NBA Rumors: Mavericks Offered Luka Doncic To Timberwolves In Exchange For Anthony Edwards

Luka Doncic helped the Los Angeles Lakers take down the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night, making them 5-2 since the blockbuster NBA trade on February 1st. But according to a report by The Athletic, it could have been the Timberwolves that acquired the 26-year-old instead.

All it would have costed them was Anthony Edwards.

NBA Rumors: Doncic Was Offered For Anthony Edwards

The Lakers and Mavericks shocked the world by agreeing to the deal. Anthony Davis was being shipped off to Dallas, and Los Angeles would continue their history of star power by acquiring a perennial MVP candidate in Doncic. The move shifted both the short and long term futures of both franchises, with the near-consensus belief that the Lakers were the big winners in the deal.

It was initially reported that the two teams only spoke with each other. No other teams around the NBA knew that Doncic was made available, which made the move all the more curious. But in a piece published by The Athletic on Friday morning, Sam Amick explains that there was at least one discussion with another team regarding the Mavericks shopping their superstar.

NEWS: League sources tell @sam_amick that the Mavericks and Timberwolves informally discussed the prospect of swapping Luka Dončić for 23-year-old, three-time All-Star Anthony Edwards in the weeks before the Lakers deal went down.

More ⤵️https://t.co/qyai5cg2ba pic.twitter.com/tz8UeMSuLi

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 28, 2025

In the weeks prior to the Doncic/Davis trade, the Mavericks actually reached out to the Timberwolves. They wanted to know if Minnesota was at all interested in bringing Doncic in, but that it would require the Wolves sending Anthony Edwards back in exchange.

Minnesota quickly declined the offer, but were left stunned that Dallas was actually shopping their star player, who was thought to be untouchable.

Timberwolves, Lakers Headed In Opposite Directions

It would have made much more sense from the Mavericks’ standpoint than the trade that actually ended up happening. Edwards is still just 23 years old and likely has his best playing days ahead of him, and would have been the centerpiece and face of the franchise in Dallas for years to come.

Instead, they settled for Davis, who will turn 32 years old in the coming weeks, and has a long and noted history of injuries during his NBA career.

A Doncic-for-Edwards swap would have been the second massive shakeup in 4 months for the Timberwolves. In early October, they traded away long-time big man Karl-Anthony Towns in a move that hasn’t proven to be a fruitful one for them.

The Lakers and Timberwolves are moving in opposite directions in the standings. After the win by Los Angeles on Thursday, the Lakers are in fourth place in the Western Conference, and have won 8 of their last 10 games. Minnesota is simply trying to stay afloat at this point, having gone 5-5 in their last 10, and are just one game up on the 10th seed.