The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed free-agent Josh Howard to a one-year deal, according to league sources.
Chris Broussard of ESPN.com is reporting the deal, which is said to be for the vaeterans minimum. Broussard wrote on Twitter: "Minnesota & Josh Howard agree to terms on 1-year, vets minimum deal, sources say."
The Timberwolves are desperate for players after dealing with a string of injuries this season.
The team is playing without stars Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, who have serious injuries. Brandon Roy, J.J. Barea, Chase Budinger and Nikola Pekovic are all dealing with injuries.
Howard has dealt with issues on and off the court in his career, including problems with marijuana. His best years in the NBA came with the Dallas Mavericks. Howard was a defensive specialist and scored a career-high 19.9 points per game with the team in the 2007-08 season.
Last season with the Utah Jazz he averaged nine points and four rebounds in 43 games. The small forward will provide size and athleticism for a team that desperately needs it. For his career, Howard has averaged 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 496 games.
Injuries have played a huge part in Minnesota's team this season.
Roy has missed three straight games with knee soreness, but may return soon. According to the Star Tribune, Roy may return for Friday's game in Minnesota against the Golden State Warriors.
"That's my goal," Roy said about Friday's game to the Star Tribune. "I won't say yes or no. But I would like to get out there Friday."
Roy has dealt with knee issues throughout his career. He has had multiple surgeries on both knees and the injuries were the reason the Portland Trail Blazers decided to amnesty him last year.
Budinger got hurt against the Chicago Bulls and suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. Following surgery he is expected to miss three to four months with rehab. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Houston Rockets over the summer and has been averaging 11 points and three rebounds per game this season.
The Timberwolves entered the season with high expectations and have been able to ride out the wave of injuries by stating 5-3, good for second place in the Northwest division.
Rubio was already lost for an extended period of time after tearing his ACL against the Lakers last March. He had averaged 10.6 points, 8.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 41 games. Love broke his hand during practice before the season opener and was expected to miss up to two months. Love also had a hand injury in 2009 and missed 18 games.
The two players aren't expected to take the court together until at least December.
"I think all of our fans anticipated this season with great enthusiasm. We knew we were going to have to wait for Ricky, and now we have two guys to wait for," said team owner Glen Taylor to the Associated Press following Love's injury. "But again, I'm going to be positive about it and say we've got some young guys and let's see them step up."
For the past three seasons he has averaged a double-double in points and rebounds and last year he posted his career-best stats, averaging 26 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. In the 2010-11 season, he led the NBA in rebounding, averaging 15.2 per game and also had the longest consecutive double-double streak since 1976 with 53 games.
Love signed a four-year contract extension worth $62 million in January and is one of the most important pieces to the franchise.
When Love was drafted fifth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, he was considered to be a great talent and a solid player, but not one with superstar capabilities. He was traded on draft night to the Timberwolves and has shaped himself into a premier player in the league.
The signing of Howard will force the Timberwolves to cut someone because they have the maximum amount of players on the roster.
According to CBSSports.com, the team is not eligible for an injury exception. "For them to be granted one, Budinger would have to be out for the season or one of their other injured players would need to be out for more than two weeks."
