Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders indicated during Thursday’s shootaround that Karl-Anthony Towns could be back in the lineup tonight, as Chris Hine of The Star Tribune relays. However, Saunders said during warmups that Towns’ return will be postponed by at least one more game since the club wants to make sure he’s fully ready (Twitter link via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic).
Towns, who is dealing with a left knee injury, hasn’t suited up for the Timberwolves since December 13 after putting up some of the league’s best numbers in his first 23 games. While Minnesota initially struggled without its star, the team has won four of its last seven contests to remain in the playoff hunt.
With the 16-20 Spurs holding the No. 8 seed, the 14-22 Timberwolves are just two games back, and will look to make a push once Towns returns. Based on Saunders’ comments, it sounds like there’s a decent chance that could happen on Saturday in Houston.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- The July trade that sent Russell Westbrook to Houston for Chris Paul was interpreted at the time at the latest signal that the Thunder were entering rebuild mode. Instead, the blockbuster deal has been a bonanza for an Oklahoma City team that comfortably holds a playoff spot, writes Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman.
- After being drafted by the Nuggets in 2014, Nikola Jokic spent one more year overseas before joining Denver for the 2015/16 season. Using that example as a launching point, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic takes a deep dive into the Nuggets’ approach to the “draft-and-stash,” noting that the club views it as more of a “draft-and-nurture” process.
- In his latest mailbag for Nuggets.com, former Hoops Rumors writer Eric Spyropoulos explores the Nuggets’ wing rotation and the latest on rookie center Bol Bol.
Being that the Westbrook experiment is going so-so [worst spot up shooter in the league] wonder if the Rockets – Wolves – Hawks could line up for a trade.
Wolves get Westbrook and he goes back to P&R game w Towns.
Rockets get RoCo, E.T [Evan Turner], and Culver.
Hawks get Dieng and 1 2nd from Wolves 1 2nd from Houston.
Wolves get their PG they need, Rockets get more depth and 3pt shooting, Hawks get picks and another expiring contract for next season to facilitate a trade.
Hawks should be the most active team this deadline in my opinion otherwise their GM should be on the hot seat. 2 18M and 1 25M expiring deal, if not used what is the point?
Worst spot up shooter from three, sure. But Westbrook’s mid-range shooting is easily one of the best in the NBA.
No way will the Rockets give away Russ for that even though they would love to get Covington (for a lot less). Turner’s 3-point shooting is even worse than Westbrook’s these days and Culver is almost as bad. Neither of those two would even make their rotation. That’s a hard pass.
I saw much more plausible trade scenario with Houston, Cleveland, and Minnesota where the Rockets would get Covington, Love, and a first round pick for Westbrook. That makes way more sense.
I can’t see any way that would work salary-wise without Cleveland taking back some very bad salaries, and no picks. Not sure what you are referring to, but doesn’t seem ‘plausible’ to me.
I still remember how good Harden was with Beverly next to him and thought they was really good. I really thought they would go hard for Marcus Smart that year. Smart is from Houston, an ball PG or SG, can play on the ball pr off the ball, Is a great defensive player and is still a decent scorer and shooter. He’s also a leader, someone that works really hard and wants to win
Marcus Smart and Harden would’ve been great and instead of Russ or Paul at the point it would save them also 20 mil which couldve been spent getting someone like Thad Young, RoCo, Ariza, Crowder, Oubre, Randle, Iggy or Barnes plus some depth.
I’d have loved to have seen Smart Harden RoCo Tucker Capela with say Gordon and Crowder on the bench. That team defends a lot better, shoots better and plays better than any other Rockets team I’ve seen
Surely the Thunder make a trade soon. 4 weeks until the deadline they are in the playoffs just beat the Rockets and have Gallo up for grabs he’s on about 20 mil and averaging 18/6/2 while shooting almost 40% from deep and 90% at the line.
Maybe Gallo and a first (Thunder have loads of them) for Myles Turner.
Pacers get a first and a good PF that makes them more of a threat. Thunder get back it’s future centre, who is a shot blocker and 3 point shooter.
Also think Thunder should try get Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Pair SGA with his cousin NAW who lit up summer league but has faded into the long SG depth charts of the Pelicans. SGA and NAW could be the future guards of the Thunder
Turner Is stronger than Adams or Noel? I don’t think so.
18M… NURKIC Is at 12…
Naw Is the cousin of sga, and sticazzi? Is naw a Nba starter?
Turner is only 23 Years old and will improve a lot and is on a cheaper deal than Adams by 7 mil and is signed long term.
Turner would be a good move for the future.
Adams is a great rebounder and screen setter whereas Turner is a good shot blocker and 3 point shooter which is rare from a centre.
As for NAW he’s not a starter but he can definitely become one. I think he would be a good role player off the bench for them for now tho.
Turner Is stronger than Adams or Noel? I don’t think so.
18M… NURKIC Is at 12…
Naw Is the cousin of sga, and sticazzi? Is naw a Nba starter?
Cheaper options to upgrade for the thunder.
1. Dwayne Dedmon who’s not living up to his contract in Sacramento. Could easily be had for a highly protected 2nd if Thunder take the contract. Provides the defensive ability.
2. Yes they should trade Gallo for another 1st. They can always re-sign him in the off season if need be but building for the future makes sense for them.at this point. Toronto makes sense they could use some scoring.
3. They can turn around and ask the Knicks about Kevin Knox and Alonzo Trier who have fallen out of favor and would be great buy low options. Or they could look at Glenn Robinson lll who’s having a breakout year but doesn’t have the track record gallinari does. Probably could be had for a 2nd rounder or 2.
There are other options available for the thunder.
Dwayne Dedmon wouldn’t cost much and has a good track record as a defender.
They should trade gallinari for a 1st and build for the future.
They should also look at Kevin Knox and Alonzo Trier as buy low options from the Knicks and/or Glenn Robinson lll. You could probably trade some 2nds for those players.
Dedmon is nearly 30, I wouldn’t mind if they traded Gallo for a first either.
Then lastly I wouldn’t mind if they went for Knox either.
I suggested Turner cause he’s young 23 and he can improve a lot and offers something not most centres do. I then suggested NAW cause he lit up summer league and isn’t getting minutes now and is the cousin of SGA who is the main player of the future at the club.
I’d go for both Knox and NAW and other youngsters who aren’t getting loads of minutes (Josh Jackson, Malik Beasley, Harry Giles, Mo Bamba, Romeo Langford)
When will people get it? The Wolves don’t want Westbrook. He doesn’t fit the type of style of play that they want. He partially fits what they are looking for, but a big part of playing PG for the Wolves now is being able to shot the 3 consistently…which Westbrook cannot do. Stop with all the nonsense about 3 team trades that cleans out the Wolves roster of youth and puts RW there. It is not going to happen.