You can effectively cross the Timberwolves off of the list of potential destinations to land Kyrie Irving. Minnesota, after landing Jimmy Butler from the Bulls on NBA Draft night, were among Irving’s preferred landing spots after he requested a trade from the Cavaliers.
However, to this point, the Wolves had been unwilling to part ways with a package strong enough to get Cleveland to pull the trigger. A big reason why was their withholding of former Cavs No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins in a deal. The Cavs have been adamant about landing a young quality player on a rookie deal in an Irving trade, and after Zach LaVine was dealt to the Bulls, Wiggins is the only player on Minnesota that made sense — Karl-Anthony Towns is as close to untouchable as there is in the NBA.
Wiggins’ inclusion was a hold up, and now it appears as though Minnesota is slamming the door on an Irving trade by claiming Wiggins will not be traded. According to Sid Hartman of the Star-Tribune, owner Glen Taylor told him at Vikings camp on Monday that the focus of the organization is on signing Wiggins long-term and Taylor insisted he wouldn’t be dealt.
While Taylor can’t talk about other teams’ players — such as trade rumors about the Wolves’ possible interest in Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving — he can talk about his own. He made it clear he is going to sign guard/forward Andrew Wiggins in the near future to a five-year, $150 million contract, the highest deal any team could give him. And Wiggins is not available to anybody in a trade.
That’s a pretty emphatic statement from the Wolves owner to say he’s unavailable in any trade, and would all but end any speculation that Minnesota will be in the running for Irving. Former Cavs GM David Griffin even noted as much when he was made aware of the news while on ESPN’s The Jump on Monday afternoon, saying simply you can “cross them off” of the list of teams that Irving may end up with if Wiggins is off the table.
This only makes the Cavs’ job more difficult in unloading Irving, as they lose a team that could have at the least been a threat to use as leverage in negotiating with others. Minnesota will hope a core group with Butler, Wiggins, Towns, and Jeff Teague will be enough to make the leap in 2017-18, which ESPN’s projection model thinks will happen to the tune of 50 wins.
