3 things D’Angelo Russell would bring to the table for the Minnesota Timberwolves

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 15: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Two of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 15, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

With the opening of Free Agency looming, the Wolves’ chances of landing Nets PG D’Angelo Russell are becoming more tangible by the day. If President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas can make some magic happen and free up space to land him, it begs the question: What would Minnesota actually be getting in the All-Star point guard?

Note: All statistics are courtesy of the NBA’s Advanced Analytics site.

We are under 48 hours away from the start of the 2019 NBA Free Agency period and boy am I anxious. The Minnesota Timberwolves should be looking to make a major splash.

Today, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Brooklyn extended a qualifying offer to D’Angelo Russell, making him a restricted free agent.

Sources: Brooklyn has extended a qualifying offer to All-Star free agent D’Angelo Russell, making him a restricted free agent.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2019

This follows the fun from yesterday, in which ESPN’s Zach Lowe joined the JJ Redick Podcast to discuss a handful of things, most notably NBA Free Agency rumors. Lowe said he did not have any “Lowe Bombs” (as JJ Redick coined them) to drop, but he divulged some pretty awesome news for Wolves’ fans regarding a possible Andrew Wiggins trade.

https://twitter.com/jrborman13/status/1144407750765633536

Minnesota could win a deal involving Wiggins AND could get away with not having to pay up in assets in order to get off his rookie max contract?

Sign. Me. Up.

However, I will leave the potential trade speculation for a different article.

JJ Redick confirmed that the Wolves were up to something, adding that superstar C Karl-Anthony Towns is supposedly taking some meetings with potential free agents.

Redick’s comment needs not to be overlooked. Player-to-player recruiting is an invaluable piece of not only landing free agents in the current offseason but also in shaping future free agents’ interest in the Wolves.

Even though we are currently very cap-strapped, KAT making the effort to set up recruiting meetings with Russell and whomever else is crucial for building relationships that could lead to players wanting to team up with KAT here in the Twin Cities. This also shows that Towns is taking a huge step in fully assuming his new role as the leader of the Wolves.

Long story short, if the inner circles of the NBA think that the Wolves are up to something, it is likely that Rosas and his front office have a defined road map to landing Russell.

With the chances of landing the fifth-year point guard from Ohio State seemingly strengthening by the Zach Lowe podcast appearance, more casual fans are asking “What would the Wolves actually be getting in D-Lo?

Let’s dive into it.