Scoggins: Timberwolves’ current rut shows need to act at trade deadline

Subtlety isn’t Tim Connelly’s style as a deal maker. The Timberwolves president typically makes the biggest splash possible when tinkering with the roster.

Something less seismic is a likelier outcome this time with the NBA trade deadline two weeks away, but sitting inactive cannot be an option. A fourth consecutive loss Thursday, Jan. 22, highlighted the need for action.

A point guard is preferable, but more important than position, Connelly needs to find one more reliable option for the rotation. Someone who provides a jolt and improves depth that is woefully lacking.

Two discussion points remained pertinent after the Wolves’ 120-115 home loss to the Chicago Bulls: The point guard situation and the team’s propensity to toggle between casual and serious performances.

Can both areas be addressed and solved with one trade deadline? Ideally.

Start at point guard. The season began with debate over whether Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham or Donte DiVincenzo would serve as the primary point guard.

Turns out, the answer is none of the above.

That plan is born more out of necessity than desire though. A true starting-caliber point guard doesn’t exist on the roster at present, and the distribution of minutes in the backup role remains problematic.

Conley’s physical limitations have become glaring even in a reduced role. The veteran brought professionalism at a time when the locker room desperately needed it, but his impact on the court is just not the same at age 38.

Dillingham has yet to secure a spot in Chris Finch’s circle of trust, and the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft is not part of the regular rotation. Bones Hyland runs hot and cold.

Conley and Hyland combined for only six points on 2-of-11 shooting against the Bulls.

The options are not ideal, which puts the onus on Connelly to swing a trade that adds a more reliable piece — again, point guard is a plus — that gives the bench more firepower besides Naz Reid.

The ideal scenario is a veteran who can be counted on — night in, night out — to provide consistent production. As it is, the roster has too many inconsistencies and uncertainties beyond the top six.

The Wolves have shown that their best punch is good enough against the NBA’s elite teams. But doing so on a random winter night as one game in 82 is totally different than defeating the Thunder or Spurs four times in a seven-game series when the sole focus is game planning for one opponent.

The Wolves are 3-10 against the six teams ahead of them in the Western Conference standings. That’s concerning.

A deflating road trip rolled into another defensive dud at home against the Bulls. The team’s collective energy too often reflects the quality of opponent.

“Mental focus,” center Rudy Gobert said. “Too many letdowns defensively. We can talk about a lot of things, but I think that’s what allows us to be great. When you don’t have that, we don’t put ourselves in position to win. Regardless of who we face, we’ve got to compete and stay locked in on the defensive end.”

The Wolves have too many occasions in which players appear to be waiting for someone to flip a switch. The Western Conference is a juggernaut. Playoff seeding will be critical in determining how challenging their path looks. Players should find urgency in that.

“I’m not looking [at the standings],” Gobert said. “I’m more worried about the way we play.”