Minnesota Timberwolves mailbag: What does this summer look like?

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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. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Question: “How likely do you think it is for the Wolves to get (Devin) Booker?” -Paul Langan

Short answer: Highly unlikely.

Booker‘s value to Phoenix is very high and the only way they would consider trading him is if he asked for it, which is not out of the realm of possibility. I know it is not the answer that many fans want to hear, but realistically the Wolves do not have enough assets to make a trade for him right now.

If Booker were to request a trade, Minnesota would certainly not be the only team to have interest in the star guard. Even if Booker requested to be traded to Minnesota, the Suns would not have to honor that request and could trade him to whichever team sends the best offer.

Related Story. D’Angelo Russell may not be a bad defender. light

The idea of pairing Booker with his two best friends, Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, in Minnesota is one that many fans drool over, but the financial obligations that would come with those three players might be an insurmountable roadblock on a journey to sustained success. The combined salaries of Towns, Russell, and Booker for the 2020-21 season would be $87.5 million, which would eat up roughly three-quarters of the projected $115 million salary cap for the upcoming season. This would not leave much money for the remaining 11-13 players to fill out an NBA roster.

Even if we disregard the financial stipulations of a theoretical deal, Minnesota would have a starting lineup that features three below-average defenders. Of course this team would likely have a top-three offense, the defense would more than likely be worse than it currently is, considering Jarrett Culver and Josh Okogie would surely be involved in a trade to get Booker.

If Minnesota finds success with Towns and Russell leading the pack, Minnesota could theoretically re-sign Russell in 2023 free agency and sign both Towns and Booker the following summer, but the financial burden would be even more significant as all three players would be in their primes and looking for lucrative deals.

As fun as it would be, I find the hopes of landing Devin Booker to be too unrealistic.

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