NBA Insider Stein expects Timberwolves to trade D’Angelo Russell

In a recent poll conducted on social media, Minnesota Timberwolves fans responded to the question: Should the Minnesota TImberwolves keep D’Angelo Russell for the 2022-23 season? The majority who did so were happy (by a 55 percent to 45 percent margin) with the $30 million price tag of underperforming point guard D’Angelo Russell. While the results of that informal survey were a bit surprising, the reaction of the Timberwolves fans whose team just made the NBA Playoffs are predictable.

After all, things could always be worse. Isn’t that what happened the last time this team made the playoffs?

Purely from a ‘Moneyball’ perspective, point guard D’Angelo Russell is underperforming by a great deal for the Timberwolves. And so, the topic of moving on from Russell is already hitting a number of Timberwolves podcasts.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a solid position where this team is not forced to move on from D’Angelo Russell. But there are both financial and strategic incentives to move on from Russell now, particularly in an NBA Draft where the players are significantly backcourt players. One such team cited by NBA Rumors to be aggressively pursuing a trade for D’Angelo Russell is the New York Knicks.

In this trade scenario, the New York Knicks have been speculated to send a duo of Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose to make a deal work. Per the ESPN Trade Machine, the deal is successful. But by the same token, the projection of this particular trade results in five fewer wins for the Timberwolves, and five more wins for the Knicks.

So to compensate, let’s add a sweetener. How about the round one pick swap? That keeps the Knicks in round one but gives the Timberwolves a much better position to select a talented rookie for the team.

Not happy with that? Well, admittedly there is plenty of speculation out there for any potential trade scenario.

But recall what we said. The Timberwolves are not forced to make any sort of trade, so it will be up to the New York Knicks front office to make an offer that the Timberwolves simply cannot refuse. If the Knicks cannot do so, there are other NBA teams sniffing around to trade for Russell. Some cite the LA Clippers. Others cite the Washington Wizards. Some believe that the fourth overall pick, owned by the Sacramento Kings, could be in play for D’Angelo Russell.

Do the Timberwolves seek front-court help? Financial flexibility? More draft picks?  The Timberwolves have plenty of options, and whichever strategy is their ultimate goal this offseason could dictate their trade partner.

One thing is certain. The team has plenty of options to make significant roster moves this year. Now the only question remaining is whether the team will choose the correct ones?