Zach Lavine (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
Zach Lavine could be the odd man out for the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Tom Thibodeau reportedly willing to trade one of the team's young talents to immediately win.
Timberwolves head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau is reportedly growing impatient with his team and may deal one of his young talents to acquire a veteran that could help Minnesota win now, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report.
Bucher's claims included LA Lakers' Luol Deng and Chicago Bulls' Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson as potential targets for the T-Wolves, but the report did not clarify which among Minnesota's young guns could be moved.
The Timberwolves have plenty of young talents in their lineup and any pieces that could be involved in a potential deal would probably depend on who the Timberwolves wishes to pursue. But according to Fran Blinebury of NBA.com, high-flying guard Zach Lavine is the "most likely one to move."
"Truth is, he'd likely be open to trading anybody but Karl-Anthony Towns or Andrew Wiggins in order to bring in a veteran who can stabilize the lineup and teach it lessons. LaVine's crazy athleticism and upside could make him the most likely one to move," Blinebury wrote.
Lavine has been one of the T-Wolves' most consistent players since the team drafted him as 13th overall in 2014. The two-time Slam Dunk champ has also improved his game, averaging 19.8 points a game this season, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field. While Lavine is only on a rookie scale contract, his trade value is certainly at an all-time high due to his high upside and All-Star potential.
With Deng included in the Timberwolves' list of veterans, the Lakers could take advantage of the opportunity to acquire another young talent who could grow alongside the team's own core of youngsters. However, the Timberwolves would probably need to give up another player down the rotation to make a potential deal happen, with Lavine only on a rookie scale contract.
It is highly unlikely the Timberwolves move Lavine at this point of the season, but if Minnesota is truly growing impatient, it is a possibility worth exploring.
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