On Saturday, July 10, the long-anticipated LaMelo Ball trade was finalized. It's nice to see that the Minnesota Timberwolves can now acknowledge Ball (and, unfortunately, bid farewell to Naz Reid).
However, another factor in this trade being finalized is that Josh Green can't be aggregated with another player for at least 60 days (59 at the time of this writing). As such, Green can be flipped if he's not paired with another player, but if it's a trade involving another Wolves player, it will have to wait until September.
The Timberwolves sorely need a power forward, and trading Green is a clear path to landing one. Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype has previously reported that this is a possibility.Â
Still, trading for a high-end rotational power forward with Green as the lone trade chip isn't likely. Thus, it's hard to see the Timberwolves trading Green if he's not aggregated with another Wolves player, with Terrence Shannon Jr. being the likely sweetener.
Had they not been in the mix for LeBron James, it's possible the Wolves would have extended the Ball trade and landed a power forward. Unless the Timberwolves manage to sign LeBron, though, the dream of landing a high-quality power forward should be on hold for now.
If the Timberwolves are going to trade Josh Green for a high-quality rotational forward, it will have to wait
Keeping Green isn't a horrible outcome. He's a solid 3-and-D wing who could complement the Wolves' stars nicely. Regardless, the Wolves' need for an extra forward is pressing, and trading Green (along with another player) is the best path to addressing this void.
To be clear, it's still possible that the Timberwolves make a move in the late offseason. Tim Connelly is no stranger to these late moves. Remember the Karl-Anthony Towns trade?
If the Wolves strike out on James, best believe that they'll be aggressively on the phones trying to find a move likely involving Green. Still, the Wolves' inability to make a deal until September could be a major hindrance.
P.J. Washington is someone I view as a dream trade target. Given the Dallas Mavericks' slew of forwards, he's also fairly realistic. Nevertheless, some team could easily swoop in and trade for him before the Wolves are eligible to.
After Washington, it's fair to wonder who the Wolves could target. Obi Toppin, perhaps? Truthfully, outside of these two, I have a hard time finding a realistic target.
Given this, it's possible that the Wolves go into the season by signing a minimum contract and revisiting a possible forward trade at the deadline. Needless to say, this isn't ideal, but barring a LeBron signing or a late offseason trade, it's a realistic possibility.
You can never count out Trader Tim, though. Even if it seems unlikely, he could pull off a big move. Regardless, if that move comes by way of a Green trade, fans will likely have to wait until September.
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