The NBA Trade Deadline is less than a week away. After a flurry of moves to begin the new year, teams have slowed down, seemingly in anticipation of the deadline.
Numerous players have been made available for trade. Several teams, such as the Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, and others have already been deemed as sellers. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Minnesota Timberwolves appear as buyers.
Although it's been reported that the Timberwolves are more likely to be active on the buyout market, it's worth noting that Minnesota has shown interest in multiple guards and even some wings to bolster the reserve unit.
Here are 12 dream trade deadline targets for the Timberwolves and how much it would cost to acquire them.
10. Bones Hyland
What it'd cost: Forward depth or a second-round pick
First on the list comes Los Angeles Clippers' guard Bones Hyland. If Hyland were to be traded, it would be the second season in a row the former Denver Nuggets' guard would find himself on a new team at the deadline.
Last season, the point guard was shipped from Denver to Los Angeles in exchange for a couple of second-round picks. In 14 appearances for the Clippers, he averaged 10.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
This season has gone quite differently for Hyland. After receiving ample playing time to begin the year, a trade for James Harden put a damper on Hyland's production. Since November 10, the point guard has only appeared in 11 of 27 contests. On the season, he's averaging just 6.2 points per game on 36.7 percent shooting from the floor and a 31.3 percent clip from distance.
A trade for Hyland would be based more so on potential. The VCU product is still just 23 years old. And, it wasn't long ago that he averaged 10.1 points per game on a competitive Nuggets squad.
In the present, acquiring Hyland wouldn't take much. The Clippers are a contending squad and Hyland isn't a part of the rotation. It'd likely take a reserve forward or a second-rounder to tempt the Clippers.
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9. Davion Mitchell
What it'd cost: Backup forward or big
A common theme throughout the list, Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell is one of many point guards to appear. The defensive-minded guard was drafted ninth overall back in 2021.
Since then, the Baylor product has lost his spot in the rotation. Although not entirely, Mitchell's playing time is at a career low. He's averaging just 12.5 minutes per game. And, in a third of his appearances, he's played less than 10 minutes.
The Kings seemingly prefer to run only De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk at the point. Mitchell is a staunch defender, but he lacks the offensive-pop required for heavy minutes on a team like the Kings. Sacramento prefers offensive-minded players to boost their top-10 ranked offense.
Mitchell to Minnesota is a far better fit, and it wouldn't take much from the Timberwolves to pry the former Baylor Bear. It's likely the Kings have already given up hope on Mitchell, as they've relied on Monk to handle the bulk of the reserve point guard duties.
While the Kings may be searching for a reserve floor general on the trade market, Sacramento is relatively thin on the wing. Behind starters Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes, the Kings rely on Chris Duarte, Sasha Vezenkov, and Kessler Edwards. Adding say, Troy Brown Jr. would bolster the reserve forward unit in SacTown.
8. Royce O'Neale
What it'd cost: Young players, second-round draft capital
One of the most sought-after players on the trade market, Brooklyn Nets' forward Royce O'Neale has been linked to numerous teams leading up to the deadline.
Although originally thought to be acquired using a first-round pick, O'Neale's value has lessened as of late. The reeling Nets likely would accept a couple of second-rounders or a young player for the veteran wing.
After beginning the season 13-11, Brooklyn has spiraled downward, losing 17 of their last 23 games. The 30-year-old wing doesn't fit well on a losing squad. He's the prototypical, low-usage glue guy. On the season, O'Neale is averaging 7.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while canning 36.1 percent of his triples.
Amongst all qualifiers, O'Neale ranks in the bottom 20 in usage rate. He's a plug-and-play forward, capable of fitting in seamlessly with any squad. Nearly 92 percent of his 3-point looks are assisted. He's never once had a season where below 85 percent of his triples came from assists.
This season, a career-high 81.5 percent of his field goal attempts are coming from beyond the arc. Beyond his 3-point marksmanship, the Baylor product is a fine defender. The top five players he's spent the most time defending this season are all or have been All-Stars in the past.
The Nets are loaded at the wing position, thus making O'Neale expendable. The biggest need in Brooklyn is easily a point guard. While Minnesota doesn't have a natural point guard to give, tacking on Shake Milton and two future second-rounders may just do the trick.
7. Dorian Finney-Smith
What it'd cost: Young player or a rotation player and second-round draft capital
Next, comes O'Neale's Brooklyn teammate, Dorian Finney-Smith. Part of the Net's vast collection of 3-and-D wings, Finney-Smith has also been made available before the NBA trade deadline. As many as six teams are reportedly after the 30-year-old forward.
Similar to O'Neale, Finney-Smith is a low-usage, quality defender capable of knocking down multiple 3-pointers per game. This season, the Nets' wing is averaging 9.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 3-pointers per contest.
His usage rate is also similar to his Brooklyn teammate, at 13.5 percent, he's only 0.2 percent higher than O'Neale. The trend continues even further, almost 98 percent of Finney-Smith's triples come from assists. He's never had a season below 95 percent.
When assessing Finney-Smith's defensive capabilities, he's also a plus on the less glamorous end. Although, this Nets' forward is a tad more versatile than his Brooklyn counterpart. At 6-foot-7 with a nearly 7-foot wingspan, the Florida product is comfortable defending all five positions.
Of the 10 players he's spent the most time defending this season, two are centers, four are power forwards, and the remaining four are all small forwards.
Finney-Smith's defensive chops are also better than the aforementioned O'Neale's. Overall, his opponents are shooting 4.2 percent worse when Finney-Smith is the primary defender. Of all forwards to defend five or more shots at the rim per game, the Nets forward is the fourth staunchest rim protector. His opponents shoot five percent worse against Finney-Smith at the rim.
Prying the veteran wing from Brooklyn will be objectively tough. It's already been reported that the Nets turned down two firsts for Finney-Smith's services. Minnesota would likely have to part with Naz Reid and multiple second-rounders to acquire the 3-and-D forward.
6. Monte Morris
What it'd cost: Wings who can shoot, second-round draft capital
The first "dream target" on the list to be linked to Minnesota is Monte Morris. The former Iowa State Cyclone was selected in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft by current Timberwolves president of basketball operations and former Nuggets' general manager, Tim Connelly.
After a nondescript rookie season, Morris quickly ascended to a high-level reserve guard. He's averaged at least 9.0 points, 3.2 assists, and shot above 45 percent in every season he's appeared in more than 45 games.
The Detroit Pistons guard is always extremely efficient. He's never averaged more than a turnover per game. And despite his small stature, his shooting percentages are abnormally good. For his career, he shoots it 48.0 percent from the floor, 39.0 percent from deep, and 82.8 percent from the charity stripe.
This season, albeit in a small sample size, Morris's efficiency and numbers are far worse than usual. However, a quad injury is likely to blame as the Pistons' floor general has only appeared in five contests thus far.
In those five games, he's managed only 25 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. A trade out of Motor City appears to be more likely than not. At 6-42, the Pistons are likely assessing their current talent pool and planning for the offseason.
With point guard Marcus Sasser impressing, Morris is expendable. And acquiring Morris likely won't take much. A couple of second-rounders and a combination of Milton or Brown Jr. paired with a young player such as Wendell Moore Jr. should do the trick.
5. Alec Burks
What it'd cost: Wings who can shoot, second-round draft capital
Another Detroit Piston makes the list. Spoiler alert! He won't be the last. Unlike his Detroit counterpart Morris, Alec Burks operates as an off-guard. He's spent time as a primary ball-handler in the past, but he's better suited as a spot-up shooter and slasher.
Burks is a fantastic offensive player. He may not be the most efficient, but efficiency is harder to come by on his current squad. Oddly enough, Burks' field goal percentage takes a dip the closer he gets to the rim.
He's a far better catch-and-shoot and pull-up player at this stage in his career than anything else. Burks is shooting 38.8 percent on his spot-up opportunities and above 40 percent on pull-ups.
As impressive as it is abnormal, Burks is one of four players in the NBA to have a higher 3-point percentage than field goal percentage. More than three-fifths of Burks' field goal attempts are from long-range. Perhaps, he should increase his 3-point volume a step further to increase efficiency.
A move to Minnesota would likely shift his shot profile. If he were to become a Timberwolf, he'd rank second on the team in 3-point attempts per game, despite averaging less time than seven Wolves.
Burks is a player whom Minnesota should covet. A bottom-five squad team in terms of 3-point attempts, the Timberwolves are conversely second in the association in 3-point percentage. In terms of wide-open triples (no defender within 6 feet), the Timberwolves pace the league at 41.8 percent. The looks are there; there just needs to be more of them.
Acquiring Burks would look similar to acquiring Morris. Already eyeing the draft lottery, additional draft capital and youth are most important for a bad Pistons team.
4. Tyus Jones
What it'd cost: Matching salary, scoring wing, second-round draft capital
Perhaps the player most consistently linked to the Timberwolves is Washington Wizards guard Tyus Jones. The former Timberwolf himself is a rock-solid option at the point. He's essentially a Mike Conley 2.0.
He's a turnover-averse guard, capable of scoring when needed and defending at a high level. Jones isn't the most flashy, but his game isn't predicated on pizzazz. He's a steady playmaker who's never averaged more than a turnover per game.
It's quite remarkable to average 20.0 minutes per game and less than a turnover as a lead guard. Even more unfathomable, the Wizards guard has led the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio every year since 2019. Only once this decade has a player come close to dethroning Jones from the top spot.
On a per-36-minute basis, Jones' turnovers remain relatively the same. Per 36 minutes, he's only averaged more than 2.0 turnovers per game once, his rookie season. No matter the amount of time he spends on the court, Jones remains turnover-averse.
This season, in extended time, Jones is knocking down 49.2 percent of his field goal attempts and 39.9 percent of his triples, both career-highs. Despite manning the point, nearly 80 percent of his 3-pointers are assisted. He's nailed 44.7 percent of his spot-up looks.
A better indicator of scoring on the ball, Jones' 3-point and field goal percentages improve as the amount of dribbles increases. For instance, using 3-6 dribbles, Jones shoots 50.8 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent from downtown.
Trading for the Washington floor general won't be easy. It's already been reported that the Wizards turned down four second-rounders for Jones. Minnesota will likely have to dangle Leonard Miller alongside multiple second-rounders and salary filler for Jones.
3. Jordan Clarkson
What it'd cost: Matching salary, young player, second-round draft capital
Now, it's time for the anti-Tyus Jones, Jordan Clarkson. While the playmaking is similar, 6.3 and 4.9 assists, respectively, Clarkson is far more reckless. He's averaging 2.8 giveaways per game and plays with a gunner mentality.
The Utah Jazz guard has never seen a shot he hasn't liked. This season, Clarkson is attempting 15.2 field goal attempts per game. He's only knocking down 41.9 percent of his field goals and 29.6 percent of his triples. Among all qualified players, Clarkson ranks dead-last in effective field goal percentage.
He's never been the most efficient scorer, but this season has been an aberration. Both his field goal and 3-point percentages are career lows. What's most concerning is his 3-point percentage. On wide-open threes, he's shooting a paltry 33.3 percent. Just a season ago, Clarkson knocked down 40.6 percent of his wide-open triples.
A change of scenery might be just what Clarkson needs. He's been traded three times already in his career. Following every trade, he's increased his points per game. And now at 31 years old, playing for a contender might be what Clarkson seeks.
His current squad isn't necessarily ready to contend, but they aren't exactly lottery-bound either. Utah is 10th in the Western Conference with a 24-26 record. The Jazz may be buyers as the trade deadline nears.
The Jazz are flush with bigs and guards but lack talent on the wing. A trade for Clarkson would assuredly include Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson. Aside from Anderson, salary filler is required, as the Utah guard makes nearly $24 million.
2. Gary Trent Jr.
What it'd cost: Matching salary, young player, second-round draft capital
Toronto Raptors' guard Gary Trent Jr.'s value has taken a bit of a hit this season. He's averaging his lowest minutes, points, and steals per game since his sophomore season in the league.
Nevertheless, he's still a quality asset for every team in the association. Trent Jr. is a must-have high-volume, yet accurate, 3-point marksman. The former Blue Devil is draining 5.8 threes on a 42.3 percent clip, a career-high.
His defense isn't great, but he is one of the better players in the league at forcing turnovers. This year, he's only averaging 0.8 steals per game. However, in the two previous years, he averaged 1.7 and 1.6 steals per game, respectively.
In today's NBA, and especially as a reserve, quality defense is less of a requirement. As evidenced by his consistent minutes over the past six seasons, Trent Jr. is on the floor because of his offense. His shot profile is elite.
This season, the Toronto guard is emphasizing the three-ball more than ever. 56.0 percent of his looks are from beyond the arc. He's also generating more spot-up looks than ever, as 94.3 percent of triples are assisted.
Trent Jr. is shooting 46.2 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. He's a deadeye when left wide-open, knocking down 53.0 percent of those looks. Trent Jr.'s 3-point marksmanship would be a boon for the Timberwolves. The Minnesota reserves are bottom third of the league in both 3-point makes and attempts.
Luckily for the Timberwolves, the Raptors are obvious sellers. Toronto has already dealt star Pascal Siakam and more players might soon follow. For a trade to Minnesota to occur, Anderson would be included as a salary filler. Furthermore, the Raptors would likely ask for multiple draft picks and a young player such as Miller.
1. Bojan Bogdanovic
What it'd cost: Matching salary, rotation player or young player, first-round draft capital
The third Piston and the best player on the list, Bojan Bogdanovic is the ultimate dream target for the Timberwolves. He's on a two-year deal, but his contract is team-friendly, as next season isn't fully guaranteed.
The Detroit wing is the ultimate offensive chess piece. He's versatile and efficient, while also maintaining a high volume. Bogdanovic is averaging 20.5 points per game on 15.3 field goal attempts per game. For the second consecutive season, he's nailing more than 47.5 percent of his looks.
Bogdanovic is also stellar from deep. He's launching a career-high 7.4 triples per game. The Croatian forward is canning 42.5 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. The Pistons can feel Bogdanovic's offensive impact. Detroit is three points better with their stud wing on the court.
His defense may be lacking, but like the aforementioned Trent Jr., who cares. Unlike the Raptors guard, Bogdanovic is big enough to defend both forwards. And for whatever reason, opponents shoot drastically worse when Bogdanovic is the nearest defender on both mid-range and 3-point attempts.
After a brief hiatus, back to his offense. Bogdanovic shoots it from all over the floor. He's attempted 66 or more shots from the restricted area, the paint, mid-range, and from three. He doesn't shoot below 40 percent from any of the aforementioned areas.
Adding Bogdanovic to the current Timberwolves roster is dangerous. He'd likely come off the bench to begin the game, but finish the game with four of the five starters. He fits at both forward spot, next to Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert.
Although Bogdanovic is the ultimate target, he comes with a high asking price. A first-round pick is most likely needed to acquire the Detroit forward. The Timberwolves don't have a first-rounder to trade, but at best, they could offer four second-rounders, Miller, and perhaps Naz Reid to add value and match salaries.