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Big trade enables Illinois basketball stars to team up in the NBA

It was a big start to the NBA trade deadline day, as a former Illinois basketball great is on the move.
ByRees Woodcock|
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Feb 5, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) congratulates center Rudy Gobert (27) on his dunk as Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) walks to his bench after a timeout was called during the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Feb 5, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) congratulates center Rudy Gobert (27) on his dunk as Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) walks to his bench after a timeout was called during the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images | Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

The NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the Illinois basketball team has a former player on the move.

The quantity of former Illini in The Association continues to grow, and that means a greater possibility that a player or two will be moved on the trade deadline.

On Thursday, that trade finally happened. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Chicago Bulls are trading former Illinois great Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In return for Dosunmu, the Bulls are getting back former first-round pick Rob Dillingham as well as Leonard Miller and four second-round picks. Julian Phillips is also heading to Minnesota with Dosunmu.

The 26-year-old guard is having the best season of his career. His value couldn’t be higher, and the Bulls decided to pounce on the chance to move him for maximum value. Dosunmu is currently averaging a career-high 15.0 points per game to go along with 3.6 assists and 2.0 rebounds. He is also shooting a career-high 4.3 three-pointers per game and converting at a career-high 45.1%.

Ayo Dousnmu moving from the Chicago Bulls to the Minnesota Timberwolves gives Illinois basketball fans a lot to cheer for

Dosunmu getting traded is great for him and his future. He now goes from a Bulls team that barely treads water to a Timberwolves organization that is in the playoff hunt and potentially a title hunt every season.

As it stands right now, Chicago is 24-27 and in the final play-in spot as a No. 10 seed. Meanwhile, Minnesota is 32-20 and sitting in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference. They are only three games out of the No. 2 spot.

On top of Dosunmu going to a contender, he gets to team up with former Illinois star Terrence Shannon Jr.

Shannon has been out with an abductor strain and has yet to return since late December. Once he gets back healthy, I fully expect both players to see the court. With the trade, Minnesota has cleared room in the backcourt for the Illinois duo.

The two Chicago kids are about to team up in Minnesota. This should be some fun basketball to watch, and hopefully, they can bring a championship to the Timberwolves.

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