Timberwolves Trade Rumors: Details reveal tidy return for DLo

The Minnesota Timberwolves trade rumors have pointed repeatedly to point guard D’Angelo Russell as a player who could be on the move before the NBA Trade Deadline. While that has been the common theme for many NBA Trade Rumors that involved the Timberwolves, assessing the return for trading DLo has been obscured in the fine print. When announcing the breaking news, many NBA Insiders like ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski or The Athletic’s Shams Charnia do a great job of touching upon the major pieces of the anticipated trade.

But for Minnesota Timberwolves fans, the devil is in the details. And like it or not, an NBA Trade that involves three teams has untold levels of details that all weigh in on the total value received. While the initial reports of the trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves, the LA Lakers, and the Utah Jazz, the reports named players D’Angelo Russell, Russell Westbrook, and Mike Conley Jr as the players who will be on the move.

On face value, Minnesota Timberwolves fans had every right to feel a bit of a letdown, as the highlighted compensation to the Timberwolves involved Jazz PG Mike Conley Jr. and a reference to an ambiguous second-round draft pick.

Trade details are much better than expected

If the latest trade details as reported by Minnesota Timberwolves beat reporter Dane Moore are accurate, then the Timberwolves ended up with a much better return from the trade than originally expected. Instead of one player, the Timberwolves have landed two players in the deal.

Better yet, instead of one second-round pick, the Timberwolves will emerge with three second-round draft picks. What does the overall trade look like if the latest details hold true?

Something like this:

There is a bit of confusion over the 2024 second-round pick as it will convey from the LA Lakers as part of the Timberwolves package. The 2025 and 2026 second-round picks will convey from the coffers of the Utah Jazz.

The Timberwolves land a bonafide point guard, a promising young wing player, and three second-round picks, two in 2024 and one in 2025, a draft in which the Timberwolves had no picks. What do you think? Do you like the trade?