The trade that brought D’Angelo Russell to the Timberwolves has turned into a huge mistake, contends Jim Souhan of The Star Tribune. Minnesota was looking for more size and scoring in its backcourt when it sent Andrew Wiggins and a pair of draft picks — one of which became Jonathan Kuminga — to Golden State in exchange for Russell and two other players at the 2020 trade deadline. Wiggins wound up as a vital cog in the Warriors’ title team, while Russell continues to frustrate Wolves fans, Souhan states.
The latest embarrassing incident came in the first half of tonight’s loss to the Suns when Russell didn’t realize he was supposed to be on the court. Minnesota played a four-on-five possession that resulted in a Phoenix three-pointer. Souhan notes that Russell came into the game ranked 211th overall in Player Efficiency Rating and 42nd among point guards in a 30-team league.
After being benched in the playoff series against Memphis, Russell hasn’t looked any different this season, according to Souhan. He observes that the Wolves often look uncertain on the court, which shouldn’t happen to a team with a veteran point guard.
There’s more from Minnesota:
- The Wolves are still working out a role on offense for Rudy Gobert, who returned tonight after missing two games while in the health and safety protocols, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. Gobert’s new teammates, particularly Karl-Anthony Towns, have been trying to make sure he gets enough touches. “The guys have been great looking for me, especially KAT,” Gobert said. “I can tell he’s been doing a lot of effort hitting me on the duck-ins, hitting me on the lobs. I think that’s the way we’re going to play if we want to be a great offensive team, be able to space for each other, move the ball, have the ball not stick.”
- Veteran forward Taurean Prince has become a locker room leader for the Wolves and he credits the influence of former teammate Patrick Beverley, particularly in film sessions, Hine adds. “He really taught me how to break down film and really process it quicker,” Prince said. “That’s helped me be in more of the right spots defensively. So I appreciate him for that. Now I’m also able to … put it in a way to where other guys understand it as well, and they’re maybe thinking two or three steps ahead.”
- After Monday’s loss to the Knicks, Anthony Edwards expressed concerns that the Wolves are getting a reputation for being soft, Hine states in a separate story. “It’s hard, man,” Edwards said. “I don’t know, man. We’re going to try to figure it out, because that’s what it looks like right now. That’s what teams are saying, from the looks of it. They’re coming out like, ‘We’re going to punk them.’ That’s what’s going on.”
Ahhh Russell for Westbrook
Lakers are trying to improve, not go backwards.
Wolves fans beating the drum for their team to take a step up season))))
DLo is a huge liablity on both sides of the court, especially during crunch time. Having Gobert clog the lane for Ant was obvious – their biggest strength was having a 40+% 3pt shooter at 5.
Whats with Mcdeniels? Still DPOY candidate?)))
OG Anonoby deserves 4 of the 5 dpoy awards, he plays everything but PG and can still handle the rock if he has to.
He’s a better C than Gobert ans is better suited as a SG guarding the perimeter.
Stop sleeping on OG people
He is such an incredible defender
Ever since he got his big contract. Russell has never been the player he was his last yr in Bklyn. Looks like a classic play for the contract guy. It’s too bad cause he is talented.
Minny could use a guy like Westbrook. Definitely not soft.
Feel like part of it was just that in Brooklyn he was the best player in a motley crue, so he got touches which translated into stats.
But put him in an offense that’s not heliocentric then he’s just kind of middle of the road
Malik Beasley is capable of running the point. Spaces the floor as well. Add Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to the frontcourt for rebounding and defensive versatility. Overpaid for Gobert!
I think its the classic someone has to score on a bad team. The Nets knew this and that is why he was used to get Durant.
Minnesota seem terrible at talent evaluation and roster construction. They were finally on to something last year and then they traded away all their depth, especially shooting depth. That trade was so counter to everything in the modern NBA it’s incredible really.
Impatience.
But you can’t blame them for trying to get what they believed was the last piece to a successful playoff run. They knew their defense needed work so why not get the best defender available? They didn’t realize getting rid of several KEY DEFENSIVE guys would hurt them and their chemistry and success.
No… you don’t say. Tbh the group of people that comment here would be better suited as a collective GM than anyone Minnesota has employed for the last 15 years.
Of course teams are gonna think they’re soft when KAT is the leader of that team. Wolves would be smart to make this Ant’s team sooner rather than later.
Ding.
Knicks get Russell and Prince
Wolves get Randle and Fournier
Thoughts??
Randle, Towns and Gobert would be hideous to watch.
grotesque
Utah thinks this trade is a great idea lol
The Wolves should straight up fold after what Myers+Lacob did to them. What’s the point? They are never going to win anything, they are a cursed team, they literally thought D-Lo was elite lmao
Only thing is Meyers signed him to that contract. So Meyers made the mistake too who found out quickly the guy can’t play defense. Should have known this because the Laker fans knew his defense was terrible.
Yes and the purpose of signing D’Angelo Russell to that contract was to keep that Max slot alive and on the Warriors’ books. Thus they could use that contract to trade for another Max guy without dealing one of their core.
On Minnesota’s end it helped them re-up Karl Anthony Towns so it wasn’t a total disaster. Towns was actually borderline available around that time . Sure they lost a first round pick but Wiggins wasn’t doing anything in Minnesota so the player swap might be considered a wash.
Yes it was a mistake but sometimes you listen to your players and put a little faith in them. See Lakers and LeBron for the 2020 championship.
T-wolves mistake is not so much D’lo but trading for Gobert. Having 2 tall men in the paint doesn’t work in today’s NBA. It has made Towns less of a scorer. Look at Utah without Gobert they look better.
Everyone knows D Lo is who is he is at this point.
The Gobert trade only made sense if you believed Edwards was on the Ja timetable, that he was going to be a top 10 player sooner than later.
So far this season, that bet looks ill-advised. 21/5/4 is nice, but he has a 13 PER and amazingly he’s -3.0 BPM, which is horrendous for a guy with star makings in his third year.
There’s plenty of time to turn it around, but the early results here are pretty bad
Start – Jordan McLaughlin
Trade – D-Lo for whatever you could possibly get for him. Maybe a lottery protected 1st rd pick?
The only thing you could possibly get for DLo is Gordon Hayward and a 2nd maybe. Expiring contract is his only value.
This team needs some LOVE
Russell for Love