Report: Hawks emerge as potential Wolves sign-and-trade partner for NAW

Minnesota could recoup assets in exchange for a free agent they'll likely lose.

Apr 27, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) passes in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers during game four of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images | Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

After signing Naz Reid and Julius Randle to lucrative contract extensions, it's like a foregone conclusion that Minnesota will not be able to retain free agent guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker. But instead of losing him for nothing, could the Wolves get an asset back for NAW? NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer suggest that the Wolves could pull off a sign-and-trade.

The Pistons have emerged as a potential landing spot for NAW, but Stein and Fischer think Atlanta could make a push to execute a sign-and-trade with Minnesota.

"The Hawks are now being more frequently projected by rival teams as the team in pole position — ahead of Detroit — to acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a potential sign-and-trade deal with Minnesota," they wrote.

It is June 30th! So ...

The latest, freshest AND hottest NBA free agency and trade talk approaching the opening bell --with more teams and names than you can imagine -- is HERE from @JakeLFischer and me: https://t.co/lmRsufQYy1 pic.twitter.com/xLASFrIZRd

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2025

Minnesota faced a similar situation last offseason when Kyle Anderson signed a 3-year, $27 million deal before being shipped off to the Warriors in exchange for a future second-round pick swap and cash. It made sense for Golden State to do the trade at the time because of a trade exception, something that Atlanta currently also has. That means the Hawks could potentially offer NAW a stronger contract in a sign-and-trade than in outright free agency, and the Wolves could perhaps get back a second-round pick and create a trade exception in the process.

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"The Hawks can comfortably absorb Alexander-Walker into their $25.3 million traded player exception that was created a year ago when Dejounte Murray was shipped to New Orleans," Stein and Fischer continued. "It appears that it would be the Timberwolves this time who create a trade exception in the process."

All signs point towards Minnesota not being able to bring back NAW, but Tim Connelly and the Wolves front office seem to always have a trick up their sleeves. Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark are formidable replacements for Alexander-Walker, and Minnesota potentially adding draft compensation for a lost free agent would be a no-brainer.