You Decide: Should the Timberwolves Trade for Tyreke Evans?

MEMPHIS, TN – DECEMBER 4: Tyreke Evans #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 4, 2017 at FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Currently, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the 4th-best record in the Western Conference. The franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004 is primed to put their near 14 year postseason hiatus to bed.

With the NBA’s trade deadline less than a month away, rumors are swirling throughout the league. How should Minnesota handle this Wolf on Wall Street esque, wheeling-and-dealing, time of year? More particularly, how should they handle these Tyreke Evans rumors?

Woj reporting Tyreke Evans can be had for a first. Would you do it even if the Timberwolves lost him at the end of the season?

— Dunking With Wolves (@DunkingWolvesFS) January 8, 2018

Like the NBA has with their use of stretch-fours, let’s switch the style up. Rather than try to jam my opinion down your throats, for this article’s sake, I’m going to play both sides of the debate. It’ll kind of be like how those fancy guys/gals on ESPN operate.

Then, after hearing both sides of the agreement, you can make your own ruling. Kapeesh?

Perfect. Let’s dance.

Minnesota should trade for Tyreke Evans:

Outside of Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler, the Wolves’ wing players, as a whole, are sub-par. Jamal Crawford is Jamal Crawford. We all seem to love the crafty veteran. With that being said, you don’t want him chasing around either James Harden or Klay Thompson in a potential second-round playoff matchup.

Kyrie Irving must be right about the Earth being flat. How else would Shabazz Muhammad fall off of this planet?  Without Bazz, we’re left with Marcus Georges-Hunt on the wing.

Per 36 minutes this year, Georges-Hunt is averaging 9.9 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. As part of the Grizzlies organization, Tyreke Evan’s 36 minute average consists of 23.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. A difference of night and day. Brad Childress vs. Mike Zimmer stuff.

Tyreke Evans rudely welcoming Devin Booker back from injury #YackEm ? ? ?? @World_Wide_Wob pic.twitter.com/C8AFJKwD4z

— Krimstaps Porzingis (@smirkbackwards) December 27, 2017

As mentioned earlier, the Timberwolves haven’t made the playoffs since 2004. The Spurs are currently dealing with injuries to their superstar, Kawhi Leonard. Meaning, MN has plenty of potential to be the three seed at season’s end. Being able to bring in Tyreke Evans off of the bench would greatly help that cause.

Experts expect Oklahoma City to finish NO lower than the five seed. In the event we climb over the San Antonio in the standings, we’d presumably avoid Russell Westbrook and company. A return to the playoffs against the Trailblazers, Nuggets, or Pelicans sounds much more appealing than a blood-bath vs. the reigning MVP.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook #throwback pic.twitter.com/qzQznTNu3q

— SneakerTicker (@SneakerTicker) January 10, 2018

Minnesota shouldn’t trade for Tyreke Evans:

Why risk our future assets for someone who will ultimately, most-likely, walk away from Minnesota during free agency? Trust me. This drought is almost as painful to watch as Steve Carroll’s 40 Year Old Virgin character. However, we’re getting to the postseason anyway.

Tyreke Evans is a liability. There is a reason the former Rookie of the Year has played for four (about to be five) different teams in his 8.5 year career. The former third-highest recruit in the nation is a scorer. The Timberwolves already have plenty of those.

No one is getting past the Warriors anytime soon, anyway.  Our current Wolves’ roster is a long-term play. Acquiring the 28 year-old is like spending a lot of time in the tanning beds. We’ll look better initially, but years down the road, it’ll will be a regret.

In closing, unless you have strong opinions surrounding Evans himself, this potential trade comes down to how many proverbial poker chips you want to push in on the 2017-18 season.

If Tyreke lands somewhere outside Minnesota, regardless of your or my particular wishes, it’s going to be an onto the next one type approach. Hell, for all we know, the Timberwolves’ front office could hit a different trade button while Evans is still in Memphis.

As for what that different button could potentially entail, Bleacher Report laid out an intriguing hypothetical transaction:

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com