Dunking With Wolves
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The Minnesota Timberwolves are setting themselves up for a bigger trade

By Andrew Ites

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 21: President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas of the Minnesota Timberwolves introduces Ryan Saunders as the new head coach during a press conference on May 21, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 21: President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas of the Minnesota Timberwolves introduces Ryan Saunders as the new head coach during a press conference on May 21, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves made one of the first moves this trade season, which may have set themselves up for a bigger trade before the deadline.

On the surface, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ decision to send Jeff Teague and Treveon Graham to Atlanta for Allen Crabbe is a little confusing.

The Hawks clearly got the best players in the deal, and the Wolves didn’t really clear up much cap space for the present or future considering all of the players involved were on expiring contracts that added up to be pretty similar salaries.

However, Minnesota was able to open up a roster spot following the trade which could come in handy if they want to make a bigger move. Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed this sentiment in his write-up of the trade.

The Wolves can match salary with any team pretty easily as they can choose to trade Gorgui Dieng and his $16-plus million per year or the newly-acquired Allen Crabbe’s $18.5 million salary.

Minnesota could also trade both players in one deal if they wanted to go big-game hunting before the deadline.

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The other elephant in the room is Andrew Wiggins‘ five-year, $147.7 million deal and whether the Wolves can find a team that is still tantalized by his upside as he’s still just 24 years old.

D’Angelo Russell is probably the most obvious target for the Wolves this trade season, and this open roster spot makes them more flexible if they need to conduct some sort of three-team deal.

While gunning for a big-time trade is the sexiest option for this open roster spot, there is also a possibility that Minnesota decides to stay quiet through the deadline and simply bring up one of their young G League guards to the NBA roster or sign Kelan Martin to a guaranteed contract after a solid start to the season.

However, Gersson Rosas comes from the Daryl Morey tree of executives who have been known to take big risks in the trade market and pull the trigger on blockbuster deals, and Rosas has told the media that he’s in the business of acquiring superstar talent.

Timberwolves: 3 intriguing trade targets. dark. Next

For now, it’s too early to judge the Jeff Teague trade until we see what the Wolves have planned over the next few weeks before the deadline.

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