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Rumor has it that Minnesota is a team worth watching as the NBA trade deadline approaches

INGLEWOOD— Over the past three games, the Minnesota Timberwolves have looked like the team they wanted to be. The defense was better, with perimeter defenders flying around and everything anchored by Rudy Gobert. The team has used that to play faster with more transition opportunities for guys like Anthony Edwards, and the Timberwolves are taking care of the ball. Everything seems to be coming together, even though the three wins in a row came against the slumping Lakers and a small Clippers team. There are tests against Golden State this weekend, and other games in the coming weeks, which could be a better benchmark.

Mike Conley attributed the team’s turnaround to the way it responded to a recent loss to Sacramento at home.

“It was a moment where we were all against the wall. One where you look up and the season could go one way or the other,” Conley said after the Timberwolves eliminated the Clippers on Wednesday. “You can hit rock bottom very quickly, and we had to put our foot down and say, ‘You know what we want to do with this season? What do we want to be? Who are we, where are we going?’ Challenge each individual man, challenge ourselves individually, look in the mirror, things like that, and we all responded really well.”

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Executives around the league aren’t so convinced. Julius Randle has been awkward next to Gobert so far (again, that has looked better the last few games, but will continue to do so), DiVincenzo played 77% of his minutes last season as the two guards and worked for New York, but is asked to be the point guard off the bench for Minnesota and 66% of his minutes are on that one, and he has struggled. Conley looks old.

That has executives thinking Minnesota could be active at the trade deadline in February, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reports.

That’s why Minnesota has been labeled as a prospect by decision makers around the league between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Yes, the Wolves are coming off comfortable wins against the reeling Lakers and shorthanded Clippers, but they have higher aspirations than competing for the final play-in spot, where they currently sit.

“Just because you’re trading up for talent, it has to be a good fit. They have to learn and adapt,” one scout said. ‘Let’s make another trade soon [right before training camp] is difficult. So I’m empathetic.”

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If Minnesota’s strong play in the last three games proves to be an illusion, they could look to be active at the trade deadline. However, with the team already over the second luxury tax apron, there are numerous restrictions on their ability to make a deal. They can’t add multiple salaries together, they have to bring back less money than they spend, and that’s just the beginning. – making it unlikely we’ll see any more blockbuster moves from the Timberwolves.

Chris Finch and that locker room are going to have to figure it out with this group of guys. Changes are more likely next offseason.

We’ll find out soon enough if Minnesota starts to figure things out, or if this team will stay where it is now, at 11-10 and fight for a play-in spot.

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