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While many of you may be focused on the end of the Vikings game, Gersson Rosas is staying busy, acquiring Ed Davis from the New York Knicks in exchange for Omari Spellman, Jacob Evans, and a future second-round pick.
Minnesota is trading Omari Spellman and Jacob Evans and a future second-round pick to New York for F Ed Davis, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 22, 2020
I don’t want to get too overworked over a relatively small transaction, but this is the type of move around the edges that good organizations make. Sure, you don’t want to give away second-round picks, but Minnesota otherwise flipped two players who contribute absolutely nothing for a player in Davis who should hold down the non-KAT minutes admirably.
Davis isn’t a star, or even a starter-level player necessarily, but he’s a really strong backup for a team who was desperate for a player like him.
So, what exactly are the Wolves getting in Davis? We’ll go more in-depth in him in the coming weeks, but the gist of it is that he’s a great rebounder and a good defender. For his career, Davis averages 12.0 rebounds per-36 minutes as well as 1.5 blocks per-36 minutes. In general, he’s been an +/- darling at every stop of his career. Davis has been on some good teams, and using single player net-rating is not super useful, but it’s at least worth mentioning that Davis’ teams have never had an on-court net-rating worse than +4. Additionally, Davis has played 10 seasons in the NBA and has not once had a season where he posted negative Offensive Win Shares, Defensive Win Shares, or (obviously) Win Shares. He’s an impactful, albeit unspectacular player.
Yup, no surprise here: D'Angelo Russell was WAY better in Brooklyn when he shared the floor with Ed Davis than when he didn't.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) November 23, 2020
Russell + Davis on: +8.7 net rating (O: 109.6, D: 100.9)
Russell on, Davis off: -3.0 net rating (O: 108.5, D: 111.5)
(per @cleantheglass)
I don’t know about you, but that sounds like exactly what the Timberwolves need. He’s an adult and a widely respected teammate around the NBA, by all accounts.
DMs and texts being flooded right now from people -- players, coaches, media -- absolutely raving about Ed Davis. A very important move there for Rosas.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) November 23, 2020
One person who will be very happy with the Wolves acquisition of Ed Davis: D'Angelo Russell.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) November 23, 2020
The two played together in Brooklyn. Davis is very highly thought of as a teammate.
Is this the transaction that’s going to lead to parade routes being planned from the Stone Arch Bridge to the Target Center? No, clearly not. It is another sign though that Rosas can work around the margins to improve the team. Maybe that pick will hurt some day, but for now, Rosas filled a glaring hole on the roster and picked up a really nice player without giving up anyone that would’ve contributed this season. That is incredibly impressive, and it’s okay to celebrate the small victories like this one.
It’s also worth noting that by trading away two players in exchange for one, the Wolves have opened up a roster spot, presumably to bring back future Hall of Famer Jordan McLaughlin.
Trust the Prosas.