Timberwolves Showing Interest in Malcolm Brogdon

The NBA trade deadline is drawing near and the rumor mill is starting to churn because of it. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves have lost two-straight games, including an embarrassing L vs the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night that saw Karl-Anthony Towns go for 62 points and Chris Finch give his most damning postgame press conference of the season, by far.

Related: 5 Players that Fit Minnesota Timberwolves Perfectly at NBA Trade Deadline

Of course, two losses aren’t going to force Tim Connelly’s hand, when the Wolves are still sitting atop the Western Conference. Nonetheless, it’s becoming more and more obvious that he needs to do something to bolster and shake up the locker room a little bit before embarking on the most important 2nd half of a season in recent franchise history.

Minnesota Timberwolves showing interest in Malcolm Brogdon

Things have been mostly quiet on the rumor front too, until late Monday night when NBA insider Sam Amico (HoopsWire) named the Minnesota Timberwolves as one of at least four teams that are showing interest in Portland Trail Blazers guard, Malcolm Brogdon.

“Lakers, Knicks interested in Malcolm Brogdon. TWolves and Rockets among others, per Hoops Wire sources.”

Sam Amico – HoopsWire

This is the first time the Wolves have been linked to Brogdon, but he makes a ton of sense. Not only is he the reigning 6th man of the year, which is the exact type of ball-handling guard Chris Finch would like to pair next to Naz Reid on the 2nd unit, but he’s a 31-year-old veteran who can bring some more much needed maturity to Minnesota’s locker room.

Talks surrounding Brogdon have heated up recently, after the Blazers moved him into a bench role, in favor of young blossoming superstar, Scoot Henderson, making him possibly the most gettable high-end ball-handling bench guard on the trade deadline market. He’s averaging 15.5 points and 5.3 assists per game, and a 42% hit rate from deep.

Malcolm Brogdon making things happen for the Blazers from deep 🎯pic.twitter.com/lxCeMBAWdd

— Blazers Nation (@BlazersNationCP) January 18, 2024

The former Virginia star is making $22.5 million on the first season of a two-year deal that he signed last offseason. Money the Timberwolves send out would have to be very similar to how much of Brogdon’s contract the Wolves have to eat, due to how tight they are up against the luxury tax line.

Related: NBA Insider Wants Timberwolves to Trade Kyle Anderson for Doug McDermott

If Minnesota were to deal for Brogdon, his stay would probably be limited. If you think the Wolves’ luxury tax situation this season is bad, wait until next year when it becomes 100x worse.

But the contract obstacles shouldn’t be too difficult to work out. Brogdon is a really good point guard and he’s on a short-term deal. Those types of contracts are as good as gold on the NBA trade market. According to The Athletic, Malcolm shouldn’t cost as much, from an asset standpoint, as other players Tim Connelly might target on the trade block.

Brogdon’s contract isn’t for an overly aggressive amount if he continues to produce as a bigger lead guard. Teams who could use a bit of shooting and backcourt punch, make a ton of sense for Brogdon if they don’t want to shell out premium assets for other players.

The Athletic

There have been some rumors heating up this morning surrounding Brogdon and a possible trade to the New York Knicks but Knicks insider Ian Begley says there have been no advanced talks between New York and Portland.