Thursday’s NBA trade deadline is rapidly approaching. And it’s not just heating up— it’s already on fire.
Western Conference Shake-Up
On Saturday night, arguably the most shocking trade in NBA history went down.
The Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick. The Utah Jazz also got involved, acquiring Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 second-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers, and a 2025 second-round pick from the Mavericks.
This is a massive shake-up in the Western Conference. The Lakers extend their championship window beyond LeBron’s tenure, while the Mavs trade away Luka in favor of a more defensively-oriented roster.
But wait, there’s more.
Just hours after the Luka-to-the-Lakers deal, another blockbuster trade sent shockwaves through the West.
The San Antonio Spurs acquired De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin from the Sacramento Kings, while the Kings received Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, and three first-round picks (2025 CHA, 2027 SAS, 2031 MIN), along with three second-round picks (2025 CHI, 2028 DEN, 2028 SAC). The Bulls, in turn, acquired Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, and their own 2025 pick.
With this trade, the Spurs pair rising star Victor Wembanyama with a talented point guard in his prime, De’Aaron Fox. The Kings land LaVine and valuable draft assets in exchange for Fox, who was expected to leave in free agency anyway. Meanwhile, the Bulls unload LaVine’s contract and land a solid return in the form of players and their 2025 pick.
With just a few days remaining, everyone is wondering what other major trades might go down— Minnesota Timberwolves fans included.
What Should the Timberwolves Do?
There’s been plenty of debate among Timberwolves fans about what the team should do as the trade deadline nears.
Some fans believe the team should trade Julius Randle. Others think the Timberwolves should keep the roster intact for the rest of the season and wait to make any changes until after the year.
Trading Randle is tricky. He’s currently injured, but let’s set that aside for now. Randle is a good player, but his trade value is low right now, which makes it unlikely that the Timberwolves would land a player of equal caliber in return.
On the flip side, keeping Randle presents its own set of risks. If the Timberwolves keep him through the season, he’s likely to exercise his $31 million player option for next year. This would make him harder to trade and complicate efforts to re-sign key players like Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Ultimately, the decision depends on what the Timberwolves can get in return for Randle. If they could swing a (likely three-team) deal for someone like Cam Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets, Andrew Wiggins from the Golden State Warriors, or Tobias Harris from the Detroit Pistons, it might be worth pulling the trigger.
Of course, if they could somehow turn Randle (and other assets) into Kevin Durant, that would be a no-brainer.
But if the return is just a few players who may or may not crack the rotation, trading Randle would be a disappointment.
With all the chaos surrounding this NBA trade deadline, there’s a real opportunity for the Timberwolves to make a move that improves the roster. The deadline commences this Thursday at 3pm ET.
What do you think the Timberwolves should do?
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