Minnesota Timberwolves: Five players to target if Wolves trade back

By Jack Borman | Jun 13, 2019

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 31: Keldon Johnson #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats dunks the ball against the Auburn Tigers during the 2019 NCAA Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at Sprint Center on March 31, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrew Wiggins, Jimmy Butler

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 30: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game on March 30, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Trade Partner No. 2: Philadelphia 76ers

The last time Minnesota and Philadelphia were in trade talks, the Wolves finally sent Jimmy Butler out of town in a trade that worked especially well for the Sixers.

Philly has picks at Nos. 24, 33, and 34, and I would be shocked if general manager Elton Brand made selections at all three spots, because the Sixers need a high-end rookie they can plug in and play big minutes in year one off the bench.

This deal is less lucrative for the Wolves, as the Sixers only have five players on the books for next season. Unless the Gersson Rosas sees something in Jonathon Simmons or Jonah Bolden that I do not, I would expect this deal to be somewhat similar to this option.

This deal gives the Wolves extra assets they can use in dumping the salaries of Jeff Teague and Gorgui Dieng. At 24, Dylan Windler, Chuma Okeke, and Keldon Johnson would likely still be on the board, but all could gone by the time No. 33 comes around.