The night the Wolves lost out on the D’Angelo Russell sweepstakes in July, they did something that seemed like self-inflicted insult to injury – they helped facilitate Russell’s sign-and-trade from the Nets to the Warriors by taking on Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham from Brooklyn for the right to Lior Eliyahu of the Israeli league.
So perhaps it was fitting the Wolves fans got their first up-close look at Graham and Napier against Israel’s Maccabi Haifa at Target Center in a 131-101 exhibition victory.
Coach Ryan Saunders will be using the final week of the preseason to mold what the Wolves are going to look like come opening night next week in Brooklyn, and one thing emerged Sunday – Graham and Napier appear to be more than just trade filler.