The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a bit of a predicament right now. They must risk it all and go all-in in D’Angelo Russell or else they’ll risk losing Karl-Anthony Towns.
Throughout their history, the Timberwolves have been unable to surround their stars with enough talent to compete. It happened with Kevin Garnett, it happened with Kevin Love, and it’s happening now with Towns.
We’ve seen how this usually goes, and rumors claimed that Towns was disgruntled and upset because of the terrible season the Timberwolves are having.
So, what’s the only way to keep their superstar in town? (get it?) pairing him with another young superstar, which also happens to be one of his closest friends: D’Angelo Russell.
The Golden State Warriors are in no rush to trade Russell at all. They could either wait for a desperate last-minute offer, or they could wait until the summer and move him along their first-round pick. Hell, they could even keep him and see how it goes.
Thus, the Timberwolves must think this through and put together an offer so good the Warriors can’t help to say yes. Obviously, it would have to include a protected first-round pick and Andrew Wiggins. Perhaps they could even have to send Jarrett Culver or Josh Okogie to the Bay.
Minnesota is currently sitting at a 15-34 record and has the second-worst record in the Western Conference. They’re not making the playoffs, not even if they end up getting Russell.
However, a core with D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns could be truly promising. They know each other, they’re both fierce competitors who want to win, they’ll figure it out.
Otherwise, Minnesota will have to go through the same process over and over: trade their star, rebuild with their first-round pick, and fail to surround their franchise player with a truly capable supporting cast. Please, don’t do that to yourselves, Timberwolves.
