Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 worst trades in Timberwolves history

By Ian Kasdan

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 23: Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers runs down court after making a shot to overcome a 23 point deficit to defeat the the Dallas Mavericks 84-82 in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2011 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 23: Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers runs down court after making a shot to overcome a 23 point deficit to defeat the the Dallas Mavericks 84-82 in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2011 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves, Brandon Roy
PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 21: Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers. Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Brandon Roy to Portland

In the 2006 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves were coming off a disappointing 2005-06 campaign that saw them finish with a 33-49 record under Head Coach Dwane Casey and General Manager Kevin McHale.

Featuring an aging core of Kevin Garnett and the newly-acquired Ricky Davis, the Wolves averaged merely 91.7 points per game, 28th out of 30 among the NBA’s highest scoring franchises. The Wolves were in need of a scoring guard that could support Garnett’s team-leading 21.8 points per game.

After the disappointing selection of Rashad McCants at 14th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft, where the Wolves passed on productive scorers such as Danny Granger, Monta Ellis, and Lou Williams, the Wolves needed to select a capable scorer in the following draft.

The Wolves seemed to have found their scorer when they selected Brandon Roy with the sixth pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. In his senior year at the University of Washington, Roy was named to the 2005-2006 All-Pac-12 team after averaging 20.2 points per game, along with a field goal percentage of 50.8 percent and shooting 40.2 percent on 3’s.

However, the Wolves were not satisfied with their selection, instead trading the draft rights to Roy to the Portland Trail Blazers for the draft rights to Randy Foye and cash.

Selected with the seventh pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Foye was another highly-touted prospect coming out of college. In his senior year at Villanova University, Foye was named the 2005-06 Big East Player of the Year after averaging 20.5 points per game, along with averaging a field goal percentage of 41.1 percent and shooting 35 percent on threes.

Once the 2006-07 season began, it was clear the Wolves made a mistake. Foye averaged 10.1 points per game his rookie season, while Roy became an immediate star, averaging 16.8 points per game.

Foye would only spend two more seasons in Minnesota before being traded to the Washington Wizards in the 2009 offseason.

Roy, a three-time All-Star, would average 18.4 points per game while becoming the leader of an up-and-coming Trail Blazers squad. Sadly, knee injuries would take their toll on Roy and prematurely end one of the greatest what-if careers in NBA history.

The Wolves would attempt to remedy their mistake by signing Roy out of retirement in the 2012 offseason. Unfortunately, Roy’s knee injuries would not subside, and Roy would ultimately retire after appearing in only five games.