With the 2024 NBA trade deadline nearing, the Minnesota Timberwolves should be looking for any and all upgrades. Sitting atop the Western Conference, the Timberwolves are in rare air for the franchise. A true title contender with a dominant defense, Minnesota should be feeling very positively about themselves halfway through the season.
With an unprecedented start to the season, the Timberwolves still have some room to improve the team if they choose to be aggressive at the trade deadline. Here is the biggest need the Timberwolves must address at the 2024 NBA trade deadline.
Floor-spacing is a big need
Minnesota does have one big offensive deficiency that might become problematic come playoff time. The Timberwolves are thin on pure shooting. Looking back on some of the league’s top teams come playoff time, a common theme is a sharpshooter in the rotation.
The Miami Heat were fueled by Duncan Robinson's range working out of dribble hand-offs with Bam Adebayo. Michael Porter Jr. is the ultimate human torch playing alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. The Boston Celtics are built upon a three-point shooting identity. This season, the Los Angeles Lakers badly miss Malik Beasley’s shooting after letting him walk in free agency.
Observing this Timberwolves roster, there are very good shooters already. Mike Conley is toward the top of the league in shooting efficiency this season. Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the best shooting big men in NBA history. Naz Reid never misses, seemingly. However, given Conley’s on-ball duties and Towns’ role as a scorer first rather than spot-up shooter, Minnesota could use one more consistent floor spacer.
The Timberwolves play with a lot of size. Kyle Anderson, Naz Reid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert are all rotational mainstays and all are capable inside finishers. At times though, Minnesota’s spacing detracts from the talent. With Gobert and Anderson treated as non-threats from three, teams are able to bring additional help on KAT and Anthony Edwards’ drives.
With the Wolves looking to uplift their offense, the extra spacing and three-point shot-making could maximize both their inside and outside scoring. The Timberwolves currently rank bottom-ten in team three-point attempts despite a top-5 team three-point percentage. So who are some reasonable trade targets for the Timberwolves?
Timberwolves trade targets to address shooting
With the Timberwolves likely looking to avoid the luxury tax, it’s likely Minnesota completely avoids expensive salaries. With that being said, there are affordable players who will likely be available. One target that makes sense for the Timberwolves’ offense is Seth Curry of the Dallas Mavericks. Curry is making just $4.0 million this season with a non-guaranteed deal for the 2024-25 season.
A career 43.3% three-point shooter, Curry offers deep range and a quick trigger. While he doesn’t offer a ton on the defensive end, the Wolves search for a shooter likely would fill the role of ninth guy in the rotation. Curry’s contract offers future flexibility for the Wolves if the Mavericks make him available this trade deadline.
Wizards’ guard Landry Shamet is another intriguing contract as the Washington Wizards likely continue their rebuild. Shamet makes just north of $10 million this season with two non-guaranteed years after this season on his ascending contract.
Another potential rental prior to Minnesota’s playoff push, Shamet has had some notable playoff moments including this game-winner against Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors back in 2019.
Landry Shamet's Game 2 winner through the eyes of CourtVision. pic.twitter.com/9g6vvwRNwh
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) April 17, 2019
With the Timberwolves unable to trade a first round pick due to the Stepien rule, finding readily attainable players, like Shamet, is essential this NBA trade deadline.
A Minnesota reunion
Behind the scenes, player and executive relationships play a large part in teams’ decision-making. Timberwolves President Tim Connelly has a history with now Los Angeles Clippers guard Nah’Shon Bones Hyland. Bones Hyland was the 26th overall draft pick back in 2021 as then Denver Nuggets GM, Tim Connelly, selected the VCU product.
The Clippers visited the Timberwolves on Sunday, January 14th. Pregame during workouts, Connelly visited with Hyland for a few minutes as the two caught up. With Hyland completely out of the Clippers rotation, a reunion with Connelly in Minnesota makes sense for both sides.
The Timberwolves can offer Hyland a small role he currently does not have. Hyland’s deep range and smooth stroke could provide a nice boost of shooting touch around the Timberwolves interior play. Due to his comfortability with the ball, Bones Hyland also would give the Wolves a small boost in playmaking that the team could use to accompany his three-point shooting.
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