The Minnesota Timberwolves have made a bold trade to acquire point guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to multiple sources. The deal, which was finalized on Thursday, sends veteran guard Mike Conley and two future second-round picks to the Blazers in exchange for Brogdon, who was recently acquired by Portland in a three-team trade involving Jrue Holiday and Robert Williams III.
Brogdon’s Journey from Milwaukee to Minnesota
Brogdon, 30, has had a tumultuous offseason that saw him being traded twice in a span of four months. He started the 2022-23 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he averaged 18.7 points, 5.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 40.9 percent from the three-point range. He was a key contributor for the Bucks, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year.
However, Brogdon’s tenure with the Bucks came to an abrupt end when he was involved in a blockbuster trade that sent him to the Portland Trail Blazers along with Damian Lillard, one of the best players in the NBA. The trade, which also involved the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, was one of the most shocking moves of the offseason. The Blazers received Brogdon, Lillard, Williams III and two first-round picks from the Celtics, while the Bucks got Jrue Holiday, Marcus Smart and two first-round picks from the Heat.
The Blazers, however, did not intend to keep Brogdon for long. They quickly flipped Holiday to the Celtics for another first-round pick and Malcolm Brogdon. The Blazers then decided to trade Brogdon to the Timberwolves for Conley and two second-round picks, as they wanted to clear cap space and focus on developing their young core of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe.
Timberwolves’ Motivation for Trading for Brogdon
The Timberwolves, on the other hand, saw an opportunity to upgrade their backcourt by adding Brogdon, who is a proven scorer, playmaker and defender. The Timberwolves have been struggling for years to find a reliable partner for their star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been frustrated by the team’s lack of success. The Timberwolves have not made the playoffs since 2018 and finished last season with a dismal 23-59 record.
The Timberwolves hope that Brogdon can form a dynamic duo with Towns and help them compete in the tough Western Conference. Brogdon is under contract for three more years at $21.7 million per year, which is a reasonable price for a player of his caliber. He is also a good fit for the Timberwolves’ system, which emphasizes pace and spacing. Brogdon can run the pick-and-roll with Towns, create his own shot and knock down threes at a high rate.
The Timberwolves also did not give up much to get Brogdon. Conley, 35, is in the final year of his contract and is unlikely to re-sign with the rebuilding Blazers. He averaged 16.2 points and 6 assists per game last season with the Utah Jazz, but he also missed 21 games due to injuries. The two second-round picks are not very valuable either, as they are projected to be in the late 50s.
Blazers’ Plan after Trading Brogdon
The Blazers’ decision to trade Brogdon may seem puzzling at first glance, as they are giving up a quality player for an expiring contract and two low picks. However, the Blazers have a bigger plan in mind. By trading Brogdon, they are creating more than $20 million in cap space for next summer, when they can pursue some of the top free agents in the market.
The Blazers are also betting on their young guards to step up and fill the void left by Brogdon. Henderson, 19, is one of the most exciting prospects in the league. He skipped college and joined the NBA G League Ignite team last year, where he averaged 15.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc. He was drafted by the Blazers with the third overall pick in this year’s draft and has shown flashes of brilliance in the preseason.
Simons, 24, is another promising guard who has been with the Blazers since 2018. He averaged 10.7 points per game last season while shooting 37.9 percent from deep. He has improved his game every year and is ready to take on a bigger role this season.
Sharpe, 20, is a rookie shooting guard who was selected by the Blazers with the 16th overall pick in this year’s draft. He played for the Kentucky Wildcats last season, where he averaged 14.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 40.1 percent from the three-point range. He is a versatile scorer who can create his own shot and finish at the rim.
The Blazers are confident that these three young guards can form a potent backcourt that can complement their frontcourt of Williams III, Jusuf Nurkic and Robert Covington. The Blazers are also hoping that their new head coach Chauncey Billups can instill a winning culture and a defensive mindset in the team.
The trade between the Timberwolves and the Blazers is a surprising move that has implications for both teams. The Timberwolves are getting a proven star in Brogdon, who can help them end their playoff drought and appease their franchise player Towns. The Blazers are getting cap flexibility and future assets, while trusting their young guards to lead them to success. Only time will tell which team made the better deal.
