The NBA Scouting Combine is well underway in Chicago, and a bit more Timberwolves items are finally starting to emerge, including potential free agency-related news.
The combine is a gathering point for every NBA team and unofficially kicks off the off-season, but it’s far more exciting for the fans of teams who haven’t been part of the playoff festivities. After all, it’s been nearly a month since Wolves fans have seen their squad take the court.
With the draft lottery looming next Tuesday, May 17th, Timberwolves brass is in Chicago for the combine, and the reports/gossip are flowing through the interwebs.
We’ll be combing through Twitter over the coming days to glean anything resembling relevant Timberwolves news, and Thursday was certainly intriguing.
First, we learned that new general manager Scott Layden was taking a very direct approach to learning about this year’s top draft prospects.
New Wolves GM Scott Layden taking a hands-on approach at Chicago draft combine: He's in shorts & golf shirt as staff for on-court drills
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) May 12, 2016
We also received a list of players that the Wolves have already held face-to-face interviews with, as each organization can sit down with up to 18 prospects.
Among prospects the #Twolves interviewed today in Chicago: UNC forward Brice Johnson, I'm told. Can interview up to 18 prospects.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) May 12, 2016
Other interviewees included likely lottery picks Kris Dunn, Jaylen Brown, and Henry Ellenson, whereas Brice Johnson is mostly projected as a late first-round selection.
Don’t read too much into the Dunn; he’s a point guard that isn’t too dissimilar to Rubio, but it would be irresponsible for the Wolves to not do their homework on all of the players who are likely to be drafted in the top-eight, possibly top-ten picks.
Wolfson also provided us with a list of Timberwolves employees who are representing at the combine this week, which includes a mix of old front office folks and the new regime.
Thibs, Layden, Milt Newton, Calvin Booth, Manny Rohan all spotted at the Combine. Busy few days through early next week. #twolves
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) May 12, 2016
My fault: Rob Babcock, long-time #Twolves front office staffer, also at Combine. ... Per @Kyle_Ratke, PG Kris Dunn met with Wolves.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) May 12, 2016
Elsewhere, free-agent-to-be Jared Dudley had an interesting response to a Twitter question regarding heading to Minnesota this summer…the question, which can also be seen by clicking the below link in the embedded tweet, was “How’d you feel about playing with some young studs in MN?”.
Dudley’s answer:
I could see that! Very similar to Milwaukee.. Will see lol https://t.co/ZmwN6UG3SG
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 11, 2016
Dudley’s reaction is no doubt similar to that which many veteran NBA role players would have to the suggestion of joining a core led by Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, and Ricky Rubio.
He’ll be in his age-31 season next year and his fifth team in five seasons, but he’s been one of the more consistent role players over his nine years in the league. He’s started in just over a third of his NBA games, but has averaged 24.3 minutes per game over the course of his career, shooting 39.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Dudley would add the shooting that Tom Thibodeau desperately craves on his new roster well providing good size and solid team defense. He’s the type of player that could fit exactly what Thibs would require in a wing to slot alongside Wiggins and play in a variety of lineup combinations.
Next: Should the Timberwolves want Garnett to come back?
We’ll spend a lot of time exploring options in free agency in the coming weeks, but this is an intriguing fit, no doubt.