Minnesota Timberwolves: Learning team-building from small markets

Minnesota Timberwolves: Learning team-building from the Indiana Pacers

Can the Timberwolves land a ‘sure thing’ by trading draft picks?

Consider this the Indiana Pacers route, also known as: “trading away draft picks to get a ‘sure thing'”.

By going this route, you may believe that one (or more) of the following is true:

• It’s safer to turn an immensely valuable pick into a solid, known commodity.
• None of the consensus top-three incoming rookies are worth the No. 1-overall designation.
• There are players available via trade that would push the Timberwolves over the top.
• I don’t trust this team to evaluate talent in the draft.

For every team like the Nuggets, who seem to have draft night dialed in, there are teams for which the opposite is true.

From 2014 to 2020, the Indiana Pacers have only used their first-round selection four times. In stark contrast to Denver, the Pacers have turned those picks into Goga Bitadze, Aaron Holiday, T.J. Leaf, and the ever-developing Myles Turner.

Instead of focusing on the draft, General Manager Kevin Pritchard and the Pacers have built their core through the trade market. The current Pacer starting line-up consists of:

• Malcom Brogdon: Acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks for a 2020 first-round pick and future second-rounders.
• Victor Oladipo: Acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for Paul George.
• T.J. Warren: Traded to the Pacers along with a second-round pick from the Suns in exchange for cash considerations.
• Domantas Sabonis: Acquired from the Thunder in return for Paul George.
• Myles Turner: Drafted No. 11 by the Pacers in 2015.

Whether you draft or trade your way to the top, as a small-market franchise you’ve got your work cut out for you.

At some point, it inevitably comes down to talent recognition and where you are most comfortable placing your bets: the unproven incoming rookie, or the pricy, well-versed veteran.