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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades for Damian Lillard

By Dylan Jackson

PORTLAND, OREGON - JUNE 03: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers attempts a three point basket against the Denver Nuggets during Round 1, Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center on June 03, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JUNE 03: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers attempts a three point basket against the Denver Nuggets during Round 1, Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center on June 03, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 14: Ricky Rubio #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 14: Ricky Rubio #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

*Note: The aforementioned pick swaps give the Trail Blazers the rights to swap picks with the Timberwolves in a given draft. They give their pick to the Timberwolves if they choose to exercise the swap.

Again, in this deal, the Timberwolves would solely be acquiring Damian Lillard. The package that they give up, though, is slightly altered. Instead of giving up Malik Beasley, they are sending Jarrett Culver, Jaden McDaniels, and pick swap rights in two different years.

Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades for Damian Lillard

The price may look steep here. I get it. But in this scenario, the Timberwolves still are keeping D’Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns, AND Malik Beasley. In fact, they’d be adding to that core. Yes, they would desperately need to add depth at the forward position. But the guards would be set – and the Timberwolves won’t need to add to the bigs with Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid still under contract.

The Minnesota Timberwolves again, with this trade, immediately become one of the best teams in the Western Conference. It is impossible to understate just how good Towns and Lillard would be alongside each other – especially with Lillard’s best teammate being either CJ McCollum or Lamarcus Aldridge throughout his career in Portland.

Similar to the other trade, the Timberwolves would need to upgrade the other roster – prefersably with free agency signings. Players that would make sense with the roster construction following this trade include James Johnson, Trevor Ariza, Doug McDermott, and Jeff Green.

Additionally, the Timberwolves could again be in the trade market for someone more high-quality than any of those options mentioned.