Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Do The Deal
Again, the Minnesota Timberwolves do the deal mostly for the first-round pick they’re receiving. If they’re out on Russell, that’s a great return for his services.
On a related note, they may be out on Russell. He was dreadful in the 2021-22 playoffs. If this organization feels they’re better off entrusting more offensive responsibility to Towns and Anthony Edwards, we wouldn’t blame them.
Meanwhile, they should be able to make use of the veterans they’re receiving here. Davis Bertans is too weak defensively to start alongside the similarly flawed Towns. Still, he’s one of the league’s most reliable floor-spacing forwards. Lineups featuring them side-by-side could be lethal on offense for stretches.
Furthermore, Spencer Dinwiddie profiles as a reasonable replacement for Russell. He’s a slightly less dynamic playmaker, but only slightly. The Timberwolves would likely start a backcourt of Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley while plugging Dinwiddie into a sixth-man role.
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This isn’t exactly a win-now move for the Wolves, but it may not be a rebuilding move either. If they can make it a lateral move by adjusting their offensive profile to compensate for Russell’s absence, they’re trading him for a first-round pick. That’s good asset management.
