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Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Timberwolves wanted Warriors to trade for No. 1 pick in 2020 NBA Draft?

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 5/6/21

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and injured Golden State Warriors big man James Wiseman are going to be attached at the hip throughout their NBA careers.

The were the first and second overall picks in the 2020 NBA draft, respectively. With Wiseman sidelined for the remainder of the season and Edwards looking every bit the part of a star guard, we’re hearing a tad more about the dynamics leading up to last year’s draft in November. That apparently includes Minnesota holding out hope that Golden State would trade up to the No. 1 overall selection.

“To go back to draft night — the Wolves were very interested in trading out of this pick,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted recently. “They were trying up until they were on the clock, from what I have been told, to get the Warriors interested in moving up.”

Talk about what could have been a franchise-altering trade for both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors. Remember, the Dubs own a future first-round pick from Minnesota stemming from the D’Angelo Russell for Andrew Wiggins swap. It’s top-three protected in 2021. If said pick does not convey this summer, it’s unprotected for 2022. Perhaps, the Wolves were looking to reacquire said pick.

As for the Warriors, they were dead set on selecting Wiseman No. 2 overall. There was no reason for them to trade up with Minnesota given that Wiseman was not an option for the Wolves due to the presence of Karl-Anthony Towns in the Twin Cities.

Minnesota Timberwolves made the right selection with Anthony Edwards

After some initial struggles during his rookie campaign, the Georgia product has picked it up big time recently. Edwards, 19, is averaging 23.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists over the past 21 games. He also has Minnesota in the midst of a stretch that has seen it win four of six.

Moving forward, it’s not yet known how Edwards will mesh with the aforementioned Russell in the Wolves’ backcourt. The duo could end up being a nice tandem with Russell being more of a ball-dominant point guard and Edwards doing his thing off the ball. Add in the presence of Towns, and these Minnesota Timberwolves might very well have a bright future.

What the Golden State Warriors plan to do with the Minnesota Timberwolves first-round pick

Right now, it’s better than a 50% chance that Minnesota’s first-round pick will convey to the Warriors this coming summer. If said selection falls within the top five (and outside the top-three) it will be a valuable trade chip.

It’s not a secret that the Warriors are looking to add a third star to team up with Stephen Curry and the injured Klay Thompson. This pick could become important when it comes to a potential blockbuster trade with the likes of Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard being considered likely targets.

As for Wiseman, the 20-year-old big man had an up and down rookie season prior to going down with a knee injury 39 games in. He averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds. The Memphis product could very well be a trade chip to go with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round pick in order for Golden State to acquire another star.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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