NBA: 3 teams who should trade for James Harden if Rockets trade him

Minnesota Timberwolves

Trading for D’Angelo Russell may have legitimized what the Minnesota Timberwolves are doing in Minnesota but if they want real respect, they need to swing for the fences and land a franchise guard who alongside Karl-Anthony Towns has the potential to do something special in Minnesota.

The Timberwolves would be giving up a Kings’ ransom in order to land Harden but if they continued down the route they are currently on, they will be nothing more than a middle of the road, fringe playoff team. There is no reward for mediocrity. Cash your chips in while you still have them.

To a certain extent, the Timberwolves have pandered to their current franchise player Karl-Anthony Towns. Bringing in one of his best friends in the entire league in D’Angelo Russell seems like a good way of keeping the No. 1 guy happy. If keeping your No. 1 player happy is the Timberwolves’ main concern then they are in big trouble.

With respect to the Timberwolves, KAT, D’Lo, the No. 1 pick, and Jarrett Culver doesn’t move the needle in terms of them becoming a championship contender.

Jimmy Butler left the Timberwolves with a distinct sense that they are just a bunch of kids who cry at the first sign of trouble. Adding D’Lo who has been known to be temperamental and a rookie who in a weak draft is going to have heavy expectations on his shoulders is not ideal.

Instead of trying for a single or double, aim for a grand slam and push your chips in. James Harden gets the Timberwolves closer to being real contenders than D’Angelo Russell and co would.

You need to only look at what the Los Angeles Lakers did by trading their young core for Anthony Davis. With that one trade, the Lakers overnight became title contenders having spent the previous years in lottery hell.

If the Timberwolves traded for James Harden, they would get a bunch of veterans trying to ring chase to come in and replace the likes of Culver and the No. 1 pick. They might not be as talented as what the No. 1 pick would be but they are battle tested, have veteran experience and know their role.

Playtime should be over now for the Timberwolves, if they want to be a middle of the road team, stay on the path in which they are on. If they want to take things to the next level, push your chips into the centre of the table and lets see what they are truly made of.