Category: Minnesota T-Wolves Blog

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Timberwolves exercise contract options on Josh Okogie and Jarrett Culver

The Minnesota Timberwolves have exercised their fourth-year option on Josh Okogie and the third-year option on Jarrett Culver.

Okogie, 22, has averaged 8.1 points, on 40.6% shooting and 3.6 rebounds per contest in 139 games (83 starts) for the Timberwolves. He was named to Team World at the Rising Stars Game for the second-straight year as part of the 2020 All-Star Weekend in Chicago. Okogie was drafted by the Wolves in the first round (20th overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Culver, 21, posted averages of 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per contest in 63 games (35 starts) last season, his first in the NBA. The Wolves originally acquired the draft rights to the 6-7 guard from the Phoenix Suns on July 6, 2019.

Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns out with wrist injury

During the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz, Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns sustained an injury to his left wrist.

He was evaluated by a hand specialist today in Los Angeles, which revealed a left perilunate subluxation (dislocation).

Towns will be listed as out for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers and will be further evaluated weekly as he undergoes treatment to return to play.

He will not require surgery.

In his first two games of the season, Towns is averaging 22.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per games.

Timberwolves waive Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Tyler Cook, Zylan Cheatham and Charlie Brown Jr.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guard Charlie Brown Jr. and forwards Zylan Cheatham, Tyler Cook and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Brown Jr., 6-6, totaled 20 points and 4 rebounds last season in 10 games with Atlanta. He was originally signed by the Hawks on July 1, 2019. The 23-year-old played in 29 games in the G League for the College Park Skyhawks where he averaged 17.1 points on 42.2% shooting and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Cheatham, 6-5, played in four games with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019-20 season. The 25-year-old played in 34 games (30 starts) in the G League for the Erie Bayhawks where he averaged 16.2 points on 53.4% shooting and 11.6 rebounds per game.

Cook, 6-8, played in one game during the preseason for the Timberwolves recording two points, three rebounds and two assists. The 23-year-old totaled 23 points and 14 rebounds last season in 13 games with Cleveland and Denver. He was originally signed by the Timberwolves on Dec. 2, 2019.

Hollis-Jefferson, 6-6, played in three preseason games with the Timberwolves, averaging 7.7 points and 2.0 rebounds. During the 2019-20 season, he averaged 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 60 games with the Toronto Raptors. The five-year veteran has played in 294 career games (153 starts) with Toronto and Brooklyn, holding career averages of 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Timberwolves sign Zylan Cheatham, waive Ade Murkey

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Zylan Cheatham.

In a related move, Rosas also announced the team has waived guard Ade Murkey.

Cheatham, 6-5, played in four games with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019-20 season. The 25-year-old played in 34 games (30 starts) in the G League for the Erie Bayhawks where he averaged 16.2 points on 53.4% shooting and 11.6 rebounds per game.

Cheatham played two seasons at San Diego State University, averaging 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 69 games (48 starts) before transferring to his hometown college, Arizona State. The Phoenix native played one season with the Sun Devils, averaging 12.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 34 games (all starts).

Timberwolves sign Jordan McLaughlin to two-way contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard Jordan McLaughlin to a two-way contract.

McLaughlin, 24, appeared in 30 games (two starts) with the Timberwolves last season, averaging 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. In his first NBA start on Feb. 8 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, he recorded his first-career double-double notching career highs of 24 points and 11 assists. On Feb. 23 at Denver, he recorded 15 points and 10 assists, becoming the sixth Timberwolves rookie, and first since Zach LaVine in 2015, to have multiple point/assist double-doubles in their rookie season.

While on assignment with the Iowa Wolves, he averaged 16.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 23 games with the Timberwolves G-League affiliate.

The Pasadena (CA) native played four seasons at the University of Southern California averaging 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 58 assists and 1.7 steals in 128 games.

Timberwolves sign Ade Murkey to training camp contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves signed swingman Ade Murkey to a training camp contract today.

Murkey, listed at 6-foot-5, played a full four seasons of college hoops. He put up modest stats at the University of Denver, averaging 10.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He did receive the honor of being named to the 2020 All-Summit League Second Team.

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the local favorite played at St. Croix Lutheran High School and left as the school’s all-time leader in both assists and steals. And during his high school senior season, Murkey set the single season scoring record.

Timberwolves sign rookies Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Anthony Edwards and No. 28 overall draft pick Jaden McDaniels.

The Wolves acquired McDaniels from the Oklahoma City Thunder along with Ricky Rubio in exchange for the draft rights to No. 17 overall pick Aleksej Pokuševski and forward James Johnson.

Edwards, 6-5, averaged 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game as a freshman last season. He tallied 610 points for the 2019-20 season, a total that ranks seventh on Georgia’s single-season scoring list (second among freshmen) and 10th all-time among SEC freshmen. The Atlanta native closed out the 19-20 season as the nation’s freshman scoring leader (19.1), standing as one of only three freshmen ranked in the top 100.

The 19-year-old shot 40.2 percent from the field (203-of-505) in his one season as a Bulldog. He ranked in the top 20 in six Georgia single-season statistical categories, including second in 3-point attempts (245), fifth in field goal attempts (505), 11th in 3-pointers (72), 17th in free throws (132) and 19th in both scoring average (19.1 ppg) and free throw attempts (171). During his freshman campaign, Edwards notched 27 double-figure scoring outings, 14 20-point performances, three 30-point contests and three double-doubles. A highlight from his freshman campaign includes scoring 37 points against Michigan State on Nov. 26, the most by a Georgia freshman since 1975.
Edwards was voted SEC Freshman of the Year by league coaches, becoming the first Bulldog to garner the honor since its inception in 2001. Among other acknowledgements, he was named SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press, becoming the third Georgia honoree in team history.
McDaniels, a 6-9 forward joins the Timberwolves after spending one season at the University of Washington where he averaged 13.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 blocks. He was the only player in any of the major conferences to average at least 1.4 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers made per game in 2019-20. The Federal Way, Washington native is the younger brother of Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels.

Timberwolves sign forward Tyler Cook

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Tyler Cook to a training camp contract.

Cook, 23-years-old, 6-foot-8, played very limited minutes last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets. He was originally signed by the Nuggets on Aug. 13, 2019.

He played in 29 games in the G League for the Oklahoma City Blue and Canton Charge where he averaged 12.9 points on 58.2% shooting and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Cook played three seasons for the University of Iowa, averaging 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in 93 games (92 starts). As a junior, he was named All-Big Ten Second First Team by the media and All-Big Ten Third team by the coaches.

Timberwolves sign guard Ashton Hagans to a two-way contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard Ashton Hagans to a two-way contract.

Hagans, 21, appeared in 30 games as a sophomore for the University of Kentucky in 2019-20, averaging 11.5 points, a team-high 6.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and a team-high 1.93 steals. He led the SEC and finished 16th in the nation in assists, with his 6.4 apg ranking fourth in UK history for a season as a sophomore. One of four finalists for 2019-20 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, Hagan’s 1.78 career steals per game is third in Kentucky history, trailing only Rajon Rondo and Derek Anderson.

The Cartersville (GA) native led Newton High School to two regional championships and was named both Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year and Mr. Georgia Basketball. Hagans averaged 20.2 points, 10.7 assists, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 steals his final year in high school while leading Newton to the 7A state semifinals.

Timberwolves re-sign forward Juancho Hernangomez

The Minnesota Timberwolves have re-signed forward Juancho Hernangómez.

Hernangómez appeared in 14 contests for the Timberwolves during the 2019-20 season, averaging 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in a career-high 29.4 minutes per game.

Hernangómez, 25, joined the Timberwolves after averaging 3.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 34 contests for Denver during the 2019-20 season In 2018-19, Hernangomez posted a then career-best average of 5.8 points on 43.9% shooting and 36.5% from deep, to go along with 3.8 rebounds in 70 games (25 starts).

The Madrid, Spain native has represented the Spanish National Team throughout his career since 2013 and most recently helped lead Spain to a Gold Medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup with now-current teammate Ricky Rubio.

Hernangómez was originally drafted by Denver with the 15th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft.