Minnesota Timberwolves: Checking the status of other former Wolves
Kelan Martin: Two-way deal with the Indiana Pacers
Kelan Martin spent the 2019-20 season on a two-way deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves and ended up a key member of the rotation after the trade deadline and injury issues thinned out the roster.
Now, he has signed a new two-way deal, this time with the Pacers.
Martin ultimately appeared in 31 games with the Timberwolves, starting four. He averaged 6.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting just 39.2 percent from the field and 26 percent from beyond the arc.
As a member of the Iowa Wolves of the G League, however, Martin averaged 18.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 47.7 percent on field-goal attempts and 37.7 percent on 3-point tries in 23 games.
With his 6-foot-7 height and 7-foot-2 wingspan, there is clear upside for Martin as a 3-and-D player at the NBA level. Martin’s struggles with the big club last year combined with the Wolves’ sudden depth on the wing meant that the Wolves rescinded Martin’s qualifying offer last week, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Pacers won 45 games last season and figure to be competitive in the Eastern Conference again this year, and Martin should have a chance to get some run at the NBA level.
Treveon Graham: Training camp deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
Along with Napier, the Wolves acquired Treveon Graham last summer. Graham became the Wolves’ de facto defensive stopper over the first few weeks of the season, but his inability to make jump shots ultimately led to his role shrinking before he was ultimately traded to Atlanta with Jeff Teague in exchange for Allen Crabbe (who remains a free agent after being waived by the Wolves in the spring).
Graham shot just 24.1 percent on 3-point attempts from the Wolves and simply wasn’t a good enough defender to even partially cancel out that damage. While he is a solid wing defender, the offensive issues were too much to overcome.
Graham appeared in 22 games in Atlanta, averaging 12.1 minutes per game and somehow managing to shoot 35.1 percent from deep in a Hawks uniform.
Now, he’ll be with the Bucks on a training camp deal.
Free agent forward Treveon Graham has agreed to a training camp deal with the Bucks, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA.
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) November 27, 2020
Jeff Teague: One-year contract with the Boston Celtics
Teague was one of Tom Thibodeau’s big acquisitions during the summer that brought Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. Outside of being part of the team that went to the playoffs in 2018, he as a disappointment with the Wolves.
Last season, the Wolves traded him to Atlanta in January along with Graham in what was effectively a swap of expiring contracts.
Teague talked publicly this offseason about wanting to play for a contender above all else. He’s gotten his wish, as he’s signed with the Boston Celtics.
The terms of his contract haven’t been announced, but it’s safe to assume that it’s part of the bi-annual exception, which is up to $3.1 million.
In other “former Wolves player” news, Evan Turner will be an assistant coach for the Celtics. Turner, of course, never set foot in Minnesota when he was under contract but finished the year on their payroll.
As long as Gersson Rosas at the helm, the roster seems as though it will frequently be in flux, and there will be plenty of ex-Wolves to keep an eye on.