The Minnesota Timberwolves just concluded a grueling first-round matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Chris Finch's squad put up a good fight and had several opportunities to win games but they failed to put the finishing touches on the series which allowed their opponents to advance in six games. A particular player who evidently struggled against the Grizzlies was D'Angelo Russell.
D-Lo averaged 18.1 points and 7.1 assists in the regular season and was expected to be one of the leaders of the Timberwolves' postseason bid. However, Russell failed to produce at a high level as his numbers dropped to 12.0 points and 6.7 assists in six playoff games. His dismal production led him to be benched late in Game 6 as Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards tried to win the do-or-die tilt for the Timberwolves but ultimately failed.
After their first-round exit, rumors eventually swirled about Minnesota's plans to shop the former All-Star guard who has one more year left in his contract worth $31.4 million. Russell's close bond with Towns will definitely play a huge role in the Timberwolves' offseason plans but trading him for more useful assets remains to be a viable option if the team is serious about its desire of achieving greater results moving forward.
With that said, let's take a look at three potential trade destinations for D'Angelo Russell in the upcoming offseason.
3 trade destinations for D'Angelo Russell
The Los Angeles Clippers have been bugged by injuries for the past couple of seasons which challenged their hopes of contending for the title. This season was no different as Paul George only played in 31 contests while Kawhi Leonard didn't see action in any game at all.
Their absence for the most part of the team's campaign led the Clippers to settle at the ninth seed with a 42-40 record. Given their history of injuries, it seems likely that both players can be sidelined for a lengthy period of time once again moving forward. With that said, it might be better for the Clippers to have a playmaker in D'Angelo Russell who can carry most of the offensive load while they're gone.
When both George and Leonard are suiting up, all three players can also play together on the floor which can cause a ton of problems for opposing defenders, given that all of them can score in many ways. The Clippers, though, might have to give up depth players which can be in the form of Norman Powell and Reggie Jackson, among others, in order to acquire the former All-Star.
After making it to the playoffs in the 2020-21 season, the New York Knicks fell apart as they struggled with a 37-45 record to settle at the 11th seed this year. Guard play has been one of their weak points all season long as RJ Barrett seemed to have emerged as the lone bright spot for Tom Thibodeau's squad.
By trading for D'Angelo Russell, they can get a crafty ball-handler who can create shots for himself. His scoring ability can be a major boost for the Knicks' offense, especially when the other players are failing to make their own shots from the field. One player that New York can ship to Minnesota would be Kemba Walker who has struggled to find significant playing time with the team this season.
Injuries and chemistry issues have hindered the four-time All-Star from finding his stride with the Knicks all throughout their campaign. After being benched for most of their games, perhaps a change in scenery would benefit him and help him get his career back on track. Aside from Walker, New York can also ship other assets to Minnesota in a bid to acquire Russell who can potentially form a backcourt duo with Barrett in the near future.
For quite some time now, the Washington Wizards have been looking for another guard who can complement Bradley Beal's style of play. Russell Westbrook proved that he wasn't the answer to that hole after the 2020-21 season. After the blockbuster trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Wizards received multiple players who seemed to have made Washington a more complete team.
Midway through the season, they also acquired Kristaps Porzingis who showed flashes of his old self from time to time. Still, Wes Unseld Jr.'s squad continue to struggle as they finished the season at the 12th spot with a 35-47 record to miss out on the playoffs. After another disappointing campaign, it remains to be seen if Beal will re-sign another contract with the team in the near future.
If he does then trading for D'Angelo Russell might be an intriguing option for the Wizards. They might have to part ways with some of their rotational players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma in order to acquire the Timberwolves guard. At the end of the day, there's no certainty that a Beal-Russell combo can work in the long run but the Wizards will just have to gamble in order to find that winning combination that might get them closer to title contention as soon as possible.
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