Lowe’s Timberwolves trade for Dejounte Murray is a no-brainer

Why the Timberwolves would make this trade

The Timberwolves need one more piece to advance deep in the NBA Playoffs, and the harsh reality is that veteran D’Angelo Russell is simply not enough to get them there. Russell’s game is more offensive-centric, and he is simply not at the level of field general and facilitator that the Timberwolves need.

Dejounte Murray is.

While Russell has a better perimeter shot, Murray is a defensive savant, averaging 2.0 steals per game and 9.2 assists per game. Even as he is distributing the basketball to his teammates, he remains a very dangerous offensive weapon. In the 2021-22 season, he averaged over 21 points per game. That’s a pretty solid offensive output for a developing

Murray is ideal for the Timberwolves

Murray is ideally suited to fit the Timberwolves’ current core elites of Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. Both Towns and Edwards are marksmen from the perimeter, and simply need that field general who can drive to the basket, draw defenders, and then pass out to the open shooter.

Murray’s lack of a consistent perimeter shot will be more than compensated for by his ability to distribute the basketball. The name of the game is the NBA is pace, space, and pass for the foreseeable future. Murray scores high marks in all three categories.

The Timberwolves have plenty of three-point power in the form of Ant-Man and KAT but need to improve the ability to move that basketball around. And the Timberwolves need a defensive presence on the basketball court, a role that Murray is much better suited to provide.

Of course, no trade scenario feels like a win to everyone, and any trade scenario that involves star players attracts trolling comments like a fluorescent bulb attracts flying insects at night. But a blockbuster trade like this can place both teams on track toward a brighter future.