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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3) Nemanja Bjelica for Stanley Johnson

Why should the Wolves do this?

Much like my trade with the Mavericks earlier, I’m going back to the well trading for a player I liked in the 2015 draft who hasn’t quite lived up to expectations early on: Stanley Johnson.

I’m not going to lie, I am not the world’s biggest Bjelica fan. He’s shooting unsustainably well right now and I think you could make the argument that it might be best to sell why he’s got some trade value. The Wolves have a surplus of playable bigs, and like the rules stated, we’re not moving Towns or Taj in this exercise, so one of Gorgui or Bjelica ends up being two people on the trading block. Plus, his contract comes to an end at the end of this season as well, so flipping him for a player (preferably a wing) under contract for longer than this year could be a move to consider.

Who are the Timberwolves getting in return?

Stanley Johnson, the eighth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He’s definitely shown flashes on the defensive end, but his overall development seems to be a bit up and down (probably much of it self-inflicted). That being said, I’ve loved Johnson as a counterpart to Wiggins dating back to the 2015 draft. I think he’s got the size to be a small ball power forward, which would help, and while his offensive game seems behind, I do think he occasionally shows some good playmaking instincts, too.

Half-assed justification for why the Pistons do this:

Stan Van Gundy has a thing for stretch fours and may or may not be sick of Stanley Johnson. Let’s go with that.

Would I do this?

Yep. If Bjelica is gonna shoot 50 percent from 3-point range, he definitely has value, but if that number goes back to it’s normal 35-ish percent, I’m not really sure he’s actually good enough to merit a very big role on an NBA team. That, plus the fact that his bargain of a contract ends next summer and I would trade him in a heartbeat.

This is one of those trades where opinions will be all over the board; inconsistent young players who have shown flashes tend to do that. I’ll just say that I was a believer in Johnson, and I usually stick to my opinions on young players for better or worse. Thus, I like trades like this, even if I acknowledge you may not.