After losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves are now only one game ahead of their division rival. The affair went back and forth all night long, up until the final seconds.
With six seconds to go, Anthony Edwards was fouled on a game-tying 3-pointer. Down by three, Edwards went to the line and missed all three freebies. The final score ended up 102-97, but the outcome could easily have gone either way.
In this effort, the bench outplayed the starters. No Minnesota starter recorded a positive plus/minus. Conversely, every reserve recorded a positive mark. Wolves big man Naz Reid led all bench scorers with 18 points and a plus-17 plus/minus on the night.
It's been a theme all season that Minnesota lacks bench depth. Although this game proved different, it's apparent that adding additional shooting and ball handling would improve the Minnesota roster.
The Timberwolves rank in the bottom half of the league in 3-point makes and 3-point attempts. Despite the third-best 3-point percentage in the NBA, Minnesota launches the fifth-fewest threes in the association.
Besides the lack of 3-point volume, the most jarring statistic is the high turnover percentage. Minnesota ranks second-to-last in turnover percentage and third-to-last in turnovers per game. This is all while starting point guard, Mike Conley, only averages 1.1 giveaways per contest.
An ideal trade target is a player who toes the line between efficient shooting and secondary playmaking. Several players have been mentioned as "best fits," and most of these players have something in common: they can shoot.
Rather than focusing on these candidates, a less-heralded player will be discussed. Although he's a veteran, the team he's currently suiting up for masks his ability. Here, we'll discuss the hypothetical trade, and then grade the trade for each squad.
Minnesota bolsters the second-unit and adds much-needed shooting
As the NBA trade season marches on, the Timberwolves have been continuously linked to point guards and floor-spacers. A recent mock-trade from Bleacher Report had Minnesota acquiring a veteran forward, shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc.
That forward is Detroit Pistons' Alec Burks. In the trade, he was dealt to Minnesota in exchange for Troy Brown Jr., Shake Milton, and Utah's 2025 second-round pick.
The reasoning behind the Burks addition is spot-up shooting and secondary playmaking. Although Burks doesn't fit the bill as a full-time playmaker, he is capable of handling playmaking duties in a pinch.
It wasn't too long ago that Burks logged about a third of his minutes at point guard. In the 2021-22 season, while playing for the New York Knicks, Burks spent 35 percent of his career-high 2,318 minutes at point guard.
That season, the veteran wing averaged a career-high 3.0 assists per game. Besides Mike Conley, the Timberwolves roster both Shake Milton and Jordan McLaughlin, two players capable of filling in at point guard.
However, in Bleacher Report's hypothetical, Milton was shipped out to Detroit, leaving McLaughlin as the lone remaining backup point guard. Burks doesn't eliminate the need to play McLaughlin outright, but he does offer additional playmaking.
While he can make plays, his best attribute is his scoring. Burks is averaging 12.1 points per game in less than 20 minutes worth of action. He's knocking down 2.2 threes per game at a 39.6 percent clip. Additionally, the Detroit wing does a great job of drawing fouls. He's converting 89.2 percent of his 3.0 free throw attempts per contest.
The Pistons' return is less enticing. But, as a team focusing on a rebuild, adding younger players like Brown Jr. and Milton does more for the squad than Burks. Additionally, a second-rounder further tempts the Pistons to make the trade.
Grading the trade for the Detroit Pistons
It's been quite the season for the Detroit Pistons. After beginning the season 2-1, the Pistons lost an NBA record 28 straight games. Now at the halfway point of the season, Detroit ranks last in the Eastern Conference with a 4-38 record.
Bottom-dwelling teams, such as the Pistons, have historically been sellers. Detroit has already made a trade in 2024 and doesn't seem to be slowing down. Several veterans, such as Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Harris, Isaiah Stewart, and Killian Hayes have been mentioned in trade talks.
A core of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, and a 2024 top-five pick is a good one. Adding more young assets to this core is likely the biggest priority for Detroit.
Shipping off Alec Burks by the trade deadline should be a no-brainer. The veteran wing is 33 years old. He's a steady contributor, better suited for playing time on a contender. His size and shooting make him an easy plug-and-play option on every team in the league.
The return of Troy Brown Jr., Shake Milton, and a 2025 second-rounder doesn't add much to the current Pistons roster. But what it does is give Detroit two, inexpensive flyers and more future draft capital.
Milton is 27 years old, with one season and $5 million left on his contract. At one point in his career, he showed considerable promise as a sixth man. The former 76er played a major role for Philadelphia. He recorded four consecutive seasons of 20-plus minutes per game. And, he appeared in 34 playoff games.
Brown Jr.'s fit on any team is less clear. As a former first-round draft pick, he was once regarded with high potential. Now on his fourth team in six seasons, Brown Jr. is closer to the G-League than a rotation spot. However, in limited action, he's playing quite well.
The Minnesota forward is averaging 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on a per-36-minute basis. His efficiency is also appealing. Brown Jr. is knocking down 44.2 percent of his field goals and 37.0 percent of his 3-pointers. But his biggest selling point is his age, still just 24 years old.
Acquiring a second-round pick in the trade is better than it sounds. After 2024, Detroit will be without a second-rounder for years to come. Additionally, it's the Utah Jazz's second-round selection, a team in a worse spot than the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Detroit receives a B+ for this deal. As noted on Bleacher Report, Detroit may ask for Minnesota's 2024 second-rounder instead. But, all in all, receiving some sort of draft capital and additional assets for an expiring contract is a win.
Grading the trade for the Minnesota Timberwolves
This trade is all about a buyer taking advantage of a seller. The Detroit Pistons have no need for Alec Burks' services. Detroit is the worst squad in the league, thus winning shouldn't be a priority.
Going forward, it's likely the Pistons' focus is to develop young talent and discover whether the fringe rotation players are worth keeping. Burks is neither. His age and status have him on the chopping block.
Despite an unnecessary accessory in Detroit, Burks' value skyrockets as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Burks would fill the Timberwolves' need for shooting and playmaking. The Wolves' bench ranks in the bottom third of the league in points, 3-pointers, and 3-point attempts.
Burks offers head coach Chris Finch extended lineup versatility. He can fill in for realistically any starter and works as a playmaker and spot-up shooter off the bench.
Offloading Shake Milton and Troy Brown Jr. hardly affects the current rotation. Brown Jr. hasn't played double-digit minutes in a month. And Milton has recorded more DNPs than appearances since Christmas.
Furthermore, dealing Utah's 2025 second-rounder is likely to happen sooner rather than later. Minnesota is officially a contender. Improving the current roster should be the top priority. Therefore, shipping out a future second-round pick goes without question.
While Burks may just be a one-year rental, he's worth it in exchange for the aforementioned assets. With the Pistons' wing in tow, Minnesota would rank in the top five in bench points and 3-pointers per game.
The Timberwolves receive an A for this trade. This hypothetical is essentially a win-win. Neither team needs the players they're shipping out in this deal. Burks' place on the roster in Minnesota is far more valuable than his spot in Detroit.