Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: Tracking new players’ progress part 1

By Andrew Ites

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 12: D'Angelo Russell #0 high fives Malik Beasley #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Target Center on February 12, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hornets defeated the Timberwolves 115-108. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 12: D'Angelo Russell #0 high fives Malik Beasley #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Target Center on February 12, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hornets defeated the Timberwolves 115-108. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves
MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 26: D’Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts after blocking a shot by Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat in the closing seconds during the second half at American Airlines Arena on February 26, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

D’Angelo Russell

The headlining move of the Timberwolves’ flurry of trade deadline action was the acquisition of D’Angelo Russell, who the franchise had coveted since last summer.

Offensively, Russell is a tremendous fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns as the pick-and-roll between those two buddies should be dynamic for years to come.

Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to see D’Lo and KAT play together outside of a high-scoring loss in Toronto.

Russell’s numbers with the Wolves have been nearly identical to the stats he was putting up in Golden State this year. D’Lo is averaging 23.7 points per game with 7.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per contests in his first seven games with Minnesota.

Russell is knocking down 38.2 percent of his 9.7 3-point attempts per game and 50.8 percent of his 8.7 two-point attempts per contest, which gives him an impressive effective field goal percentage of 54.3.

D’Lo’s true shooting percentage of 58.4 would be a career-high for the fifth-year veteran as he’s been able to remain efficient on 29 percent usage.

Russell isn’t getting to the rim much with only 9.3 percent of his shots coming from 0-3 feet, but hopefully that number will improve once Towns returns from his wrist injury.

D’Lo has been active on the defensive end of the floor, including a game-winning block on Jimmy Butler, as he looks more engaged in that aspect of the game with his new team.

The early returns from Russell have been encouraging as it looks like the Wolves have finally found their point guard of the present and future.

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