The Minnesota Timberwolves made the playoffs for the first time since 2004-05. We’re going to look at five trades that can help the Wolves continue their success.
It’s that time of the year where we all start to generate trade ideas over the offseason in hopes of making the roster better for next year. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Timberwolves don’t really have that many assets that they could give up in order to put themselves in a better position.
They don’t have the cap space necessary to go out and get a top free agent either. Instead, they’re left with giving the minimum out to players, which will mostly be veterans. Sure, they could trade Andrew Wiggins – full disclosure, I’m a huge fan of his.
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Trading him away means that you’re not going to get much in return. Is it really worth trading him just for the sake of doing so? No. His potential is still a lot more valuable than what they would ever get in return.
A lot of these trades were hard to come by because it’s hard to find suitors with the capable assets they have. No, the Wolves aren’t trading Karl-Anthony Towns, so he will not be making an appearance on these trade ideas.
One trade asset many people have forgotten about is Jimmy Butler. He could be a free agent next summer and the Wolves don’t want to lose him for nothing. Plus, if they did fire Tom Thibodeau, it would be likely that Butler would leave. The way I see it is trading him now means you’re getting the most value for someone you may see leave for nothing.
Here’s five trades the Wolves could do that may help them next season and in the near future.
Why the Wolves say yes:
The Wolves will say yes to this trade because they’re getting a young player on a cheap contract. This NBA Draft is super deep, so getting a player in the second round may be valuable. But, the Wolves are going for a sure bet in Caris LeVert.
This season he averaged 12.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks. To go along with that, he shot 43.5 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three on 3.5 attempts.
He would be a good addition to the team because of his hard-nose play, competitive spirit and ability to score the ball. He’s not the most consistent shooter, but he certainly can heat up in a hurry.
One issue is that he’s injury prone and that’s a little scary moving forward. Getting a 23 year old on a contract that’s under $2 million per season is important for the Wolves situation.
LeVert could come in and be an important piece to Minnesota fixing its bench issue. An area of need that they need help in desperately.
Why the Nets say yes:
The Nets say yes to this because they’re getting a guy off their roster that isn’t going to be on possible injury watch. For a team rebuilding, having an important player injured a lot doesn’t help the movement.
Usually a player going in the second round won’t have as much affect on the team. 2019 has a weaker draft class, but in 2018, that’s something you’ll want. Some players going in the second round are worth first round selections, and that looks to be the case here.
Why the Wolves say yes:
The Wolves say yes to this because it’s a swapping of second round picks. Often times we see these players not even make the roster or traded for cash considerations.
Again, this draft is very deep and talented. You could basically say that getting a player at the 35th pick is almost like having another first round pick. In essence, they’re basically moving up 13 picks and in order to do so, they surrender one more second round pick.
They could find players that slipped out of the second round such as Grayson Allen, Bruce Brown, Brandon McCoy and many more. These are players that could become valuable in the future of the franchise and next season off the bench.
Minnesota needs all the help it can get in cheap contracts and young players that could be a part of the franchise for years to come.
Why the Hawks say yes:
The Hawks say yes to this trade because they could be getting two players that could help the franchise out in a rebuilding stage. It may be hard to convince a team that is rebuilding that moving back for two second round picks is the wise idea.
We’ve seen crazier trades, haven’t we? Players at No.48 are still valuable and could still help the Hawks out in the future. Getting two players instead of one out of this deal could spark interest in their eyes. They could use it to package a different trade or even trade it for cash, or just add more youth to their young depth already.
Why the Wolves say yes:
It might not seem important to move four spots in the draft, but it really is. Drafting at 16 means you’re only two picks out of the lottery. There are a lot of gems to be found at that point.
Players that get picked at 16, are players that are lottery picks that teams just passed on. In this case, a player going 16 in this draft could probably go top-10 in any other draft. In order to make that jump, Minnesota would have to surrender fan favorite and Minnesota native, Tyus Jones.
I know it hurts to see him not on the team, but Jones isn’t the capable scorer they need off the bench. More than likely we’re going to see Derrick Rose back with the Wolves next season and he proved to be a great option off the bench. He had surprisingly good defense and was a much needed scorer off the bench.
Instead the Wolves can maybe snag Lonnie Walker IV or Kevin Knox. Two players that have a lot of potential and would prove to be valuable assets to the future of the franchise. Jones is even going to be needing a contract soon and he may choose to leave Minnesota in the end anyways. Losing the 20th pick doesn’t hurt because you get the 16th pick anyways.
Who knows, there might be a way of getting a higher pick and getting teams to fall in love with Tyus Jones.
Why the Suns say yes:
The Suns say yes because they can afford to move backwards a little bit. Let’s face it, they’re going to be in another rebuilding year this season. The Suns already have the No.1 pick in this years draft and they could potentially come away with three valuable assets.
The Suns struggled to find consistency at the point guard position and with the opportunity, Jones could make something out of it. Getting three guys that are young, talented and cheap is something a rebuilding team should want.
They may want a big man in this trade that could learn from veteran Tyson Chandler, and that’s where Justin Patton may be involved in the transaction.
Why the Wolves say yes:
The Wolves say yes to this trade because they know a departure with Thibs is coming sooner rather than later. I feel as if he may be gone next season and that’s also around the same time Butler will be a free agent. Instead of letting him walk for almost nothing, the Wolves can send him away to the Trailblazers for a 3-point shooter and another first round pick.
C.J. McCollum is under contract for quite a while – four years in fact. Having that cushion and knowing he won’t leave unless he gets traded is a good thing. He’s also what the Wolves need right now. Granted he’s not good defensively and Minnesota struggles at that, but he brings scoring and shooting.
The Wolves were last in the league in 3-point attempts and made shots. This season he attempted 5.9 3’s and had a success rate of 39.7 percent. Not only that but he’s also only 26 years old.
Getting the 26th pick also means that the Wolves can have two first round picks. Two cheap contracts, two young players and two talented players. What’s not to like about this trade?
Why the Trail Blazers say yes:
The Trail Blazers say yes to this because lets face it, they need to switch things up. They have a good roster but something always seems to be missing in the playoffs. That was pretty obvious when they were swept by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Maybe having two guards that are scorers is the issue? Could it be the cap space? There could be a lot of reasons, but adding Butler would mean they’re getting a better player and one of the top players in the league.
The Blazers are a team that grinds and plays hard, it just seems like a perfect match to see him representing the city of Portland and hopefully getting the team back on track. Frankly, they just need a spark, and if Jimmy Butler is anything, he’s a lightning bolt to any roster.
Why the Wolves say yes:
I think this trade is perfect for Minnesota. Not only are they getting a top pick in this very impressive draft class, but they’re getting two players that are semi-cheap and could help the team.
Jordan Clarkson would be an instant boost off the bench. Minnesota has had its struggles finding ways to score the ball off the bench, especially with Crawford opting out. Insert Clarkson and you have an instant 12-15 points a night from him.
They could surely use that kind of boost off the bench. I think we’ve seen how valubale Kyle Korver still is. Is he ever going to lose his 3-point shot? He still finds ways to score the ball and still rifle any shot from distance.
Next: Warriors and Timberwolves trade scenarios
This season he averaged 43.6 percent from 3 on 5.2 attempts. Sounds like someone who can help the Wolves woes. If things don’t work out, there is surely a team out there that would love to have either of them on its team.
Minnesota landing the eighth pick in the draft could possibly be a cornerstone to its future. There are so many prospects at that spot in the draft that could potentially turn into one of the best in the league. It’s not the first time Minnesota and Cleveland have swapped a veteran All-Star for youth. Can it happen again?
Why the Cavaliers say yes:
I know that they’re holding onto the pick because they’re unsure as to what LeBron James will do this offseason. If staying competitive and wanting James to stay is what they want, then getting Butler is their best bet.
A trio of James, Butler and Kevin Love would instantly make them favorites to win the Eastern Conference. Landing a bunch of All-Stars like that allows you to have more lead way to grab free agents pretty easily.
If James and the Cavaliers want another run at the championship, then they know they’ll have to pull the trigger on this trade. It would seem unlikely that the eighth pick, Korver and Clarkson would have more success in the playoffs than Butler.
All of these trades help the Wolves position themselves better in the future. Whether they choose to do so is beyond me. One thing is for sure, it’ll be an interesting offseason. Plus, if LeBron does leave, this is insurance for Cleveland that they can build some kind of franchise off of Butler, Love, and co.