The Timberwolves made it known throughout the NBA during the offseason that veteran point guard Jeff Teague could be had in a trade, and that’s still the case, league sources tell Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Teague, who was signed to a three-year, $57MM deal by former Wolves president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau, is in the final year of that contract, with a $19MM expiring salary. His fit within Minnesota’s offensive system under Ryan Saunders isn’t ideal, as Krawczynski explains, and the club wants to find its point guard of the future.
Here’s more on the Wolves, via Krawczynski:
- It’s not year clear which direction Minnesota will go at the trade deadline. The club’s new management group, led by Gersson Rosas, is pragmatic and has a long-term plan for success, so the team is unlikely to compromise that plan for a quick fix, writes Krawczynski. On the other hand, the Wolves figure to be aggressive if they identify a player who fits Karl-Anthony Towns‘ timeline and can be part of that long-term plan.
- There was a leaguewide belief this past summer that Andrew Wiggins could be had in a trade, but the Wolves have been encouraged by the progress he has made this fall, and Saunders and Rosas are both in his corner, says Krawczynski. That doesn’t mean Wiggins is untouchable, but it doesn’t sound like he’s actively being shopped either.
- The Timberwolves remain interested in D’Angelo Russell after pursuing him in free agency, sources tell Krawczynski.
- Minnesota isn’t looking to move Robert Covington, but the club recognizes that if it wants to land an impact player, Covington and its future first-round picks are the most attractive assets it could dangle.
I wonder what it would take to get Russell?
I’d guess Covington and a couple firsts gets it done. The problem is the Warriors probably want tax relief as part of the deal. If they can get under the cap, they can avoid some major luxury tax.
Minny can package Dieng or (more likely) Teague to get Russell, but a third team needs to get involved to save Golden State on the tax. And that team will need to be willing to add salary this year.
I think it’s going to be very hard to make a deal until next summer. Minny will be in a much better position to take on money without sending much back. But we’ll see.
If anyone wants Covington I’d make damn sure they take Dieng or Teague too!!
No doubt one of them along with a #1 would be included in a Covington trade if the Wolves expect to get back an impact player ..
Probably a 3 team deal.
Wolves: Russell, Looney,
2nd Mavs
Warriors: Covington, Lee,
1st Wolves, 2nd Wolves, 2nd Mavs
Mavs: Teague
Wolves wanted Russell should have offered Max out of the gate.
Dieng is Minny headache buyout.
I cannot imagine any motivation for the Mavs to take part in that deal.
Hilarious still to this day that the Wolves took Rubio and Flynn back to back ahead of Curry.
No trades work for Minn in trade machine btw. Either a glitch or Idk but numbers matching trades dont even work.
Curry refused to even workout for the Wolves so there’s that.
KP refused to workout for the Sixers, but they still probably should have taken him.
I understand they want to get Russell and that Russell wants to play with people that are his mates. But I remember him in an interview saying a big lure to GSW was the weather. Coming from NY he was excited to go to GSW and not be in the cold and Minnesota is definitely a lot colder than both of these teams.
Secondly I don’t think GSW will just settle for a package of Covington, Teague and a first plus some seconds. Russell who is an all star PG is only 23 and has shown a lot of ability. There will be a lot of teams interested that will likely give better packages.
I think Russell would be prefect for the Pacers. On the court Russell and DLo would form the best backcourt in the East, and they have a young roster that wins games which probably makes DLo happy. Off the court Indiana is closer to Russell’s home and family in Kentucky and the weather is better than Minnesota. Lastly in terms of what GSW gets back they can chose between Brogdon or Turner (both who would fit GSW really well) and fillers.
Russell and DLo would form a great backcourt indeed, but you’d need to do some cloning first and that could be expensive :-)
Typo aside I think as a team the Pacers would rather have Olidipo and Brogdan. Brogdan is putting up similar stats along with being a better shooter, passer and defender. The weather isn’t that much better in Indiana then Minnesota. Finally when Olidipo is back Brogdan and Olidipo are right up there with Walker and Brown as the best backcourt period at least until Curry and Thompson come back next year.
“the Wolves figure to be aggressive if they identify a player who fits Karl-Anthony Towns‘ timeline”.
Rosas has already worked through Saric and Dieng. Converted 3s Covington & Layman are in there now, with Vonleigh & NazReid on deck. They have not found a good pairing for Towns yet apparently. Not sure what that would even look like!
The pairing is a point guard that can shoot 3s, pick and roll, post-up. Prime CP3 is what he is talking about. Honestly CP3 wouldn’t be a bad deal for them currently. Thunder want a 1st tho, delusional given his contract but CP3 can play, they would be sending Dieng back who is trash and has another year left. So they would need to include a 1st to dump him regardless. Better than shipping out RoCo. CP3 for Teagur, Dieng and a Top-20 protected 1st that converts into 2 2s after 3 yrs.
That might Work ??
CPaul is a PG who could well take on that assignment. But Towns isn’t going to want to do inside work alone.
Actually not a bad deal at all. Although given injury history and contract on Paul, still wouldn’t give up a 1st or 2nds. Straight up and Thunder get monster tax relief plus a veteran PG they can easily resign. They already got all the 1st for Paul they’re getting.