Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades with Los Angeles Lakers

By Dylan Jackson

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks past Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 137-121 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 16, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks past Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 137-121 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 16, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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. /
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PORTLAND, OREGON – MAY 07: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Possible Minnesota Timberwolves trade targets. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON – MAY 07: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Possible Minnesota Timberwolves trade targets. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Timberwolves, in this deal, would effectively be facilitating a Kyle Lowry-to-Lakers sign-and-trade. Since the Raptors are going to want different players than what the Lakers could offer, they elect for one-year deals with a decent young player (Okogie) attached to make it happen.

Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades with Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers, needing to get off of salary in order to make the deal even possible, would presumably rather keep Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (good rotational wing) over Kyle Kuzma, especially with how many bigs Los Angeles tends to keep on the roster.

The Timberwolves would be landing a solid rotational forward for the price of two expiring contracts and a second-round pick. For the Lakers, they land a win-now point guard that would assuredly make them the championship favorites once again (or, maybe just the Western Conference favorites).

Kyle Kuzma averaged 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists this past season while holding shooting splits of 44/36/69. Those aren’t great efficiency numbers, but his defensive impact is also notable and would be greatly utilized in the Minnesota frontcourt.

Having a good young frontcourt of Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels, and Kyle Kuzma could be fun, and it would give Minnesota another solid rotational player – something that general manager Gersson Rosas will be going hard after this offseason.

The Timberwolves would still be in need of depth in that area, but Kuzma still helps dramatically on both ends, and is a player archetype that almost every team covets – a two-way forward that can give you 20-25 minutes of playoff action per night.

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