- The Minnesota Timberwolves are pursuing Golden State Warriors guard D'Angelo Russell ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, according to multiple reports.
- The Wolves have discussed three- and four-team blockbuster trade scenarios with other teams, including the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets, in which the Wolves would receive assets to flip for Russell.
- While it's unclear if the Warriors will move Russell before the deadline, the proposed trade scenarios could involve multiples players and picks and trigger a chain reaction of other moves.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves' pursuit of D'Angelo Russell could trigger a blockbuster trade and chain reaction of other moves.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, the Minnesota Timberwolves are pursuing Russell from the Golden State Warriors. Russell is just 24, averaging 23.8 points and 6.3 assists per game, and is close with Wolves' star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. The Wolves have been after Russell since last offseason.
According to Wojnarowski and O'Connor, the Wolves have been in negotiations with the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets for a potential three-team deal. In one scenario, Wolves guard-forward Robert Covington would go to the Rockets, Rockets center Clint Capela would go to the Hawks, and the Hawks would send a first-round pick (via the Brooklyn Nets) to the Wolves. The Wolves would then use that pick, their first-round pick, and an unknown package of players to send to the Warriors for Russell.
According to O'Connor, the Warriors turned down the Wolves' offer of Brooklyn's pick and their own, and the talks were put on hold.
There are multiple moving parts to the scenario. The Wolves, according to O'Connor, want either two first-round picks or a first-round pick and young player for Covington, who is one of the league's most reliable "three-and-D" players and still has two years, $25 million remaining on his contract after this season.The Wolves likely won't receive such high compensation for Covington, but the assets they get in return for the coveted wing player could be crucial in trying to land Russell.
According to O'Connor, the Rockets badly want Covington, but to acquire him, they would have to move Capela. Wojnarowski reported on Sunday that the Rockets were shopping Capela to Eastern Conference teams, hoping to find a deal - or deals- to bring back draft assets, another center, and wing player. The Hawks and Boston Celtics have both shown interest in Capela, according to Wojnarowski.
O'Connor reported that if the Hawks acquire Capela, it could also signal the end of power forward John Collins' time in Atlanta. Collins has been a solid pick-and-roll partner with Trae Young, and has expanded his offensive game, but is a defensive liability at center and an awkward pairing with another rim-running center. He is also due for an extension at the end of the season.
These moves could take place on their own. However, as part of a larger, three- or four-team deal, it will depend on the Warriors' willingness to move Russell.
According to O'Connor, the Warriors have maintained that they want to see Russell play with Stephen Curry, who only appeared in four games this season before breaking his hand in October. Russell was seen as a fill-in back-court partner for Curry while Klay Thompson recovers from a torn ACL. Most in the NBA world have thought the Warriors will eventually flip Russell for other assets when Thompson is healthy, as the three players may have an awkward fit together.
The Warriors are in a position to be patient, however. They'll only get one opportunity to turn Russell into multiple pieces they could use. They could decide to wait and see what other offers come along.
Furthermore, if they keep Russell, he could serve as a useful bridge to the next era as the core of Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green ages into their 30s.
With the trade deadline approaching on Thursday, a sense of urgency from the above teams could trigger a massive chain of reactions.
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