Timberwolves’ Season Grades

Adreian Payne: D

Payne only saw the floor 17 times this season. It’s pretty hard to put a lot of judgment on someone who only played 128 minutes all season, but I’ll do it anyway.

There’s a reason why he has only been subbed in 17 times, and why he only gets about seven minutes of play each time he checks in. He isn’t the most talented player on the team.

Payne seems to be a guy that his teammates like. In the warm-ups and off the court he’st always having a good time with his teammates. That’s a great player to have on your team. If a player hardly plays at all but is enthusiastic and a good teammate, you don’t want to lose him.

I don’t see him leaving the Timberwolves this offseason, but I wouldn’t doubt it if he did. The Wolves need players on the bench that can score the basketball, he just isn’t that guy. This is his third season in the league and he can’t seem to become an offensive threat. If the Wolves were to trade him, the possibilities for trades are endless.

He’s not terrible at defense. He’s long enough that he can stretch out to get a steal or block from time to time. If he put some emphasis on scoring in the paint and focusing more on defense, he could not only keep a spot but see more minutes on the floor.

He’s athletic, and he was a pretty big deal in college. This season was so forgettable for him. Nothing he did was impressive at all. You have to open some eyes if you want to see the floor regularly. He hasn’t adjusted to the league. In the future he can, but 3.7 points per game is nothing short of deserving a D.