BleedGopher
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Per ESPN:
16. Minnesota Timberwolves
Biggest mistake: Trading for D'Angelo Russell (2020)
To some extent, the Timberwolves' trade for Russell worked out in the long run, because they eventually dealt him for Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker en route to back-to-back conference finals appearances. But there must have been a less expensive way to get backcourt help, because the Timberwolves first acquired Russell in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and a future first-round pick.
Wiggins became arguably the second-best player on the title-winning 2021-22 Golden State Warriors, and that draft pick landed at No. 7 and became Jonathan Kuminga.
Meanwhile, Russell never took off in Minnesota, despite his well-documented friendship with Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Timberwolves rightly realized they needed a better option at point guard if they ever wanted to win in the postseason. In his lone playoff series with Minnesota, Russell averaged 12 points per game on 33% shooting.
www.espn.com
Howl Wolves!!
16. Minnesota Timberwolves
Biggest mistake: Trading for D'Angelo Russell (2020)
To some extent, the Timberwolves' trade for Russell worked out in the long run, because they eventually dealt him for Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker en route to back-to-back conference finals appearances. But there must have been a less expensive way to get backcourt help, because the Timberwolves first acquired Russell in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and a future first-round pick.
Wiggins became arguably the second-best player on the title-winning 2021-22 Golden State Warriors, and that draft pick landed at No. 7 and became Jonathan Kuminga.
Meanwhile, Russell never took off in Minnesota, despite his well-documented friendship with Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Timberwolves rightly realized they needed a better option at point guard if they ever wanted to win in the postseason. In his lone playoff series with Minnesota, Russell averaged 12 points per game on 33% shooting.
Franchise-shifting trades to draft disasters: Roster mistakes for all 30 NBA teams since 2020
Zach Kram examines the deals, trades and picks that all 30 NBA teams would like to take back from the 2020s.
Howl Wolves!!