With Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, the Minnesota Timberwolves are finally headed in the right direction after decades of mediocrity. Plus, with the top draft pick in this upcoming draft, the Timberwolves have the opportunity to become a real threat in the Western Conference.
The question is, how do they plan on using it?
There are plenty of promising prospects in this draft class to chose from, including LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and James Wiseman. Of course, Minnesota can also trade the pick to acquire a star.
On the daily Locked On Wolves Podcast, Ben Beecken detailed the possibility of the Timberwolves dangling that no. 1 pick to acquire Bulls star Zach LaVine.
Ben Beecken: The Wolves could probably get a trade done to acquire Zach LaVine. He does a lot of the same stuff as Malik Beasley. He’s got a quick release, he’s athletic, he’s great in transition, he’s a really good transition three-point shooter, and he gets to the rim a little bit better and more often than Beasley.
He’s also longer and at least has a bigger wingspan, and a little bit overall quicker on defense than Beasley in terms of getting into passing lanes and things like that. But he still isn’t a good defender and that’s what’s keeping him from being a superstar in this league, and really even getting to star level.
The Wolves’ calculus may tell them that they’d rather have Malik Beasley for, call it, $14 million in restricted free agency this summer than Zack LaVine at $19.5 million each of the next two years. Would you rather have Zack LaVine at $19.5 million or Malik Beasley at $13.5 or $14 million?
At 25-years-old, LaVine is coming off his best season yet, in which he averaged 25 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 45% shooting.
Giving up LaVine would be no easy task for the Bulls, but they might consider it if it means getting his contract off the books and getting some solid rotation pieces in return.
For the Wolves, they’d get to welcome back a fan favorite to play alongside D’Lo and KAT. It’d be a dream come true for Minnesota. But only time will tell if it will ever become a reality.
