With major roster changes on the horizon, the Minnesota Timberwolves will likely be linked to every big name who hits the open market. They absolutely need to build a better roster around Anthony Edwards to become genuine title contenders. That doesn't mean every star player would be an ideal fit for the team, though. Recently, ESPN proposed the following trade that saw the Wolves land Ja Morant.
Most of the Wolves fan base isn't fond of Ja as a trade target. I certainly think the risk outweighs the reward in terms of a possible Ja trade. It's worth noting that leading up to the trade deadline, the Wolves were not interested in Morant. Sure, things could change, but I don't consider a trade for Ja likely in any sense of the word.
And if it's a deal like ESPN proposed, the Wolves should hang up the phone immediately.
Ja Morant isn't the right co-star for Anthony Edwards, especially if this is the package
I firmly believe that Morant isn't the right player to help the Wolves reach the next level of title contention (more on that later), but for now, I want to focus on the value of this trade. Trading Julius Randle is the cleanest path to making this deal work, and after a poor playoffs, I don't think a Randle-for-Morant swap is totally insane.
Regardless, trading away a promising young center in Joan Beringer and another solid young player in Terrence Shannon Jr. is far too rich for someone with as many risks as Ja. Frankly, I'm not trading away Beringer unless it's for a game-changing star; his upside is simply too high, and he is the Wolves' long-term big man option.
Listen, Morant is a talented player who, at his best, would fill the Wolves' need for a point guard who can create for himself and others at a high level. However, Ja's constant injury problems should be enough to turn any team away. Notably, he has only played in more than 60 games once in the past five years.
Furthermore, Morant's rim frequency (which should be his bread and butter) has declined in every season of his career. Not only does this show that the injuries have limited Morant's impact, but when paired with his poor shooting, it makes him an inefficient source of offense.
If you are a team like the Sacramento Kings or Brooklyn Nets that simply needs a talent infusion, then sure, roll the dice on Ja. However, it's hard to argue that he's the right piece for a team with title aspirations like the Wolves to reach the next level. On top of everything else, the Wolves would be taking back more money in this deal, which could hurt their ability to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu.
With all due respect, there's no reason the Wolves should be interested in this type of package for Ja.
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