It is safe to say that Saturday evening's news rocked the world of both Minnesota Timberwolves fans as well as every fanbase around the NBA. No one could have possibly expected Luka Doncic would have been traded under any circumstance. In fact, if such a trade had been suggested by a fan, the response from others would have been that they should keep quiet because they clearly don't know what they're talking about.
This drastic move by the Dallas Mavericks' front office has significantly shifted the balance of power in the Western Conference. And even more than that, it has changed our expectations about what can and cannot happen in this crazy league we call the NBA.
The NBA community can never call a trade unrealistic ever again. If this deal that sent Luka to the Los Angeles Lakers actually happened in real life, all bets are off in terms of what can happen to any and every star player in the future.
If a player like Luka can be acquired - who else is available?
And as it pertains to the Timberwolves, a move like Saturday's has the potential to open doors. There is one train of thought that says the Luka deal was just the latest chapter in the long (and suspiciously favorable) history of the Lakers. The franchise that is the face of the NBA has had superstar players fall in their lap for decades, sometimes for pennies on the dollar. All the while, plenty of other teams have struggled to land even one player of that caliber. The allure of Los Angeles is one thing, but the history of this organization suggests there is more going on than we're aware of.
The second train of thought is one that could be beneficial to the Timberwolves moving forward. Perhaps there is no conspiracy to keep the Lakers relevant, and perhaps other organizations are simply more willing to part with their franchise players than we thought. It may seem like a ridiculous sentiment, but that would seem to be the only other explanation for what we're seeing unfold here.
If (and that's a big if) that is the case, Minnesota may want to be more aggressive in searching out trades not just this week, but in the coming months and years. We can trust that Tim Connelly will always do his due diligence, but the shocking news of the Luka trade may just empower him to be even more bold in seeking to make deals that could drastically improve the Timberwolves.