Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 dream trades for star players

Myles Turner

Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 dream trades for star players

Why the Wolves Accept This Trade

Myles Turner was reportedly on the trading block before the trade deadline this past season but the Pacers did not find a suitable package in return. With Indiana now turning to Domantas Sabonis as their big man going forward, Indiana will likely be more aggressive moving Turner this offseason.

Like Isaac, Myles Turner would give the Timberwolves an interior presence defensively they do not have right now. He is also able to stretch the floor on the offensive end.

Unlike Isaac, Turner has spent his whole career up to this point at center. It would be a transition for Turner to move to the power forward spot but he seems to have the tools to make the move.

What separates Turner from Isaac is he has already established himself as a quality NBA player, especially defensively. Turner led the entire league in blocks per game with 2.7 and has finished in the top 10 every season he has been in the league outside his rookie year.

Offensively, Myles has averaged 12.7 points per game for his career. He has doubled his career 3-point attempts this season compared to the rest of his career, shooting 4.2 per game.

Turner’s biggest concerns stem from his lack of playmaking, dishing out just 1.2 assists per game through six seasons, and the notion that his progress as a player has seemed to have stagnated. The Timberwolves would not need to rely on Turner as a playmaker with DLo on the roster, and while it’s disappointing that Turner may not ever turn into one of the top frontcourt players in the league, Turner would fit seamlessly next to Towns and Russell.

Turner is also on a team-friendly four-year, $80 million deal. This allows Rosas to find more quality players for the Wolves moving forward, whereas Isaac will likely be more expensive once it is time to extend him.

Why the Pacers Accept This Trade

As stated above, Indiana has made it clear their big man of the future is Sabonis. This means that their best option moving forward is to find the most value for Turner. Unfortunately for Indiana, the other teams around the league know this also so they may not get as much in return as they would like.

Being able to acquire Malik Beasley through a sign-and-trade, Omari Spellman, and a mid-first-round draft pick via Brooklyn may be the best offer they can receive for Turner.

This is still a good haul, and Indiana should be happy with this return as it provides spacing for Sabonis and players who can grow with Indiana’s young core.

Beasley would provide spacing for Sabonis. He shot over 42 percent from three this season and proved he can stay efficient with a larger sample size. He could fit in well next to Malcolm Brogdon and Victor Oladipo in the Pacer’s backcourt.

Spellman hasn’t worked out so far in Minnesota, still not appearing in a Wolves uniform. He still has potential, however, and Indiana would have the flexibility to start him next to Sabonis or as the backup center. Indiana does not have a lot of depth up front, making Spellman a good addition and bringing more shooting from their big men.

This trade would provide Indiana with a young sharpshooter who has the potential to be much more, a young frontcourt player who could be inserted in the starting lineup next to Sabonis, and a first-round pick that would provide much-needed depth for a team looking to take the next step in the Eastern Conference.