Wolves Sign Lyles
Timberwolves Secure Veteran Forward Trey Lyles on One-Year Deal, Reuniting with Tim Connelly for Frontcourt Depth
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Key Points
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In Real Madrid's EuroLeague season, Trey Lyles shot 45.9% from three across 42 EuroLeague games and 37% from three in Liga ACB, highlighting his value as a floor-spacer in Europe.
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Real Madrid also featured a productive EuroLeague season for Lyles, averaging 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in about 20.9 minutes per game, with efficient shooting of 51.5% FG, 44.3% from three and 79.2% from the line.
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Across his NBA career, Lyles has appeared in roughly 650 regular-season games, posting averages around 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assist per game.
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Tim Connelly previously acquired Lyles in a 2017 Nuggets trade (from Utah Jazz); notably, the draft pick given up in that deal later helped Arizona-born Donovan Mitchell come into the league, adding historical context to the reunion.
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Lyles and Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns were college teammates, with Towns going No. 1 overall to Minnesota in 2015 and Lyles going No. 12 to the Jazz, illustrating their longstanding connection to Minnesota's frontcourt depth.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed veteran power forward Trey Lyles to a one-year, $3.9 million minimum deal, bringing the 30-year-old back to the NBA after a standout season overseas, according to Star Tribune. Lyles spent last season with Real Madrid, where he averaged 13.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in about 21 minutes per EuroLeague game.
The move fills a frontcourt depth need in Minnesota, though Sports Illustrated reports Lyles is unlikely to start. The signing also comes as the Wolves are still rumored to be pursuing superstar free agent LeBron James, making Lyles a low-risk addition while the team eyes bigger upgrades.
Lyles Dominated in Europe Before NBA Return
Lyles had one of the best shooting seasons of his career in Spain. He shot 51.5% from the field and 44.3% from three in EuroLeague play across 42 games, per RotoWire. That kind of floor-spacing — spreading the defense by hitting long-range shots — is exactly what Minnesota wants from a backup big man.
In Liga ACB, Spain's top domestic league, Lyles shot 37% from three. His EuroLeague three-point mark of roughly 45.9% was even more impressive. Those numbers made him one of the most efficient forwards in European basketball last season, SSBCrack News noted.
Tim Connelly Reunion Adds a Layer of History
This signing is personal for both sides. Timberwolves president Tim Connelly drafted Lyles back in 2017 when Connelly ran the Denver Nuggets. He acquired Lyles in a trade from the Utah Jazz, giving up a draft pick that eventually helped bring Donovan Mitchell into the league, according to Star Tribune.
Lyles also shares history with Minnesota star Karl-Anthony Towns. The two were college teammates at Kentucky. Towns went No. 1 overall to the Wolves in 2015. Lyles went No. 12 to Utah. Now, more than a decade later, they reunite in Minnesota's frontcourt, per SSBCrack News.
A Reliable Veteran With 650 NBA Games of Experience
Lyles is not a star, but he is proven. Over roughly 650 regular-season NBA games, he has averaged 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, according to RotoWire. He has played for Utah, Denver, San Antonio, Detroit, Sacramento, and Charlotte — giving him deep experience in varied roles off the bench.
At $3.9 million on a one-year deal, the risk for Minnesota is very low. NBC Sports noted the move came shortly after other roster decisions, signaling the Wolves are actively building their depth chart heading into next season. Lyles gives them a stretch big who can shoot, rebound, and switch on defense.
LeBron Rumors Still Loom Over Minnesota's Offseason
The Lyles deal does not close the door on bigger moves. Sports Illustrated reports Minnesota is still actively pursuing LeBron James, the four-time NBA champion who is weighing his next team. LeBron, now 40, would represent a massive upgrade over any depth signing the Wolves could make.
For now, Lyles is the move on the board. He gives Minnesota a reliable body at power forward while the front office keeps working. Whether LeBron follows or not, the Wolves enter next season with more depth than they had a week ago, Star Tribune reported.
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