Report: Towns and Russell on Wolves Offseason Trade Block

Only a week after the Minnesota Timberwolves laid dormant at the 2021 NBA trade deadline, the first offseason trade rumors have already sprung. And it’s a whopper. Evan Massey of NBAAnalysis.net claims that Gersson Rosas will have both Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell on the trade block in a few months.

The Minnesota #Timberwolves could be headed towards major changes in the offseason. In fact, one source tells @HoopAnalysisNet that both Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell will be on the trade block.

— Evan Massey (@massey_evan) March 30, 2021

Evan Massey isn’t the most decorated Twitter reporter out there but he does have a checkmark and appears just as close to a somebody, as he is a nobody. And now, this story is being picked up by national blog and social media outlets around the internet so, if nothing else, it will move other reporters to look into the situation a little deeper. While we wait for more news to flow out, let’s do some critical thinking on the subject.

Can Rosas afford to move Towns or Russell?

Minnesota is the worst team in the league so it makes sense that big changes are coming. Still, I will be shocked if the Wolves move either of KAT or DLo. President of Basketball Operations, Gersson Rosas, seems to envision a Minnesota Timberwolves team built around those two and we’re yet to really see them together.

Why would Rosas trade either of these players before he gets to see his vision play out? Let’s say we get 15-20 games of a DLo + KAT combination this season. Even in that best-case scenario, there’s no chance we have enough evidence to judge the future of the duo properly.

What is each players value?

The value for Towns is as high as any other superstar. Minnesota would likely net 2-3 first round picks, along with a couple young players. Meanwhile, Russell is probably at his career low-point, in terms of trade value. He’s on a max contract that he’s been largely unproductive for and is now coming off knee surgery. It’s going to be difficult to find a suitor for that contract in the current state of his career. More playing time with Towns can only help his value going forward.

Trading either Towns or Russell this offseason would be Gersson Rosas admitting failure on a plan that just hasn’t had time to develop. I’m not sure Rosas will be able to keep his job for long-term if he blows it all up before ever seeing his own plan, which centers around Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, unfold.

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan