Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Make The Deal

The Minnesota Timberwolves make the deal for the same reason that, frankly, anyone makes a deal for Westbrook in 2022. They want his expiring contract.

In all likelihood, this deal represents a step backward to take two forward for the Wolves. They’d probably start a backcourt of Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley, opting to buy Westbrook out.

That pairing may actually be more functional than any including Russell. While he’s the most talented player of the three, he does tend to over-dribble, sometimes at the expense of the team’s offense. The new-look Wolves would run their offense more consistently through Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. That doesn’t sound like a bad thing.

On the other hand, if any center in this league can revitalize Westbrook, it’s probably Towns. He’s arguably the best shooting big man in NBA history.

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If you squint hard enough, you can see a world where Westbrook is an improvement over Russell for the Wolves. If they could acquire a stretch 4, they could accommodate Westbrook’s need for four-out spacing.

Of course, maybe they’d just buy him out. They’re still freeing cap room and adding a first-round pick in the process.