Pair of Timberwolves' trade targets viewed as attainable

After months of trade rumors and speculation, the dust will finally settle on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. CT. The NBA's trade window will come to a close tomorrow afternoon, and teams will only have a slim window to improve their roster before playoff time.

In the present, rumors remain prevalent. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been linked to numerous players over the past months. Ranging from a reserve point guard; to a forward; to a sharpshooting wing, Minnesota appears destined to bolster the reserves.

The Detroit Pistons likely are one of many squads to be sellers at this year's deadline. With a league-worst 6-43 record, several Detroit veterans have been available ahead of Thursday's deadline.

Two players in particular, Alec Burks and Monte Morris, have been on the Timberwolves' radar for quite some time. Burks is seemingly the perfect trade candidate for a contending squad. He's a 32-year-old shooting guard on an expiring contract.

The Pistons' sharpshooter is a great fit on nearly every team in the association. He's a sparkplug scorer who's shifted his focus to spot-up triples. This season, Burks is launching 5.7 threes per game, the most in any season of his career.

In just 20.8 minutes per game, the 13-year veteran is averaging 12.3 points. He's a dynamic scorer who'd instantly add an offensive flare to Minnesota's scarce bench. The Timberwolves only roster one player who averages more than seven points off the pine. And only three players who average more than five points.

Besides Burks, Morris is another viable target the Timberwolves have inquired about. The veteran floor general has ties to the Minnesota brass. Tim Connelly, Minnesota's president of basketball operations, drafted the former Iowa State Cyclone in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Despite being a late second-rounder, Morris has carved out quite the career. He holds career averages of 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. The Pistons point guard has also played with extreme efficiency. He's a career 47.9 percent shooter from the field and 38.9 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

The good news for the Timberwolves is that both of these players have been described as "attainable…for second-round draft pick compensation." Rather than shipping out a first-round draft pick (which Minnesota doesn't have to trade), the Timberwolves can easily rival opposing team's offers for the veteran duo.

Minnesota has since made three players available for trade, two of which have contract values worth $4 million or more. Both Shake Milton and Troy Brown Jr. are likely to be used as salary fillers in any trade the Wolves are involved in. Alongside five second-round picks, the Timberwolves have the ammunition to make a move.

As Thursday's trade deadline nears, be sure to follow along as we'll continue to have you updated on all things Timberwolves.