On Wednesday afternoon, the Athletic's Sham Charania reported the Detroit Pistons agreed to send guard Monte Morris to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for guard Shake Milton, forward Troy Brown Jr., and a 2030 second-round pick.
Morris was a player the Timberwolves had sought after for quite some time. Back in 2017, then Denver Nuggets General Manager, Tim Connelly, selected Morris with the 51st overall pick in the second round.
After only appearing in three contests his rookie year, the Iowa State product proved his worth the following season. Morris appeared in all 82 games, making six starts. He averaged 10.4 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 49.3 percent from the floor and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Three years later, he was dealt to the Washington Wizards alongside Will Barton in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith. As a member of the Wizards, Morris started 61 of 62 games and averaged a career-high 5.3 assists per game.
Just a year later, the veteran guard was sent east, to the Detroit Pistons. In return, Washington received a second-round pick. Morris only appeared in six games for Detroit, as he missed extended time with a quadriceps strain, followed by a lower-back strain.
In his six appearances this season, the veteran guard only totaled 27 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. Hardly the start he envisioned, but after the trade, Morris suddenly finds himself on a squad tied for first in the Western Conference as opposed to the worst team in the league.
The Timberwolves got their guy, while Minnesota added two quality contributors and a future draft pick. Considering the needs of both squads, we'll grade how each team fared in the deal.