Dunking With Wolves
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Potential trades the Timberwolves should (or shouldn’t) pursue

By Justin Pinotti

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 24: The Minnesota Timberwolves make their way back on court as they play against the Miami Heat on November 24, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 24: The Minnesota Timberwolves make their way back on court as they play against the Miami Heat on November 24, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 24: The Minnesota Timberwolves make their way back on court as they play against the Miami Heat on November 24, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 24: The Minnesota Timberwolves make their way back on court as they play against the Miami Heat on November 24, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Wolves have had a successful, if not up and down, start to their season. Their record sits at 16-11 after Sunday’s win over the Mavericks, and I figured it was time to check out some trades that may or may not be good ideas for them to consider.

Trades are fun, right?

The Wolves are in an interesting place, because, at least in my opinion, they don’t need that much, but the things they do need are pretty glaring.

They have a pretty great starting lineup, and they have their “guys” pretty much earmarked (Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns all getting ready to ink some big deals). So really for the Wolves, making trades is more about moving money around, getting cheap assets to acquire depth, getting long-term assets like young players or picks, or filling holes.

Rules for making these trades:

#1 – Not trading Butler, Wiggins or Towns. The Wolves aren’t doing it, so I won’t either (plus, I probably just wouldn’t do it period).

#2 – Not gonna trade Taj Gibson. I assume they would trade him for Blake Griffin or something, but in general it seems like Taj is definitely a Thibs guy and not someone they’re looking to move.

#3 – Trying not to trade Tyus Jones. I’d be fine moving Tyus in the right deal, but in general I think it’d be a little weird to move him. At the very least we need a good backup point guard for cheap, which he is. He might be more than that too.

#4 – Shabazz Muhammad is assumed in each of these scenarios. I’m willing to “throw Shabazz in” to all these deals to make salaries work or if a team needs an extra something. It’s just assumed.

#5 – I’m not going to try and be perfect with something a team would do. I’m just a guy on the internet, these are fake trades, this is an inherently dumb exercise, it’s okay if you think “there’s no way that team would do it.” I am assuming that these trades are not likely, that I’m probably overvaluing the Wolves assets like the homer I am, and that trades are hard to make etc….It’s all good, this is just for fun.

#6 – But, I will give a “half-assed” justification for why the other team would do this. I’m not going to do any “Wolves should trade Gorgui Dieng and a second-round pick for LeBron because the Cavs are tanking a need a center of the future” type trades.

#7 – One more time, just so we’re all clear: This is just a dumb column about fake trades made by a dumb person. If you disagree with my evaluation of assets here, GREAT. You may or may not be right. Send all your hate tweets to @nba_poop_hat.

#8 – My main goal is to acquire a backup wing. I don’t think we need anything too crazy coming off the bench, Thibs is gonna Thibs and as such Wiggins and Butler will play 35 minutes per game. But with Bazz (rightfully) out of the rotation, the Wolves do need something off the bench.

#9 – The secondary goal is to find a true defensive center.

#10 – The third goal is to get cheap assets for the future. Wolves are (fortunate to be) in the position where they essentially have three players who will be getting max contracts. Which is great, but the challenge after that is how to build a competitive roster long term, and getting future assets and players under contract has a lot of value to us/me.

Alright, are we good? Let’s get started.