Minnesota Timberwolves sign forward Tyler Cook to training camp contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly made another addition to their training camp roster.

Not only do the Minnesota Timberwolves still have an open roster spot, but they have only announced one two-way contract signing.

While the Wolves are clearly keeping their options open for the crazy run-up to the season, they’ve added a young player with a taste of NBA experience to a training camp contract.

Minnesota Timberwolves sign forward Tyler Cook to training camp contract

The Wolves remain a bit thin at the power forward position and added yet another former Denver Nugget to the fold with the signing of second-year forward Tyler Cook.

Cook started last season as a two-way player for the Nuggets. He was waived and claimed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who gave him a standard, NBA contract. Cook was eventually waived and appeared in 29 G League games between the Canton Charge and the Oklahoma City Blue.

Cook was then signed by the Nuggets as a substitute player in the Orlando bubble when Denver experienced significant injury issues leading to the playoffs. He appeared in just two games for the Nuggets after having played in 11 games earlier in the year with the Cavs.

Cook is a 6-foot-8 forward with a 7-foot wingspan. He doesn’t stretch the floor at all and has more of a bruising style in the paint although he has the athletic ability to be dynamic in transition and in the pick-and-roll game. Cook can theoretically guard multiple positions and would seem to be a solid option for a second two-way contract signee.

In three years at the University of Iowa, Cooks averaged 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 54.2 percent from the field.

At the moment, the Wolves only have rookie point guard Ashton Hagans on a two-way deal, and the power forward spot would be the other place the Wolves could use a bit of depth, short of signing a true third-string point guard with NBA experience.

The Wolves are reportedly still negotiating with Jordan McLaughlin, who is surely seeking a guaranteed, standard NBA contract. For their part, the Wolves are clearly trying to keep their options open, but at some point, they’ll need to add a bit more depth to the roster.

Cook provides some depth and a bit of upside as a potential rotation player down the road. There’s a decent chance he becomes the second two-way player, depending on how things shake out and how he performs in training camp over the next couple of weeks.

Stay tuned for how the Wolves ultimately use both their final roster spot and the vacant two-way slot.