a night.
The Timberwolves, meanwhile, are sitting at 8-8 and trying to figure out their identity after all those big offseason moves. Donte DiVincenzo is doing his best, putting up 9.6 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds while hitting 33% of his threes. That shooting percentage feels like it’s more about Minnesota’s bad spacing than his actual ability to knock down shots.
Now picture DiVincenzo back with the Warriors. In their system—built on movement and spacing—he could slide in as another dangerous 3-and-D weapon. He’d give the offense more firepower while still holding his own defensively. Plus, he’s already familiar with their style, so the fit would be seamless.
Swapping Payton for DiVincenzo could really work for both sides. The Warriors get another shooter who fits their system perfectly, and the Timberwolves add Payton’s elite defense to a squad that could use it. This kind of trade feels like one that makes both teams better, as the Wolves would also benefit from a future first-rounder.
The Clippers Add More Backcourt Firepower
Potential Trade Offer: Chris Dunn, Bones Hyland, Kevin Porter Jr.
This trade could give the Timberwolves a lot to work with while helping the Clippers boost their lineup. For Minnesota, Chris Dunn would offer a more reliable backup point guard option compared to rookie Robert Dillingham, giving them a steady veteran presence. Bones Hyland, meanwhile, could be a dynamic scorer and shooter off the bench, while Kevin Porter Jr. would also bring that scoring punch—whether it’s as a sixth man or in small-ball lineups with Anthony Edwards replacing Mike Conley.
The Clippers are sitting at 11-8 after losing to the Celtics last night, playing without Kawhi Leonard, who’s dealing with an injury. Norman Powell has been stepping up big time in Paul George’s absence (now a Sixer), averaging 23 points per game. Even with Powell cooking, the Clippers need a consistent shooter in the backcourt, and Donte DiVincenzo fits that mold perfectly. Pairing him with James Harden would give the Clippers a well-rounded backcourt combo that can spread the floor, defend, and keep defenses honest.
For the Wolves, this move could deepen their rotation while opening up new lineup possibilities. Dunn could stabilize the second unit, Hyland could light it up off the bench, and Porter Jr. could either do the same or slide into versatile small-ball lineups. It’s a trade that would address needs for both teams, setting them up for playoff pushes in their respective conferences.
The Lakers Could Make A Run For Donte
Potential Trade Offer: Max Christie, Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Second-Round Pick
The Lakers are looking good this season with a 10-6 record, sitting fourth in the West, and surprising just about everyone. JJ Redick’s got this team playing hard, and rookie Dalton Knecht even dropped 37 points recently, making it clear the young guys have something to offer. Still, there’s always room to upgrade, and Donte DiVincenzo would be a perfect fit for this squad.
There’s been a lot of chatter about the Lakers targeting big men like Walker Kessler, Jonas Valanciunas, or even Robert Williams III most recently. But adding DiVincenzo would give the backcourt a serious boost. He’d be a clear upgrade over Max Christie and Jalen Hood-Schifino—who, in his second year, still hasn’t cracked the rotation. DiVincenzo could slide into the starting lineup next to Austin Reaves if D’Angelo Russell keeps coming off the bench or just be a killer sixth man.
Under Redick’s system, Donte would thrive, especially with shooters like Knecht getting hot. The Lakers are already overachieving, but adding a versatile 3-and-D guy like DiVincenzo could take them to another level as they chase a deep playoff run.
The Spurs Might Look To Climb Up The West
Potential Trade Offer: Tre Jones, 2025 First-Round Pick (ATL), 2025 First-Round Pick (CHA)
The Spurs are hanging tough this season with a 9-8 record, currently sitting 10th in the West. Chris Paul has been the steady hand running the offense, Victor Wembanyama is back in action after missing some time with an injury, and the team just picked up a big win against the Warriors. Harrison Barnes even earned Player of the Week honors recently, showing the Spurs are trending up. But there’s always room to level up, and Donte DiVincenzo might be the missing piece.
For the Timberwolves, adding Tre Jones could be a solid move. While injuries have slowed him down this season, he’s averaging 4.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists and could be a reliable backup for Mike Conley. With rookie Robert Dillingham still getting limited minutes, Jones would give Minnesota a proven option to stabilize the second unit. Plus, those two first-round picks from Atlanta and Charlotte sweeten the deal.
For the Spurs, DiVincenzo’s 3-and-D skills would fit perfectly alongside Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes (or Sochan), and Wemby. Adding a sharpshooter and defender like him would make San Antonio much tougher on both ends of the court and help them climb a few spots in the West. If the Spurs are serious about making noise this season, this is the kind of move that could push them forward.
Shooting For The Stars For The Magic
Potential Trade Offer: Anthony Black, Caleb Houstan, 2025 First-Round Pick (DEN)
The Magic are rolling right now, sitting at 12-7 and holding down the third spot in the East. Even without Paolo Banchero, who’s sidelined with an oblique injury, Franz Wagner has stepped up big time. Orlando is 9-1 in their last 10 games, including a thrilling game-winner against the Lakers. But while they’re hot, there’s still room to improve—especially in the backcourt.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who came in this offseason, hasn’t been living up to expectations, averaging just 6.8 points on 34% shooting. Slotting Donte DiVincenzo into that role as a bench scorer and defender would be a clear upgrade. The Magic have plenty of guys in the guard rotation like Cole Anthony (who’s been struggling), Jalen Suggs, and Gary Harris, but they could use a more consistent presence to keep the offense humming—especially with Paolo out and the scoring load falling on Franz.
For the Timberwolves, this trade could be intriguing. Anthony Black is showing potential in his sophomore season, averaging 8.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.7 rebounds. He could develop into a versatile piece for the Wolves, while Caleb Houstan adds some much-needed shooting, even though he’s been in a limited role so far. Throw in Denver’s first-round pick this summer, and it’s a package that might be hard for Minnesota to pass up.
Adding DiVincenzo would boost the Magic’s playoff hopes even more. He’d bring the shooting and defense they need, and once Paolo returns, the spacing for Orlando’s offense would be on another level. This is the kind of move that could solidify them as a legit threat in the East.
