Swarm and Sting gives 2 thumbs up for trade scenario for Wolves Towns
By Bret Stuter
Reasons To Pursue
If the Minnesota Timberwolves truly believe that their future NBA Draft picks need to be restocked, this could be an option. Do the Timberwolves really want to get the Utah Jazz band back together? If so, this would accomplish that too. Timberwolves Rudy Gobert and Hornets Gordon Hayward had a history as both players competed for the Utah Jazz.
Rookie SG Nick Smith Jr. is a late first-round selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, and he played rather well for the Hornets in the 2023 NBA Summer League. He could join the Timberwolves rookie class of 2023 F Leonard Miller and SG Jaylen Clark to cement the future of the Timberwolves.
Hot. Will Gobert’s lackluster performance for Team France carry over to Timberwolves?. light
Back to the future
The Timberwolves do not get much immediate help in this trade scenario. But one of the virtues of this trade package is the opportunity that the trade creates for younger players on the Timberwolves roster who would suddenly have a significant role and playing time to absorb. In fact, we had already identified 5 players who could fill KAT’s void at the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline.
With the addition of a first-round pick in 2025 and 2027, the Timberwolves could do a seamless reset of their roster to an even more future-focused nature. After all, rookie contracts are deliciously inexpensive compared to veteran NBA counterparts. But that is due to the fact that rookies are far riskier in terms of how successful rookies become in the NBA.
The Charlotte Hornets have plenty of incentive to pursue this trade as it would immediately bestow one more NBA All-Star on the Hornets roster. The question is, what about the Timberwolves roster?