Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: F Larry Nance Jr.
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G/F Josh Okogie, F Jake Layman, MIN 2022 1st Round Pick (Top-14 Protected in 2022 and 2023; becomes MIN 2023 and 2025 2nd Round Picks if not conveyed by 2023)
Since the 2004-05 season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have made the playoffs just once and in this same time span, they have finished a season with a winning record just twice. Finally healthy and having their three stars in Edwards, Russell and Towns playing at a high-level together, Minnesota suddenly looks like a team that can make the playoffs in the Western Conference.
Whether or not they can win a playoff series is a whole other conversation that does not tend to favor the Timberwolves, but the West is weaker than usual this year and there is an opportunity for this franchise to finally take the next step in their rebuilding process that has been going on ever since Kevin Garnett left the team in 2007.
With new ownership coming in that is devoted to turning things around in terms of winning games, making the playoffs would be huge for the Timberwolves this season, hence why going out and trading for an impactful role player like Larry Nance Jr. would be favorable.
He can play a handful of positions and seeing as he loves to run in transition and play well-above the rim, Nance would fit in nicely with a Timberwolves team that currently ranks 10th in the league in fast break points.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For Portland Trail Blazers — Pass Or Pursue?
Whether it is on offense or defensive, Larry Nance Jr. can make an impact for his team and he could really change the dynamic of the Timberwolves’ second-unit when Towns is not in the game since he can play the center position in “small-ball” lineups.
In Portland, Nance has started to play some really solid basketball and with Robert Covington being a possible trade assets ahead of the trade deadline, they may not want to give up Larry Nance Jr., but Josh Okogie is a young, versatile defender who could help this team on the wing.
Okogie is now in his fourth season in the NBA and while he is not much of a scorer, he is one of the better on-ball defenders in the league because of his 7’0” wingspan and quick lateral movement.
Jake Layman is not a big name for the Portland Trail Blazers to add in this trade, but Layman did spend three seasons in Portland before joining the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of the 2019-20 season. In those three years with the Blazers, Layman averaged 4.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and shot 30.2% from three-point range.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For Portland Trail Blazers — Pass Or Pursue?
This may not seem like a trade that makes sense for the Trail Blazers from a value standpoint, but let’s break down this trade from each team’s standpoint to see if we should expect some trade discussion between Portland and Minnesota.
