It is the worst-kept secret in the NBA that the Minnesota Timberwolves are in dire need of more shooting prowess. Last night in Los Angeles, the Wolves made just four three-pointers as a team en route to an 11-point loss to the Clippers in which the team failed to crack 90 points.
With two starters out of the lineup, Minnesota struggled mightily to get an offensive flow going, and it was not helped by the fact that they have been lacking in three-point shooting all season long. They will continue to look like this if additional moves are not made.
With December 15th arriving, NBA players who signed new contracts in the offseason will be eligible to be traded to new teams, and there will be plenty of shooters on the market made available. There is one name in particular that the Timberwolves may want to look into: Bojan Bogdanovic.
The Minnesota Timberwolves may want to pursue Bojan Bogdanovic
After signing with the Detroit Pistons in the offseason, Bogdanovic has been enjoying a stellar season. He is currently averaging career highs in points and assists with 21.1 and 2.4 averages respectively.
An absolute sharpshooter, Bogdanovic is knocking down 43% of his three-point attempts this year and is a few percentage points away from joining the highly exclusive 50-40-90 shooting club. His pinpoint accuracy from deep would be an immediate and significant boost for this Timberwolves team.
One of the most popular names on the trade market, Bogie will not be acquired for a meager price. His performance this year has increased his value in a major way and has given major leverage to Detroit.
Timberwolves will have to be all-in on Bogie to acquire him
If their recent trade rumors with the Lakers are any indication, the Pistons will likely be requesting at least an unprotected first-round pick in exchange for their lights-out shooter. It is possible Minnesota can haggle on that price, but one thing is for sure: the Timberwolves will have to truly believe that Bogdanovic can give this team the lift it needs if they are to seriously pursue him.
After giving up four first-round picks this past offseason, Minnesota will be rightly cautious about parting with another for anything less than a game-changing player. But with their need for shooting so glaring, their hand may be forced to make a move.
Bogdanovic is a complete player, and his precision as a shooter coupled with his ability as a strong on-ball defender could end up being a worthy gamble for the Timberwolves.