3 early trade deadline rumors featuring the Minnesota Timberwolves
By Ben Beecken
Despite possessing the worst record in the league and virtually zero cap space, the Minnesota Timberwolves are still front-and-center in the early NBA trade deadline rumor mill.
President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas has earned a reputation as a wheeler and dealer, and for good reason.
In his first six months on the job, Rosas had turned over 11 of their 15 roster spots. Then, in a matter of weeks, Rosas completed four separate trades that saw 18 players change teams. In under a year, his inherited roster only included Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Okogie. Every other player had been jettisoned.
So, to put it simply, it’s fair to assume that the Timberwolves will at least try to be active prior to the March 25 trade deadline.
The biggest name connected to the Minnesota Timberwolves: Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon was rumored to be a Timberwolves target dating back to last year’s trade deadline. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that the Wolves are still interested (subscription required).
While Gordon is known for his dunk contest prowess, he’s somewhat quietly been an above-average, multi-positional defender over the past few years and has turned into a legitimate playmaker.
His assist rate of 22.4 percent so far this season would easily be a career-high, as would be his 36.9 percent mark from 3-point range. Gordon is getting to the rim less often and attempting fewer free throws, however, and to make matters worse, his free throw percentage is an unsightly 61.3 percent, which would be a career-worst.
Still, the idea of pairing a strong defender next to Towns with the chops to create offensively, dominate in transition, and knock down the occasional jumper is an attractive one.
The contract isn’t bad; Gordon was owed $18.1 million this year in total and the cap hit drops to $16.4 million next season before he hits free agency. The issue is rather whether or not the Wolves will choose to pony up and extend him in the summer of 2022, or if they’ll simply let him walk for nothing.
What would the Wolves be willing to trade for Gordon? Would something involving Jarrett Culver and a future second-round pick be enough? ESPN’s Bobby Marks thinks it’s a possibility as part of a three-time deal (subscription required).
Still, Gordon isn’t the player out there with the potential to make the most impact.