{"id":49217,"date":"2023-02-08T19:51:55","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T00:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=49217"},"modified":"2023-02-08T19:51:55","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T00:51:55","slug":"four-players-the-minnesota-timberwolves-should-not-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/02\/08\/four-players-the-minnesota-timberwolves-should-not-trade\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Players the Minnesota Timberwolves Should Not Trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today’s NBA has been all about supermassive stars burning ever bright in the basketball sky. LeBron James<\/strong><\/a> just eclipsed the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/strong><\/a> in career points. Kyrie Irving<\/strong>‘s saga has continued in a thrilling yet predictable manner. Who cares about all that? Everyone? Yeah, fair enough. Teams DO need elite talent, but today the superstars will have to share the sky with the everyman “Glue guy.”<\/p>\n

Four Players the Minnesota Timberwolves Should Not Trade at the Deadline<\/h2>\n

What is a Glue Guy?<\/h3>\n

“Glue guys aren’t superstars. They’re not the number one option. They just do things only coaches really appreciate. The stars get the headlines, but glue guys help you get in the winner’s circle. I don’t think you can win without that kind of player.” – Dicky V<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Glue guys don’t all look the same, but they all accomplish the same thing: impact the game in quieter ways. They’re not the featured names on SportsCenter’s box score highlights. Anthony Edwards<\/strong><\/a>, Karl-Anthony Towns<\/strong><\/a>, Rudy Gobert<\/strong><\/a>, D’Angelo Russell<\/strong><\/a>… they’re always in headlines and discussions. It’s not that they don’t contribute to winning, they do, but the point is there’s more to winning than just splash plays<\/a> (contrary to what highlight culture subconsciously tells you).<\/p>\n

Introducing the Minnesota Timberwolves Glue Crew<\/h3>\n

Jordan McLaughlin<\/strong><\/a>, Kyle Anderson<\/strong><\/a>, Jaden McDaniels<\/strong><\/a>, and Taurean Prince<\/strong><\/a> are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th in net rating for the Timberwolves this season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They each bring helpful traits to push the Wolves to victory.<\/p>\n

Jordan McLaughlin<\/h3>\n

McLaughlin has been around long enough to escape the usual role-player treatment. Coaches and fans alike have showered Jordan McLaughlin with praise. His energy, poise, and mistake-free game fit on any roster, especially the Timberwolves. He’s able to stifle ball handlers at the point of attack, peskily grabbing 2.1 steals per 36 minutes in his career. He rarely turns the ball over; remember when he converted 58 assists<\/a> before committing a single<\/strong><\/span> turnover?<\/p>\n

Kyle Anderson<\/h3>\n

A breakout season in 2020-21 put Kyle Anderson on the official “Remarkable Role Player” list. He averaged 12-6-4 on 54 percent eFG%, but his impact is heavier when watching games. Though Slow-Mo (or SloMo, Wolves Twitter is still debating this) is challenged velocity-wise, every dribble he takes is a strong and effective one. You see, he’s not slow like a tortoise; he’s slow like honey. He flows\u00a0<\/em>from place to place, not crawls. He’s been a zone beater from the top of the key, a big-man stunter in the paint to allow Rudy to be on patrol duty, and a cashable three points on a ball swing.<\/p>\n

Jaden McDaniels<\/h3>\n

Jaden McDaniels may soon graduate from Glue-cademy should he make an All-Defense roster. Nevertheless, he’s in this article, and he’s considered a role player for today.<\/p>\n

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Jaden McDaniels reduces shot quality and suppresses FGA on high USG% players more than any perimeter defender in the NBA. He\u2019s also holding opponents to -7.5 FG% lower than expected at the rim (94th percentile). Elite perimeter and weak-side rim defender\u2026<\/p>\n

Has to be All-Defense pic.twitter.com\/XntwlwwJl9<\/a><\/p>\n

— NBA University (@NBA_University) February 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n