The Minnesota Timberwolves are struggling this 2016-2107 NBA season. With a 5-12 record, the Minnesota Timberwolves are currently in 13th place in the Western Conference.
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach and President of Basketball Operations Tom Thibodeau is already losing his patience. He's already stated before that he's willing to trade one of his young stars for a reliable veteran player. Preferably one of Tom Thibodeau's former players.
Tom Thibodeau's a competitor. He's been a winner in every coaching stop in the NBA. Tom Thibodeau wants to win and he wants to win now. That's why you've been hearing a lot of trade rumors involving the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Los Angeles Lakers meanwhile are one of the biggest surprises of this NBA season. Finishing with a 17-65 record last season, nobody expected the Los Angeles Lakers to be in the playoff picture. They are currently in 8th spot with a 9-9 record.
With a new head coach in Luke Walton and a young core of D'Angelo Russel, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram, the Los Angeles Lakers have been performing well beyond expectations. They also have veterans Nick Young and Lou Williams that are also doing well this season.
One player who has been a disappointment though this season for the Los Angeles Lakers is their free agent acquisition, veteran small forward Luol Deng. A 13 year veteran, Luol Deng signed a four year, $72 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
So far this season, Luol Deng, 31, has been averaging 6.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.9 minutes per game. With the way he's been playing, Luol Deng has become the odd man out. That's why you've been hearing his name quite frequently in the trade rumor mill.
The latest trade rumor involving Luol Deng is a deal between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to reports, the Los Angeles Lakers will trade Luol Deng to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for 2 time slam dunk champion Zach LaVine and small forward Shabbaz Muhammad.
If this deal pushes thru, the Los Angeles Lakers are the clear winners here. They would get rid of an ageing, underperforming and overpaid Luol Deng. In return the Los Angeles Lakers would get younger in Zach LaVine, whose exciting style of play is a perfect fit for the Showtime Lakers, and Shabbaz Muhammad.
Not only is Zach LaVine exciting, he can also be a big contributor. This season, Zach LaVine is averaging 19.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in 36 minutes. Shabbaz Muhammad is averaging 6.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 15.8 minutes. Pretty decent numbers for a backup forward.