The Minnesota Timberwolves are going to pursue some degree of roster changes this summer. How much they will shake up their core is unclear, but nobody would be surprised if Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert are traded.
If you are trading away Gobert, though, you absolutely need to land a dependable big man, or you'd be putting too much pressure on Joan Beringer or forcing Naz Reid to play out of position. My top realistic choice is Nic Claxton.
Whether it's a swap for Randle or Gobert with the other (hopefully) being traded for a guard, I could see the Brooklyn Nets being open to a deal. Since the Nets don't have their first-round pick, they should try to raise their floor. Say what you will about Randle and Gobert, but both players can do that.
From the Wolves' perspective, they could get a center in a similar mold to Gobert with more offensive juice. Sure, Claxton is a slight step back on defense, but he's a clear upgrade on offense. Not only that, but the Wolves would be saving money in a possible deal for Claxton, as he makes $23.2 million next year.
Now it's worth noting that the Nets would have to trade Noah Clowney (or a player with a similar contract) to strike a deal.
Still, the Wolves would be able to save $4.6 million in a deal for Randle or $7.8 million in a deal for Gobert. Sheding this money could help the Wolves pull off a move for a star guard after this trade.
Why Nic Claxton is an ideal fit with the Timberwolves
On the surface level, Claxton isn't that much of an upgrade over Gobert on offense. He averaged a ho-hum 11.7 points this past season. Make no mistake, though, Claxton has much better hands and is generally more of a fluid mover than Gobert. Thus, Claxton can operate more as a classic lob threat.
Having a more respected offensive threat would benefit Anthony Edwards immensely, as teams would blitz him on pick-and-rolls less frequently.
Furthermore, Claxton is an underrated playmaker, averaging 3.7 assists last season. Per Basketball Index, Claxton ranks in the 95th percentile for passing efficiency. Claxton's playmaking could unlock a different element in the Wolves' offense.
Gobert has developed into a solid short-roll playmaker in the past few years, but Claxton is a clear upgrade in this area. This, paired with his rim-running abilities, could help Minnesota's offense reach another level.
While Claxton isn't a dominant rim protector like Gobert, he's well-above average and possesses a ton of switchability. At 27, Claxton could be a long-term center option for the Wolves. Pairing him with second-year big man Beringer could give the Timberwolves a quality center rotation for years to come.
Ultimately, between Claxton's basketball fit and the financial aspects of trading for him, the benefits are clear for the Timberwolves.
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