Countdown to trade deadline Thursday is the NBA's trade deadline and the Wolves could trade veteran Luke Ridnour for a bigger guard by then. Here's some options they'll consider:

Raja Bell/Alec Burks, Utah: The Jazz, intent on making the playoffs again, seek a long-term answer at point guard but might opt for Ridnour's stabilizing veteran leadership while injured starter Mo Williams remains out at least another month. Burks is a young, gifted shooting guard with talent, but the Jazz isn't likely to deal him. Bell is a veteran defender with size who has been exiled from Utah all season.

Evan Turner, Philadelphia: The Sixers have gauged trade interest in the 2010 draft's second overall pick who just never has quite fit their system. At 6-7, he'd add needed backcourt size, but does he possess the shooting and playmaking abilities needed at shooting guard, or is he really a small forward? And would the Sixers be willing to swap one underachieving No. 2 overall pick for another?

Ronnie Brewer/Iman Shumpert, New York: The Knicks don't need another point guard, but they do need another bench scorer if they intend to challenge Miami and Ridnour is more the latter than the former anyway. The Wolves pursued Brewer in free agency last summer before he signed with New York and then was relegated to the end of the Knicks bench. Shumpert is a promising defender just back from ACL surgery, but he probably isn't going anywhere.

Courtney Lee, Boston: Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo is out for the season because of a torn ACL and Lee, Jason Terry and Avery Bradley aren't really point guards. Lee played for Rick Adelman in Houston, and the Wolves had some interest in the 6-5 swingman during last summer's free agency.

Longer shots Eric Gordon, New Orleans: Huge contract and questionable knee.

Mct - Mct, Star Tribune

DeMar DeRozan, Toronto: Wolves could have drafted him No. 6 overall in 2009 rather than Jonny Flynn.