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Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 best draft trades

By Christian Anton

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks before the start of the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks before the start of the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 20, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) and center Gorgui Dieng (5) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeat the Timberwolves 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) and center Gorgui Dieng (5) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeat the Timberwolves 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

2. 2013 NBA Draft:  Two for the price of one.

In the 2013 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Trey Burke with the ninth overall pick.  Without wasting any time they called Utah in order to move him for the 14th and 21st overall picks.

Enter the newest Timberwolves duo Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng.

Both of these guys have contributed to the current iteration of the Minnesota Timberwolves consistently.  Shabazz has averaged 9.7 points per game throughout his first four years and has carved out a solid sixth man role.

Gorgui Dieng, on the other hand, has become a consistent starting post presence.  Dieng has averaged 8.9 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game over the last four years.

Meanwhile, Trey Burke has been a decent player in the first four years of his career but has struggled as of late.  His first three years with the Utah Jazz Burke averaged 12.1 points per game and 4.2 assists per game.

Things took a down turn for Burke recently however when he became a member of the Washington Wizards.  In his first and only season in the nation’s capital Trey’s averages plummeted to 5.0 points per game and 1.8 assists per game.

When looking back at the 2013 draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves come out as the clear winners in my book.  At least in the short term, only history will tell the longer this trade ages.