The Minnesota Timberwolves struck gold on draft lottery night, as they secured the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. This has left them with an endless array of possibilities, including, of course, the option to actually use the No. 1 pick.
Georgia 6-foot-5 guard Anthony Edwards is widely considered as the consensus first pick in this draft — and for good reason. He's a tremendous player and could slide right in the Wolves' lineup to form a very promising backcourt partnership with D'Angelo Russell.
While this may be the most straightforward approach for the Timberwolves at this point, there's no denying that they will — at the very least — look at the possibility of trading the coveted first overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Devin Booker.
Booker proved to be one of the best players in the bubble, leading the Suns to an astounding 8-0 record since the restart. He could very well be the third star Minnesota needs to become relevant in a ruthless Western Conference, but perhaps more importantly, his friendship with Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell could play a key role in this potential blockbuster deal.
These three are real-life best buds, and while there has been no clear indication from Booker himself that he wants to join his best friends in Minnesota, the thought has undeniably crossed his mind. Below we detail how the Wolves might be able to lure Booker away from Phoenix in a trade deal centered around the first overall pick.
First-Round Picks
Aside from the No. 1 overall pick, the Timberwolves own another first-round pick courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets. This turned out to be the 17th pick, which Minnesota can include in a package with the first overall pick.
Parting ways with Booker is not ideal for the Suns, and they will do everything in their power to keep their superstar. However, we have seen crazier things in the past, and should this actually come to fruition, then Phoenix will want to get as much as they can in this deal.
In terms of young talent, there is few better than the first overall pick. A Phoenix core of Deandre Ayton, Kelly Oubre Jr, and Anthony Edwards holds a lot of promise. Throw in the 17th pick (maybe a point guard like Tyrell Terry or Theo Maledon), along with guys like Dario Saric, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Johnson, and you have a pretty good-looking future ahead for the Suns.
Contracts/Proven Talents
It goes without saying that in any potential trade package, the Timberwolves will likely need to throw in a few other assets to make the Booker deal work. The first overall pick is not going to be enough for the Suns to agree to part ways with their cornerstone stud, and for the Wolves, they could also include a few players on their current roster to make the deal sweeter for the Suns.
Right now, the only usable expiring deal on Minnesota's roster is that of James Johnson. Aside from the benefits the Suns will gain from his current contract that is set to expire at the end of the 2020-21 campaign (he's on a player option, by the way), Johnson is a tested vet. He could very well slide into a mentorship role for a young Suns' side.
The Suns might also be interested in including guys like Malik Beasley and Juan Hernangomez in the deal. Both players have been great since arriving in Minnesota in February of this year, with both guys putting up career-best numbers with the Wolves. Beasley and Hernangomez are set to become free agents in the offseason, though, so if ever, a sign-and-trade deal will be necessary.
Young Prospects
Finally, the Timberwolves can build a package for the Suns that will be centered on young talent. Aside from the No. 1 pick, Minnesota could also include both Jarret Culver and Josh Okogie in a potential Booker trade.
Culver had a so-so rookie campaign this term, but let's not forget that the sixth overall pick is just one year removed from that outstanding season with Texas Tech. The highly-promising 21-year-old two-guard has a tremendously high ceiling, and is likely just a year or so away from finding his form. A change in scenery might just kick-start the process for Culver.
For his part, Okogie has developed into a key role player for the Wolves in his second season in the league. The former 20th overall pick may not have as much upside as Culver, but the 6-foot-4 shooting guard could be a great addition for Phoenix's second unit.
Parting ways with Booker will require some form of rebuild for the Suns. They may opt for a soft rebuild, keeping guys like Ayton and Oubre on board. Alternatively, they could shock the world by going all out and undergoing a complete revamp, with Edwards as the new centerpiece. Either way, future assets, and young talents will be key in any rebuild, and the Wolves might just have what they require.
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