Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 teams to trade with on NBA Draft night

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Luke Kennard of the Detroit Pistons. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Holding the No. 1 pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves have plenty of potential trade partners to explore on NBA Draft night.

The Minnesota Timberwolves hold the No. 1, No. 17 and No. 33 picks in the 2020 NBA Draft.

In other words, they’re the most-often mentioned potential trade partner for virtually every other team.

We’ve known for a while that the Wolves would love to trade down from the No. 1 pick in the draft. Without a consensus top prospect and without a clear and obvious fit with Minnesota’s current roster, Gersson Rosas and the front office are weighing their options.

Recent rumors suggest that there are several teams looking at making a move for No. 1. Let’s dive in and take a look at the five teams most likely to make a play for the top selection.

5. Detroit Pistons fork over Luke Kennard for the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft

The Detroit Pistons hold the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and were recently mentioned by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony as one of the teams interested in trading up to No. 1 in order to select LaMelo Ball.

Outside of those two things, however, the Pistons don’t jump off the page as an obvious trade partner. But if Detroit wants to get to No. 1, they could potentially make it happen.

The conversation would have to start with Luke Kennard. The former Duke guard is entering his fourth year in the league and has shot 40.2 percent on 3-point attempts for his career. Last season, Kennard was averaging 15.8 points and 4.1 assists per game on .442/.399/.893 shooting before he was injured.

At 6-foot-5, Kennard is an average defender and would slot in decently next to D’Angelo Russell on that end of the floor. Offensively, he’s practically a perfect fit.

Would Kennard and the No. 7 pick be enough to get to No. 1? It’s tough to say. The Pistons also have Tony Snell, but he’s overpaid at $12.1 million next season. They don’t have any extra picks in 2021 or 2022, either.

If the Wolves become hell-bent on moving No. 1, then Kennard and the No. 7 pick wouldn’t be the worst compensation. But it also likely won’t be the best offer on the table…