Before the 2021-22 season, 90 percent of Minnesota Timberwolves fans were OK with trading D’Angelo Russell. However, with the way he’s been playing this season, is he too valuable to trade?

The only two players that are off-limits for the Timberwolves are Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Entering the season, the biggest question mark was on defense. After finishing the 2020-21 season 28th in defensive rating, the hope for Minnesota was to finish somewhere between 15-and-20. They’re currently eighth, with a rating of 107.1.

This is no small sample size either, we’re well past a quarter of the way done with the season.

A large part of this transformed defense is because of Russell. You could make a case that the former No. 2 pick overall pick is the fourth-best defender behind Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Josh Okogie. Jaden McDaniels and Towns have to be considered as well.

This can only be taken in the context of what he does defensively for this team. If he was guarding the best perimeter ball-handler, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. Russell plays free safety on defense, which essentially means he sits in the painted area, sniffs out steals, and calls out what the opposing team is doing on offense.

For years, Minnesota has been searching for a power forward to quarterback the defense from the weak side alongside Karl-Anthony Towns:

Insert D’Angelo Russell.

D’Lo has morphed into one of the Wolves’ most connective defenders.pic.twitter.com/RMdKkJzp6K

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) December 13, 2021

Of players who have played at least 20 games, Russell ranks 11th in defensive rating (99.0). Never in a million years would I have believed that DLo is one of the better defenders in the NBA.

He’s having his worst career season offensively, but that will turn around as the year continues. He’s too gifted to be shooting 39.2 percent from the field and 34.1 from 3. Despite some early offensive struggles, he’s been one of the best players in the NBA in clutch time.

He’s currently averaging 4.1 points (6th in NBA) and has been huge in close battles.

After last night's win in Portland, D'Angelo Russell ranks 3rd in clutch-time points (51) & 1st in clutch-time 3PTM (7).

He had 2 crucial 3's last night & when he did miss the NBA's 7th leading offensive rebounder was there to cash in & put the Wolves in front for good. pic.twitter.com/sHuVTbvdjM

— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) December 13, 2021

When Russell isn’t quarterbacking the defense and making clutch plays, he’s instilling confidence in the younger players. He’s become one of the bigger leaders on the Timberwolves, and a lot of his teammates look up to him, including Jaylen Nowell.

He’s definitely like a big brother. Ever since he came here, we started playing together, playing a couple 1-on-1s at practice and stuff. He always told me, he said he believed in me. So every single day he’s been on me, making sure I get better with reading the game, not just scoring but finding guys.

Dane Moore

Nowell goes on to say that the success he’s found in the NBA is because of Russell’s mentorship.

Could Russell be had in a trade? Sure. He’s not untouchable, but it would have to be for the right price. DLo is having a really good season for the Timberwolves, and it’s no surprise that Minnesota is better with him in the lineup.

When Russell doesn’t play, they’re 0-5. If I were Sachin Gupta and the front office, I wouldn’t move DLo because he’s too valuable.