Timberwolves: This version of D’Angelo Russell will get paid this offseason
The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t extend D’Angelo Russell over the offseason, making this a contract year for the former Ohio State standout. DLo has played at an All-Star level over the last nine games, and if he keeps it up, he will get paid this summer.
Through the first couple weeks of the NBA season, it was clear the Timberwolves made the correct decision to not extend Russell.
Russell’s stats from 10/19-11/22:
- 13.8 PPG (41.5 FG%, 31.6 3P%), 6.2 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.7 TOV
DLo couldn’t make a shot, play defense, and constantly turned the ball over. Many fans were calling for Jordan McLaughlin to start (including me), but Russell has shut those people up over the last nine games.
Russell’s stats from 11/23-12/10 (nine games):
- 21.2 PPG (53.3 FG%, 42.9 3P%), 6.4 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 3.1 TOV
He still makes questionable decisions, but you can live with some of those mistakes when he’s shooting the lights out of the gym. Over the last nine games, we’re seeing vintage Brooklyn Nets DLo.
Russell has really found a groove playing with Rudy Gobert. When the Timberwolves made the trade for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, everyone looked to DLo as the player this most impacted. It’s no secret that he plays best with a rolling big man, and he’s reaping the benefits of the trade.
He’s utilizing Gobert’s screens and finding open space in the mid-range.
The former first-round pick has not been a good defensive player throughout his career, but recently, he’s been one of the Wolves’ most active players on that end of the floor. He’s playing with active hands, staying in front of his man and has been a vocal leader.
Not only is he scoring the ball efficiently and getting others involved, but he’s almost single-handedly winning basketball games in the fourth quarter.
Over the last nine games, DLo is averaging 7.3 points on 64.9 percent from the field and 63.6 percent from 3 in the fourth quarter.
After wheeling his team to victory against the Utah Jazz, a game in which he dropped 20 points in the fourth quarter, DLo said this about his recent performances:
“I feel like money.”
As he should; if he continues to play like this for the rest of the season, not only will he feel like money, but his bank account will reflect it.
Russell was not good at the beginning of the season, but he’s recently found a spark and is playing at an All-Star level. With Karl-Anthony Towns out of the lineup for another month or so, the Timberwolves will need this version of DLo if they want to remain competitive.
It’s only been nine games, and the Timberwolves will need to see this consistently throughout the season, but this version of Russell will get paid this offseason.
