Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: 2 trades for a superstar point guard

By Trey Flynn

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards brings the ball up court against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers on March 16, 2015 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards brings the ball up court against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers on March 16, 2015 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 14: Jimmy Butler #21 of the Eastern Conference and John Wall #2 of the Eastern Conference in the locker room before the game as part of NBA All-Star 2016 on February 14, 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario Canada. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by AJ Messier/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 14: Jimmy Butler #21 of the Eastern Conference and John Wall #2 of the Eastern Conference in the locker room before the game as part of NBA All-Star 2016 on February 14, 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario Canada. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by AJ Messier/NBAE via Getty Images) /

This blockbuster trade is a lot to take in, but it makes sense for all parties.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have to entice the Washington Wizards to let go of their heralded superstar, so in order to do that you have to sell them on letting go of cap space to make room for the insane 2019 offseason pool of free agents.

The Sacramento Kings are just trying to rack up as many assets as they can, as quickly as they can, and for the Kings assets strictly means draft picks.

To start, the Wizards get to unload $16 million of cap space named Ian Mahinmi to the Minnesota Timberwolves, along with soon-to-be, $40 million of cap space named John Wall. The Wizards would save close to $40 million in cap with what they are taking on with Jeff Teague and Justin Patton this season.

And the unprotected 2019 first round pick from Minnesota, as well as the 2020 second round pick aren’t too shabby.

The Wizards seemed to play amazing team ball without John Wall during his injury last season, not to mention the underrated additions of Austin Rivers, Jeff Green, and Dwight Howard could make them even more dangerous with this move.

Jeff Teague would help Washington be one of the deeper teams in the NBA – more importantly the Wizards aren’t tied to any $200 million contract like John Wall’s.

The Sacramento Kings just re-acquired Ben McLemore in a recent trade, and now they would be sending him off again to Minnesota and taking on big man, Gorgui Dieng and his $16 million of cap space.

Why do this? Draft picks don’t come cheap. The Timberwolves would be sending two second round picks (2019/2021) in order to get rid of Dieng’s contract to take on John Wall.

Finally, the Minnesota Timberwolves complete their illustrious starting lineup with John Wall. With Wall, Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, Taj Gibson, and Karl-Anthony Towns – you’re looking at the second or third best lineup in the NBA next to the Warriors and the Celtics.

Ian Mahinmi would get his backup center minutes and Ben McLemore is a nice fill in as a backup shooting guard now that Jamal Crawford has opted out of his contract, although McLemore might not even see the floor with only one year left on his deal.

If your Minnesota, why wouldn’t you do this for a 5-time All-Star that has the intensity of Jimmy Butler on the court?

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