The Minnesota Timberwolves are riding high off a 109-105 defeat of the Los Angeles Clippers. Prior to Sunday night, the Clippers were winners of eight of their last nine games. The game looked all but over until a furious fourth-quarter comeback made it too close for comfort.
At one point, the Timberwolves led 97-80 with just over five minutes remaining. Over the next four minutes, the Clippers went on a 20-6 run, narrowing the Timberwolves' lead to only three points. With just over a minute left, Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert knocked down four consecutive free throws to put the game out of reach.
Gobert's four free throws added to his 15-point total on the night. The French big man also corralled 18 boards and swatted four shots. However, he wasn't the only valuable contributor. Star guard Anthony Edwards poured in 33 points, and had 20 in the third quarter.
Aside from his scoring prowess, Edwards recorded nine rebounds and six assists. Jaden McDaniels and Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 and 17 points, respectively. Although Mike Conley scored just six points, he played his usual role as an offensive focal point.
Each starter played 32 or more minutes of action. Head coach Chris Finch only played three players off the bench, Naz Reid, Kyle Anderson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Anderson finished with a plus/minus of minus-6, while Alexander-Walker didn't fare much better at minus-4.
In limited action, Reid led all bench players with a plus-6. Although a win over the Clippers is impressive, it's concerning only three players entered the game off the bench. Also worrisome is the lack of a true reserve point guard. Jordan McLaughlin is fine in a pinch, but he's not a legitimate backup point guard.
Additionally, the Timberwolves lack a consistent 3-point threat off the bench. Minnesota reserves rank in the bottom third of the league in both 3-point makes and 3-point attempts.
Even without a dominant bench unit, the Timberwolves are one of the best teams in the NBA this season. It's easy to imagine just how good Minnesota can be with a viable bench. Here, seven targets are identified as potential difference-makers off the Wolves bench.
7. Tyus Jones
First on the list is a former Timberwolf. The ever-steady, Tyus Jones. Although Jones is currently a starter for the Washington Wizards, accepting a role as a backup point guard on a championship-caliber team wouldn't be a demotion.
Jones has spent the majority of his career as a backup. Before this season, he had never started in more than 23 games in any season. And the sole reason for Jones' 20-plus appearances as a starter was due to injury.
The lack of starting experience isn't to say Jones is a bad player, but he's better suited as a reserve guard. The former Blue Devil is the epitome of a backup lead guard. He's a high-efficiency, low-turnover game manager.
Jones leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio with a dazzling 6.6-to-1 ratio. In 27.9 minutes per game, the Wizard guard averages less than a turnover per game. Slotting in behind Conley at point guard would ease Conley's extensive burden.
At 36 years old, Conley is playing nearly 30 minutes per game. Not to say Conley is unworthy of a heavy workload, but playing 30-plus minutes on a nightly basis in the playoffs would likely be detrimental the Timberwolves.
6. Alec Burks
Aside from a backup point guard, shooting remains a need for the Timberwolves bench. Detroit Pistons wing Alec Burks is one of the best shooters who has yet to start a game this season.
In just 19.6 minutes per game, Burks is knocking down 2.0 threes at a 38.2 percent clip. He's a multi-faceted 3-point threat as he hovers around the 38 percent mark on both catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble shot attempts.
Furthermore, the 38 percent clip might be an aberration. Before this season, Burks hasn't shot below 40 percent since the 2019 season. Besides his 3-point shooting, Burks provides off-the-bounce scoring and the keen ability to draw fouls.
On a per-36-minute basis, Burks averages 5.3 free throw attempts per game. And when he gets to the line, he hardly misses. Burks is draining a career-high, 88.2 percent of his freebies. The Detroit wing is great offensive player to employ off the bench.
With Burks in tow, the Wolves wouldn't have to worry about fit. The Colorado product is capable of playing up to three positions. He fits best as a wing, but in the past, he's provided quality minutes at both point guard and power forward.
Perhaps the most intriguing part about Burks is the team he plays for. The Pistons are far and away the worst team in the league. After trading two rotation players over the weekend, it's looking increasingly likely that Detroit will ship out more players before the deadline.
5. Kevin Huerter
Another player who's been mentioned in trade talks, Sacramento Kings sharpshooter Kevin Huerter. The Sacramento forward is shooting a career-low 34.5 percent from beyond the arc. After a career year in his first season in Sactown, Huerter has played poorly for the majority of the season.
He started hot, averaging 14.3 points and knocking down 39.6 percent of his triples in November. However, since his hot November, he's cooled off considerably. Huerter's playing time decreased along with his points production and shooting efficiency.
Oddly enough, Huerter is shooting much worse on catch-and-shoot triples than pull-up threes. Although he's consistently been a better pull-up shooter on the Kings, his catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage remained near 40 percent while he played in Atlanta.
Another change of scenery may be best for the young wing. Minnesota needs catch-and-shoot players. While it may seem contradictory to describe Huerter as a valuable spot-up shooter, he'll likely resort back to normal.
The former Hawk has never shot below 36.3 percent from downtown. That is, until this season. He's a proven sniper, capable of bending defenses with his quick release and penchant for moving without the ball.
All things considered, Huerter's game may be on the upswing. He's coming off a 26-point performance on Sunday night. The Kings forward knocked down 6-of-9 threes and also snatched 10 boards.
4. Buddy Hield
Even more shooting! One of the most prolific shooters in the NBA, Buddy Hield. The Indiana guard is a flamethrower from deep. Once again, he's nailing more than 2.2 3-pointers per game. The last time Hield didn't make 2.2 triples per game? His rookie season.
Nearly 70 percent of Hield's looks come from beyond the arc. Only one Timberwolf shoots more than 70 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, Troy Brown Jr. The difference between Hield and Brown Jr. is that the current Wolf only averages 2.5 triples per game.
Hield is a prominent shooter who doesn't shy away from letting 'em rip. Half of Hield's shot attempts have come from beyond the arc since 2019. And to further illustrate just how dangerous of a shooter Hield is, he's never shot below 36 percent from beyond the arc.
Adding a shooter like Hield would do wonders for the Timberwolves offense. He provides elite spacing, something only one other player on the roster offers. Implementing Hield into the rotation is seamless. He doesn't need the ball in his hands nor is he a complete defensive liability.
Indiana is better on defense with Hield on the floor. And perhaps most surprisingly, his teams have consistently fared better on the defensive end of the floor when Hield's part of the lineup.
Unlike many pure shooters, Hield holds up on the defensive end of the floor. The former Sooner can work as an offensive hub while maintaining his responsibilities on the less glamorous end.
3. Austin Reaves
What a journey it's been for Austin Reaves. After going undrafted out of Oklahoma, he quickly found a spot in the Los Angeles Lakers rotation. Reaves made a name for himself after his second season in Los Angeles. A season where he averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
Reaves truly broke out during the 2023 NBA Playoffs. In 36.2 minutes per game, Reaves averaged 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. The Lakers' guard also canned 44.3 percent of his triples.
In the offseason, Reaves re-upped with Los Angeles for what seemed like a steal. His contract was worth $56 million over four years. However, to begin the 2023-24 season, Reaves came out flat.
After his poor start, head coach Darvin Ham moved Reaves to a reserve role. And as a sixth man, the Los Angeles guard flourished. His points, rebounds, and assists spiked, as did his field goal and 3-point percentage.
Recently, due to some turbulence in Southern California, Reaves reentered the starting five. Since his promotion, he's been back to playing like the 2023 Playoffs version of himself. Reaves has scored in double-digits in five of his past six games. The Oklahoma product has also recorded four games of six or more assists in January.
Although Reaves' name hasn't been thrown out in much trade chatter, he's a very appealing prospect. The Lakers' best two players are 30 years old or older. And despite an experienced core, Los Angeles falls below the Play-In qualifications at 11th place in the West.
If Reaves is on the trade block, acquiring him won't be easy. But, the former Sooner is worth it. He's a diverse offensive player, capable of scoring with or without the ball. And as evidenced by his assist numbers, the Los Angeles guard is a willing and innovative passer.
2. Jordan Clarkson
A player whose name has been involved in trade chatter, Jordan Clarkson could once again be traded at the deadline. The Utah Jazz guard has twice been traded before the NBA Trade Deadline.
Even though he's bounced around the league, his tenure in Utah has been one to behold. Clarkson won the Sixth Man of the Year in his first season in Utah, averaging 18.4 points per game. Since then, Clarkson has evolved into a more than willing passer.
Throughout his early seasons in the association, Clarkson was more of a one-dimensional gunner. He had never averaged more than 3.5 assists before last season. This season, the Jazz guard is averaging 5.3 assists per contest.
Clarkson's assist numbers have increased as he's moved to the bench. As a reserve, the Missouri product averages 5.8 assists per game as opposed to 4.9 as a starter. Not only has his assist numbers improved, but he's also played with more efficiency.
Off the pine, Clarkson is shooting five percent better from the floor and four percent better from downtown. He seems to be more of a natural fit off the bench due to his lack of quality defense. Among regular contributors, Clarkson holds the second-worst defensive rating on the Utah roster.
As a Timberwolf, Clarkson would get the opportunity to suit up next to Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kyle Anderson, two fantastic defenders. Clarkson's focus would essentially be scoring and playmaking, his strong suits.
1. Malcolm Brogdon
The Timberwolves lack a steady hand to pilot the second unit and a lethal shooter. Malcolm Brogdon provides both. Brogdon's current fit on the upstart Portland Trail Blazers feels off. The former Celtic is coming off a Sixth Man of the Year campaign where he appeared in 19 playoff games.
Now, on a young Blazers squad, Brogdon's contributions are flying under the radar. He's averaging 14.7 points and 5.1 assists on 43.2 percent shooting. The Blazers' guard is also Mike Conley-esque, nailing 41.3 percent of his triples and turning the ball over less than 1.5 times per game.
His contributions to Portland have been invaluable. The Trail Blazers are nearly 11 points per 100 possessions better with Brogdon on the floor. He's equally as important on offense as he is defense.
Luckily for the rest of the NBA, Brogdon's services aren't necessary in Portland. The Blazers are the third youngest squad in the association, a timeline the 31-year-old Brogdon doesn't fit. A trade to acquire more youth seems to be on the horizon in Portland.
Similar to Jordan Clarkson, Brogdon would add shooting and playmaking to the Minnesota roster. However, Brogdon is a capable defender who plays with far more efficiency. Despite being assisted on less than 25 percent of his twos and 75 percent of his threes, he's shooting above 40 percent from the field.
The Trail Blazers combo guard does a fine job of scoring with and without the ball. He's the ultimate chess piece, on offense and defense. More than 10 percent of his shot attempts are coming from each zone on the floor.
Brogdon is the only Trail Blazer with a box plus/minus over 1.0, at 1.7. He's contributed most to the Trail Blazers success this season. Although it may seem off-putting to trade a player of Brogdon's caliber, the season is already lost in Portland.