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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades with the New York Knicks

By Dylan Jackson

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 31: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks defends against Malik Beasley #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game at Target Center on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Knicks 102-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 31: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks defends against Malik Beasley #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game at Target Center on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Knicks 102-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks, possible Minnesota Timberwolves target. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks, possible Minnesota Timberwolves target. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Alright, from a distance, I don’t really believe that either fan base would particularly love this trade. But it makes sense from both sides – allow me to explain.

First, Malik Beasley likely is not going to have the role that the Timberwolves promised him with the emergence of Anthony Edwards. Moving him will also allow Minnesota to allocate future salary cap space towards positions other than point and shooting guard – and roster balance is not something they had last year (and it was more than obvious).

Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades with the New York Knicks

Adding Mitchell Robinson in particular would be huge. With the Knicks likely going star chasing the next few offseasons, Robinson’s contract could go under the radar, and I feel as though general manager Gersson Rosas would be less hesitant to pay him than Knicks frontman Leon Rose. Additionally, Obi Toppin’s minutes generally came when Julius Randle was off of the floor – so if the Knicks want to build around him (Randle) – getting one of the league’s best shooters certainly would help.

The Knicks having a core of Quickley-Beasley-Barrett-Randle is inevitably going to be fun – and it allows them to continue to build on it through free agency with their massive amounts of free money.

The Timberwolves would allow Jaden McDaniels to play as a bigger wing in this scenario, possibly running a starting lineup of Russell-Edwards-McDaniels-Toppin-Towns – and that’s really, really fun.

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