Timberwolves ‘prefer’ to trade No. 1 pick to acquire a win-now player

Despite winning the No. 1 overall pick, the Timberwolves are reportedly looking to trade down and acquire a player that can help win now.

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Despite winning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly looking to trade down and acquire a player that can help the team win now, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.

The Timberwolves would like to add an established player next to cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell and likely feel as though the top of the draft may not offer much help to win now. Timberwolves president Gersson Rosas has said previously he is open to trading the pick and it appears as though that position hasn’t changed.

Minnesota finished with the third-worst record in the NBA and is looking ahead to next season with a healthy roster and Russell in the mix after acquiring him at the trade deadline. The organization likely views the NBA Draft as an opportunity to retool, and not rebuild, so they will look at their options come Nov. 18.

Executives around the NBA say the Timberwolves prefer to trade down or out of this pick to bring in a win-now player to help Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell. If they stay at no. 1, Edwards brings a scoring skill set that would fit nicely in the backcourt next to Russell.

In addition the Timberwolves, the Golden State Warriors have also said to be interested in trading down from the top of the draft. The Warriors have previously said they will be aggressive in trade talks centered around the second overall pick as they are also looking for an established player.

However, the two teams could both have a difficult time moving down since there may not be a whole lot of interest in either pick. The draft this year is said to be weaker than in previous years so it will certainly be worth monitoring as Nov. 18 approaches.

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