3 Trade up prospects for the Minnesota Timberwolves

Player #3: Jaden Ivey (Guard/Purdue)

Now I’m not saying it’s likely to happen, but a deal for Purdue’s shooting guard Jaden Ivey might be in the cards. While he is the top backcourt player in the draft, the consensus is that the top three picks in Thursday’s Draft are widely believed to be some combination of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jabari Smith Jr.

Beyond those three picks sit the Sacramento Kings, holding the fourth overall pick. This is likely where the Wolves could make a call as the Kings are rumored to be unsure as to whether to keep or trade the pick. The Kings know that they are far away from one player making the difference, so auctioning off their pick to the highest bidder would make sense to them.

Now, why would that make sense to the Minnesota Timberwolves?

A trade-up to the fourth overall pick could cost quite a lot, but Ivey might be worth it. The Timberwolves need playmakers, defense, and front-court help in that order. Ivey is absolutely a playmaker and has the makings of elevating his defensive game to be quite dependable.

Ivey is a young but rising star with elite athleticism and a career trajectory that many believe compares favorably to that of NBA veteran Dwayne Wade.  which would make Minnesota’s offense terrorizing for years to come. Quick twitch, explosive guard play next to D’Angelo Russell’s playmaking would make for a scary offensive unit. If Russell is traded away, he becomes a perfect complement to Anthony Edwards, stepping onto the court when Ant-Man is off, and eventually playing on the court alongside both him and KAT.

Should the Timberwolves pull a major package together to move up to the fourth overall pick or should the Kings select another prospect like Keegan Murray, causing Ivey to drop, a night ending with Jaden Ivey being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves is the absolute best case scenario for T-Wolves fans.