Minnesota Timberwolves: 8 teams most likely to trade for No. 1 pick

Minnesota Timberwolves: 8 teams most likely to trade for No. 1 pick

1. Atlanta Hawks

We’ve arrived at No. 1, and it’s yet another team that Gersson Rosas and Co. have already done business with in the pst several months.

Back in January, the Wolves shipped the expiring deals of Jeff Teague and Treveon Graham to the Atlanta Hawks for Allen Crabbe. It ended up being a slight mismanagement of assets, as Crabbe never found his groove in Minnesota and was ultimately bought out.

Prior to the trade deadline in February, the Wolves and Hawks were each part of a massive four-team deal that ultimately sent Robert Covington from Minnesota to Houston and both Beasley and Hernangomez to the Wolves, along with Evan Turner and his expiring deal from Atlanta.

The Hawks also received Clint Capela from Houston. They didn’t give up much to get him, but acquired the three years and more than $55.6 million remaining on the extension he signed with the Rockets two summers ago.

The acquisition of Capela suggests that they’re considering moving on from John Collins, the dynamic soon-to-be fourth-year big man who has done nothing but improved each season.

Collins joined the 20-10 club this year, putting up 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 40.1 percent on 3-point attempts. While he’s struggled defensively, the Hawks have also stuck him with on the same unit as the likes of Kevin Huerter and Trae Young — not exactly a recipe for success on defense.

The Hawks are also rumored to be after Atlanta native and University of Georgia star Anthony Edwards.

Here’s what a trade for Collins could look like:

Yes, the Wolves would have to extend Collins, and he’ll be seeking something close to the maximum coming out of his rookie deal. But to have a pair of big men who are perennial 20-10 threats and 40-percent shooters from outside the arc … that’s something the Wolves should be able to get on board with.

Between the Hawks’ No. 6 pick and their glut of young wings could be an opportunity for the Wolves to move a higher-upside but non-shooter player like Jarrett Culver and get back a player who does one thing extremely well. That could be Huerter and his shooting ability, or perhaps it’s a younger player with a bit more defensive upside, such as De’Andre Hunter, who was the No. 4 pick in last year’s draft.

Now, if Hunter is involved, the trade could be consummated without even including Collins, and it could still be worth the Wolves’ while.

Any combination of the Hawks wings could help grease the wheels of a trade as well.

When all factors are considered, the Hawks emerge as the most likely trade-back partner for Gersson Rosas and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Of course, anything could happen, and there are 21 other teams that we didn’t talk about in this piece today that all might have something to say about these rankings…