The Minnesota Timberwolves will reportedly sign veteran shooting guard Jamal Crawford, who should be a much-needed addition to the Wolves bench.
It’s been reported that Jamal Crawford plans to sign a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The deal will be for two years and $9 million.
This is a great signing by the team since they had the worst bench in terms of offensive output just last season. At an average of $4.5 million per year, the Wolves are getting a major steal. While Crawford isn’t getting younger at 37 years of age, he is a major upgrade to the limited bench that Minnesota already had.
Crawford is a three-time Sixth Man of the Year award-winner — not to mention he put in 12.3 points a game last year for the Los Angeles Clippers, shooting it at 36 percent from deep. He isn’t going to be a major threat from beyond the arc, but he will help a team that struggled from distance a year ago.
Crawford has good handles, which will help this team out greatly as he can be a great ball handler as a combo guard off the bench.
Grade: A
An affordable contract for Crawford is a major bonus for a team who is struggling with a lack ofcap space. Not only is it cheap, but he is a solid veteran who will single=-handedly improve the Timberwolves bench.
Expect him to come in and become the sixth man for this team. Either Crawford or Taj Gibson/Gorgui Dieng will be a nice two-way punch off the bench. Ultimately, with Crawford having the ability to score and become a huge bench upgrade he should take over the sole sixth man role.
Crawford will come in to relieve duties for Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler when either player go to the bench. The depth behind those two players is weak after trading away Zach LaVine and, at least to this point, not retaining outgoing free agents Brandon Rush and Shabazz Muhammad.
What others are saying about this signing:
It appears that (a very scientific estimate of) 99 percent of people are happy with this deal and are excited to see Crawford in a Wolves uni next year. Great signing, Thibs!
Next: Pros and Cons of Taj Gibson
We’ll have additional reaction to this signing any other rumored moves throughout the rest of your weekend.