NBA Power Rankings week 8 – OKC Thunder cling to middle, trade market opens up

Offense: (108.3) 14th
Defense: (111.4 ) 22nd
Net: (minus -3.0) 21st

Games Week 8: (0-3) Lost to Suns, Jazz, Clippers
Games Week 9 (3 games): Weds. vs. Pelicans | Fri. at Nuggets | Sat. at Blazers

At the top of my trade deadline, ‘Buyers’ list is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Let’s face it — they have no choice. A franchise can’t be investing into young talents and paying them max dollars just to be a perennial late lottery pick.

Playing Andrew Wiggins as the starting point guard also doesn’t seem like the best bet. They only just moved him back into his natural shooting guard role and already shifted him again. The reason appears double-sided.

First of all, Jeff Teague isn’t consistently delivering for Ryan Saunders as a starter although he’s performed well as a reserve. He’s in the final year of his contract earning $19 million and no doubt President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas will likely include him in any big trades.

The other reason is the performance of Josh Okogie and wanting to get their rookie Jarrett Culver more burn. He’d be better served to come off the bench and also getting him a bit of run with a hybrid lineup though as his shooting percentages aren’t ideal.

Karl-Anthony Towns won’t be happy to not get the spotlight he so desperately covets and needs the playoffs to maximize. OKC Thunder fans will need to keep an eye on this situation with a few point guards who might fit Minnesota’s need
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