Minnesota Timberwolves have brought back Kevin Garnett on a free agent deal and heading into the summer the team is ready for Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyus Jones to start the summer league, as 15,000 fans showed up for practice to cheer for the Wolves and this comes as a Ricky Rubio trade could be an option in the future this season.
The Timberwolves officially signed Garnett after the moratorium period ended and he is now in on a two year deal. According to Darren Wolfson at 1500 ESPN, Garnett signed a two year contract worth $16 million and he comes in after averaging seven points in 47 games for the Wolves and the Nets last season. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Garnett, who is 39 now, "likely has a provision" that would move him to the Wolves front office if he can't play in year two of the deal.
Either way, Garnett is a fan favorite and he gives the team a veteran presence that can help the young roster of players, including first overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns. The Timberwolves are gearing up for the Summer League and to get ready, the team held an open practice at the Target Center and it ended up with a major turnout. According to ESPN.com, over 15,000 fans came out to watch the Wolves scrimmage ahead of playing the Lakers on Friday and that type of turnout is huge for a struggling team like Minnesota.
Andrew Wiggins is coming off of a rookie of the year award and with Towns and Tyus Jones coming in after being drafted this year, fans feel the team has a bright future. The team has not made the playoffs in a decade and now the Wolves are building around young talent like Towns and Wiggins along with Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad and Anthony Bennett. Towns will face off against the second overall pick D'Angelo Russell when the Lakers play the Wolves Friday in the Las Vegas Summer League.
The Rubio trade likely would happen closer to the deadline and not over the summer if it actually happens, but if injuries happen, teams could check in on his status. The Wolves signed Rubio to a contract extension and the plan is to keep him, but the team also did draft Zach LaVine and Jones the past two years and that could mean Rubio's days are numbered. Rubio has not been able to stay healthy consistently and his career has been mostly about potential and after playing in 22 games last season, he could be a target to get traded. Darren Wolfson of KSTP Minneapolis reported at the draft that the Houston Rockets were interested in Rubio and they could be an option later on in the season.
Towns was considered to be the top player in the draft this year and he was picked number one over Russell. Towns and Jahlil Okafor were considered to be the top two bigs in the draft, while Russell was rated as the best point guard. Those players are all playing in the summer league and now Russell and Towns will get the chance to face off against each other on Friday night.
Check here for more on the Timberwolves Summer League game against the Lakers, Kevin Garnett's free agent deal, interest in a trade with Ricky Rubio and more on the team scrimmage that drew thousands this past week.
