New Orleans Pelicans should trade up for LaMelo Ball
Why Would the Timberwolves do it?
There are many reasons this trade would benefit both teams.
Minnesota gets to add another established player along Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, who are both signed long term.
With Evan Turner and his $18 million coming off the books, the Timberwolves would still have cap space to sign a fourth star and would now be an appealing destination for free agents.
A Big Three of Towns, Russell and Holiday would probably be enough to get the Timberwolves into the playoff discussion, and adding another star in free agency would make them a player.
The T-Wolves have to know that Towns isn’t going to stay there forever if they keep losing, so they have to feel some amount of pressure to build a winner around him before he starts demanding a trade and things get ugly.
They would essentially be giving up three role players for Holiday, which is a good return for Minnesota, especially when they’ll still get to add young talent with the 13th pick.
With so many unknowns in the draft, the T-Wolves might decide they can get the person they want at 13, and not have to pay them #1 pick money.
There are plenty of reasons for Minnesota to do this trade, but why would the Pelicans?