The Minnesota Timberwolves have taken a step forward. Anthony Edwards is blossoming into a superstar, and Rudy Gobert is back in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. Minnesota has the best record in the Western Conference and looks like a title contender as the calendar flips to 2024.
The Wolves have talent but must upgrade their roster before the deadline to become legit favorites in the West. Denver is the reigning champion and has the best player in the world. The Thunder, Clippers, Kings, Pelicans, Mavericks, Suns, and Lakers all believe they can make deep playoff runs. Minnesota wants to avoid another first-round playoff exit and must maximize their roster.
If the Timberwolves make a trade, they will have to send out talent in the deal. Here are their five most likely players to be dealt before Feb. 8.
5. Troy Brown Jr.
Minnesota signed Brown Jr. to a two-year deal worth $8 million in the 2023 offseason. They were looking for a reserve wing that could space the floor and provide quality minutes. Brown Jr. helped the Lakers make the playoffs in 2023, and the 24-year-old is still improving.
He has struggled to find a role with the Wolves. The 6’6 wing has not played ten minutes in a game since mid-December and is averaging just 5.8 minutes per contest over the last eight.
Brown is making $4 million this season and his salary for the 2024-25 campaign is not guaranteed until June 30th. Minnesota can trade him as an expiring salary and use his contract to match money in a trade.
Troy Brown Jr. will not have a ton of value, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are limited in the draft capital they can trade after the Rudy Gobert deal. Minnesota has three first-round pick swaps plus five second-rounders available. They may be able to find some rotation help and packaging Brown Jr. with a larger salary could be the perfect matching salary.
4. Shake Milton
The Wolves signed Milton to improve their guard depth. They were searching for a backup point guard to play behind Mike Conley, and Milton’s ball-handling and playmaking improved in 2023. The 27-year-old got a two-year deal worth $10 million, but it has not gone as planned.
The 6’5 guard has fallen out of the rotation in Minnesota. He is shooting just 37.8 percent from the field and 25.5 percent on his 3-point tries after 27 contests. Since Dec. 12, Milton has played in just five of the team’s ten games and topped six minutes only twice.
His $5 million salary is non-guaranteed for next season, so he is virtually an expiring salary. Minnesota can package his contract with another deal to take back a significant contract. The pressure is on, especially if the Timberwolves plan on being over the second tax apron next season. They must upgrade their roster now before the tighter restrictions kick in during the offseason.
Shake Milton won’t have much trade value after falling out of the 76ers rotation in the playoffs last season and not being part of the Timberwolves mix this year. Still, 6’5 wings who have made over 35 percent of their career 3-pointers are hard to find. Do not be surprised to see him on the block before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
3. Naz Reid
Minnesota has three outstanding centers and not enough playing time for everyone. Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert are averaging nearly 33 minutes apiece, which has limited Reid to just 22.1 per game. The 24-year-old is averaging 12.6 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting over 50 percent from the field and 39.7 percent on his 3-point attempts in his limited run.
Reid signed a three-year $41.9 million extension to stay in Minnesota in June. The final year is a player option, but he is making just $12.9 million this season and $13.9 million in 2025. If some team believes he can maintain his production in an expanded role, Reid could become a valued commodity ahead of the deadline.
The 6’9 big man is a fan favorite and loves Minnesota. He does not want to be traded, and the Timberwolves view him as a key piece. Reid provides safety if Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert go down with an injury and is playing quality minutes next to them.
Naz Reid is the fifth-highest-paid player on their roster this season. His contract should have value for any team that needs a big man, and the 24-year-old has not reached his ceiling. He could be a key salary-matcher in a trade if the Minnesota Timberwolves can find someone making around $20 million per season.
2. Kyle Anderson
Anderson’s minutes are down this season as he serves as the Timberwolves sixth man. The 6’9 forward has a versatile skill set and fits on virtually any roster. Through 32 games, he averaged 6.7 points, 4.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 23.2 minutes per contest. His scoring is down as Anderson has struggled to make shots, but he is still a valuable contributor.
The 30-year-old is on a $9.2 million expiring contract, and the Timberwolves have a crucial decision to make about his future. They have $185.3 million committed in salaries for next season already without Mike Conley or Anderson on the books. Minnesota needs a starting point guard and signing one likely pushes them over the second tax apron. Are they willing to give Anderson $10 million per season and push further over that threshold?
If the Wolves plan on letting him walk in free agency, they should trade Anderson before the deadline and recoup some value. Getting a 6’9 playmaker who can defend multiple positions would be attractive to multiple contenders. Kyle Anderson has value, but the franchise wants to maximize their roster and contend for a title.
Trading him only makes sense if the Minnesota Timberwolves are upgrading their roster. Finding the right deal won’t be easy, but expect their front office to explore things before the deadline.
1. Karl-Anthony Towns
KAT has been mentioned in trade rumors for months, but trading him seems unlikely with the Timberwolves atop the Western Conference. Towns has found his place playing next to Rudy Gobert and remains an elite shooter and scorer. He is one of the toughest covers in the NBA but could be headed out of Minnesota.
The Timberwolves' cap constraints could force the move as his four-year $222.6 million extension kicks in next season. Anthony Edwards is their best player, and the front office cannot recoup the price they paid for Rudy Gobert. That leaves KAT as the big money salary to trade away. The three-time All-Star would likely fetch a hefty price, and Minnesota could explore it before the deadline if they believe they can upgrade their roster with the talent acquired in the deal.
Their new ownership group can solve this problem. If they are willing to spend into the second tax apron to keep this roster together, Minnesota can continue building around Edwards, Gobert, and Towns. They must make a deep playoff run this year, which looks possible with the Wolves in first place after 32 games.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be active on the trade market before the Feb. 8 deadline. If they plan on going into the second tax apron, they must upgrade their roster now. Avoiding it means making moves too. The front office has plenty riding on the next month-plus, so stay tuned to see how it all shakes out.