Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 stars the Wolves should not acquire via trade

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Buddy Hield of the Sacramento Kings could be a trade target. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the hunt for a third star, but they should remain picky about the next big move that they make.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have two young stars. Conventional wisdom says that they need a third wheel in order to be a playoff team with the chance to compete for a championship.

Even if that isn’t actually the case — both the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat are in the Finals with what basically amounts to two stars and many impressive role players — the Wolves need to improve their overall roster talent.

The fastest way to do that is to upgrade one spot massively, and then spend the ensuing months making incremental improvements to the rotation.

With the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and three of the first 33 picks, the Wolves have plenty of draft capital — not to mention a variety of young assets and expiring contracts — to make a play for any available big names on the trade market this offseason.

There have been plenty of players thrown out there in fake trades that would definitely move the needle but nearly impossible to acquire. Ben Simmons, Bradley Beal, and even Devin Booker are all examples of players that the Wolves surely covet but almost certainly can’t obtain.

What about some of the next tier? Some of those names could include Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, John Collins, Buddy Hield, Victor Oladipo, and Julius Randle.

They’re all various levels of obtainable. Middleton is probably the toughest get, only one year into a massive deal. Collins is about to get his first big contract extension. Hield just signed his but is on the outs in Sacramento with a new regime at the helm. Holiday and Oladipo are a year from free agency and seeking big paydays while Randle is overpaid with two years left on his contract.

How big of a leap should the Wolves make? What is the right combination of assets surrendered and money to take on in order to make the Wolves into a likely playoff contender?

Let’s take a look at three players who the Minnesota Timberwolves should steer far away from.