Dane Moore NBA Podcast: Eight Players The Timberwolves Could Acquire This Offseason

Tuning into the NBA’s restart, I realized I have a problem: I can’t watch other NBA games without stumbling across thoughts about how players that are not on the Timberwolves might fare if they did play for the Timberwolves.

How might Wing X fit into the wing depth chart next to Okogie and Culver? Does it matter?

What would the value of adding Rim-defender Y be? Could he share the floor with Towns?

Could Rosas swing a trade Third Star Z? Should he?

Jack Borman joined me on this week’s show to go through a list of eight players playing in the bubble that have made us ask: Could they be on the Wolves next year? The likelihood of the eight players vary dependent on their contract status and, of course, talent level. But I felt it was a worthwhile exercise in playing out what the process of pursuing free agents or trade targets might look like.

(If you can’t access the Spotify player, click here to listen to the latest episode.)

For those who may not have time to listen, here are the eight players Jack and I discussed:

Unrestricted Free Agents

• Mason Plumlee
• Jae Crowder
• Michael Carter-Williams
• Meyers Leonard
• Fred VanVleet (would need to be acquired via sign-and trade)

Trade Targets

• Norman Powell — 2020-21 salary: $10.9M, 2021-22 salary: $11.6M (player option)
• Grayson Allen — 2020-21 salary: $2.5M, 2021-22 salary: $4.1M (team option)
• Chris Paul — 2020-21 salary: $41.4M, 2021-22 salary: $44.2M (player option

Again, there are varying levels of feasibility for each of these players. Either way, each of the eight players present a different blueprint for acquiring a player at their price tag and position.

What players do you have your eye on for the Timberwolves?