The winners and losers of the Timberwolves, Warriors D’Angelo Russell trade

Let’s break down the blockbuster.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors reportedly pulled off one of the bigger trades in the lead-up to the 2020 NBA trade deadline.

The Dubs will send guard D’Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman to the Wolves for Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 first-round pick that has some protections on it (per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it’s protected up to No. 3 in 2021 and completely open in 2022), along with a second-rounder in 2022.

It’s a move that actually makes a lot of sense for both sides, which we’ll get in to with our winners and losers for the blockbuster that involves two 20-plus points per game scorers.

Winners

Minnesota Timberwolves

They were looking to get Wiggins’ awful contract off the books (he’s due over $120 million total including this season, through 2023), and they did it. Sure, it was costly. But they also got back a friend of Karl-Anthony Towns, one who also happens to be a super-talented scorer and passer in the back-court. The first-rounder they gave up could come back to bite them, but that’s not the point here. Russell and KAT appears to be a much better pairing than Wiggins and KAT.

Golden State Warriors

The future was already bright as it could be. Now? Wow. Next year, they’ll have healthy Steph Curry and Klay Thompson back, possibly a top lottery pick, the Timberwolves’ selection either in 2021 and 2022, and I happen to think that Wiggins will fit in as a third scorer with less pressure on him. It’s worth the risk even if he ends up buried on the depth chart because the other stars on the team can cover up his weaknesses.

Karl-Anthony Towns

He’ll be happy to play with one of his close friends. And a happy KAT makes the T-Wolves happy.

Losers

New York Knicks

They were rumored to be talking to the Warriors about Russell and missed out on getting a star to build around. But maybe it’s for the best that they didn’t make a move that would have cost them some of their young core? Still, they lose out here.

Evans and Spellman

I would think they would want to stay by the Bay to compete for a title next year when the Warriors are all healthy. Now they get to play on a less talented squad.

Harrison Barnes

His name was trending on Twitter because of tweets like this:

[jwplayer cSl9FF6v-q2aasYxh]