Minnesota Timberwolves: Trade Deadline Grades

Jan 21, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett (2) reacts after missing a basket against the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Nets won 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Traded Thaddeus Young to Brooklyn for Kevin Garnett

It still feels surreal to type those words…the Wolves traded for Kevin Garnett. If you’d told me that ten years ago…

At any rate, it’s real life, and that did happen. With Garnett yet to report to the team, it still feels a bit mythical, but things will feel very real on Wednesday night at Target Center when the Big Ticket is re-introduced to the Timberwolves’ faithful.

Young is a very good player. He could start on a playoff team and be a key cog in the rotation for a true contender. He has shortcomings (namely three-point shooting, defending larger forwards, and driving to his left nearly every time he has the ball), but who doesn’t? He’s been a plus-player for his entire career, and save for a rough patch in November and into December, he was solid in Minnesota, too.

Flip Saunders and Milt Newton mentioned in their press conference on Wednesday night that Young’s representatives had made it known that he planned to opt for free agency this summer to see what the market held his value at and find out if he would be able to land a long-term contract. If that’s the case, the trade makes a little more sense from a basketball perspective.

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There’s also the “mentor” aspect. I’m not a big fan of that term, but I do think that Garnett’s attitude and work ethic will have a positive impact on the team. Anyone who has ever worked in an office understands the concept: there are always leaders and followers, and the attitude of the leader will inevitably permeate the overall feel of the group.

While Garnett absolutely has his faults and has done some questionable and at times embarrassing things both on and off the court, nobody has ever accused him of not working hard. All. The. Time. And that’s important.

This grade is difficult since we don’t know what Young’s true value around the league was. The fact that his 2015-16 contract status is in question apparently hurt that value, and I’m willing to believe that if Saunders could have gleaned a draft pick or two in return he would have done that instead.

Grade: B

Next: State of the Roster