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Timberwolves summer league stock report: On Leonard Miller, Josh Minott and more
"I’m just trying to get better, be more of a part of this group of guys and this franchise and get more settled than I am," said Miller.
>Miller played in all five games in Vegas and averaged 15.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and shot 36.8 percent from 3-point range. He spent last season playing for G League Unite, an experience that prepared him well for the frenetic physicality that defines summer league play. Miller looked comfortable in the rough-and-tumble stuff and didn’t mind getting his hands dirty. His size and nimble feet stood out. > >... > >Minott averaged 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game in Vegas. He played with assertiveness and confidence befitting a second-year player.
Josh Minott trying to make a name for himself at summer league with the Wolves
Minott is a cult fascination among Wolves die-hards, but the second-year forward knows he still has a lot to prove he belongs.
>Minott was selected 45th in the 2022 NBA Draft. At 6-foot-8 with long arms and all the bounce in the world, he was an intriguing prospect. But he also played fewer than 15 minutes per game and shot 14 percent from 3-point range in his lone season at Memphis. President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly was drawn to his energy, his underrated passing and his quick hands on defense. Our John Hollinger agreed, ranking him 10th on his board prior to the 2022 draft.
Naz Reid basks in what he has built in Minnesota with the Timberwolves
Reid has morphed from something of a curiosity to a sleek, skilled culture-setter whom the Wolves decided they could not live without.
>“To see where Naz was three, four years ago and to see where he is now, he’s only at that place because of a tremendous work ethic,” President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly said. “He’s become obsessed with the game, obsessed with keeping his body right. Anytime you surround some of your best players with guys who are as impactful culturally and one the court as Naz, you do everything you can to keep those guys.” > >... > >“I didn’t want to go anywhere else and continue my journey, as far as I’ve gone,” Reid said. “I’ve felt all my teammates and coaches and everybody has been great to me as a person and then me pushing me on the court and pushing me off the court as well. So that’s why I wanted to go out here and play basketball for this program.”
Timberwolves start free agency with moves on the margins
Minnesota's attention now turns to likely extension offers for Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
>Adding the three players they did at those numbers allows them to maintain financial flexibility going forward, an essential element for a team that expects to be living in the luxury tax after next season. > >The moves leave them with one open roster spot. Their work in the free-agent market is likely all but done. No one will start planning the parade routes after the signings they made on Friday. All the excitement is reserved for the anticipated agreements with Edwards and McDaniels.
What I'm hearing about Wolves free agency: Trades, transactions and Taurean Prince
Waiving Prince was strictly business for the Timberwolves, a team trying to gain as much flexibility as possible to supplement their roster.
>If no team claims Prince off of waivers, he will become a free agent. Depending on how things play out, the Timberwolves could be open to bringing him back on a deal for a little less money. It remains unclear if Prince would be open to it as well. These kinds of transactions can often be hard to swallow for the player. It is one thing to take a pay cut to play elsewhere, but doing it to stick around is less common. > >Prince could have several suitors on the open market, but he also has close relationships with many of his Timberwolves teammates and has become involved in community work in the Twin Cities. It could take some time to play out while the Wolves look around at what is out there.
Timberwolves, C Naz Reid agree to 3-year, $42 million contract: Why the timing is key
Reid, 23, signed with the Timberwolves in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of LSU.
>The timing of this deal is big for the Wolves. Getting a deal done now means they do not have to worry about Reid hitting free agency at the end of this week and an opposing team throwing a big number at him or structuring the deal in a way that would make it difficult for the salary cap-strained Wolves to keep him.
Why Tim Connelly made an aggressive play for Leonard Miller on Wolves' draft night
Our Wolves insider explains GM Tim Connelly's aggressive move to get a player with high upside.
>Miller fits a similar profile to last year’s second-round pick Josh Minott, a lanky, athletic, multi-faceted forward who was still there at No. 45. Both are on the raw side with tantalizing physical traits. Minott spent most of last season playing for Iowa in the G League and one would think Miller will spend a fair bit of time down there next season as well. But his combination of size and athleticism are intriguing for the long term.