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