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Minnesota Timberwolves: Mid-season report card

By Brian Sampson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 22: Cole Aldrich #45 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for portraits during 2017 Media Day on September 22, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 22: Cole Aldrich #45 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for portraits during 2017 Media Day on September 22, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Cole Aldrich: F

Cole Aldrich gets an F in my book solely because of the playing time and his contract.

So far this season, he’s only played in garbage time and hasn’t shown very well in those limited minutes. Through nine appearances, he’s averaging just 0.8 points and 0.4 rebounds in 2.2 minutes per game.

Of course, it’s very difficult to judge him based on those minutes, but he’s had every opportunity to earn more playing time in practice. And it’s not as if he hasn’t proven he can play at an NBA level because there’s a reason he was signed to the three-year nearly $22 million contract.

Before he came to Minnesota, he was a reliable role player with the Los Angeles Clipper and New York Knicks. Unfortunately, he’s never proven his worth with the Timberwolves.

The contract is the other reason he earned such a low grade. It’s hard to see a player getting paid $7,300,000 to sit at the end of the bench. Especially for a cap-strapped team that could use more serviceable players to work into their short rotation.

Part of that falls on Thibodeau, the POBO, but this is the part of the article where we blame Aldrich. With Patton on the mend, he will likely jump ahead of Aldrich if the team ever needs to play another big man.

For now, Aldrich has to sit on the bench with his big fat “F.”

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