Category: Minnesota T-Wolves Blog

The Minnesota Timberwolves have converted the contract of center Luka Garza to a two-way contract.

Garza, 6-10, appeared in four preseason games for the Wolves averaging 7.3 points on 61.1% (11-of-18) shooting, including 66.7% (4-of-6) from three and 2.3 rebounds per game. His top performance of the preseason came against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 15 when he scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter of the Timberwolves’ 118-113 win.

He spent last season with the Detroit Pistons where he averaged 5.8 points on 44.9% shooting and 3.1 rebounds per game in 32 games (five starts). He played in 16 games (all starts) last season for the Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise and averaged 20.6 points on 51.8% shooting and 9.5 rebounds per game.

The Washington D.C. native spent four seasons at the University of Iowa, where he ended his college career as Iowa’s all-time leading scorer (2,306 points), marking the seventh-highest scoring total in Big Ten history. Garza earned unanimous 2020-21 National Player of the Year honors after averaging 24.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.6 blocks and 31.6 minutes per game in 31 games during his final season. Additionally, he was named a two-time unanimous All-America First Team selection (2020-21 and 2019-20) and two-time Big Ten Player of the Year (2020-21 and 2019-20).

Garza was originally selected by the Pistons with the 52nd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guard PJ Dozier, forward CJ Elleby and guard A.J. Lawson.

Dozier, 6-6, was originally signed by the Wolves on Sept. 26. He spent the last three seasons with the Denver Nuggets where he averaged 6.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 97 games (six starts). In five seasons in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Nuggets, Dozier has tallied 671 points, 318 rebounds and 189 assists throughout 105 career games (six starts).

Elleby, 6-6, totaled two points and five rebounds in two appearances for the Timberwolves during the 2022 preseason. The Federal Way, Wash. native spent last season with the Portland Trail Blazers where he averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 58 games (28 starts, including starting 28 of the Trail Blazers’ final 30 games). In two seasons with Portland, he accumulated 407 points and 259 rebounds.

Lawson, 6-6, saw action in three preseason games for the Wolves where he scored eight points and handed out six assists. He most recently played for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2022 NBA Summer League where he averaged a team-high 15.6 points on 51.9% from the field including 50.0% from three and 6.0 rebounds per game. He played 10 games (all starts) this past summer for the Guelph Nighthawks of the Canadian Basketball League (CBL) and averaged 16.5 points on 44.3% shooting and 5.4 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game.

The Timberwolves roster stands at 17 players.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $40,000 for using offensive and derogatory language on social media, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.

Edwards has acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will host an open practice, dubbed Fan Fest, on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2:00 p.m. at Target Center.

Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch and his staff will lead an open practice and scrimmage. It will be the first chance that fans can watch players including Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards together on the court. It will be the first time the team will take the Target Center court together ahead of the 2022-23 season.

“We are thrilled to welcome our community to Target Center for Fan Fest,” said Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson. “After an exciting play-off experience, we are eager for another inspiring season of Timberwolves basketball.”

Doors open at 2:00 p.m. and fans will see on-court contests and can shop new merchandise including the latest Statement Edition Collection at the Timberwolves Team Store in Target Center. The team will take the court at 3:00 p.m. for open practice.

Fan Fest tickets are required for entry. All tickets are complimentary with a $1 per ticket processing fee. Get tickets at: www.Timberwolves.com/fan-fest.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forwards CJ Elleby and Luka Garza.

Elleby, 6-6, spent last season with the Portland Trail Blazers where he averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 58 games (28 starts, including starting 28 of the Trail Blazers’ final 30 games). In two seasons with Portland, he accumulated 407 points and 259 rebounds.

The Federal Way, Wash. native spent two seasons at Washington State, ending his college career with averages of 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. His 16.6 points per game rank as the fifth-best scoring average in school history. Elleby was named to the 2019-20 All-Pac-12 First Team and the 2018-19 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

Elleby was originally selected by the Trail Blazers with the 46th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Garza, 6-11, spent last season with the Detroit Pistons where he averaged 5.8 points on 44.9% shooting and 3.1 rebounds per game in 32 games (five starts). He played in 16 games (all starts) last season for the Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise and averaged 20.6 points on 51.8% shooting and 9.5 rebounds per game.

The Washington D.C. native spent four seasons at the University of Iowa, where he ended his college career as Iowa’s all-time leading scorer (2,306 points), marking the seventh-highest scoring total in Big Ten history. Garza earned unanimous 2020-21 National Player of the Year honors after averaging 24.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.6 blocks and 31.6 minutes per game in 31 games during his final season. Additionally, he was named a two-time unanimous All-America First Team selection (2020-21 and 2019-20) and two-time Big Ten Player of the Year (2020-21 and 2019-20).

Garza was originally selected by the Pistons with the 52nd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

In conjunction with Bally Sports North, the Minnesota Timberwolves today named Michael Grady as the team’s television play-by-play announcer. Grady will team up this season with color analyst Jim Petersen to call Wolves games on Bally Sports North. In addition to his play-by-play role, Grady will represent the Timberwolves on many platforms, inclusive of team events, team content and more.

“Michael’s extensive knowledge of the game and his genuine on-air style make him the perfect fit for this role,” said Timberwolves & Lynx Chief Executive Officer Ethan Casson. “As Michael returns to his Midwest roots, we couldn’t be more excited to have his voice on the call for Timberwolves games for seasons to come.”

Grady, 39, a multi-time Emmy Award winning reporter, host and producer and 2016 Indiana Sportscaster of the Year comes to the Twin Cities after spending the last six years with the YES Network in New York as the Brooklyn Nets courtside reporter. His television play-by-play experience includes the New York Liberty, the 2022 WNBA Commissioners Cup along with hosting the YES Network’s pre-and post-game coverage for the New York Yankees and the Yankees Batting Practice Today show. Grady has also spent time on the sidelines for CBS Sports calling NFL and college football as well as calling play-by-play for college basketball for the network. In addition, he’s served as the play-by-play announcer for NBATV and Turner Sports.

“Today is a thrilling day for myself and my family as this has been my lifelong dream to be an NBA play-by-play announcer,” said Grady. “I can’t wait to join Jim Petersen and the rest of the Bally Sports North crew calling games for this exciting franchise. I also look forward to interacting with our phenomenal Timberwolves fans and partners in the community to continue to tell the stories of this great basketball state.”