Minnesota Sports Forum

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:21 pm From Brett Siegel of Clutch Points:

"Hawks veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic has drawn attention from the Minnesota Timberwolves in recent weeks, sources said. However, Minnesota's cap situation and Bogdanovic's contract do not line up well. In attempts to upgrade their roster, the Timberwolves have shown a level of willingness to discuss Kyle Anderson's future, seeing as he is in the final year of his contract."

Not sure this ends up working out, but this is the type of move and defense vs. offense tradeoff that the front office is weighing right now. Now this guy is a legit high volume 3-point shooter. Career 44% from the corners, including 49% this year. Positive net rating and positive net on/off rating for four consecutive seasons. He absolutely MUST be guarded beyond the arc.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:48 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:21 pm From Brett Siegel of Clutch Points:

"Hawks veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic has drawn attention from the Minnesota Timberwolves in recent weeks, sources said. However, Minnesota's cap situation and Bogdanovic's contract do not line up well. In attempts to upgrade their roster, the Timberwolves have shown a level of willingness to discuss Kyle Anderson's future, seeing as he is in the final year of his contract."

Not sure this ends up working out, but this is the type of move and defense vs. offense tradeoff that the front office is weighing right now. Now this guy is a legit high volume 3-point shooter. Career 44% from the corners, including 49% this year. Positive net rating and positive net on/off rating for four consecutive seasons. He absolutely MUST be guarded beyond the arc.

That's an interesting one, Q. Although, I am guessing it is part smoke, part due diligence. Apart from the inferred skill set the Wolves might be pursuing, I find it interesting that the Wolves may have shown interest in that kind of salary. I mean, that's more than a SloMo trade!

So I'll say this: could interest in this kind of salary indicate a potential trade of one of our higher salary players?

FNG wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 6:46 am Bogdanovic can shoot, but he can't defend...I would not be in favor of giving up anyone in our current rotation to get him. This team is built on defense, and he doesn't bring anything there. And with a team 3-point average of 39.1% (second only to the Clippers 39.2%), more three-point shooting doesn't seem to be much of a need. I say no.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:51 am

FNG wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 6:46 am Bogdanovic can shoot, but he can't defend...I would not be in favor of giving up anyone in our current rotation to get him. This team is built on defense, and he doesn't bring anything there. And with a team 3-point average of 39.1% (second only to the Clippers 39.2%), more three-point shooting doesn't seem to be much of a need. I say no.

C'mon FNG, you can't just look at 3 pt%! You're smart enough to know that volume matters too. We simply don't take enough and teams are going to continue to clog the paint to prevent Ant, KAT, and Gobert from getting buckets at the rim. A clear example of this is Kyle Anderson, whose horrible 3pt% hardly weighs down the team 3pt% because he hardly takes any. And he is clearly hurting the offense!

I do agree that there is a defensive dropoff if Kyle gets swapped out for a 3-pt sniper like Bogdan, so I myself am on the fence with that tradeoff. But go look at Bogdan's net rating and net on/off rating for the past four seasons. Obviously whatever he is doing is leading to winning basketball, so his defense can't be THAT bad.

FNG wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:38 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:51 am

FNG wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 6:46 am Bogdanovic can shoot, but he can't defend...I would not be in favor of giving up anyone in our current rotation to get him. This team is built on defense, and he doesn't bring anything there. And with a team 3-point average of 39.1% (second only to the Clippers 39.2%), more three-point shooting doesn't seem to be much of a need. I say no.

C'mon FNG, you can't just look at 3 pt%! You're smart enough to know that volume matters too. We simply don't take enough and teams are going to continue to clog the paint to prevent Ant, KAT, and Gobert from getting buckets at the rim. A clear example of this is Kyle Anderson, whose horrible 3pt% hardly weighs down the team 3pt% because he hardly takes any. And he is clearly hurting the offense!

I do agree that there is a defensive dropoff if Kyle gets swapped out for a 3-pt sniper like Bogdan, so I myself am on the fence with that tradeoff. But go look at Bogdan's net rating and net on/off rating for the past four seasons. Obviously whatever he is doing is leading to winning basketball, so his defense can't be THAT bad.

Q, I agree that volume matters, and Kyle doesn't help there at all. But Kyle helps out in so many other ways...not only has he been a terrific defender this season, but he is also a key part of Finchie's offensive design against zone defenses. Kyle immediately moves into the lane when an opponent goes zone, and has been very good in distributing in that role.

All that said, there's no question that Bogdanovic's shooting would be a great help off the bench. But when I look at the five players we would have to give up to match salaries, I think this trade would leave us with a deleted bench. Not to mention I don't like the idea of shaking things up when we are in first place. Interesting idea, but I still would be opposed.