Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G Spencer Dinwiddie, F Dorian Finney-Smith, 2025 First-Round Pick (DAL)

Dallas Mavericks Receive: G D’Angelo Russell

As we just mentioned, Luka Doncic and his Mavericks are in an 0-3 hole vs the Golden State Warriors right now. It’s eerily reminiscent of James Harden and the Rockets failing to eclipse the Warriors just a few years ago.

There’s a lesson there: heliocentric offenses are ill-equipped to beat more philosophically thorough basketball teams on the brightest stage. That holds especially true when those teams roster Steph Curry.

Luka needs a co-star. Russell fits the bill. He’d be the strongest secondary ball-handler the Slovenian sensation has played alongside in his NBA career to date.

Meanwhile, this may look like a rebuilding package for the Wolves, but it’s actually more like addition-by-subtraction. A backcourt of Patrick Beverly and Malik Beasley is better built to support an offense structured around Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. Furthermore, Dorian Finney-Smith could be the floor-spacing, defensive 4 that the Wolves have been missing.

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They’re also adding a ready-made sixth man in Spencer Dinwiddie, and a first-round pick in the process. Both teams should be left satisfied following this trade.