Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G Kyle Lowry, 2023 First-Round Pick (MIA)

Miami Heat Receive: G D’Angelo Russell

Some will argue that we’re stretching the definition of a star by including D’Angelo Russell. That’s fair but trust us: the Heat will be paying heftier prices for better players later in this piece.

Here, they’re parting with an aging Kyle Lowry and a single first-round pick for a player who’s at least capable of generating star-caliber offense in Russell. At this stage of his career, he’s a far more dynamic pick-and-roll ball-handler than Lowry

For that reason, the Wolves may pass here. Prior to their massive trade for Rudy Gobert, this may have tempted them more. Now, they may opt to utilize Russell’s pick-and-roll chops in tandem with the Stifle Tower.

On the other hand, the Wolves could still reason that their offense is best run through Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. By that logic, Lowry could be a better fit as a lower-usage floor-spacing floor general.

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Plus, this deal has the Wolves recouping some of the draft capital they lost in that Gobert trade. If the Heat think Russell could be a difference-maker for them, this trade is a win-win.