When an NBA team has a disappointing season and they don’t make changes, we lower our expectations. What else can we do? They just finished up an underwhelming season.
They’re bringing back roughly the same roster. Why would they improve? If anything, isn’t it more likely that they’ll regress? Perhaps. Just don’t tell the Minnesota Timberwolves that. This team was wildly disappointing in 2022-23. They did very little to alter their roster this summer.
As a result, expectations around this team were not high. Yet, the Wolves look considerably better. By now, they look poised to make a deep playoff run.
Does that make this an ideal time to make changes? The Wolves have improved. They may want to make one more big win-now deal.
Could they target Terry Rozier of the Charlotte Hornets?
NBA Trade Proposal: Minnesota Timberwolves Land Charlotte Hornets’ Terry Rozier
Charlotte Hornets Receive: G Mike Conley, 2029 Second-Round Pick (MIN), 2030 Second-Round Pick (MIN)
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G Terry Rozier
How is this possible? Why are the Timberwolves better? Well, there’s one simple explanation. Karl-Anthony Towns missed a lot of time last year. This year, he’s been healthy. Towns hasn’t had the best season, but defenses still have to account for him. He makes the Timberwolves better.
Yet, the Wolves struggled even when they did have a full roster last season. Towns’ return alone doesn’t explain their success so far this year.
Anthony Edwards hasn’t made any huge leap, either – he was outstanding last year, and he’s made incremental improvements. Is there something in the water in Minnesota? Perhaps.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Yet, the more likely explanation is that Minnesotra needed time to develop some chemistry. Towns and Gobert were never an obvious pairing – they may have needed a summer to learn how to play together.
Should the Wolves risk disrupting their chemistry?
Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Do The Deal
Rozier is an upgrade over Conley. That’s the simple justification for this deal. Yet, it does get more complicated. Conley is a marginally better distributor, and he’s a lower-usage player.
Are we sure that this deal makes the Wolves a better team? Frankly, no. This is a risk. At the same time, this deal raises the Wolves’ ceiling by a considerable margin. Rozier can create his own shot.
Conley lost that ability years ago. Guarding Edwards and Towns with Rozier as a release valve would make Minnesota dangerous. So, the Wolves should make this deal if they believe in their coaching staff.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
They should make this move if they think they can convert Rozier into a floor spacer (he’s shooting tremendously well this year) who attacks close-outs.
It should make their offense more dynamic. Should the Hornetrs part with such a dynamic player?
Why The Charlotte Hornets Do The Deal
Rozier is a good player. He hasn’t necessarily been an optimal fit alongside LaMelo Ball. These are both guards who are at their best with the ball in their hands. If the Hornets are choosing between them, we know who they’re choosing. Ball is the most important player on this team.
They shouldn’t expect a haul for Rozier. He’s a score-first guard who’s never made an All-Star team. That isn’t the type of player that every team is going to line up to acquire.
With that in mind, a pair of second-rounders should be solid compensation from the Hornets’ point of view. With that in mind, they should be happy to add Conley as well.
After all, he’s the type of steady veteran hand who can guide this young roster. Conley is an ideal mentor. He can also still help this team as a floor spacer and secondary playmaker.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Conley won’t take the ball out of Ball’s hands, but he’ll give him some relief when he needs it. In other words, this is a change that could help the Hornets
