Future Timberwolves: Anthony Morrow?

According to Darren Wolfson of KSTP, the latest rumor out there involves the Timberwolves interest in New Jersey Nets guard Anthony Morrow.  In the same tweet Wolfson commented that the Nets did indeed plan on keeping him, but this rumor sure is intriguing.  After all, Morrow made 8 3-pointers and scored 42 points when the Wolves beat the Nets about a month ago.  That kind of shooter is right up the alley of the Wolves current needs.  Let's break down the numbers on Anthony Morrow.

Morrow is a 6'5", 210 pound shooting guard in his 4th NBA season, after spending four full seasons at Georgia Tech.  He went undrafted in the 2008 draft, but was signed as a free agent by the Golden State Warriors.  After two seasons with the Warriors, Morrow was traded to the Nets in 2010 for a 2nd round draft pick, which the Warriors never received (it was top 55 protected).  I guess that means the Warriors basically gave him to the Nets.  That's an interesting point because in his two seasons with the Warriors, Morrow shot 46% from 3-point range and averaged 11.6 points per game.  Why would they give him away for nothing?

In the last season and a half with the Nets, Morrow has averaged 13.1 points per game, playing about 30 minutes a night.  He is a career 44% 3-point shooter, 89% free throw shooter, and averages 15.7 points per 36 minutes.  His career field goal percentage is nearly 46%, which is very solid for a 2-guard.  Outside of flat out shooting the basketball, though, his game offers very little.

His career line outside of his shot looks like this: 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game.  His career ORtg (Offensive Rating) is 114 points per 100 possessions, which has been very consistent all four seasons.  His DRtg (Defensive Rating) however is 115 points per 100 possessions, which has also been steady his whole career.  To give a comparison, Wesley Johnson's career ORtg is 97, while his DRtg is 110.  Luke Ridnour's career numbers look like this: ORtg = 109, DRtg = 111.

Morrow can flat out shoot the ball, there is no question.  However, defensively it seems he would be a downgrade from even the likes of Luke Ridnour.

I don't know what it would take to get a guy like Anthony Morrow.  I would assume Beasley would be more than enough, and maybe the same would go for Derrick Williams.  Who knows if the Nets would be willing to give Wes Johnson a shot.  I know if I were the Nets GM, I wouldn't take Wes for Morrow.  There would definitely need to be more to that trade, probably in the form of draft picks.  The Nets do have a pretty high salary number right now in the $64M range, so maybe they would take just a 2nd rounder in return considering they aren't in playoff contention at this point.  They are probably also looking to make room under the cap to sign some big free agents - Deron Williams included - when they move to Brooklyn next year.  That could be the one thing in the Wolves favor here, even though Morrow is only making $4M this year and next.

As we mentioned in the beginning, it's not likely that the Nets would be willing to trade Morrow in the first place.  If they were, I definitely wouldn't move Beasley or Williams for him.  If an offer of Morrow for a 2nd rounder came up, however, it would be tough not to jump on this guy.  He sure can light up the scoreboard, and would give the Wolves a legitimate 3-point threat.

Follow Wolves Rubes on Twitter @wolvesrubes.