Grading 4 Timberwolves trade deadline targets from no-brainer to must-avoid
By Will Eudy
As the trade deadline draws dangerously near, the Minnesota Timberwolves are in borderline desperate need for an upgrade. That may sound like an overreaction with the team currently sitting at 35-16, third in the West and tied for first place.
But the Wolves have a clear problem: their offense. They are still elite on the defensive end, but they rank 18th in the NBA in offensive efficiency. Their frequently-crumbling offense has led to them losing four games in their last 10, including surrendering a 10-point fourth quarter lead in each game.
There are several players that the Timberwolves have been rumored to be pursuing leading up to the deadline. Here, we will order them from most desirable to have on the roster (no-brainer) to least desirable (must-avoid).
Luke Kennard - Absolute no-brainer
When it comes to creating offensive gravity, not many players do it better than Luke Kennard. The seventh-year guard is one of the most accurate shooters from long range in the NBA, and has been since he entered the league.
Kennard averages 43% from beyond the arc in his career. In 2021-22 and 2022-23, he led the league in three-point percentage, knocking down a remarkable 49.4% of his threes in 59 games last year.
With the Timberwolves' huge need for more offensive power, Kennard is an absolute no-brainer. Flipping Kyle Anderson for him would be a big step forward in preventing some of the fourth-quarter collapses we have seen recently.