As the Minnesota Timberwolves search for potential pathways to improve this summer, Trae Young could have been somebody they looked at. However, Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that he is expected to re-sign with the Washington Wizards on a three-year deal. Anthony Edwards should be grateful.
Young is a high-level ball-handler and one of the best playmakers in the NBA. But he also needs the ball in his hands at all times in order to be at his best. And for the Timberwolves to be at their best, they should want the ball in Edwards’ hands as much as possible. The two of them playing together just doesn’t seem like a great idea.
In theory, Young would be a nice get, but in practice, it would be a mess.
Trae Young would have been bad Wolves target
According to recent reports, Young has decided to decline his player option with the Washington Wizards. As a result, he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, free to join whatever team he wants.
There aren’t that many teams with cap space. The Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls highlight that bunch. However, teams could have theoretically completed a sign-and-trade with the Wizards for Young.
However, according to Windhorst, Young declining his player option is a mere formality. He’s going to re-sign with the Wizards on a massive contract, joining the rest of their current core.
And to be honest, that’s good news for Edwards. If the Wolves had an interest in bringing Young on board, it could have ended very poorly for him and his chances of winning a championship.
Just look at what happened with the Atlanta Hawks. They tried to build around Young with another guy who worked best as an on-ball guy: Dejounte Murray.
That experiment failed after only a couple of years, and a couple of years after that, the Hawks decided to ditch Young altogether. It’s not easy to build around a guy like Young.
The Wolves already have their guy. They already have the guy who should have the ball in his hands most of the time. That guy is Edwards, and they don’t need another one.
All Young would do is take the ball out of Edwards’ hands at times when the Timberwolves would want it in his hands.
Edwards should be glad that Young is going back to Washington, because he would not have made sense as a Wolves target this summer.
