Minnesota Timberwolves: What’s the ceiling of the Russell and Towns duo?
By Andrew Ites
The Minnesota Timberwolves have locked themselves into the duo of D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns for the next 3.5 years. How high can they take this team?
The Minnesota Timberwolves knew they had to make a major splash at this year’s trade deadline as they were in the midst of yet another 10-plus game losing streak, and their star center was freely discussing his discontent with the organization.
Gersson Ross did exactly that as he traded Andrew Wiggins, a top-three-protected 2021 first round pick, and a future second round pick to Golden State for D’Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans, and Omari Spellman.
That move gave the Wolves a desperately-needed spark as they broke multiple records in a blowout home victory over the Clippers in their first game with the new team, and they remained competitive in a shootout with the defending-champion Raptors in D’Angelo Russell’s first game in a Minnesota uniform.
Those matchups gave us a glimpse of what the new-look Wolves can be, and these last 30 games of the year will be critically important for the coaching staff and front office to assess this roster ahead of a crucial offseason.
I decided to put my Gersson Rosas cap on and break down how the Minnesota Timberwolves’ new duo fits together on both ends of the floor, evaluate the supporting cast that is currently around them and what they need to add to maximize the potential of this team.