The 10 Biggest winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline
By Ari Schwartz
Winner: Minnesota Timberwolves
Seeing Russell moved at the deadline seemed inevitable, but the Wolves getting back a good return seemed extremely unlikely with D’lo having a down year and on the last year of his contract.
But look where we are. Mike Conley! Nickeil Alexander-Walker! Three second-round picks! Yeah, maybe not the most exciting return. Still, Minnesota got an arguably better player and inarguably better fit with the roster at point guard in Conley, along with a young prospect in Alexander-Walker to potentially take over the Wolves’ point guard mantle once Conley regresses out of that role, and three picks.
Nothing the Wolves do can redeem the Gobert trade, but it can still make the best out of a bad situation, and that’s what Minnesota did at this deadline, acquiring Gobert’s former teammate in Conley along with some much-needed future assets.