We are less than two weeks away from the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline, and there is some debate about whether the Timberwolves should make a move before the 2 p.m. CT deadline on Feb. 10.
There are many benefits for a potential trade, but there could also be some drawbacks. With the Wolves sitting at No. 8 in the Western Conference, the Wolves are in a tricky spot as far as the trade deadline goes.
While the Wolves have undoubtedly taken a big step forward this season, the combination of their perilous playoff standing and their young, promising roster makes it hard to tell what kind of move, if any, they should ultimately make.
That being said, it’s worth noting some of the pros and cons of the Wolves making a trade.
Pro: Timberwolves could improve roster balance and add talent
Players like Malik Beasley and Josh Okogie have seen their roles diminish this season, and are no longer clearly strong fits for the roster. Trading Beasley or Okogie could help the Wolves acquire a player that could be more effective and fit better on the team.
Beasley’s main elite skill is his shooting ability, and he’s in the midst of his worst shooting season since he became a rotation regular in Denver three years ago. Okogie is all-defense, no-offense, and Jarred Vanderbilt has taken the one spot in the rotation that the Wolves can give to someone who contributes nothing on the offensive end of the floor.
If the Wolves do make a trade, it seems more likely that it would be for a role player or two than a big splash. Trading for a player like Ben Simmons doesn’t seem worth the risk, and it’s unlikely it could come together.
It seems more likely that the Wolves would go after improvement on the edges with a player in the realm of Robert Covington, whom the Wolves are reportedly interested in acquiring.
Con: A trade could mess up Timberwolves’ team chemistry
If the Wolves were to make a trade, they would be more than likely to trade someone off the bench that hasn’t had an impact on the team so in that scenario the team chemistry won’t be as big of a problem.
However, if the Wolves decide to go after a big name like Simmons or Myles Turner, they would surely have to give up a top-of-the-rotation piece such as Jaden McDaniels or Patrick Beverley, which could potentially impact the team’s chemistry.
Making a trade could raise the ceiling of the team and the coaching staff is smart enough to make the necessary adjustments for any new player, but there’s obviously an inherent risk in any in-season move. The Wolves have made a lot of progress this season and a trade could potentially undo that progress.
If the season ended today the Wolves would be in the play-in tournament. But making a trade for a role player or two could help this team secure a playoff spot without messing with the team’s chemistry too much.
At this stage, that seems like the proper approach for a team with apparently solid chemistry and a young, promising core of players.