Minnesota Timberwolves: Wolves sign Mitch Creek to 10-day contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to add players to their depleted roster with the signing of former Brooklyn Net Mitch Creek to a 10-day contract.

There are only six games left on the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ schedule, but Wolves brass is continuing their search for talent to round out the roster by adding Mitch Creek on a 10-day contract.

The Wolves added swingman Cameron Reynolds to the roster just over a month ago on a 10-day contract and ultimately decided to sign him for the balance of the season. He’s been solid while playing 12.2 minutes per game over 13 contests, and the Wolves have opted to go back to the 10-day-contract well.

Creek has played the majority of the season with the Long Island Nets of the G League, averaging 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 30.5 minutes per contest over 40 games. His shooting splits are .554/.222/.741, and while the 22.2 percent 3-point percentage on 1.5 attempts per game is extremely poor, his 2-point shooting percentage is a whopping 60.9 percent in the G League this year.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds, Creek mostly relies on his physicality to get into the paint and score at the rim. While there isn’t reliable data on where G League players are shooting the majority of their shots, this highlight video should give us a pretty good idea of his bread-and-butter.

Indeed, there isn’t a jumper to be found in the entire compilation, although defenders inexplicably seem to bite on his pump-fake from the perimeter with regularity. While it remains to be seen whether or not NBA players are equally as impressed with the fake, it certainly appears as though his size, feel for the game, and athleticism are enough that he could have some success at the highest level.

Creek did play in four games for the Brooklyn Nets earlier this year, scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds in 36 total minutes across four games. He shot 5-of-10 from the floor and missed his only 3-point attempt.

Creek, who is Australian, played eight seasons professionally in the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia. During the 2017-18 campaign, Creek averaged 14.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game and was named to the All-NBL Second Team.

With Andrew Wiggins‘ improved play of late and the Wolves’ desire to develop versatile rookie Keita Bates-Diop it remains to be seen how much playing time Creek will actually get, but it appears to be an intriguing signing that will add some needed depth to the roster.