Minnesota T-Wolves Blog – Page 11 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves sign Chris Silva and Rayjon Tucker to 10-day contracts

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Chris Silva and guard Rayjon Tucker to 10-day contracts.

Silva was originally signed to Minnesota’s training camp roster on September 20, 2021 where he saw action in one preseason matchup with the Timberwolves, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds in 6:18 minutes of action. In 12 games with the Iowa Wolves, he is averaging 15.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He leads the Wolves in rebounds per game (9.6) and blocks per game (0.8).

Prior to his time with Minnesota and Iowa, he saw action in 15 total games during the 2020-21 season for the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings where he averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. During the 2019-20 season, the 6-8 forward split time between the Heat and the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League where he saw action in 44 games for Miami, averaging 3.0 points on 61.5% shooting and 2.9 rebounds.

Tucker has appeared in 13 games for the Wisconsin Herd this season, averaging 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 32.2 minutes per game.

Before his time with the Herd, he saw NBA action with the Utah Jazz and the Philadelphia 76ers. During the 2020-21 season in 14 games with the 76ers, he averaged 2.4 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists. In 20 games with the Utah Jazz during the 2019-20 season, he held averages of 3.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists.

Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns named NBA Players of the Week

Celtics All-Star forward Jayson Tatum has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week and Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Dec. 13-19.

It is the first time this season – and the fifth time in Tatum’s career – that he has received the conference’s weekly award.

Tatum produced a team-best 31.3 points on 50.0% shooting (36.1% 3-PT, 86.7% FT), 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 38.8 minutes over three home games – including two Boston wins – against Milwaukee, Golden State, and New York. He registered at least 25 points and 5+ rebounds in each of the three contests, including a season-high 42 points on 16-of-25 shooting (7-13 3-PT) in Boston’s 117-103 victory over the Bucks on Dec. 13.

In 30 games this season (all starts), Tatum has averaged 26.2 points (42.3% FG, 33.2% 3-PT, 81.9% FT), a career-high 8.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 36.5 minutes. He has tallied at least 20 points in all nine games played in the month of December, averaging 30.6 points on 48.7% shooting (36.6% 3-PT), 8.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists during that stretch.

This is the fifth time in his career that Towns has won the weekly award (Nov. 20, 2017, April 11, 2016, Mar. 13, 2017 and Oct. 28, 2019). Towns joins Kevin Garnett (15 times) as the only players in Timberwolves history to win the league’s weekly award five or more times.

Towns is the only player in the NBA this season to average 20+ ppg while shooting 50% or better from the field and 40% or better from three. Following the 3-0 week by the Timberwolves, he ranks 12th in the NBA in scoring (24.4 ppg) and tied for 17th in rebounds (9.0 rpg).

The 7-0 center has helped the Timberwolves climb back to .500 on the season, moving to 15-15 after Sunday night’s 111-105 win over the Dallas Mavericks, tied for the second-best 30-game start for the Wolves since 2006-07.

In the Dec. 15 124-107 victory at Denver, Towns scored 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting, while adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals, marking his seventh 30+ point game of the season and extending his franchise record to 85 career games with 30 or more points. With his three-pointer with 6:40 left in the third quarter against the Nuggets, Towns eclipsed 10,000 career points, joining Garnett as the only players in Timberwolves history to score 10,000+ points. He additionally became the first player from the 2015 draft class to notch 10,000 career points.

On Dec. 17 against the Los Angeles Lakers, Towns tallied his 12th 20+ point/10+ rebound game of the season (218th career), finishing with 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Since he entered the league in 2015-16, no other player has registered more 20/10 games.

Towns finished the week on Dec. 19 against the Mavericks, leading the way for the Wolves with 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists, accounting for his 24th 20+ point game of the season (292nd career). He shot 11-of-13 from the charity stripe, marking a season-high for free throws made and was his third game of the season tallying 10+ free throws. The stat line also marked Towns’ seventh game of the season with 20+ points/5+ rebounds/5+ assists.

Timberwolves assign Leandro Bolmaro and Nathan Knight to G League

The Minnesota Timberwolves have assigned guard Leandro Bolmaro and transferred two-way forward Nathan Knight to the Iowa Wolves, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.

Bolmaro has appeared in five contests for the Timberwolves, has scored a total of five points and grabbed four rebounds.

In three games with the Timberwolves, Knight has totaled four points and two rebounds.

Timberwolves assign Leandro Bolmaro to Iowa Wolves in G League

The Minnesota Timberwolves have assigned guard Leandro Bolmaro to the Iowa Wolves, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.

The 6-6 guard, made his NBA debut on Oct. 20 vs Houston, tallying two points in 4:40 minutes off the bench. Bolmaro was originally signed by the Timberwolves on Sept. 18.

Timberwolves exercise contract options on Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels

The Minnesota Timberwolves have exercised their third-year options on guard Anthony Edwards and forward Jaden McDaniels.

Edwards, 20, enters his second season in the NBA after finishing up his rookie season where he started 55 games while playing in all 72 games, the only NBA rookie to play in all 72. He averaged 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.1 minutes per game. The Atlanta native shot 41.7% from the floor, 32.9% from beyond the arc and 76.6% from the free throw line. Edwards’ 19.3 points per game marked the most by any rookie in Timberwolves history and his 171 total three-pointers are the second-most in a single-season by a Wolves player, behind Kevin Love (190 in 2013-14). He finished the season ranked in the top 10 among rookies in multiple statistical categories, including first among rookies in points per game (19.3), tied for fifth in steals (1.1) and ninth in assists per game (2.9). Edwards was drafted by Minnesota in the first round (first overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft.

McDaniels, 21, wrapped up his rookie season last year averaging 6.8 points on 44.7% shooting, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in 63 games played. Among all rookies, the Federal Way, Wash. native ranked second in total blocks (60) and 10th in total three-pointers (72). The Wolves originally acquired the draft rights to the 6-9 forward from the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 20, 2020. He was drafted in the first round (28th overall) by the Los Angeles Lakers of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Timberwolves waive forward Vince Edwards

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived forward Vince Edwards.

Edwards, 6-8, played in 11 games in the G League for the Oklahoma City Blue last season where he averaged 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game.

The 25-year-old holds career G League averages of 9.2 points on 41.4% shooting, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in three seasons with the Blue, Canton Charge and Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Edwards was originally drafted by the Utah Jazz in the second round (52nd overall) in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The Middletown, Ohio native played four seasons for Purdue University, averaging 11.9 points on 47.3% shooting, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 138 games (127 starts).

The Timberwolves roster stands at 16 players.

Timberwolves waive Brian Bowen II, Chris Silva, Matt Lewis and Isaiah Miller

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived forward Brian Bowen II, guard Matt Lewis, guard Isaiah Miller and forward Chris Silva.

Bowen II, 22, appeared in two games this preseason, totaling five points and two rebounds. He started all five games for the Timberwolves in the 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 8.4 points, 4.2 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game. In two seasons with the Indiana Pacers, he saw action in 12 total games. He played in 44 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants over two seasons, averaging 14.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. After withdrawing from the 2018 NBA draft during the final entry deadline, Bowen made the decision to forgo college and pursue a professional contract. On August 7, 2018, Bowen signed with the Sydney Kings of the Australian NBL. During the 2018–19 NBL season, he played in 30 games while averaging 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Lewis, 22, wrapped up a four-year career at James Madison University where he ranked among the career leaders in several categories, including third in points (1,928) and eighth in assists (341). Last year during his senior season, he was named CAA Player of the Year after leading the Dukes in points, field goals, three pointers, free throws, defensive rebounds. assists, and minutes. Lewis became the first James Madison player ever to be named to the All-CAA team in three different seasons.

Miller, 22, played in two games this preseason for Minnesota where he totaled three points, two rebounds and one assist. He appeared in all five games for the 2021 Timberwolves Summer League team, averaging 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals in 16.2 minutes per game. Miller averaged 14.9 points on 47.4% shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game during his four-year career at UNC Greensboro. In Miller’s final season with the Spartans, he was named SoCon Player of the Year and SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the only men’s basketball player in SoCon history to be named both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons. The Covington, Ga. native ranks second in school history with 314 steals and third in scoring with 1,965 points.

Silva, 24, saw action in 15 total games last season for the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings where he averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. During the 2019-20 season, the 6-8 forward split time between the Heat and the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League where he saw action in 44 games in for Miami, averaging 3.0 points on 61.5% shooting and 2.9 rebounds. Silva played four seasons at South Carolina, appearing in 134 career games (108 starts) and averaged 11.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 21.7 minutes. He became the first player in school history to total at least 700 rebounds and 500 free throws made.

Timberwolves sign forward Vince Edwards

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Vince Edwards.

Edwards, 6-8, played in 11 games in the G League for the Oklahoma City Blue last season where he averaged 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game.

The Middletown, Ohio native played four seasons for Purdue University, averaging 11.9 points on 47.3% shooting, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 138 games (127 starts).

Hawks sign Johnny Hamilton, A.J. Lawson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Jahlil Okafor

The Atlanta Hawks have signed Johnny Hamilton, A.J. Lawson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Jahlil Okafor.

It’s assumed that these deals are non-guaranteed contracts that merely bring the players to Hawks training camp.

Hamilton, a 7’0 center, played in 13 games last season with Fenerbahce in Turkey before being loaned to Mornar Bar (Montenegro) for the remainder of the season. He finished his college career at UT-Arlington in 2017-18 after two seasons at Jacksonville College and two at Virginia Tech. As a graduate student at UTA, Hamilton averaged 11.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 23.4 minutes (.629 FG%, .664 FT%) in 34 contests (31 starts). Hamilton has also spent time with the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA G League and Darussafaka in Turkey.

Lawson, a 6’6 guard who participated for the Hawks in the 2021 NBA Summer League, played three seasons at South Carolina. As a junior in 2020-21, he averaged 16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 assists in 31.3 minutes, earning second team All-SEC honors. Over his three-year career at USC, the 6’6 guard put in 14.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.0 minutes in 81 contests (80 starts). The native of Brampton, Ontario has competed for Canada’s men’s national under-19 team.

Luwawu-Cabarrot, a 6’7 guard/forward, played in 58 games (seven starts) for the Brooklyn Nets last season, averaging 6.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.1 minutes. He has appeared in 276 career contests (42 starts) in five seasons with Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Brooklyn, putting up 6.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 16.6 minutes. The native of Cannes, France has also played in 11 career postseason contests with averages of 6.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 14.2 minutes. He was originally selected by the 76ers in the first round (24th overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft. He also has played internationally with Antibes (France) and Mega Leks (Serbia). Luwawu-Cabarrot won a silver medal as part of the French Olympic team last month. His name is pronounced TEAM-oh-tay loo-WA-woo cab-uh-RO.

Okafor, a 6’11 center, played in 27 games (two starts) for the Detroit Pistons last season and averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.9 minutes (.618 FG%, .708 FT%). In 247 career regular season contests (116 starts) with Philadelphia, New Orleans, Brooklyn and Detroit, he has compiled 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.5 minutes (.542 FG%, .676 FT%). He was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection in 2016. The third overall pick by the 76ers in 2015, Okafor helped Duke to a 35-4 mark and the 2015 national championship, averaging 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 blocks, finishing second in the nation in FG% (.664). He was a consensus First Team All-American and ACC Player of the Year following his freshman season.

Timberwolves part ways with President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas

Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx owner Glen Taylor released the following statement:

“Today, the Minnesota Timberwolves parted ways with President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas. As an organization, we remain committed to building a winning team that our fans and city can be proud of.”

Per the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Sachin Gupta will assume day-to-day operations on the basketball side while keeping his title as executive vice president of basketball operations. The team, which gave no reason for the sudden dismissal, will hold a search for a permanent replacement for Rosas.”

And more from the Star Tribune: “Taylor made the call to fire Rosas, sources close to the team said, in conjunction with new owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, who are on a path to become controlling owners in 2023.”