D’Angelo Russell has declared it a dream come true to be teaming up with longtime friend Karl-Anthony Towns for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The guard was acquired by the Timberwolves in a shocking trade that sent Andrew Wiggins to the Golden State Warriors. Following years of experimenting, Minnesota seemingly decided it was time to head in a new direction.
With recent reports suggesting that Towns may be unhappy, the Timberwolves had to make sure their All-Star player remained satisfied with the front office, and they apparently did just that. While Russell seems to be thrilled to be joining the Timberwolves, Towns appears to be even more excited to join forces with the guard.
“We’ve played with each other in the summer, and we have a lot of experience of playing with each other, and you know, I think it’s going to be very scary for opponents when they’re going to have to figure out ways to guard us. And it’s going to be very scary when they have to see what we can do, especially together with the cohesiveness and connectedness that we have,” Towns said during a media appearance, according to Twin Cities .
The two players met during their high school days and shared some battles on the court. In the past, they both voiced their wish to play together at some point. Now they have an opportunity to do so, in the prime of their careers no less. Although the Timberwolves will once again miss the playoffs in the 2019-20 season, with Russell at the helm, Towns believes that will change next year, as opponents will struggle to defend the duo.
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— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 7, 2020
Only time will tell if his prediction proves to be true. As talented as the two are on the offensive end, Towns and Russell have been criticized for their lack of defensive presence. They could undoubtedly benefit from being surrounded by defensive specialists to take a bit of pressure off them. While Russell is disappointed to have had such a brief stint with the Warriors, he is optimistic about the potential of his partnership with Towns on the court.
As previously noted by The Inquisitr , Draymond Green was supportive of the trade, claiming that it was a win-win for both teams, as Wiggins fits in with the current Warriors cast. Green also added that Russell deserves to be in a situation in which he is the starting point guard with his very own team to run.