Minnesota Timberwolves: Top 30 greatest players of all-time

• Four years with Timberwolves (2003-07)
• Averaged 6.9 points and 3 rebounds with Timberwolves

Trenton Hassell was the first pick of the second round by the Chicago Bulls in 2001. After two years in Chi-town, he was waived and picked up in free agency by the Timberwolves.

Hassell stepped in and was the primary starting shooting guard for the Western Conference Finals team in 2003-04. He often guarded the opposing team’s best player, and along with Latrell Sprewell formed a solid wing duo that was part of one of the league’s best defenses.

In 18 playoff starts, Hassell, a career 44.5 percent shooter, shot 52.1 percent from the field and 81.3 percent from the free throw line while averaging 7.7 points per game. He came up big guarding Denver’s Carmelo Anthony in the first round and holding Melo to just 32.8 percent shooting.

Then came a rough-and-tumble series against Sacramento in the second round that went seven games. Peja Stojakovic, the Kings’ sharpshooting wing, only shot 35.7 from the field and 34.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Hassell was never a good offensive player, but knew his limits and generally stayed within them. Being a starter on the best team in Timberwolves history and one of it’s best defenders is enough to get him on to this list.

After four years in Minnesota, Hassell played half a season in Dallas before finishing his career with two-plus years with the New Jersey Nets. The best years of his career, as well as the only season in which Hassell played in the playoffs, came with the Timberwolves.