Dunking With Wolves
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6 trades for the Timberwolves’ first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft

By Nate Ackert

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Spencer Dinwiddie #26 and Caris Levert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Spencer Dinwiddie #26 and Caris Levert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Julius Randle

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 08: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against Sekou Doumbouya #45 of the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on March 08, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Pistons 96-84. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 08: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against Sekou Doumbouya #45 of the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on March 08, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Pistons 96-84. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Why the Wolves Say Yes:

The Wolves might see Julius Randle as a long-term fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns at the Power Forward to replace James Johnson. Randle has averaged 19.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this season as the Knicks’ leading scorer. As a physical Power Forward, Randle could offer much-needed rebounding for the Wolves. Additionally, Randle could come at a cheap price given the Knick’s desire for cap space and young assets.

Why the Wolves Say No:

The Wolves may not see Julius Randle as enough of an upgrade from James Johnson in order to warrant a trade that includes a potential top-5 pick. The Wolves may also see Randle’s three-point shooting as a concern, as he is only a 29.5-percent three-point shooter in his career. Furthermore, the Wolves may feel that Randle may be overvalued with his $19 million/year contract, especially if they feel attracted to any of the big men projected to go in the top-10 in the draft, such as James Wiseman (Kentucky), Obi Toppin (Dayton), Onyeka Okongwu (USC), Deni Avdija (Israel), or Isaac Okoro (Auburn). If the Wolves feel that any of these big men would be a good fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns, then trading for Randle may not be worthwhile.

Why the Knicks Say Yes:

The most attractive piece of this trade for the Knicks would arguably be James Johnson’s expiring contract. As a team that has been trying to attract top free agents over the past few years, cap space is essential to be able to sign big-name free agents. That said, the upcoming free-agent class is going to be weaker compared to the past few years, with the top potential free agents being Paul Millsap (UFA), Marc Gasol (UFA), Hassan Whiteside (UFA), and Mike Conley (ETO). The Knicks could decide to wait and invest in the 2021 free agent class, and if that is the case, James Johnson’s $16 million expiring contract would be very appealing. In the meantime, James Johnson could act as a mentor to the Knicks’ young core in the final year of his contract. Finally, a potential top-5 pick from the Wolves paired with their existing pick would provide the Knicks with two young, talented players from this year’s draft that could provide low-cost support for potential 2021 free agent signings.

Why the Knicks say No:

The Knicks may seek to gather more than one draft pick for Randle’s services if they decide to trade him. Randle’s contract expires 1 year after James Johnson’s contract, so they could wait to leverage his expiring contract for a better return in a trade when the free-agent market picks up at the end of next season. Also, given the lack of depth in this draft class, the Knicks may only have interest in one or two players in this draft, and may not want to invest in additional picks. The Knicks’ level of interest in the Wolves pick in this scenario will heavily depend on how the lottery balls fall.

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