Trey Lyles is heading back to the NBA after a season in Spain, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are the team bringing him home. Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reported that Lyles will sign a one-year deal with Minnesota.
The move gives the Timberwolves another experienced frontcourt option at a time when their roster still has room to settle. With Julius Randle and Naz Reid both headed out in agreed trades, Minnesota had been looking for additional depth at power forward.
A veteran with a long NBA track record
Lyles spent 10 seasons in the NBA from 2015-25 with Utah, Denver, San Antonio, Detroit, and Sacramento. Across 650 regular season games, he averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game.
| NBA Teams | Seasons | Career Averages |
|---|---|---|
| Utah, Denver, San Antonio, Detroit, Sacramento | 2015-25 | 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 18.4 minutes |
Lyles also spent 2025/26 with Real Madrid after leaving the league. Reporting in the spring suggested the Spanish club wanted to re-sign him, but the 30-year-old was said to be prioritizing a return to the NBA.
Why Minnesota fits the move
His lone season in Europe was productive, and it helped keep his profile high going into free agency. In 36 EuroLeague games, he averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 20.9 minutes per contest while shooting .515/.443/.792.
There is also some familiarity behind the signing. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly previously acquired Lyles while running the Nuggets, trading for him at the 2017 draft when Denver moved down from No. 13 to No. 24.
That earlier move turned out to carry a heavy cost for the Nuggets, since the pick they gave up became Donovan Mitchell. This time, the upside and downside look far more limited, and the deal is believed to be a minimum-salary contract even though the exact terms have not been reported.
Minnesota’s frontcourt picture still leaves room for another addition, and the Timberwolves are also pursuing star forward LeBron James, according to Krawczynski. Signing Lyles will not affect that pursuit, which keeps the team’s broader roster plan open while adding a proven role player in the meantime.