Phoenix Suns Receive: G D’Angelo Russell 

Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G Chris Paul 

Of course, there’s a reason that NBA front offices will opt to blow up their team’s core. If they aren’t confident in their group’s title odds, they have no incentive to win games. 

After all, the league’s lottery system rewards losing. Some fans don’t like it – they’d prefer all 30 teams were incentivized to win. Still, in spirit, the system is designed to provide a means for the league’s worst teams to improve. 

With that said, blowing up a team is rarely a general manager’s first option. Building an NBA team is like a puzzle. Oftentimes, good teams seek to improve by finding their missing piece. 

In fact, that’s exactly what the Phoenix Suns were doing when they acquired Paul in the first place.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves took a page out of their book this summer by acquiring Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz. They’ll be hoping to join the ranks of the league’s serious contenders in 2022-23. 

Does landing Paul get them there?