Minnesota Timberwolves: Ranking the trade chips heading into 2020 NBA offseason
Minnesota Timberwolves trade chip No. 3: D’Angelo Russell
Minnesota only acquired D’Angelo Russell at the trade deadline, but without many plus player assets, he is one of its most valuable commodities—high salary and all.
Andrew Wiggins’ monstrous salary was moved out to take Russell from the Golden State Warriors, but with a top-three protected 2021 first-round pick as part of the additional compensation. It could be a high bounty to pay if the Timberwolves miss the playoffs next season and have lottery luck, especially with a solid draft class for the go-around.
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Russell stayed within the ballpark of his Brooklyn Nets stats from 2018-19 upon being traded, with 21.7 points, 6.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds. At only 24 years old, he has years of productivity at a high level remaining and already has an All-Star accolade on his resume, which is easy to forget after his frequent movement within the past year.
However, holding back Russell’s value is the aforementioned salary. He will make $28.6 million in 2020-21, $30 million in 2021-22 and $31.37 million in the final year of his contract. Moving on from him down the road would mean taking back another lucrative salary, and another team willing to move assets, as the Timberwolves did themselves, questionably.
Sure, a former All-Star has worth elsewhere, but the high salary and the need for assets in return narrow potential suitors. Minnesota is better off keeping Russell to garner some kind of reward from the February trade.