Wolves trade Covington, four others in major roster shuffle

Chris Long

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As part of a massive four-team trade agreement the Timberwolves are trading Robert Covington, Jordan Bell, Keita Bates-Diop, Shabazz Napier and Noah Vonleh in exchange for Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez, Evan Turner, Jarred Vanderbilt and a future first-round draft pick.

The deal was reported by several national outlets late Tuesday night and confirmed by a source to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson.

Houston, Denver and Atlanta were all involved in the deal that also included Clint Capela leaving Houston for Atlanta, Covington landing in Houston, and Denver receiving a first-round pick from Houston.

TIMBERWOLVES TRADE SUMMARY:

  • OUT: Keita Bates-Diop, Jordan Bell, Robert Covington, Shabazz Napier, Noah Vonleh
  • IN: Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez, Evan Turner, Jerred Vanderbilt, lottery-protected Nets 1st-rounder

The first round pick is a lottery-protected Brooklyn Nets slot that was held by the Atlanta Hawks. If Brooklyn makes the playoffs in the current season, the Wolves will get Brooklyn’s pick in the upcoming 2020 Draft. If the Nets miss the playoffs and qualify for the draft lottery, the pick rolls over to 2021 – and potentially 2022 – with the same protections.

The primary players in the deal are Robert Covington in the outgoing quintent, and Malik Beasley among those joining the Wolves.

Covington provided leadership, defense and a wing presence in his 66-game tenure with teh Wolves. He joined the team in time to play 22 games last season and 48 this season.

Beasley is a 6’4, 23-year-old guard out of Florida State who averaged 7.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 40 games this season with Denver.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Robert Covington, right, checks the scoreboard in the final seconds of overtime against the Sacramento Kings as Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng, left, and Timberwolves center Naz Reid, center look on during an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Minneapolis. The Kings won 133-129 in overtime. [(AP Photo/Craig Lassig)]

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, this 12-player deal is the largest in the NBA since the New York Knicks sent Patrick Ewing to Seattle in 2000.