Grade the trade: Post-KAT trade idea gives Timberwolves added depth

It has been a little over a week since the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks agreed to a megadeal including Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle, and Donte DiVincenzo. The trade was so massive that a third party was brought in to facilitate the deal further.

In addition to the Wolves and the Knicks, the Charlotte Hornets were made a part of the trade due to Minnesota and New York's financial limitations. Charlotte received three rotation players from the Knicks, two second-round picks (one from both teams), and $7.2 million in cash.

Following the Hornets' inclusion, it was reported that Minnesota would reconvene with a former draft pick—Keita Bates-Diop. The 6-foot-9 forward spent one-and-a-half seasons playing in Minneapolis, suiting up for 67 games. Bates-Diop averaged 6.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per game.

The Wolves are flush on the wing after acquiring Randle, DiVincenzo, and Bates-Diop. Besides the most recent acquisitions, Minnesota also added Joe Ingles, P.J. Dozier and Terrence Shannon Jr. in the offseason. Despite the talent infusion, the Wolves remain light in the backcourt. Minnesota only rosters two point guards—soon-to-be 37-year-old Mike Conley and 19-year-old Rob Dillingham.

The need for a backup ball-handler is apparent. Dating back to the beginning of last season, the Timberwolves have been without a reliable Conley replacement. Minnesota attempted to rectify the situation by trading for Monte Morris. However, Morris never lived up to his pre-injury status and lasted only 36 games (including playoffs) in a Minnesota uniform.

Timberwolves acquire backup point guard for defensive specialist

Sure, relying on Dillingham is an option, but the Kentucky product will begin the season as the lightest player in the NBA and only started one game as a freshman a season ago. It'll likely take time for Dillingham to develop into a reliable NBA player. With no other alternatives on the roster, the Wolves must assess talent around the league.

As previously mentioned, Minnesota is deep on the wing, thus making at least one player expendable. That player is Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The former first-rounder has revived his career in Minnesota as a defensive ace, but in doing so, he's outpriced himself out of Minneapolis.

There's no way the Timberwolves will be able to retain Alexander-Walker next offseason. Even though trading Towns was a strategy to increase future roster flexibility, the Wolves are still on the books for Randle ($30 million player option) and DiVincenzo ($12 million) next season when Alexander-Walker enters unrestricted free agency.

The Wolves possess early bird rights on Alexander-Walker, but they can only offer 175 percent of his current contract (nearly $8 million). The best outcome is trading the 3-and-D wing before losing him for nothing next offseason.

In this hypothetical deal, the Wolves send Alexander-Walker to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Marcus Sasser and a 2027 second-round draft pick. Although Sasser is entering his second season in the NBA, he's just two years younger than the five-year veteran Alexander-Walker.

Assessing a player like Sasser's value is extremely difficult. He's a late first-rounder who played an extended role for a downright awful Pistons team a season ago. As an older rookie, Sasser averaged 8.3 points and 3.3 assists per game while drilling 37.5 percent of his triples. The former Houston Cougar appears to be a reliable reserve, but two questions persist. How valuable were his contributions to a 14-win team? And, just how much better will the 24-year-old get?

On the other end of the spectrum, Alexander-Walker is a proven rotation player in the league. After several underperforming seasons, he transformed into an efficient 3-and-D wing from a high-volume scorer. Last season, Alexander-Walker averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. After playing 23.4 minutes per game in the regular season, the Virginia Tech product was entrusted with more playing time in the playoffs.

As with all trades, providing an immediate grade is no easy task. Shipping out a second-year player who earned an All-Rookie second team vote isn't easy to stomach—especially for the Pistons, a habitually rebuilding team.

Grading the trade for the Detroit Pistons

However, Detroit's most important players are both point guards. Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey aren't necessarily textbook lead guards, but they're both skilled enough to operate an offense. Other than the starting backcourt, last season's fifth-overall pick Ausar Thompson is also capable of initiating the offense.

Sasser isn't on the outskirts in Detroit; he's currently penciled in as the backup point guard. He could certainly be used this season and beyond. Moreover, the Pistons lack a proven floor general when Cunningham and Ivey are off the floor.

This trade is more about adding a superb defensive talent whose timeline is on par with that of the young core. Alexander-Walker is only three years older than Cunningham and two years older than Ivey. Detroit added wings Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley in the offseason, but neither player will likely stick around following 2025.

Alexander-Walker brings defense and spot-up shooting to a team drastically in need of both. Furthermore, the Pistons are flush with cap space to re-sign Alexander-Walker once he hits the open market. This can easily be pegged as a win-now trade for the Pistons, even though the roster isn't currently orchestrated to compete.

Grading the trade for the Minnesota Timberwolves

This is another future-facing trade for the Wolves. The departure of Towns was evidently to increase Minnesota's championship window and this trade does the same (to a much smaller extent). The likelihood of resigning Alexander-Walker is slim to none. Thus, adding a player like Sasser who has three seasons remaining on his contract is best for the franchise's future.

In addition to Marcus, the Wolves would hypothetically acquire a 2027 second-rounder in this trade. A future draft pick and a solid player might be too much of an asking point for a player who averages 8.3 points throughout his career. Nevertheless, Alexander-Walker is a proven commodity in today's league. And when looking back on another trade the Timberwolves made with the Pistons a season ago—Minnesota included a second-rounder in exchange for a 28-year-old Monte Morris.

This trade works out for Minnesota positionally. Alexander-Walker is currently a better player than Sasser. However, acquiring DiVincenzo from the Knicks has muddied the wing rotation. While the former Knick is under contract for three more seasons, Alexander-Walker's pact ends following this season.

Due to the salary-cap-strapped nature of the Wolves, Sasser is one of the few plausible options to trade for, and Alexander-Walker makes the most sense to give up. The main downside of trading away Nickeil is that the Wolves envision a future where the 26-year-old is a contributor. Minnesota reportedly dealt Towns with Alexander-Walker and Reid's futures in mind. Minnesota wants to keep their defensive ace, but is that sentiment realistic?

In this mock trade, we deem the Wolves incapable of retaining Alexander-Walker's services. While relying on a 37-year-old Ingles to man the backup wing spot is precarious, Minnesota has already drafted NAW's successor in Terrence Shannon.