Minnesota has a couple of open roster spots — they have 12 guaranteed contracts, plus a non-guaranteed deal for James Nunnally and he likely makes the roster — and they are looking for some added depth on the wing and at forward. For a lot of teams, those last couple of end-of-the-bench spots go to younger players the team is trying to develop and bring along.
Not in Minnesota, because Tom Thibodeau.
Minnesota is bringing in some veterans to look at, the well-connected Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News in Minneapolis reports.
Scoop that didn't make podcast episode 171, but I can elaborate on in episode 172 later this week: #Twolves are hosting some recognizable names for free agent workouts this week. Among those here, I am told: Nick Young, Arron Afflalo and Corey Brewer. #AllEyesNorth pic.twitter.com/beM3BoTNHH
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) September 4, 2018
Nick Young, Corey Brewer, and Arron Afflalo are all veteran guys who could provide some scoring punch off the bench (none of them defend that well anymore).
I say “could” because anyone the Timberwolves bring in at this point likely would be third or deeper in the mix at their position, which means they are going to spend most of the season on the bench because Thibodeau runs his starters into the ground. The Warriors found 17 minutes a game last season for Young, not because he was playing within the system or providing valuable defense, but rather because they knew he could give them minutes that would keep their stars rested and healthy for the long grind of the season and into the playoffs.
Is that going to happen in Minnesota? Either way, one or more of these guys could make the roster.
