As the Minnesota Timberwolves look for ways to shake up the roster and build around Karl-Anthony Towns, the team reportedly explored acquired All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell during the summer.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Minnesota reached out to try and acquire Russell before the season and could look to explore adding a point guard before the NBA’s trade deadline.
Russell, who Golden State acquired in a sign-and-trade deal with the Brooklyn Nets, has continued to produce this season despite the plethora of injuries around him.
The 23-year-old is averaging 22 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per night across 13 games with the Warriors. He signed a four-year, $117.3 million deal this offseason and attracted significant trade interest in November.
Minnesota could be busy in the months leading up to the NBA’s trade deadline in February, with the Houston Rockets interested in Robert Covington.
Covington, who is owed just over $36 million across the next three seasons, is an excellent three-and D weapon that the Timberwolves could use to facilitate a trade for a point guard.
If Golden State makes Russell available at the deadline, the Timberwolves could explore a three-team deal with Covington going to a contender, draft picks and Jeff Teague’s expiring contract landing in Golden State and Russell joining the Timberwolves.