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5 realistic big-name trade targets for the Minnesota Timberwolves

By Jack Borman

WASHINGTON, DC -  MARCH 21: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards smiles against the Denver Nuggets on March 21, 2019 at Capital One Arena 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  MARCH 21: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards smiles against the Denver Nuggets on March 21, 2019 at Capital One Arena 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 15: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high-fives Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns after the game on December 15, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 15: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high-fives Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns after the game on December 15, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Target #2 – Devin Booker

Devin Booker can fill it up in a hurry on any given night thanks to his lights-out shooting stroke, versatile arsenal of off-dribble shots, and athleticism attacking the rim.

At just 22 years old, he already has three seasons of scoring at least 22 points per game and has steadily increased his scoring output in each year he’s been in the league.

Last season, Booker showed his ability to get his teammates involved while also carrying a heavy load on offense. He averaged career-highs in points (26.6), assists (6.8), field goal percentage (46.7), and free throw attempts (7.1), but shot a career-low 32.6 percent from downtown.

Much like Jarrett Culver last season at Texas Tech, Devin was the only true offensive threat defenses needed to game plan against last season and his 3-point shooting suffered as a result of more suspect shot-selection, often forced by having the ball at the end of the shot clock.

Outside of reconnecting with his former Kentucky teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, a big reason why BOoker should be a top candidate for Gersson Rosas is his evolving playmaking ability. In each of the last three seasons, Devin has become a much more efficient scorer as the ball handler in the pick-and-roll.

  • 2016-17: 26.7 play frequency, 0.78 PPP, 41.5 eFG%, 16.7 turnover rate, 37.3 score frequency
  • 2017-18: 28.2 play frequency, 0.85 PPP, 46.8 eFG%, 19.3 turnover rate, 38.4 score frequency
  • 2018-19: 34.5 play frequency, 0.93 PPP, 50.0 eFG%, 18.3 turnover rate, 43.1 score frequency

Outside of his turnover rate from 2016-17 to 2017-18, Booker has improved in every aspect of the pick-and-roll game, all while running PnR-based actions at a higher frequency each season. He would work wonders playing in the pick-and-roll with his fellow WildKAT, which would be nearly impossible to stop between Booker’s shooting off the dribble, KAT popping or rolling, and getting shooters open when the defense collapses in the lane.

Thankfully for the Wolves, Booker has already signed his rookie super-max deal, which is 25 percent of his team’s cap each year. In the years to come, his contract will be a bargain considering how advanced his offensive repertoire is at such a young age. His 2018-19 usage rate of 32.9 percent outpaces the 25 percent of the team salary cap he’s owed and even if he played in Minnesota, I would expect him to outplay his contract, especially if he gets out of Phoenix.

Hell, I hope he gets out of Phoenix. The Suns front office has done an A+ job of wasting his talent and failing to put a halfway decent team around him in the first four years he’s been in the league. Devin Booker absolutely hates losing and he’ll do nothing but lose for as long as he stays in the desert.

It’s a matter of when, not if, Devin Booker requests a trade. Given the positive relationship between Phoenix general manager James Jones and Minnesota’s Gersson Rosas (made a draft-night swap back in June that landed Jarrett Culver with the Wolves), a “Booker-to-Minnesota” trade is very realistic, considering Booker perfectly matches Towns’ timeline and is very close with the superstar big man.

The Trade

Given the Suns stockpile of young forwards – Kelly Oubre, Jr., Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Dario Saric, and Frank Kaminsky – including Robert Covington or Jordan Bell in a deal doesn’t make a ton of sense for Phoenix.

Instead, they get a sky-high potential scoring guard in Wiggins, a pitbull defender unafraid of the game’s brightest offensive stars in Okogie, and two first-round picks.

The Suns need additional defenders, especially in the backcourt, and Okogie could fit in nicely defensively alongside Ricky Rubio in a fun backcourt of former Wolves.

If Wiggins’ trade value wasn’t at the bottom of the barrel, Minnesota could probably get away with surrendering just one first-round pick, but the second is included as the cost of getting rid of him.

Phoenix could be a great landing spot for Wiggins if he were to be traded. He’d be able to play as many minutes as he wants, shoot as much as he pleases, and play his natural shooting guard position, where he is a matchup nightmare offensively.

If a change of scenery proved to be all Wiggins needed to tap into his potential, Phoenix could end up pulling off a heist in getting Okogie and two first-round picks alongside him.

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