The Minnesota Timberwolves are no doubt doing their best to be active at the 2021 NBA Trade Deadline. At this point, however, things are shaping up to be fairly quiet.
There have been rumors floating for weeks, mostly surrounding the Wolves’ interest in Orlando’s Aaron Gordon, Atlanta’s John Collins, and Cleveland’s Larry Nance Jr. More recently, Toronto’s Norman Powell has entered the rumor circuit as well.
Roughly 24 hours before the deadline, we have a few minor Wolves-related updates.
Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Trade Deadline update: Aaron Gordon
The Wolves remain interested in Aaron Gordon, and the possibility that the Orlando Magic may be looking for a stop-gap point guard and veteran to mentor Markelle Fultz and others almost seemed like a match that makes too much sense.
Also notable is that the Wolves and Magic were reportedly close to a deal prior to Gordon’s pre-All-Star break ankle injury and Ricky Rubio’s resurgence, which was confirmed by The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski (subscription required).
On Wednesday’s ESPN Trade Deadline special with Zach Lowe and Adrian Wojnarowski, which aired 24 hours and 30 minutes prior to the deadline, Lowe noted that the Magic would love to acquire Jaden McDaniels.
Of course, there’s no world in which the Wolves would entertain moving McDaniels, a 20-year-old rookie with three years left on his rookie deal and plenty of upside, for Gordon, a 25-year-old forward with only one year left on his contract. If the Wolves and Magic are going to deal, it’ll involve some combination of Rubio, Jarrett Culver, and draft picks.
Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Trade Deadline update: Norman Powell
Krawczynski confirms in the aforementioned, subscription-required article at The Athletic that the Wolves have interest in Toronto’s Norman Powell.
The Raptors are in something of a free-fall and are apparently open to trading players including Powell and Kyle Lowry. While Powell will be a free agent, any team acquiring the 27-year-old wing would also gain his Bird rights, giving his new team the leg up on retaining him in the offseason.
According to Krawczynski, the Raptors asking price was high and the two franchises “were unable to come to an agreement on compensation” in a potential Powell deal.
We’ll have any additional Wolves-related trade deadline updates right here at Dunking With Wolves.
Stay tuned, Gersson Rosas has an itchy dial finger.