The NBA trade deadline is less than two weeks away (February 5) at the time of writing this article. It seems like a near certainty that the Minnesota Timberwolves will trade for a point guard. Now, this won't be a star point guard, according to reporting from Jake Fischer. Regardless, a trade for a mid-tier or low-tier salaried PG seems destined to happen.
One name who has intrigued me for a while is New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado. And recent reporting from Jake Fischer confirms that Alvarado is indeed available ahead of the deadline. The Timberwolves should absolutely look into trading for Alvarado, and he could be the ideal budget trade target.
Alvarado is an intriguing trade target for the Wolves
Minnesota needs a well-rounded point guard who can provide high-quality minutes. That's exactly what Alvarado can provide. Nicknamed "Grand Theft Alvarado," the 6-foot guard is a defensive bulldog. Furthermore, Alvarado is a dependable 3-point shooter and playmaker. Simply put, he would fill a lot of needs for the Wolves.
Alvarado's point-of-attack defense and steady playmaking would be the most impactful elements of his impact. Notably, he ranks in the 87th percentile for playmaking talent and the 88th percentile for perimeter isolation defense per Basketball Index.
The Timberwolves have made back-to-back conference finals appearances and check a ton of boxes as title contenders. Of course, they still need a point guard, but they don't need to break the bank or shake up their roster a ton to get one. With another quality rotational PG, the Wolves would be well-positioned for another deep playoff run. As such, a trade for someone like Alvarado would be logical.
Now, trading for Alvarado would likely come with a painful price of trading one of their young players (most likely Rob Dillingham). It would certainly sting to give up on Dillingham so soon -- but he's not playing, and Alvarado can contribute impactful minutes right now. For a team with championship aspirations, that's a move you make.
The Pelicans could help Dillingham get his career back on track, and adding young talent makes sense for a rebuilding squad. Dillingham's value could be low enough that Minnesota would have to attach a pick, which would further incentivize the Pels.
Ultimately, an Alvarado-Timberwolves trade would make sense for all parties. While the Wolves will have several trade targets to fill their point guard void, Alvarado should certainly be one player Minnesota pursues.