Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has identified Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a draft target – and the urgency behind that interest is not subtle.
The Timberwolves‘ backcourt is quietly collapsing around Anthony Edwards, and the NBA Draft may be the cheapest fix available.
Minnesota Timberwolves Looking To Bolster
NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that rival teams believe Minnesota is exploring trade scenarios involving the No. 28 pick next week. “The Wolves are searching for another ballhandler to bolster their backcourt,” Fischer reported. De Larrea has specifically emerged on Connelly‘s radar as the primary target in those discussions.
ESPN‘s draft board slots de Larrea at No. 34 overall – squarely in early-second-round range. That projection is exactly why the trade-down scenario makes sense. Minnesota could slide from 28, collect additional assets, and still land their guy.
Sergio de Larrea Could Solve The Wolves’ Problem
Mike Conley turns 39 this season. That is not a depth concern – that is a succession crisis on a one-year delay. Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland are both hitting unrestricted free agency, meaning two of the four guards behind Edwards could walk out the door simultaneously.
Donte DiVincenzo suffered a torn Achilles during the playoffs and faces a lengthy recovery. Monte Morris and Nickeil Alexander-Walker remain, but neither projects as a long-term lead guard solution. The depth chart behind Edwards looks thin heading into a season where the Wolves expect to contend.
Sergio de Larrea Suits Minnesota Timberwolves
At 6-foot-6 and 204 pounds with a reported 6-9 wingspan, de Larrea carries the size profile modern NBA front offices covet at guard.
Playing for Valencia Basket in Liga ACB and EuroLeague competition, he averaged 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists this season. More recent combined-competition numbers from Sports Illustrated show 9.7 points, 3.8 assists, 45.0% shooting, and 41.7% from three – a meaningful shooting leap that scouts are tracking closely.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic described him as a player who “does the right thing almost every time.”
Minnesota does not need another high-volume shot creator – Edwards owns that role. The Wolves need an organizer who makes smart reads, spaces the floor, and keeps possessions alive without forcing the action. De Larrea projects as exactly that type of player, already logging meaningful minutes against older professionals in a demanding European environment.
Check out our 2026 NBA Draft big board for a full breakdown of where de Larrea ranks among international prospects entering this draft class.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Big Decision
The two-day NBA Draft is the immediate inflection point. Minnesota must decide between holding No. 28, trading down into the early second, or packaging the pick in a veteran deal – and that decision shapes whether de Larrea lands in a Wolves uniform or someone else’s.
Free agency decisions on Dosunmu and Hyland will then clarify whether any de Larrea pick becomes an immediate depth solution or a longer developmental stash.
