Minnesota Timberwolves send NAW to Atlanta for payday

On Monday, the Wolves started the day by re-upping for one more year of player/unofficial bench coach, Joe Ingles. Then, later in the evening, it news broke that the Timberwolves had traded Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Atlanta Hawks in a sign and trade that netted them a 2nd round pick and a future trade exception.

Atlanta is sending a 2027 second-round pick via Cleveland and cash to Minnesota to acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker via sign-and-trade for four years and $62 million, sources said. https://t.co/ej11s9qfM4

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

Nickeil Alexander-Walker played the 2024-25 season on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the NBA. In his second full season with the Minnesota Timberwolves NAW became a rotation fixture and one of the most under-the-radar stars in the game. Now he gets his payday.

For some time, it’s been assumed that he would sign elsewhere this offseason, given Minnesota’s current financial situation. His market was going to be robust, so the Timberwolves took advantage by trading him before he hit the open market.

Timberwolves hamstrung by 2nd Apron

From here, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is expected to sit back for the majority of the offseason. The Minnesota Timberwolves 2025-26 salary number now sits at $204.3 million, according to Spotrac.

That leaves them just $3.5 million short of the 2nd apron luxury tax threshold, of $207.8 million. The Wolves must stay below that number or face massive penalties, both financial and from a roster-building standpoint.

Minnesota offseason

* T'wolves slightly below the 2nd apron

* Not allowed to use the $5.7M tax ML

* Can re-sign their own free agents pic.twitter.com/oNbAgWxQNb

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 29, 2025

The Timberwolves orchestrated a sign-and-trade with Alexander-Walker to facilitate his new deal with Atlanta. They did pick up a second round pick and some cash in the swap.

The four-year $62 million payday was substantially more than Minnesota would have been able to offer him. Last season NAW made $4.3 million in the second year of a two-year $9 million extension he signed with the Timberwolves.

NAW played all 82 games for Minnesota this season. It was the second-straight year he had accomplished that feat. He also made 10 starts for Chris Finch. In 2024-25 NAW averaged 9.4 points per game on 43.8% shooting.

He now heads to an Atlanta team with Trae Young at the helm. It should be expected that Alexander-Walker will be given a bit more freedom in the rotation even after averaging 25.3 minutes per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves this past year.

More former Wolves find new homes

It wasn’t just NAW that was on the move Monday night. Monday night’s pre-free agency frenzy saw multiple former Minnesota Timberwolves sign on the dotted line with other teams around the league.

It didn’t take long for Luka Garza to find a new home, after the Wolves declined his player option for the upcoming season. Last night, the former Iowa Hawkeye superstar agreed to terms with the Boston Celtics on a two-year deal worth $5.5 million guaranteed.

Free agent center Luka Garza has agreed to a two-year, $5.5 million fully guaranteed deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN. The Celtics negotiated the new deal with Garza's representatives Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller of @PrioritySports tonight. pic.twitter.com/d5x5HzGYIL

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

It has been a while since Tyus Jones played for the Timberwolves. However, the “one of us” guard could have potentially been an option to fill the playmaker role Minnesota needs this summer. In theory, a reunion made sense.

Unfortunately, that won’t happen. Instead, he will join another fellow Twin Cities native, Jalen Suggs, in Orlando, after he and the Magic agreed to terms on a new deal. Speaking of “keeping up with the Jones'”, Tyus’ little brother Tre Jones is staying in Chicago, after he signed a three-year contract for $24 million.

Free agent guard Tyus Jones has agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal with the Orlando Magic, sources tell ESPN. Magic officials negotiated the deal with Jones' agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management, which gives Jones a key role for the East contenders. pic.twitter.com/oR6gTHDyPK

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

Russell will have a player option in the second season of his two-year, $13M deal with the Mavericks, sources said. https://t.co/HGfKaEnMoW

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Bring Back Veteran Free Agent

The memories of D’Angelo Russell, around these parts, aren’t all that positive. Since being traded away, the former Minnesota Timberwolves point guard has bounced around between Los Angeles and Brooklyn.

Now, he is joining the Dallas Mavericks, where he’ll team up with Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and top pick Cooper Flagg on what appears to be an immediate title contender a future title contender

Sadly for Wolves fans, it doesn’t seem that way. Many are now questioning if it was wise to give away so many NBA picks and players to get a defending juggernaut who doesn’t seem to be defending that well!

We are now over halfway through the regular season, so we have a pretty good idea of how things are going to pan out. At the time of writing, the Wolves sit eighth in the Western Conference. In this article, we look at their playoff prospects, including if they will even make it, and if so, how far can they go.

Current standing – Bottom of the pack

At the time of writing, Minnesota had a .500 record and were eighth in the West. We can’t pretend that we didn’t expect better. Gobert was meant to bring immediate success and potentially move the Wolves into the top half of the playoff contenders.

Expectations often fall short of reality.

Season performance so far – Underwhelming

The first half of the season has been less than stellar. The chemistry has been off and so far, Gobert hasn’t really gelled with the rest of the team. If anything, their defense has been worse, and they are near the bottom of the league in both defensive and offensive rebounds. Add to that a wave of injuries and it’s easy to see why the Wolves are in eighth place.

In terms of individual performances, Gobert is falling short of his own usual standards. He is scoring less, rebounding less and blocking less. The blocks are perhaps the most startling change. Usually, you can count on him averaging two per game. This year, he currently sits at 1.3 per game which is a large decrease. His rebounding has also dropped from a typically league-leading 13+ per game to 11.5 RPG. This could be due to the pressure, the booing from the fans or just how he fits into the team.

At the start of the season, Ant Man was not playing brilliantly either and it has regularly been reported that he is unhappy. It is believed that he doesn’t really like playing with Gobert, and analysts believe that the big man could be stifling Edward’s offensive potential. In the last month, however, Edward’s form has picked up and he has had some fantastic individual performances including a whopping 44-point game. Indeed, his stats are up across the board compared to last season, which is a huge positive.

D’lo continues to be inconsistent, and of course KAT has been sidelined since the end of November so we can’t really comment on his impact. Other players, such as McDaniels, continue to be important parts of the team.

How far can they go?

So, we have some inconsistent performances, and some team chemistry that needs working out. When you are halfway through the season, that isn’t great. However, there is still time to work things through and for the squad to get healthy.

With the current standings, the Wolves would be facing the Denver Nuggets in the first round. As much as we love them, we just can’t see them being able to stop an MVP-level Jokic and a supporting cast of Gordon, MPJ and Murray who are all playing excellently. We think that they would just have too much firepower and talent and they have been in incredible form recently.

If the Wolves can move up and improve their playoff standing, things get a little murkier. After the Grizzlies, you then get to teams such as the Kings, Pelicans and Mavericks. On a good day with the right performances, the Wolves could potentially win here.

So, realistically, Minnesota may take a few games from a team such as Denver or Memphis and could progress to the second round with the right matchup. However, with the current team chemistry, trade rumors and injuries, a first-round exit is more likely.

Potential for a turnaround – KAT returns

How far the Wolves can go depends on many factors as seen above. One of the biggest is the return of KAT, what shape he is in and if he can find a way to coexist with Gobert. Unfortunately, with their current standing, and other teams in the West, it is unlikely that even if the Wolves do find their chemistry, they will get further than the first round.

Conley Jr was one of the best point guards in the NBA for a handful of years but, at 35-years-old, he’s far beyond his prime. Russell, on the other hand, is 27-years-old and coming off two of the best months of his professional career. So there’s little doubt the Lakers got immediately better with this trade and the Wolves, on paper, got worse.

D’Angelo Russell became a problem.

So why would Tim Connelly make such a move, if his goal is for the Minnesota Timberwolves to make the playoffs this season? Well, because sometimes decisions go beyond the hardwood. And that certainly appears to be the case with D’Angelo Russell.

Wolves insider, Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic) went on KFAN Radio with Dan Barreiro Thursday night and spilled the beans on Russell’s animosity toward newly acquired Rudy Gobert. Apparently, Russell was actively complaining about Gobert to anyone within earshot. Those privy to DLo’s vocalized frustrations included teammates, coaches, media members and even opponents (transcribed below).

Here’s Jon K on Dlo openly venting frustrations about Gobert to teammates in the locker room and during games. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/twwx2EkOhr

— Wolves Talk (@twolvestalk32) February 10, 2023

“[Russell’s] frustration [with Gobert] was palpable within the Timberwolves locker room. I’m sure there were other players who had some frustrations as well but I think were able to say, ‘Hey look, Rudy Gobert is a $40 million player. We just gotta figure out a way to make this happen’.

DLo certainly tried to make it work but it was uncomfortable at times. I mean, we would come into the locker room and you could hear him actively, just kind of bemoaning the situation. I’ve talked to coaches and players from other teams who have heard him just kind of getting down on Rudy during games.

There was this perception that D’Angelo Russell was very frustrated with Gobert and did not seem as open to working with him.”

Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic) on KFAN Radio

Jonny K was on KFAN Radio, not just in the evening (above) but in the morning too, talking about the awkwardness created by D’Angelo Russell’s dislike for Rudy Gobert, the basketball player. He wrote about it less in-depth at The Athletic.

DLo, KAT Schism…

Krawczynski’s quote above came from his appearance on the Dan Barreiro Show, which airs every weekday on KFAN from 3 PM-6ish PM. The host, Dan Barreiro, is a former columnist at the Star Tribune and, for the first 15 years of the franchise’ existence, he was a regular in the Wolves pressbox.

Barreiro has Jon Krawczynski on his show regularly but he has access to just about every insider in town who knows anything about the local pro teams. That’s why my ears perked up when, on Thursday, Dan made multiple quips about the issues DLo was causing in the Timberwolves locker room, even before Jonny Athletic came on.

Especially when he brought up a possible rift between Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns, who were once considered best friends. According to Barreiro, KAT won’t shed any tears at DLo’s departure (23:45 mark – transcribed below).

“If the concern is, ‘well KAT’s gonna be mad now that the Wolves moved his buddy,’ because [Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell] were supposed to be good buddies and they were supposed to live happily ever after?

Everybody who’s been around the team tells me that [KAT and DLo] are way past that point. That marriage, I don’t know if it’s in divorce, but they ain’t anywhere near that close so that is an irrelevant concern. Whatever you think of the deal, good or bad, this will have absolutely no impa… it might even make KAT celebrate or encourage him to get healthy a little bit quicker.”

Dan Barreiro (KFAN)

Off paper, Timberwolves got better.

On paper, it’d be easy to look at this trade and criticize the Minnesota Timberwolves for getting the worst end of the deal. But if D’Angelo Russell had become that big of a locker room problem that KAT and Gobert wanted him gone then Tim Connelly had no other choice.

Then, the next night, the Wolves destroyed the same team they traded with, the Utah Jazz. Without DLo, KAT and Rudy. So stay tuned…

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

According to Shams (The Athletic), PoBO Tim Connelly is nearing agreement on a three-team blockbuster trade that will send D’Angelo Russell to the LA Lakers, Russell Westbrook and a 1st round pick to the Utah Jazz and Mike Conley Jr. to the Wolves.

The Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves are in discussions on a three-team deal that would send D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook and draft compensation such as a first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. to Minnesota, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2023

**Update: The trade is currently being finalized (per Woj). It includes three future 2nd round picks and Nickeil Alexander-Walker back to the Wolves, along with Mike Conley Jr.

Mike Conley Jr vs D’Angelo Russell

Mike Conley Jr has one partially guaranteed season remaining on his contract after the 2022-23 season. Swapping DLo’s expiring contract out for Conley’s allows the Wolves one extra year to kick the can down the road on their 4th max salary slot and should fit in really well with Rudy Gobert, after their two seasons together in Utah.

If the Wolves do climb the Wester Conference ladder with this trade, it will cost Utah spots in next year’s 1st round, since they own the Wolves 1st round pick. Grabbing that additional 1st from the Lakers probably makes up for that concern on their end.

Mike Conley Jr isn’t playing better than D’Angelo Russell, in recent months. But he should give the Minnesota Timberwolves a trusty veteran point guard who brings consistency to the lineup night in and night out, along with 73 games of playoff experience over the course of his 15-year career.

More Players Will Be Involved

The Three players mentioned in Shams’ original tweet won’t be the only players moving in this deal. We do not know where they will land yet but former Timberwolves, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt are expected to be on the move, as well. According to Woj, the Wolves haul will include picks but no additional players (for now)

Ongoing discussions have included Utah’s Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt as part of the potential three-team deal to the Lakers, sources said. Sides are working through pick protections and additional draft compensation too, per sources. https://t.co/DoI0EBOBVq

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2023

Three-way talks with Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves would potentially land D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley with LA, Mike Conley, Jr., and picks with Timberwolves and Russell Westbrook and picks with Jazz, per sources. Jazz remain engaged elsewhere on Conley Jr., too.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2023

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

With Irving off the market, the Los Angeles Clippers are turning their gaze to other ball-handling guards. And one guy who really has their attention, according to Marc Stein in his latest “This League Uncut” podcast, is D’Angelo Russell (25:30 mark – transcribed below).

“From what I’m told, the Clippers have been looking HARD at D’Angelo Russell. I think they have interest in Naz Reid, as well. But all the signals from Minnesota have been that Naz Reid is not going to be moved.”

Marc Stein – This League Uncut Podcast

Is D’Angelo Russell to Clippers Feasible?

Clippers’ players like Terrence Mann, John Wall, Reggie Jackson and Luke Kennard have all been linked to trade proposals for Kyrie Irving and others. But there would likely be a third team involved, should they choose to deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves for D’Angelo Russell.

See, one main reason why the Wolves are inclined to deal Russell is in order to retain his maximum salary cap slot. With Anthony Edwards coming due for a maximum contract, Minnesota is poised to become one of the only teams in the NBA allowed to have FOUR maximum contracts on their roster (allowable limit is normally THREE). In theory, that would allow them to stack more talent than other teams.

But if they allow DLo’s contract to expire or trade him without getting another max player back, they will lose that bonus maximum salary slot. Dane Moore explains the situation in understandable detail in a recent episode of his podcast.

When looking over trade possibilities in the coming weeks, please keep something in mind:

A major piece is the Salary slot that that a player takes.

If we let DLo expire, we don’t just get $30M to spend on anyone. That slot goes away & highly complicates Salary Cap flexibility. pic.twitter.com/iUW7XbS7RD

— Devin Jones (@DevinJonesMN) January 17, 2023

The Clippers have two max salary players on roster but they aren’t trading either of Kawhi Leonard or Paul George to Minnesota for D’Angelo Russell. If this deal is going to get done, another team will have to be involved. Maybe the Toronto Raptors, for example, who are trying to unload Kyle Lowry’s max salary.

Naz Reid isn’t going anywhere?

The last part of Marc Stein’s mention of the Timberwolves is also interesting. With Karl-Anthony Towns returning from injury sometime in the next month or two, this roster has way too many capable big men (KAT, Gobert, Reid, Garza, Knight).

Many teams are interested in acquiring Naz Reid, which would help shake that logjam. But Reid, at times, looks like an ascending star so Connelly has been hesitant to deal him. If the offer for Naz isn’t a king’s ransom, Minnesota might just keep him.

If so, how do they get him back under contract, something they’re reportedly trying to do (per Darren Wolfson) and do they look to move younger pieces like Luka Garza or Nate Knight for whatever they can get?

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Fingers Pointed at D’Angelo Russell

On Tuesday, Darren Wolfson (SKOR North, KSTP) got on the Mackey & Judd Show and questioned the legitimacy of Russell’s “illness”, saying that fingers inside the Wolves locker room are being pointed in DLo’s direction, which could have been the reason for his absence following the players meeting (04:25 mark — transcript below). Russell also unfollowed the Timberwolves official Instagram account.

“There’s definitely been some finger-pointing in that locker room. I’ve heard that Anthony Edwards hasn’t been real happy. Now, hopefully happy after last night. D’Angelo Russell, some finger pointing going in that direction. I get it, it’s a one-game sample size. But they played pretty well last night, they moved the ball incredibly well… and D’Angelo Russell didn’t play? Also… really, D’Angelo Russell is sick coming out of that players-only meeting? I’ll just put it this way, because Rudy Gobert was battling an illness. We get it, it’s that time of year. Illnesses are absolutely out there. But I’ll just tell you, my tentacles are up [on Russell]. I’ll leave it at that for now. Maybe I can go deeper on Thursday. But something is amiss there.”

Darren Wolfson — Mackey & Judd (above)

DLo to Return

D’Angelo Russell’s absence from the lineup appears to be over. He was not on the injury report released Wednesday, leading up to tonight’s game at home vs the Portland Trail Blazers.

If fingers were being pointed in his direction before, during or after the players only meeting, will DLo address those concerns tonight? And how will the Timberwolves play? Will they look like the team that lost to the Pistons over the weekend or the team that beat a very formidable Nuggets team on Monday?

All of this while trade rumors circle Russell like vultures waiting for the Wolves to give up on their once-celebrated point guard. He’s been linked to the Raptors (Kyle Lowry) and Wizards, among others.

Why Russell, not others?

DLo is far from the only problem facing the Minnesota Timberwolves but he’s the easiest piece to move on from in the short term. He won’t bring much back in return but there’s some interest across the league.

Meanwhile, Edwards is untouchable, KAT cannot be traded until the offseason and Rudy Gobert’s stock is at an all-time low.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

With Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert both out with injuries, Anthony Edwards (37 PTS, 7 REB, 11 AST) and D’Angelo Russell (28 PTS, 8 AST, 7/10 FG) and Nathan Knight ( led the Wolves to one of the most efficient offensive nights in their 23-years as an NBA organization.

he's 1️⃣ of a kind.

37 PTS / 7 REB / 11 AST / 2 STL pic.twitter.com/WSGA79rWtL

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 19, 2022

28 points for our floor general last night. ???? pic.twitter.com/dluyCYimj0

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 19, 2022

Two nights earlier, with Towns, Gobert and Russell nursing injuries and unavailable, Anthony Edwards (19 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST), Naz Reid (28 PTS, 9 REB, 3 STL) and Austin Rivers (20 PTS, 5 STL, 4/5 3PT) led the Timberwolves to a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both victories were necessary to get the Wolves back to .500 (14-14).

Sharing is caring

What has stuck out most in these wins is a newfound willingness to share the ball and run the offense like Chris Finch has been asking them to. Suddenly, shooters were wide open and driving lanes parted like the Red Sea. And the “undermanned” Wolves took advantage.

After the game last night over Chicago, DLo talked about trusting the offense, Ant said he’s having the most fun of his career and surprise hero Nathan Knight talked about “sharing the pill” and everyone being happy.

“It’s trusting the offense. I’ve been saying it, when we do that, it can be anybody’s night. Tonight, we saw it as a collective group.” — D’Angelo Russell (via Star Tribune)

“Now I’m on the ball every time, so I get to see everything,” Edwards said. “It’s pretty dope. It’s actually fun, like I’m having the most fun I ever had playing basketball.” — Anthony Edwards (via Star Tribune)

“Share the pill,” Knight said of the Wolves’ big night. “The ball was moving. Everybody was touching the ball. Everybody was happy.” — Nathan Knight (via Star Tribune)

Are Timberwolves better without KAT and Rudy?

The Minnesota Timberwolves are now 5-4 since Karl-Anthony Towns left the lineup with his injury, 2-0 since Gobert went out. While those sample sizes are small, it’s worth asking: Are the Wolves better without their two big men? It sure felt like it last night and the quotes you read above tell us the team felt the difference.

Obviously, Chris Finch and new PoBO, Tim Connelly, thought they could make the modern two tower approach work with Towns and Gobert. But we’re yet to see those visions play out in reality. KAT looks lost on both sides of the floor and Rudy’s offense seems to have taken a step back from what we saw in Utah.

Without them on the floor the last couple of nights, the Timberwolves have been free flowing, yet methodical. The offense is spread out, lanes aren’t clogged and the pick-and-roll isn’t slowing tempo. It’s for these reasons that much of the NBA has chosen to go smaller, instead of bigger.

Time will tell.

In the short term, the answer is probably “yes”. Without their two max-contract big men, the Wolves are currently better than they are with them. But that’s a mirage because they aren’t going to be out long. Gobert should be back any night and Towns will return sometime in the next few weeks.

So this team doesn’t have a choice but to figure out how to be more effective with those two in the lineup. Trading either of the two is out of the question. Gobert’s stock has plummeted since the season started and Towns’ contract says he can’t be moved until the offseason.

But if the Minnesota Timberwolves cannot turn things around by season’s end, the writing will be on the wall. Trade KAT, trade Rudy and look forward to a future called story called “Anthony Edwards & Co.”

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

After the loss, D’Angelo Russell sounded fed up with the inconsistent basketball the Wolves have played over their first 19 games this season. He called out his teammates for their focus and didn’t mince words regarding expectations. DLo even called Rudy Gobert out for fumbling a late-game lob pass that should have been two easy points.

D'Angelo Russell. when asked about the team fighting inconsistency in effort within a game: "Guys are grown men. You’re either focused on doing what you got to do to help the team win, or you not."

— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) November 26, 2022

Lastly, asked Russell about his chemistry with Rudy Gobert and how that has been coming along. His response: "He catch the ball, he’ll score."

— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) November 26, 2022

Sign of leadership or downfall?

The trade for Rudy Gobert should have helped D’Angelo Russell’s game more than anyone else on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster. Instead, we’ve seen inconsistency in his play, just like we have everyone else’s. Their inconsistent play has led to fan frustration, at home games. Frustration that Gobert hasn’t handled well.

It’s difficult to fault DLo for his frustrations. Obviously, his season has been far from perfect. But it’s clear the Wolves are craving a leader who’s willing to stand up in their locker room, in both good times and bad. Leadership is something they’ve been missing without Patrick Beverley.

At what point do comments like this blur the line between a leader and a bad teammate, though? That depends, in part, on how the receiving party takes the criticism. Gobert, though somewhat taken aback by Russell’s criticism, took his words in stride when asked by media to respond.

"… right spots for him to find me. Whether it’s that pocket pass or that lob, any pass actually, just trusting me. I think it’s been good for us. …

"I’ve got to be able to give him even more confidence and make sure I catch all of them. … (2/3)

— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) November 26, 2022

"… I think we’re going to get to that point. If shit happens, shit happens. But for the most part, usually, good things happen."

— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) November 26, 2022

Time Will Tell…

Unlike others, I’m not ready to crown this season as a failure already. One has to wonder, however, whether these comments from DLo are the beginning of a total system failure. Or, if it’s just a bump in the road of a successful season that ends in another playoff appearance.

Only time will tell but antennas should be up for Minnesota Timberwolves fans everywhere.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Outside China, Xinjiang has become synonymous with repression. Reports suggest as many as one million Uyghurs and other largely Muslim ethnic minorities have been held in detention camps. In March, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken accused China of continuing to “commit genocide and crimes against humanity” in the far northwestern region.

NY Times

It’s genocide and the rest of the world has known about it for years. In 2021 that seems impossible. But in China, the most reprehensible of actions become normal thanks to an inhumane totalitarian government with too much world power.

Slave-Produced Cotton

Out of those Muslim concentration camps, among many other goods produced for the Chinese people, comes slave-produced cotton.

Nike and the NBA, which both make billions of dollars through their relationship with the totalitarian country and often refuse to speak on any of its wrongdoings, announced recently that they would not accept slave-labor cotton for their products. That stance upset the Chinese government and two local competing shoe/clothing companies, Li-Ning and Anta, saw a business opportunity arise.

Instead of denouncing the use of slaves to provide their cotton, the two companies praised the practice. That, of course, was echoed and held up by the leaders of Beijing and state-controlled media. Before long, stock prices for both Li-Ning and Anta were booming on the Chinese stock market.

NBA Players profiting directly from slave labor

Gross, right? Well, maybe not for many NBA basketball players who profit through MASSIVE endorsement deals with Li-Ning and Anta. Those players include, according to the New York Times, big names like Dwayne Wade, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ own D’Angelo Russell.

In China, local brands are prospering from a consumer backlash against Nike, H&M and other foreign brands over their refusal to use Chinese cotton made by forced labor. Chinese brands have publicly embraced the cotton from the Xinjiang region, leading to big sales to patriotic shoppers and praise from the Beijing-controlled media.

After Li-Ning and Anta published positive statements on Xinjiang cotton last week, investors in China sent the share price of both companies soaring. Chinese state media was quick to fuel the show of patriotism. At one point, a pair of Li-Ning shoes under Mr. Wade’s Way of Wade line traded for nearly $7,500.

More recent deals between the companies and N.B.A. players could face questions in coming weeks as tensions between the United States and China escalate. Jimmy Butler, a five-time All-Star who plays for the Heat, and the Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet signed on with Li-Ning in November. Mr. Wade, the retired Heat player, helped CJ McCollum and D’Angelo Russell, two star guards, secure deals with Li-Ning through his sportswear line.

Requests for comment from Mr. Thompson and other N.B.A. players also went unanswered.

NY Times

D’Angelo Russell in DEEP with Li-Ning

How invested is DLo? Well, Dwayne Wade’s new shoe (which was trading at $7,500 in China last week thanks to the national celebration of slave labor) could probably be seen on the feet of D’Angelo Russell Sunday night if you watched the Minnesota Timberwolves get stomped at the Staples Center by the LA Clippers.

But Russell does more for Li-Ning and “Mr. Wade” than just wear “Way of Wade” shoes on game nights. He’s been on the front page of their social media and website since signing with the company back in 2019: “As Wade’s ‘One Last Dance’ concluded last season, he hand-selected D’Angelo Russell to become the new on-court face of the brand.”

pic.twitter.com/VIk2SmOzVz

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) April 19, 2021

Endorsing a product made by slave labor seems to conflict with what D’Angelo Russell stands for. At least, that’s what he’s led us to believe. Russell, along with much of the NBA, has stood with pride for social justice causes in the USA. He and others across the league have sworn allegiance to and supported organizations like “Black Lives Matter” both on and off the basketball court. Players seem much less worried about the treatment of humans in China.

Russell’s decision to sign with a Chinese shoe company was quietly questioned, however, even back then. China had just completed a country-wide blackout of the NBA after Rockets GM, Daryl Morey, tweeted support for worldwide freedom (how dare he). That made the timing a bit awkward but DLo pressed on.

Now here we are just a couple of years later, watching those same athletes monetize off the literal enslavement and genocide of an entire population just across the ocean. Is that hypocrisy? You can be the judge.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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