Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Minnesota Timberwolves

Right now, the Timberwolves continue to be one of the worst teams in the NBA, even with Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and first overall pick, Anthony Edwards. They are currently sitting in last place in the Western Conference in large part because they are such a young team and are still growing. 

Towns and Russell are established All-Star talents, but outside of them, they have virtually nobody who can contribute meaningful minutes. Malik Beasley and Naz Reid have stepped up into bigger roles this season and look like two young players that have emerged as key role players moving forward, but it will still take time for this team to reach its full potential.

With them not having any chance to make the playoffs this season, the best thing they can do is trade away a guy like Rubio who is eating away at the Timberwolves cap space and ultimately, does not really fit in with this team anymore. 

Through the years, one of the main goals of the Timberwolves has been to draft high-level, athletic talent and as a result, they have a lot of young athletes on their roster with a lot of potential. That is why trading for Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina make a lot of sense. 

Both guys are not only young players without a set role in the NBA, but they are gifted athletes who fit right in with Minnesota’s plans moving forward. Adding these two guys to their roster gives the T-Wolves a very athletic group of young talent with a lot of promise moving forward. 

Ricky Rubio does not fit this mold for the Timberwolves and while he is a solid all-around player, they already have D’Angelo Russell and do not have a need for a guy like Rubio. As a result, getting two young players and a future second-round pick makes a lot of sense for Minnesota.