Derrick Williams Minnesota Timberlwolves
Minnesota selected Derrick Williams with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Reuters

The Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to be very active before Thursday's trade deadline, as the club considers offloading their surplus of guards.

According to 1500 ESPN in Minnesota, the Wolves are interested in several players at the deadline, and have made guards J.J. Barea, Luke Ridnour, and Brandon Roy, along with power forward Derrick Williams available for trades.

The same report stated Minnesota team president David Kahn has fielded several calls from teams for forward Andrei Kirilenko, but he’s rebuffed all of them.

Minnesota reportedly called the Dallas Mavericks regarding O.J. Mayo, and the Denver Nuggets for Timofey Mozgov, but there has been no movement on either front.

The Wolves are currently 12th in the West with a 19-31 record, and with star power forward Kevin Love sidelined for the second time this season with a broken hand, the playoffs seem far from their reach.

Kahn knows keeping Love happy requires the club to not only win, but to contend for a title. Love has had several public spats with Kahn and team owner Glen Taylor, though everything has reportedly been worked out.

Ridnour and Barea are excellent reserve guards who could greatly improve a team looking to make a playoff run. Earlier this week, the New York Knicks were tied to Ridnour, who has one year and $4.3 million left on his deal next season. Barea would be far more expensive with two years and more than $9 million remaining on his contract.

Roy has played in just five games during his comeback season, and his injury history makes his contract practically immovable. He’s owed $5.3 million next year.

Trading Williams would raise eyebrows around the league. The 21-year-old, who was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, has struggled with his shot, averaging just 41 percent from the field in 112 career games, and 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds.

ESPN+