ESPN Sources: 4-team trade agreement: Houston: Robert Covington; Atlanta: Clint Capela and Nene; Minnesota: Malik Beasley, Juancho Hernangomez, Evan Turner, ATL 1st round pick via Nets; Denver: Gerald Green, Houston FRP.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2020

Deal is agreed upon, and players are being informed now. https://t.co/Zmy0yYsckE

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2020

Minnesota’s Keita Bates-Diop is going to Denver in deal, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2020

Holy shit! We just cannot catch a break (or any sleep) tonight… Here I was, thinking I was about to watch eyelids, when another Woj Bomb drops from 10,000 feet…. actually, it was more like a carpet bomb that just kept on getting longer

Sure, this deal was getting to the point of certainty, but to see it actually go down still feels a bit shocking, especially with the way the deal broke in bits and pieces. Do we need to be ready for D-Lo to be on his way to Minnesota before the night is over still?

More players in the deal: Denver’s Jarred Vanderbilt is on his way to Minnesota, league sources tell ESPN. Jordan Bell to Houston.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2020

Minnesota’s Noah Vonleh goes to the Nuggets, per source.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2020

According to Woj just now on ESPN, the Wolves are out on Russell. He said there are still a couple of days before Thursday’s deadline for that to change… but he actually said we are out for now.

I’m sure they wanted Covington somehow, but it’s still surprising to hear the Wolves are totally out now on D-Lo. I feel like we added to the package we can offer a TANKING Golden State team. We now have another 1st round pick and more filler..

Speaking of Filler:

• Malik Beasley
• Juan Hernangomez
• Evan Turner
• Jarred Vanderbilt
• ATL (From BKN) 2020 1st Round Pick

The Wolves have taken on a bunch of young hot garbage, from everything we’ve heard so far… and given up a lot of their own young pieces. It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. All of the acquisitions have been youngsters with cheap contracts or Evan Turner, who falls off the books after this season.

The 1st round pick is what the Wolves coveted, obviously. The Wolves draft pick compensation in this trade comes from Atlanta, but is actually the Brooklyn Nets’ 1st round pick for 2020 .

Right now, the Nets are clinging to a playoff birth in the shallow Eastern Conference with a record of 22-27. We’ll see how long the Wolves keep that pick. They could trade it tomorrow or wait all the way until the night of the draft..

So, to recap all of this craziness (so far) as we hit midnight:

Plus the Brooklyn first-rounder, which cannot suit up against Atlanta tomorrow night. Massive overhaul for Wolves.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 5, 2020

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

ESPN Sources: Minnesota orchestrating three-team trade talks with Houston and Atlanta — with hopes of ultimately turning discussions into a four-way deal that brings Golden State G D’Angelo Russell to Timberwolves. https://t.co/YaHunnVWpo

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020

Obviously, the details on this deal are foggy but that’s why it’s a rumor, right?

I’ll take all of the expiring contracts you’re wanting to give us, if it comes with 2 additional 1st round picks! I can’t imagine they are both in 2020 so we’d have to see what they look like for both draft year and protections.

Of course, it’s not just the 3-team deal that made the headline for this rumor. Woj is also reporting the Wolves desire to use these picks to bulk up a package to offer Golden State, in exchange for D’Angelo Russell.

Again, D-Lo ending up in Minnesota is almost becoming an expectations. The Wolves front office is almost wishing it into existence. If we can get him here without giving up our own 2020 1st-rounder, then I’m all in.

Of course, the D-Lo part of this discussion also seems to be the most difficult to make happen, no matter how dedicated the Wolves are to seeing it through. 20 minutes after Woj tweeted out his original story, he decided to add this:

There still remains a gulf to overcome on the Minnesota-Golden State component of these talks. https://t.co/5sXjHFvOG5

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020

I’m going to be honest though, if the Wolves can get this 3-teamer done, they should absolutely pull the trigger. Don’t wait to hear back from Golden State, on whether they will parlay the deal into a D-Lo trade.

Even if they won’t, pocket those additional 1st-rounders and use them to unload Andrew Wiggins or move up in the draft a couple spots… the options are endless.

Making this deal with Houston and Atlanta would cause more losses for us too, because you get rid of Robert Covington without any talent coming back.

When you’re tanking as hard as the Wolves are right now, that’s what you call a win/win.

via GIPHY

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

I came across this tweet late last night before running to the Woj Pod this morning. Luckily, Woj wastes no times getting into the Timberwolves likely plans for this week. He started with us because the Wolves apparently hold the keys to free agency… yes, he actually said that.

Wow.@wojespn is “very confident” that Robert Covington gets traded this week.

Per his new podcast.

— Timberwolves News (@NotDWolfson) February 3, 2020

I think one place to start in the Western Conference, is in Minnesota, because they’ve got… I think there’s multiple possible deals for them, with more than one player. And so, I think they hold a little bit of the key to what this next week might look like.

Adrian Wojnarowski – Woj Pod – 2/2/20

Alright, now we are talking! I’ve been waiting a long time to be excited about the Timberwolves again. This week is that week! When your team is bad like the Wolves are, then all you have to get excited about is offseason and trade deadline topics.

Woj has Bobby Marks on this episode, a former NBA GM and one of the most respected insiders in the league, and this is how they started the show.

But really, this conversation is about Robert Covington. Woj and Bobby mention other trade-able assets, including Gorgui Dieng and Andrew Wiggins. He says that Wiggins is the asset holding the Wolves back from making any huge statement moves… which isn’t surprising.

However, he does mention that Wiggins is only in his mid-twenties, with just 3 years left on this disgusting max-deal, after 2019-20. At least it’s being talked about now, right?

We could definitely see Gorgui Dieng go. He had a bad contract but has played well this year and only has one year left on the deal, making him a desirably commodity at this year’s deadline.

But let’s get to Robert Covington:

Robert Covington is a player I’m very confident they are going to trade, at some point this week and they’ve got to figure out what that deal looks like for them.

I think any number of contenders would like Covington. The question always is, ‘what price?’, and what does it look like? They need a point guard and that’s been a big part of their struggles this year.

Adrian Wojnarowski – Woj Pod – 2/2/20

Woj would go on to talk about how hard the Wolves worked to get D’Angelo Russell on their team last offseason, before the sign/trade with Golden State that landed him a max deal.

Marks and Woj definitely leave the door wide open, on Russell being the asset we get back for dealing RoCo this week… but also says the Warriors aren’t in any hurry to move him.

So, for the Russell addicts out there, you have hope… but don’t get too excited. Either way, both Marks and Woj seem to agree that the Wolves could be one of the most active teams on the market this week and that franchise-altering moves will be made.

And I’m all for some excitement around pro basketball in Minnesota

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

I get it. I live that same life…

But sometimes, it takes less winning to get closer to a championship. While regular season wins might make tomorrow better, they won’t always help end our title drought… which is now going on 30 years. Adding young talent can become more important than winning meaningless regular season games, if your team isn’t playoff or championship caliber. But, cheering for our favorite teams to lose sucks… in fact, it can be nearly impossible for many who aren’t as strong.

I will be the Saint of Minnesota Tanking.

I will be the only “reporter” in the state that’s willing to waive the white flag on a season, long before it’s ever warranted. I’m willing to shoulder this burden for our state because I value seeing the forrest through the trees and I love my fellow Minnesota sports fans.

As you can see from the graphic above, I had a broken smile on my face last week as the inept Wolves tumbled out of the Western Conference playoff race and into the heart of the NBA Draft Lottery, and I’m proud of them for that. They’ve been the hardest tanking team in the entire NBA, over the last 6 games. Most fans haven’t even noticed yet because it happened so quickly, but the Wolves are just 1.5 games out of a top-5 spot in the lottery.

When you start talking top-5 draft picks, we’re talking possible IMMEDIATE help for KAT, if the new Rosas & Co. regime can make the right selection. The sky is the limit if you can sneak into the top-3.

Next Step in 2020 TWolves Tank:

– Trade Robert Covington ASAP

There are two players on this basketball team who really help collect victories. Karl-Anthony Towns, who is the only part of the future that matters and isn’t going to fake an injury for the rest of the season (unfortunately), and Robert Covington. According to this morning’s Star Tribune (Chris Hine), RoCo is #9 in the NBA in ESPN’s “Real Plus/Minus” statistic and he is universally known as one of the best defenders in the NBA, especially when matched up on wings. He can hit 3’s at an above-average rate (35% this year) and also brings teams together with his personality and demeanor. He’s an ultimate “team guy”…

….which is exactly why he needs to go.

Out of all the players the Wolves are willing to move (all of them beyond KAT), Covington will bring back the biggest return. On top of all the things mentioned above, he offers a great contract (especially in today’s NBA). The Wolves want to make sure they maximize their return on RoCo but the more games he helps you win, the less it matters what he gets you back…. because it isn’t going to be a top-3 pick. Losing games is more important than splitting hairs on what you get back for Covington.

I do worry about how many losses we can really pile up with KAT on the active roster… but getting rid of RoCo can really help balance that out. The Wolves have gone right back to their terrible defensive ways, since Karl has returned, and it’s already cost them. Trading the glue of this defense, would make the effort on that side of the floor even more abominable.

So, don’t worry about cheering against your local basketball team (even though it’s what is best for them)… because I will always be here to do it for you when it’s needed. While other outlets will have the disappointment you seek when watching losses pile up, I’ll be here to look ahead. And who knows… after your team loses 6-straight, it might make you feel a little better, knowing ultimate good could come out of those losses, especially when you have someone else to shoulder the burden of wanting to lose.

You’re welcome.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan