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Minnesota Timberwolves: A look at a potential Russell Westbrook trade

By Adam Tayabali

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 7: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 7, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 7: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 7, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images /

With Paul George gone, Russell Westbrook is on the trading block in Oklahoma City, with the Minnesota Timberwolves seeming like a potential trade partner.

Russell Westbrook met with the Oklahoma City Thunder front office on Saturday to discuss his future, per ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are a potential trade destination for the eight-time All-star.

Minnesota will compete with teams like the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons to acquire Brodie. Surprisingly, the T-Wolves have an edge over both these teams when offering trade packages.

The Thunder already own two of the Heat’s future draft picks. When and if Miami acquires Westbrook, the value of those picks takes a hit. The Pistons don’t have many desirable young players on cheap contracts, but the Wolves could potentially offer up a combination of Andrew Wiggins, Jarrett Culver, Josh Okogie, and Keita Bates-Diop in a deal.

The Thunder got an absolute haul when they sent Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers, including a record-setting number of draft picks. Even with George’s contract off the books, the Thunder are still in the luxury tax.

With a rebuild expected to come next, the Thunder will want both future draft picks and young players to try and build around. Even if they kept him, Westbrook alone won’t be enough to make the playoffs in the ultra competitive Western Conference. Even if he drags them there like he did in the 2016-17 season, it will undoubtedly lead to the Thunder’s fourth consecutive first round playoff exit.

With that being said, the Timberwolves don’t want to mortgage their entire future the way the Clippers did. Adding the former MVP doesn’t automatically make them title contenders like it did for L.A., so they’ll have to be cautious about what they choose to give up.

Here’s what the Timberwolves should try and offer, in an effort to play a competitive lineup in the 2019-20 season.

The Thunder could give the 24-year-old Andrew Wiggins a fresh start, as well as start playing Josh Okogie alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as their future backcourt. The T-Wolves might be forced to throw in forward Keita Bates-Diop as well, but for this scenario we’ll say he is not.

They’ll also get salary cap relief soon, with Jeff Teague entering the final year of his contract. Last, the Thunder will get future draft picks, likely not in the next 2-3 years as a duo of Westbrook and Karl-Anthony Towns will produce wins immediately for Minnesota.

First we’ll start with the good of this hypothetical trade and the addition of Russell Westbrook to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ roster.

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