T-Wolves stars may get Heat’s attention
Towns or Wiggins would come at steep price for Miami.
The Minnesota Timberwolves advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years after adding an All-Star in Jimmy Butler and a handful of other veterans to go along with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.
But despite topping .500 (47-35) for the first time since 2004-05, there are rumblings of uneasiness within the organization. Now it’s up to coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau to soothe over feelings and improve the roster after the Wolves lost to the Rockets in five games in the first round of the playoffs.
Most of the trade rumors center around 23-year-old Andrew Wiggins, who was given a $146.5 million max extension last October that goes into effect this upcoming season. Now, the Wolves may be looking to get out from that deal and a trade is the only way.
Here is where the Miami Heat come in.
Miami, as we know, has its share of bad deals but none are as long as Wiggins’, whose contract is for five years. He starts at more than $25 million next season and will make more than $33 million in 2022-23.
But Wiggins, a 6-foot-8 small forward, never has been an AllStar and his production dipped sharply last season, going from 23.6 points per game on .452 shooting in 2016-17 to 17.7 points on .438 shooting. Now, Minnesota may be looking to unload him.
Like the Heat, the Timberwolves are capped out, so are they looking to create space or get equal value in return? This is the same question being asked of the Heat when it comes to Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson, two play-
ers who will account for $44.6 million next season.
The Heat would have some leverage because they’d be assuming a lot more in total salary if they were to acquire Wiggins and either Whiteside (two years remaining at $52.5 million) or Johnson (two years remaining at $38.5 million) were part of a deal.
But Miami must decide what else they would be willing to give up — the Wolves would ask for much more, including Josh Richardson, in the deal — and if they believe Wiggins is that “transformative” player Pat Riley has referenced. Perhaps more importantly, is he one worth paying nearly $150 million for five years.
Wiggins was the first overall pick in 2014 by the Cavaliers and then was traded to Minnesota for Kevin Love. In four years he is averaging 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Wiggins is among the worst defensive players in the league, which could give the Heat some pause, although he did improve last season. Players Wiggins was guarding shot 46.3 percent against him last season after a dreadful 2016-17 in which those same players made 49.4 percent of their shots.
Wiggins’ name is not the only one to come up when it comes to Minnesota. ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported that Towns is not happy, which has spurred trade speculation involving the 7-foot center.
Towns, 22, was the first overall pick in 2015, the same draft in which the Heat selected Justise Winslow with the 10th overall pick. Towns was an All-Star for the first time this past season, averaging 21.3 points and 12.3 rebounds. Moving such a valuable player appears to be a long shot — and especially to Miami. The Heat, though, certainly would love to put together a package of Whiteside and a couple of their young players — Minnesota probably would start with Bam Adebayo and Richardson. And the Heat probably would have to take back a bad contract or two to make the deal work.
The problem is there would be a long line of suitors. Two off the top could be the Celtics and Suns. Boston could offer a package centering around Jaylen Brown and a first-round pick next year — they own Sacramento’s, their own and possibly two more — for Towns. The media in Phoenix is proposing the Suns get involved by offering the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. Moving to Phoenix would then reunite Towns with his former Kentucky teammate and friend Devin Booker.
Towns, too, can be a defensive liability and was a big reason Minnesota tied for 22nd in the NBA last season with a 108.4 defensive rating. Still, for one of the better offensive centers in the league and one who can stretch the floor — he attempted 285 threes last season making 42.1 percent — his contract is very friendly. He will make $7.8 million next season and $19.6 million in 2019-20 before becoming a restricted free agent.