Trade Grades
Click here for link to Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Grades
Pacers get: SF/SG Chase Budinger
Timberwolves get: PF/SF Damjan Rudez
Team President Larry Bird has made it clear that he wants to play small-ball, having superstar SF Paul George play more power forward. In order to do that, additional depth would be needed at the three, and that’s exactly why they made this deal. At first sight, they just made a clear upgrade, but there is a financial cost to it: Rudez was on a 2 year/$2.35 million deal (with a team option), while Budinger is paid more than Rudez: 1 year/$5 million. Still, the 27 year old earns every penny, as he averaged a very solid 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 19.2 minutes per game on an efficient 36.4% shooting from downtown. Rudez was a great three-point shooter in his own right at a blazing 40.6% last season, but does very little else and won’t be missed too much in Indiana. Great acquisition by the Pacers, and they needed it badly.
Grade: A-
Click here for link to Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Grades
Pacers get: SF/SG Chase Budinger
Timberwolves get: PF/SF Damjan Rudez
Team President Larry Bird has made it clear that he wants to play small-ball, having superstar SF Paul George play more power forward. In order to do that, additional depth would be needed at the three, and that’s exactly why they made this deal. At first sight, they just made a clear upgrade, but there is a financial cost to it: Rudez was on a 2 year/$2.35 million deal (with a team option), while Budinger is paid more than Rudez: 1 year/$5 million. Still, the 27 year old earns every penny, as he averaged a very solid 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 19.2 minutes per game on an efficient 36.4% shooting from downtown. Rudez was a great three-point shooter in his own right at a blazing 40.6% last season, but does very little else and won’t be missed too much in Indiana. Great acquisition by the Pacers, and they needed it badly.
Grade: A-
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