3 trade ideas to send Kemba Walker to the Timberwolves

Timberwolves get: Kemba Walker, Marvin Williams, Jeremy Lamb, Al Jefferson

Hornets get: Andrew Wiggins, Josh McRoberts, 2018 Thunder lottery-protected first-round pick (via Timberwolves)

Pacers get: Cole Aldrich, Nemanja Bjelica

Mavericks get: Jeff Teague, 2018 Timberwolves second-round pick

Let’s just go ahead and start things off in the messiest way possible, shall we?

The above four-teamer is admittedly confusing, but here’s what it accomplishes for each team, and the reasons why any one of the above teams might balk at the proposal.

Why Minnesota may or may not do this

The Wolves would upgrade the point guard spot and add depth both at the four and on the wing. Williams (45.6 percent, 39.1 percent over the last three seasons) and Lamb (35.8 percent) would shore-up Minnesota’s 3-point shooting, and Williams would replace the outgoing Bjelica as the stretch-four off the bench. Lamb is a decent defender and would immediately step in to the starting lineup, providing more of a spot-up threat alongside Jimmy Butler in the backcourt.

On the other hand, this trade, along with all the others herein, completely alters Tom Thibodeau’s rotation and swaps out two starters. Additionally, they’d move Wiggins, who is locked up beyond this year, and bring back two players in Lamb and Walker who could leave in two summers, which also happens to be the same year that Butler could walk away.

Why Charlotte may or may not do this

This trade, like all of the other proposals in this article, hinges on the assumption that Michael Jordan and the Hornets front office see Andrew Wiggins as a potential star, and are okay with trying to accelerate a rebuild by trading a current star in Walker for a potentially budding star in Wiggins.

If that’s the case, they land both Wiggins and a first-round draft pick in this trade. McRoberts gets to return to Charlotte as a throw-in and expiring contract.

Why Dallas may or may not do this

The Mavericks are probably the most hesitant with this trade. They’re officially not tanking at this stage, despite their 15-31 record, and it’s hard to see Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle truly tearing things all the way down. Acquiring Teague and a second-round pick for virtually nothing could be attractive.

That said, if they don’t find Teague’s three remaining years at $57 million to be palatable, then the Wolves and Hornets would have to find another team willing to take it on. (You’ll find that this is a theme in virtually any potential Walker trade.)

Why Indiana may or may not do this

The Pacers are essentially existing as part of this trade in order to swap salaries, as well as picking up a nice bench piece in Bjelica. (This trade could be completed without Bjelica’s inclusion, but the Pacers would likely need an incentive to swap Jefferson, who is a fringe piece of their rotation but still useful in short spurts, for Aldrich, who has barely played over the past 12 months.)

The Pacers save a small amount of money here and add some shooting to their bench without losing much in the way of depth.

Verdict

This trade hinges on the Mavericks’ level of enthusiasm related to taking on Jeff Teague. If it’s a non-starter with them, this trade wouldn’t happen. Otherwise, it seems to accomplish what the Hornets want and is a clear win for Minnesota.