The Timberwolves and Warriors have agreed to a blockbuster deal sending guard D’Angelo Russell to Minnesota in exchange for forward Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick, ESPN reports. The Timberwolves will also receive Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman as part of the deal.
The first-round pick heading to Golden State is top-3 protected in 2021 and unprotected in 2022, per ESPN.
Russell, who’s averaging 23.6 points per game with the Warriors, will get to team up with longtime friend Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota. The Timberwolves had been seeking a star guard to partner with Towns for years, and now they have a potentially ideal fit in Russell.
The trade also allows the Timberwolves to clear the costly contract of Wiggins, who has never quite lived up to his billing as a former No. 1 overall pick. The Warriors will hope that a new environment allows him to hit another level. Wiggins averaged 22.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 42 games with Minnesota this season.
The Warriors added Russell during the offseason as part of a sign-and-trade that shipped Kevin Durant to Brooklyn. He’s put up big numbers for a struggling team this season, but there were questions about his long-term fit once Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are healthy again.
