Through 20 games, the Minnesota Timberwolves hold a 12-8 record. After back-to-back conference finals appearances, the Wolves are hoping to make a finals leap. Even though they've bounced back from their three-game losing streak, as is, this roster won't be able to make this finals leap.
Point guard is the most obvious position the Wolves will look to upgrade at the trade deadline. With a declining 38-year-old Mike Conley and second-year Rob Dillingham, who hasn't been able to find his footing, this is logical. While many people are mocking up trades for the likes of Ja Morant, Trae Young, and LaMelo Ball, I don't think a blockbuster trade is necessary.
Simply having a younger version of Mike Conley would do wonders for this team. Their constant clutch time collapses highlight the need for a trusted decision maker. However, they also need someone with more self-creation juice than Conley has.
To me, Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones checks a lot of these boxes and is the perfect trade target for the Wolves.
Tre Jones would solve a lot of the Timberwolves' problems
I've already written about Jones as a trade target for the Wolves, and I'm sure this won't be the last time because he's too damn perfect for this team. Additionally, he's a realistic lower-cost target. Jones' best trait is his stabilizing playmaking presence. He averages 5 assists and 1.7 turnovers, which gives him a 2.96 assist-to-turnover ratio, a number that would rank second on the Wolves.
Jones is also a solid self-creator; 47.8 percent of his made field goals are unassisted. Conversely, a staggering 91.2 percent of Conley's made field goals are unassisted.
One specific area that Jones' shot creation can help with is generating rim pressure. The Wolves lack a guard who can get to the paint and create for himself outside of Anthony Edwards. Conley is too old, Dillingham is too raw, and Donte DiVincenzo is an elite shooter but not a great self-creator.
Jones, though, is averaging 4.4 rim attempts per game, which ranks in the 93rd percentile per Databallr, and he is shooting 65.7 percent at the rim. To put these numbers in perspective, Conley is shooting 0.7 attempts at the rim, and he is shooting 46.2 percent on these shots. Jones' cutting makes him highly impactful off the ball.
Despite his 6-foot-1 frame, Jones is a high-impact defender. He ranks in the 90th percentile for steals per 100 possessions.
Now you might have read all of this and wonder why Jones would be available. With Jones, Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Ayo Dosunmu, the Bulls have a loaded backcourt, but they could look to upgrade their frontcourt or wing depth. They also owe their lottery-protected first-round pick, so it would benefit them to bottom out and get younger. Whether the Bulls take this approach remains to be seen, but it's a real possibility.
While it's unclear what the Wolves would have to give up to get Jones, it's clear that they should pursue him.