After the Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison earlier this week, Anthony Davis trade speculation began. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been floated around a bit as a landing spot for Davis. Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor recently wrote about eight trade ideas for Davis, including when that sent him to the Twin Cities.
It's important to mention that O'Connor noted a third team would have to help facilitate this deal, meaning not all four players would end up in Dallas. However, the framework remains Davis, in, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham, and Mike Conley, out. O'Connor also noted that the Wolves are in his "tier 2" of mock trades, so even though he proposed this trade, he acknowledges they aren't exactly an ideal landing spot.
Listen, mock trades are hard, and Davis is still a great player when healthy. Nevertheless, I think Tim Connelly would take a page out of Anthony Edwards' book and simply say "hell nah" if this trade were proposed to him. I also think that's the exact reaction all Wolves fans had when they saw this trade.
Trading for Anthony Davis isn't in the Timberwolves' best interest
O'Connor's main reasoning for the trade is that the Wolves have struggled mightily with Gobert off the floor defensively. This, of course, is a real problem, as O'Connor noted Minnesota has a 105.7 defensive rating with Gobert and a 130.2 defensive rating without Gobert. Regardless, the Wolves' real flaw is ball-handling and playmaking.
If they were to do this trade, they'd be losing three of their most dependable ball-handlers and their theoretical point guard of the future. That's simply nonsensical. Sure, the Timberwolves would have a top-three defense, but their offense would massively hurt them.
Edwards already receives immense pressure from the opposing defense. Now imagine if you take away Randle, DiVincenzo, Conley, and Dillingham. As great as Edwards is, that doesn't put him in a position to succeed.
I mean, what would the starting lineup be? Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Davis, and Gobert? Does Jaylen Clark earn a starting spot? All of a sudden, Bones Hyland becomes a crucial part of the rotation.
Listen, I'm not opposed to the Wolves making a trade if the right opportunity arises, but this isn't the move to make. Frankly, the move would be for a point guard if anything at all. Davis is injury-prone, and if this is the price, it should be an instant no. Another risk with Davis is his $58.4 million average annual salary. In the second apron era, having two players making more than $50 million is tricky.
At this point, any trade the Wolves make should exclude Randle or McDaniels. Randle is having a career season and has proven to be the perfect running mate next to Edwards, given his blend of creation and playmaking. Likewise, McDaniels has reached another level on offense at 25. This trio is a championship-level core that the Wolves would be silly to shake up right now.
As the famous saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.