Just two hours before Thursday’s 2 p.m. NBA trade deadline, the Timberwolves and Warriors have reportedly agreed to a trade that will send D’Angelo Russell to Minnesota and Andrew Wiggins to Golden State.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski says the Wolves are sending Wiggins, a 2021 protected first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick to the Warriors. Minnesota also receives guard Jacob Evans and forward Omari Spellman.
Woj says the 2021 pick is only protected if it’s a top-three pick. That means if the Wolves don’t get a top-three pick, it goes to the Warriors. If the Wolves do get a top-three pick in 2021, the Wolves keep it and the Warriors then get Minnesota’s 2022 first-round pick, which would be unprotected.
The trade brings a new era of basketball to Minnesota, with Russell, a 23-year-old All-Star point guard who can shoot the three, now paired with good friend, Karl-Anthony Towns.
It also brings an end to Andrew Wiggins’ tenure with the Wolves, which still had three years and $94 million remaining had Minnesota not found a way to trade the former No. 1 overall pick.
Minnesota keeps its 2020 first-round pick, which if they continue to lose at the rate they are – 5-27 since Thanksgiving, including 13 consecutive losses – should be a very high pick when the draft is held in June.
Russell, a 6-foot-4 lefty, is averaging 23.6 points and 6.7 assists this season while shooting a career-best 37.4% from three. He scored 52 points in a loss to the Wolves at Target Center on Nov. 8. Russell’s debut with the Wolves should come Saturday when Minnesota returns to action at home against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Thursday’s reported trade means Minnesota has traded eight players from the roster they began the season with. Previously, Jeff Teague and Treveon Graham were dealt to the Hawks, and five players – Robert Covington, Shabazz Napier, Keita Bates-Diop, Noah Vonleh and Jordan Bell – were moved in Tuesday night’s four-team, 12-player trade with the Hawks, Nuggets and Rockets.
