The Minnesota Timberwolves made a pair of trades on Tuesday making their team younger, and continuing to rebuild a club that is languishing in the basement of the NBA’s Western Conference.
First they traded Mo Williams and Troy Daniels to the Charlotte Hornets, for Gary Neal and a second round draft pick. The move saves the Timberwolves some money now, gives them Neal on an expiring contract this summer, and adds a draft pick for the future. Meanwhile the Hornets get some backcourt help, after Kemba Walker went down with an injury, as the team looks to stay in the playoff hunt.
Trade: @hornets have acquired G Mo Williams, G Troy Daniels & cash considerations from Timberwolves for G Gary Neal & 2nd Rd Draft Pick.
— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) February 10, 2015
The 2nd Rd Draft Pick the @hornets traded to Minnesota is Miami’s 2019 2nd Rd Pick that CHA acquired in the 2014 NBA Draft.
— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) February 10, 2015
The Timberwolves then turned around and traded a future first round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Adreian Payne, who the Hawks took with the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft.
TRADE UPDATE: We have acquired a future first-round pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Adreian Payne.
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 10, 2015
The first round pick the Wolves are sending the Hawks is lottery protected from 2017-2020 according to sources.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 10, 2015
Payne has spent most of this season in the D-League, suiting up in just three games for the first place Hawks. Now with Minnesota, he can get valuable minutes and development, while the Hawks acquire a piece for the future, or to move in a trade deadline deal for current assets to complement their suddenly contending club.
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