Tony Allen Would Be a Nice Addition For the Timberwolves

Tony Allena and the Minnesota Timberwolves are a great fit.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have had a great offseason. They added three-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, 2015 All-Star Jeff Teague, Taj Gibson and three-time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford.

Head coach/Vice President Tom Thibodeau still wants to add more pieces to the bench though.

As fellow Dunking With Wolves writer Ben Beecken talked about, the Wolves are reportedly interested in shooting guard/small forward Tony Allen, who would be a very nice fit for them.

Heading into the offseason, the Wolves needed to improve their defense, shooting and bench.

They should improve in all areas with the new additions. Allen won’t help their shooting (28 percent career 3-point shooter), but will certainly help the bench and defense.

Allen is a three time All-NBA Defensive First-Team member (2012, 2013, 2015) and a three time All-NBA Defensive Second-Team member (2011, 2016, 2017).

He was drafted 25th overall in 2004 (last time the Wolves made the playoffs by the way) out of Oklahoma State by the Boston Celtics.

He was with the Celtics from 2004-2010 (Thibodeau was an assistant there for three seasons) and has spent the past seven seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies.

For his career, he has averaged 8.2 points per game in 798 career games (441 starts).

Here is a look at how many points per game the Wolves have allowed since their last playoff berth:

2003-04: 89.1 points allowed per game (7th)

2004-05: 95.3 points (9th)

2005-06: 93.6 points (8th)

2006-07: 99.7 points (19th)

2007-08: 102.4 points (21st)

2008-09: 102.7 points (22nd)

2009-10: 107.8 points (29th)

2010-11: 107.7 points (30th)

2011-12: 100.1 points (25th)

2012-13: 98.1 points (tied for 15th)

2013-14: 104.3 points (26th)

2014-15: 106.5 points (30th)

2015-16: 106.0 points (tied for 23rd)

2016-17: 106.7 points (18th)

Here is how the Chicago Bulls did during Thibodeau’s time:

2010-11: 91.3 points (2nd)

2011-12: 88.2 (1st)

2012-2013: 92.9 (3rd)

2013-2014: 91.8 (1st)

2014-2015: 97.8 (tied for 9th)

The Bulls’ 3-point shooting during those years was ranked: 13th, tied for 3rd, tied for 20th, 24th and 10th.

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Shooting helps, but defense helps more. The Wolves shot 34.9 percent from 3-point range last season (20th). Their 105.6 points scored per game was 13th best in the league. The Wolves have a good enough offense, but need to get better defensively. They will certainly get better with Butler and Gibson, but getting Allen will help even more. Thibodeau is also a defensive guru and knows Allen well, which is why the interest does not come as a surprise.

Teague is a career 35.5 percent 3-point shooter, while his predecessor Ricky Rubio is 31.5 percent for his career.

Crawford has shot 35percent, Butler has shot 36.7. Zach Lavine has shot 37.8 percent, but Butler is a much better defender.

Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns have not improved defensively as much as we all expected, but more experience and being in year two under Thibodeau’s system should help them. Allen’s ability to also play both shooting guard and small forward will make it easier for him to backup both Butler and Wiggins.

According to hoopsrumors.com, the Wolves can offer Allen a veteran minimum of $2,328,652. Will Allen accept? He may want more, but if he does not find another team soon, he could accept it.

Next: Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 cheap free agents (part 1)

At age 35, the Wolves could perhaps be his best shot at contending.