Timberwolves among 'best fits' for these 3 trade candidates
The Timberwolves are a true contender and that means they'll likely be looking to patch holes on the roster before the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline. With the clock ticking, three names have been linked to the Timberwolves via The Athletic's NBA Trade Board.
These aren't direct, local insider reports saying the Timberwolves are interested. These are three players that Minnesota is labeled among teams that are considered "best fits" for their services. And it should come as no surprise that all three are guards who can shoot.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks
A scoring shooting guard could be exactly what Minnesota needs to improve its offense. The 31-year-old is averaging 17.3 points per game for the Hawks and he's a bargain with three years and $49.3 million left on his contract.
According to The Athletic, the price to get Bogdanovic is a first-round pick and expiring salary. Minnesota is a bit short on first-round picks because of the Rudy Gobert trade in 2022 and the expiring contract they'd likely have to give up to get Bogdanovic belongs to Kyle Anderson, and trading him might not be a viable option for head coach Chris Finch.
If the Timberwolves did go this route, they have first-round picks in 2024, 2028 and 2030 that they could part with. Also needing to make the money work, the price for Bogdanovic might be something like the 2024 first-round pick, Anderson and Shake Milton.
Dec 11, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) reacts after a basket against the Denver Nuggets in the second half at State Farm Arena.
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Tyus Jones, Washington Wizards
The Athletic predicts that multiple high second-round picks will be enough to land Jones in a trade. The Minnesota native returning to the Timberwolves to become the backup point guard to Mike Conley makes sense on a bunch of different levels, including Jones' ability to run a turnover-free offense and shoot from 3.
Jones is averaging 12.5 points and 5.6 assists while shooting 42.6% from 3-point range this season, including better than 50% since mid-December.
Jones is on an expiring contract so the Timberwolves could try to sign him to an extension with the idea that he takes over for Conley when Conley's contract is up in 2025.
Would Minnesota want to give up the Memphis or Washington second-rounder they have in the 2024 NBA Draft? It'll be a high second-round pick that might not be much less valuable than the late first-round pick they're on pace to have.
Royce O'Neale, Brooklyn Nets
The 30-year-old could reunite with his former Utah teammates Rudy Gobert and Conley in Minnesota, where he could be a backup wing that provides 3-point shooting and strong defense.
O'Neale is hitting 36.7% of his 3s in about 25 minutes per game off the bench for the Nets this season.
Like Jones, the price tag on O'Neale might be a couple of high second-round picks.
