The NBA trade deadline is right around the corner. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been no strangers to making big deals in recent years, and one trade they should pursue this go around is a move for Josh Okogie. The current Houston Rockets wing is a player who had success earlier in his career in Minnesota, and a reunion makes loads of sense.
Notably, Okogie was the Wolves' first-round pick back in 2018 and spent four years with the team before signing with the Phoenix Suns in 2022 after Minnesota declined to extend a qualifying offer to him.
Just last year, the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns for Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle. Before then, they made a blockbuster move for Rudy Gobert. Tim Connelly likes to wheel and deal, and although another deal involving superstars seems unlikely, the Timberwolves should continue making moves to improve the roster.
The Minnesota Timberwolves should trade for Josh Okogie
Okogie has played an important 3-and-D role for all of the teams that he has suited up for throughout his career. Perhaps his best days came with the Timberwolves, the franchise with which he started his career. Now, Okogie could be on the trading block. He has played well for the Rockets, but Dorian Finney-Smith, a big offseason addition, recently returned to the lineup.
Finney-Smith plays a nearly identical role to Okogie, which could make the Georgia Tech product expendable in Houston’s eyes. If that becomes the case, then the Timberwolves should pounce on a trade. The former first-rounder can guard two through four successfully.
He can even be put against opposing teams' best perimeter players. Gobert is back in the Defensive Player of the Year race because of his paint presence. However, a boost of point-of-attack defense is something that the Timberwolves have needed since Nickeil Alexander-Walker left the team in the offseason.
Okogie is now a much-improved shooter from what Timberwolves fans will remember, too. He never shot above 30% from deep during his four years in Minnesota, but he is shooting 39.1% from deep this year. Anthony Edwards demands so much defensive attention that surrounding him with shooters is always a good idea.
Point guard is still the Timberwolves' biggest need. The team needs playmaking help more so than defense, but teams can never have enough 3-and-D talent on the roster. The fact that Okogie has familiarity with some of the players on the roster doesn't hurt, either.
Bringing him in late in the season would be easier than it would be for a number of other trade targets because of his experience with the organization. The Timberwolves probably shouldn't have given up on Okogie when they did, but now would be the perfect time to bring him back home.