The Minnesota Timberwolves had their most active trade deadline in years on Thursday as President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas put his stamp on a team that was heading deeper and deeper into the gutter.
When the smoke cleared, Rosas had orchestrated a four-team deal that got them an extra first-round pick in the 2020 draft, dumped the contracts of Andrew Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng and ended a seven-month journey to acquire D’Angelo Russell.
With so much going on, the days where fans got excited about bringing 38-year-old Kevin Garnett back to the franchise seem like long ago, but there’s also a glimmer of hope for the first time since one promising season with Jimmy Butler. Once the trade for Russell became official, the Timberwolves put out a video to celebrate the occasion.
“𝙄’𝙈 𝘽𝙐𝙄𝙇𝙏 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎….”
— @dloading pic.twitter.com/5NtZnMzPTA— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 6, 2020
The account wasn’t done there as the Timberwolves reminded fans of what Russell means for their star, as their first tweet after the deal was reported featured a photo of Karl-Anthony Towns smiling and a photo of him wearing a SLAM Magazine cover of Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury that was photoshopped for the new era.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 6, 2020
🗣𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 pic.twitter.com/cGvv1X8DdV
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 6, 2020
As for Russell, he hasn’t posted anything on his Twitter or Instagram accounts, but the Wolves went further, mentioning one of his old tweets regarding assistant Pablo Prigoni, who was with Russell during his time with the Brooklyn Nets and are now reunited with the Timberwolves.
our hearts https://t.co/Aq8Lp9lPkc
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 6, 2020
Meanwhile, Wiggins has been more vocal about his new destination, posting a video on his Instagram that showed his excitement for heading to Golden State.
Wiggins is hyped about heading to the Bay 🤣
He posted this on his IG story:
*NSFW* pic.twitter.com/PDrEadS5uE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 6, 2020
Wiggins was shipped out after coming over as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and traded to the Wolves for Kevin Love just a couple weeks later. Despite underachieving in Minnesota, his former teammates Tyus Jones and Zach LaVine like his chances with the Warriors.
Wiggs gonna be scary in Golden State. Great fit
— Tyus Jones (@1Tyus) February 6, 2020
Wig about to thrive in golden state. That’s a great fit💯
— Zach LaVine (@ZachLaVine) February 6, 2020
The other trade of the day featured Dieng being shipped out to the Memphis Grizzlies for James Johnson. Dieng was also a former first-round pick by the Timberwolves as the 21st selection in the 2013 draft, but was tied to a four-year, $62.8 million contract signed in 2017.
Among those excited about the deal was Jones, who signed with Memphis last offseason and voiced his opinion Thursday with Dieng quickly returning the favor.
Yeeeeaaaaa G!!!! Let’s go! @GorguiDieng
— Tyus Jones (@1Tyus) February 6, 2020
Lets get it son @1Tyus
— Gorgui Dieng (@GorguiDieng) February 6, 2020
Even the Timberwolves’ other deal, which shipped out Robert Covington and gained them Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez, Evan Turner, Jarred Vanderbilt and Brooklyn’s 2020 first-round pick, had some effect as Covington said goodbye to Minnesota and Beasley practiced with his new team.
Thank you Minnesota for everything. I always say I’ll never change things because they are apart of your story. 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/6iKM6a1oqG
— Robert Covington (@Holla_At_Rob33) February 6, 2020
“Y’all got a real rock star here.” — @Mbeasy5
🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘 pic.twitter.com/rrM0TgWy5f
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 6, 2020
Of course, with three deals sending six players packing from the opening night roster, Rosas pulled a complete overhaul of the roster that Tom Thibodeau built just a couple of seasons ago.
Second longest tenured Timberwolf behind Karl-Anthony Towns?
Josh Okogie
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) February 6, 2020
Timberwolves deadline 2020
out: RoCo, Wiggins, Keita/Bell (😢), Napier, Vonleh
in: DLo, Beasley, Juancho, Evans, Turner (2 dif ppl), Spellman, Vanderbilt
Kept Layman (this will be big in a yr) Okogie, Culver both 2020 1sts
An absolute miraculous roster revitalization by Gers
— Key Sang (@Phantele_) February 6, 2020
A new roster generates excitement, but also fosters sadness for some, such as Josh Okogie, who tweeted a picture of those departing Minnesota.
Love forever. @22wiggins @GorguiDieng pic.twitter.com/HwxXhIa3pT
— Josh Okogie (@CallMe_NonStop) February 6, 2020
With plenty of deals and a completely new roster, Okogie also summed everything up with one single tweet.
What a week.
— Josh Okogie (@CallMe_NonStop) February 6, 2020
