The Minnesota Timberwolves have invested a lot in this version of the team being a good one. The historic haul of players and picks sent to the Utah Jazz for Rudy Gobert means this year and each to follow is all-in to compete.
Anthony Edwards has had an up-and-down start to his career, but his star talent is undeniable, and there is no path to a contending Timberwolves team that doesn’t include Edwards making the leap. Karl-Anthony Towns can’t be traded until the summer, and this team can’t move Gobert.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have to make a change, and the trade candidate is clear.
That leaves D’Angelo Russell as the top trade candidate for the Wolves to make a change. He seems well-liked by his teammates and plays hard, but his combination of shaky shooting and poor defense makes point guard the obvious place for an upgrade. Can Minnesota trade Russell and get back a point guard that helps them more now?
The answer might lie in South Beach, as reported by Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype. The Wolves have struggled this season, but so have the Miami Heat, who only in the last few weeks have climbed above .500 and sit at 23-20. Could the two teams swap point guards in a way that helps both out? Let’s take a closer look.