Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to have things both ways, and it's high time that they consider picking a ..."/> Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to have things both ways, and it's high time that they consider picking a ..."/>
Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

Minnesota Timberwolves: It’s time for the Wolves to pick a path

By Austin Wallert

Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D'Angelo Russell of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D'Angelo Russell of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Minnesota Timberwolves, D'Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns
D’Angelo Russell of the Minnesota Timberwolves hugs teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Path No. 1 for the Minnesota Timberwolves to take

The Second Contract Players Path: In Towns and Russell we trust

The Timberwolves’ most appealing trade targets are in the Rookie Contract group, assuming that keeping Towns, Russell, and Beasley this season is the game plan going in.

Plus, trading Jake Layman for a team-elevating piece just isn’t going to happen. Beasley most likely will need to be added for the sake of matching salaries. Otherwise, Gersson Rosas simply needs to pull off something crazy.

The goal for the Timberwolves would be to bring a star in without having to give up Edwards, but perhaps he isn’t off the table.

For the Wolves, the teams that should be called are the Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, and the Philadelphia 76ers.

For the Raptors, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are the last core pieces remaining from the 2019 championship.  With most of their roster in overhaul, they can add more players on the timeline of Gary Trent Jr. and OG Anunoby.

The Mavericks expected more out of Kristaps Porzingis, and his frame does not correlate to his rebounding and interior defense. The Mavs likely won’t be too interested in adding a bunch of youth with their championship aspirations, but Luka is still only 22 years old. Adding players that are affordable and can contribute, while freeing up space to make a second move, Dallas would at least think about it.

The Pacers are in no man’s land. They have above-average players but are short on top-flight talent. In some ways, they are similar to the Kevin Love-era Timberwolves, albeit with slightly more in the way of success. The Pacers are too good to be bad, and not good enough to get it done. It’s the worst place to be in, and a trade for solid young players might interest them.

Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Malcolm Brogdon are all players that could help the Timberwolves. The Pacers then could move the other two for more youth and draft picks.

The 76ers is the trade everyone’s been talking about. Ben Simmons is not the answer for them, but will a Wolves package of young players be the best offer?

The main problem with these trades would be matching contracts, and in these cases, would have to involve Malik Beasley for the extra $14 million even if all the Rookie Contract guys excluding Edwards were put in the packages.

The final option would be an Edwards package. Maybe Anthony Davis is sick of having tacos on Tuesday and he thinks LeBron is too old to win again. Kyrie Irving left the Cavaliers to be the main guy, he’s now the third guy, maybe he still feels that way.

Home/Timberwolves News