Rumors are swirling around the NBA draft. The Timberwolves and President Gersson Rosas are in the thick of it.
Multiple reports have the Wolves wanting to trade up from the No. 11 pick with New Orleans to get the No. 4 pick, presumably to draft Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland.
One report from Stadium mentioned the Wolves may be dangling Robert Covington as potential trade bait to move up. Covington has a team friendly contract and when healthy is one of the best defenders in the NBA. Covington is making around $36 million total over the next three seasons.
A source said the Wolves have had a lot of conversations with different teams but as of Thursday morning no deal was close to getting done. Scenarios and talks could change quickly, the source added.
In order to move up, the Wolves would likely have to give up a player on a good contract, which includes assets like Covington, Dario Saric or Josh Okogie.
They might also have to take back a burdensome contract, like Solomon Hill, who has one year and about $12 million left on his deal. Hill played in 44 games last year, averaging 4.3 points per game.
Rosas hasn't ruled out making any type of move if he thinks it's going to benefit the long-term future of the franchise, and he knows the price of moving up in the draft could be costly.
"History will tell you it's hard to trade up into the top three of the draft, even top five in the lottery," Rosas said. "It's very difficult. We know because we're tried, and will continue to try. But that price, the premium that teams charge for that is at a high level in any draft in any year."
