Three Trade Targets the Minnesota Timberwolves Should Consider This Offseason
May 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch speaks in a press conference after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during game one of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off its best season in franchise history, having returned to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years. The team’s playoff series loss to the Dallas Mavericks illuminated areas for improvement, particularly in bolstering the offense.
Minnesota is grappling with payroll challenges as their projected payroll is expected to exceed $190 million, well beyond the league's $141 million "soft" cap. Consequently, they will likely need to consider trading either Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert or elect to pay the $100 million luxury tax.
The unresolved ownership dispute between Glen Taylor and Marc Lore/Alex Rodriguez further also complicates the upcoming offseason decisons ahead.
The team currently has only seven players under contract for next season who saw significant playing time this year. The other three players under contract—Leonard Miller, Wendell Moore Jr., and Josh Minott—saw little to no action. With limited flexibility in free agency, the team will face a challenging roster situation whether they decide to run it back or make changes.
Let's explore three potential trade targets the team could pursue this offseason to bolster its middle-of-the-pack offense, which ranked around the league average in both points per game and offensive rating.
Trade Target No. 1: Alex Caruso
Apr 1, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso (6) drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at United Center. Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bulls appear to lack direction, as they haven't yet decided whether to compete or rebuild, and their roster continues to age. The team has explored trading both Zach Lavine and Alex Caruso at last year’s trade deadline. If Chicago decides to rebuild and blow the roster up, it would make a lot of sense for Minnesota to inquire about Caruso's availability.
Caruso fits many of the team's needs, but he might be out of their price range without offering a first-round pick, which is believed to be Chicago's starting demand. Caruso could immediately step in as the team's backup point guard and play significant minutes each night as the Timberwolve clear sixth man in the rotation.
If Minnesota wants to go all in and take a risk, they could offer their entire group of young prospects—Leonard Miller, Josh Minott, Wendell Moore Jr., and two-way guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker—along with the No. 37 overall pick and as many second-round picks as needed to get the deal done.
Trade Target No. 2: Sam Merrill
Apr 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) looks to shoot in the second quarter against the Orlando Magic during game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Cavaliers' plans remain uncertain, with many offseason decisions depending on what they decide to do with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, as reports suggest they might split them up. If that’s the case, the only players who seem secure moving forward are either of the two starting guards, along with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Minnesota could consider 28-year-old shooting guard Sam Merrill, who is set to earn around $2.1 million next season. Despite having the top-ranked defense in the NBA last season, Minnesota's offense struggled, finishing 17th in the league. Adding more shooters is a key focus for the team this offseason, and Merrill seems like a logical fit to come off the bench.
Merrill played in 61 games this season, averaging 17.5 minutes off the bench while scoring eight points per game and shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc. He also had nine games with at least five made three-pointers and three games where he scored 20 or more points off the bench.
Figuring out a trade for Merrill could be challenging, as Minnesota doesn't have many assets to offer. However, trading a young player like Josh Minott along with two second-round picks, including the No. 37 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, might be enough to complete the deal.
Another potential deal could involve swapping defense for offense by trading Nickeil Alexander-Walker for Merrill straight up.
Alexander-Walker is well-liked in the locker room and is one of the team’s best perimeter defenders, but his lack of offensive production hurt the team in the playoff series against both Denver and Dallas, where he averaged only 5.58 points per game and shot 28.3% from deep.
Trade Target No. 3: Garrison Mathews
Mar 2, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Garrison Mathews (25) shoots a three point shot in the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Hawks have suggested they're embarking on a rebuild, likely prompting a complete firesale. While it's unclear if they'll be offloading any core players, 27-year-old shooting guard Garrison Mathews should be available for a reasonable price.
Mathews is a sharpshooter and comes at a bargain, with a club option of $2.2 million for next season. Although he averaged just four points in 15 minutes per game, he shot an impressive 44% from beyond the arc, which is the type of production Minnesota could use off the bench.
Acquiring Mathews shouldn't cost much, possibly involving just a future second-round pick if Atlanta is looking to sell. If Minnesota wants to keep the No. 37 overall pick in this year's draft, trading a future second-round pick between 2026 and 2029 seems like a reasonable price for Matthews.
If Minnesota can acquire Mathews, he would become an immediate contributor off the bench, joining Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid as primary scoring options for the second unit. Among the three trade scenarios, acquiring Mathews appears to be the most realistic and cost-efficient.
