As the Minnesota Timberwolves search for a long-term answer at point guard, a wild trade proposal has linked them to Cleveland Cavaliers star Darius Garland. It's a captivating discussion to take part in, as Garland and Anthony Edwards would form one of the best backcourts in the NBA.
The proposal to get Garland to Minnesota, however, might ultimately prove to be the reason fans press pause on their excitement over this hypothetical possibility.
Garland is a two-time All-Star with one of the most dynamic offensive skill sets at his position. Over the past four seasons, he's averaged 20.6 points, 7.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.6 three-point field goals made on .462/.392/.869 shooting.
With this in mind, it's easy to see why one might view Garland as an ideal fit alongside Edwards in Minnesota. The hurdle, however, is the opportunity cost that could deplete the Timberwolves of valuable resources it would struggle to replace. Look no further than a recent and wild trade proposal for evidence.
During a recent episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show, Kevin O'Connor and John Fanta discussed a massive trade proposal that would ultimately send Garland to Minnesota.
In the second part of the trade that The Kevin O'Connor Show proposed, the Cavaliers would send Jarrett Allen to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Dalton Knecht and Austin Reaves.
It's a colossal four-team trade with multiple All-Stars changing teams and Minnesota landing a new franchise point guard—at the expense of three valuable players.
Timberwolves acquire Darius Garland in wild Kevin O'Connor Show trade
The final tally for the Timberwolves would be gaining Garland and parting ways with Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, and Jaden McDaniels. That's an admittedly tough sell, as Minnesota would be losing invaluable assets.
Conley and Dillingham are admittedly justifiable inclusions based on position alone, but McDaniels is where Timberwolves fans may draw the line.
Conley is 37 years of age, which makes replacing him with a 25-year-old All-Star at the same position an intriguing opportunity. Dillingham, the No. 8 overall selection at the 2024 NBA Draft, is a 20-year-old shot creator with noteworthy potential, but he played just 10.5 minutes per game as a rookie.
As such, the first two pieces of this trade effectively amount to the Timberwolves trading a respected veteran and a player with untapped potential for an All-Star in their prime.
Where the deal gets tricky is with McDaniels. In addition to being the Timberwolves' best perimeter defender, he's 24 years of age and has already found a way to play a crucial role for Minnesota during back-to-back runs to the Western Conference Finals.
With this in mind, it's difficult to process a trade that would send McDaniels out when he's proven invaluable alongside Edwards in a postseason setting.
With the addition of the two first-round draft picks that Minnesota might need to send out to get the deal over the finish line, this might be an example of paying too much for an ideal fit. Replacing McDaniels would instantly become a top priority, and top-tier defensive wings are tough to come by.
The idea of bringing Garland to Minnesota is remarkably appealing, but parting with the aforementioned package would be a tough sell.