Minnesota Timberwolves: Could the Wolves trade for Bradley Beal?

The Minnesota Timberwolves are still looking for the right combination of players to surround their lone All-Star. The Wizards are in a similar position. Is there a deal to be made?

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards have a few too many similarities. With news earlier this year that the latter is looking to clear some salary off the books, could the Wolves swoop in and take advantage?

Wizards guard Bradley Beal has been playing lights out this season, averaging 24.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while being named to his second consecutive All-Star Game.

Beal is a rare talent that can play a point guard role or off the ball as a catch-and-shoot shooting guard. Teaming Beal with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins would instantly elevate the Wolves back into playoff contention.

With NBA season over halfway through, the Minnesota Timberwolves are stuck towards the bottom of the Western Conference. They are only 2.5 games out of the No. 8 seed, and every loss is crucial and puts them closer to a position to miss out on the playoffs.

The Washington Wizards have tried for years to get John Wall, Otto Porter, and Beal on the same page but the experiment has never fully materialized. The Wizards will be looking to shed salary and pickup draft picks as Wall enters his super-max deal that pays him $40 million annually. They are motivated to deal Beal and others to start all over again around Wall.

The Wizards will likely only take back players on expiring one-year contracts, so let’s talk about how the Wolves might be able to make this work.

Gibson and Bayless are free agents this summer while Teague has a player option next year and could opt-out to look for a long-term deal. One first-rounder might be enough to get it done, although the Wolves may need to add another one to sweeten the offer.

Green is a consistent scorer who has delivered in the clutch in the past. Last season, when Kevin Love went down in the playoffs for Cleveland, Green stepped into the starting lineup and scored 19 points, helping the Cavaliers defeat the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He’s a winner bringing veteran leadership and swagger the Wolves continue to lack.

In Gibson’s absence, Dario Saric can slide into the starting 4-spot and allow Green and Anthony Tolliver to split backup minutes at power forward.

Beal is, of course, the prize of this deal. He’s signed for the next two years at just over $27 million per season. He’s shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 35.4 percent on 3-point attempts, and his long-range shooting has dipped a bit from his normal average of 38.8 percent for his career..

In trading Teague, the Wolves can start Tyus Jones (when healthy) and allow Josh Okogie to stay in the starting shooting guard role with Rose coming off the bench to back-up both guard spots.

With Beal signed for the next two years, the organization can build a future around KAT, Wiggins, and Beal, and fill the roster around those three.

A fourth-quarter lineup of Towns, Wiggins, Green, Beal, and Rose is potentially scary and should quickly get the Wolves back into the playoff race.