NBA Rumors: Timberwolves Tried To Pull Wiggins For Russell Trade With Nets

The Minnesota Timberwolves appear to be following the lead of the Miami Heat as it tries to unload high salaried players who have not reaped dividends. For the T-Wolves, the player of concern is Andrew Wiggins, someone who owns a five-year $147.7 million contract. One player on their wish list is D’Angelo Russell of the Brooklyn Nets, and reports have it that a deal was almost made.

According to Darren Wolfson, the Timberwolves allegedly tried to engage in a sign-and-trade of Russell for Wiggins. Apparently, things never got off the ground and the scenario over in Brooklyn is a bit different as of this writing. It is no secret that Brooklyn is linked to possibly luring top names such as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to the fold, potentially leaving no room for Wiggins if the team salary cap is to be considered.

Durant did opt out of his player option with the Golden State Warriors and there is no telling if the Nets would be willing to gamble on the former NBA MVP. Durant is expected to miss the 2019-20 NBA season – meaning any team (aside from the Warriors) who plan to take him in will have to go through the next season with the 30-year-old rehabbing from injury. The Dubs have been mentioned as the team likely to re-sign him although other teams who would not mind seeing him in the sidelines could take the risk as well. As mentioned in a previous post, only the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly taken themselves out of the Durant sweepstakes.

Like the Heat, the Timberwolves are expected to encounter rough sailing ridding themselves of Wiggins’ contract. No team has so far come forward to express interest in the top overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2014 with most wary of inheriting his huge salary. Branded as not necessarily a bust, it remains that Wiggins has not totally lived up to his billing as a legit NBA star and now the Wolves may be trying to skim the market and try out a different player to tandem with Karl-Anthony Towns.

A stint with the Nets seems farfetched –even if Wiggins could be an alternative to tandem with Irving. If Uncle Drew comes in, Russell is likely to be on his way out with several teams interested in re-signing the 23-year-old NBA guard. One team that DLO will be meeting soon is his old team – the Los Angeles Lakers. Other teams linked to Russell include the Phoenix Suns, mainly because he holds close ties with star guard Devin Booker.