Related: Bill Simmons Wants NBA to Flex Timberwolves into National Spotlight

Behind a 33 point, 9 rebound, 6 assist performance from Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves were too much for a fully stocked LA roster that had Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook on the floor. When the final buzzer went off, the score was closer than the game felt.

Russell Westbrook trolls Rudy Gobert from Clippers bench

Speaking of Russell Westbrook, he and the rest of the Clippers bench had some fun with Rudy Gobert’s free throw struggles in the 2nd quarter, when he tossed up an airball that had the entire team clowning the Timberwolves center.

Russell Westbrook's reaction to Rudy Gobert airballing a free throw LMAOOO pic.twitter.com/ricOuntHgW

— BronMuse (@BronMuse) January 15, 2024

Clippers bench reacting to Rudy Gobert airball free throw 😭 pic.twitter.com/nXBzXHnJO6

— Beastbrook (@Beastbr00k0) January 15, 2024

There’s no doubt Gobert’s struggles from the line made this game more of a chore for the Timberwolves to win than what it should have been. When Rudy was reinserted into the game with less than one minute left to play in the 4th quarter, he was a wretched 3 for 10 on the night.

He had to be pulled from the contest minutes earlier, after LA instituted the well-known hack-a-Rudy late-game strategy and Gobert couldn’t make them pay. And immediately after the 7-1 French center got back into the game, the Clippers put him back on the line.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Contracts and Salary Cap 2023-24

Westbrook has his own free throw problems to worry about

This time, however, with the game on the line, Rudy hit four-straight free throws and iced the game. Normally, I’d insert a video of the game-winning play below this paragraph, but nobody cares about a made free throw. So instead, let’s watch some clips of Russell Westbrook airballing free throws, since it’s clearly something he enjoys so much.

This you @russwest44? pic.twitter.com/4rCHHgHgNC

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 15, 2024

You would never 🤣 pic.twitter.com/b2KSF9zPvq

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 15, 2024

Related: Where the Minnesota Timberwolves Stand in Latest NBA Power Rankings

I found these way too easy. Self awareness has never been Russ’ strong suit pic.twitter.com/3ONLdGY3ah

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 15, 2024

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

KAT after this Westbrook airball. ????????

pic.twitter.com/hgasieyRBm

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 17, 2022

But nobody in the NBA has fallen on harder times than Russell Westbrook, who’s playing so poorly of late that you wouldn’t want him on your Tuesday night pickup team at Lifetime Fitness. And because he plays for the Lakers, Westbrook’s struggles this season are well known across the basketball world.

Patrick Beverley Piles On

But Patrick Beverley doesn’t feel bad for Russ. In fact, Pat Bev is happy to pile on. After a sequence of plays exposed the worst parts of Westbrook’s game on both ends of the floor, Beverley turned to the Lakers bench, held pinched his nose with his right hand and let them know exactly what he thought of their point guard.

this Pat Bev/Westbrook sequence. yikes. pic.twitter.com/U3xETxd2KQ

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 17, 2022

“he’s trash.”

oh dear.pic.twitter.com/Fd73ABfacx

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 17, 2022

We cannot measure what Patrick Beverley has brought to the Minnesota Timberwolves. But if you ever find yourself doubting the move, watch this clip. Bev is the soul of this blossoming Wolves team and he is all-too-happy to show his younger teammates the way to playoff success. Play hard and be fearless.

Postgame Drama

The drama continued after the game. Russell Westbrook went after the entire Wolves roster, while claiming he didn’t care about their trash talk. And it’s 2022 so the verbal brawl had to spill over to social media, where Pat Bev did more talking.

Russell Westbrook said no one on the Timberwolves has done anything in the league to make him care about their trash-talk.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) March 17, 2022

Playoffs every year. 2 western conference finals with 2 different Teams???????????? individual stats or team stats? I thought it was a team sport?? https://t.co/wlPhFB9alQ

— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) March 17, 2022

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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EPISODE 59 SUMMARY

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It’s episode 59 and we’re all over the place.

MSF is moving up in the world again and we have an announcement for some activities next week. 

Then, we move on to the Tyus Jones news that dropped on Wednesday morning (we try to figure out why the Wolves don’t want any serviceable PG’s on their team). Could they possibly want Russell Westbrook? Does that make sense for the Wolves? 

Amir Coffey got the 2-way contract he was seeking when he left school a year early. But, Eric is still trying to figure out why he wanted out badly enough to risk not making the league at all…

Our second segment starts with the Twins and Eric is shaking in his boots as he looks in the rearview mirror, at the Cleveland Indians hot on our tail… The two will faceoff starting Friday…

Did you hear about these pissed off topless chicks swimming around Lake Superior? As much as we love the freeing of breasts on this show… the science says full freedom might not be what women want in the long run…

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Episode Chapters

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