Minnesota Timberwolves sign Nathan Knight to two-way contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves are already filling their second and final two-way contract slot with promising second-year big man Nathan Knight, according to a report from Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto.

Apparently, the Wolves beat out other teams who were interested in bringing Knight aboard for the 2021-22 season.

Minnesota Timberwolves sign Nathan Knight to a two-way contract

Nathan Knight is a 6-foot-10 big who spent the 2020-21 season on a two-way deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Due to the lack of a G League season and the bubble that took its place, Knight spent the entirety of the campaign on Atlanta’s roster, appearing in 33 games.

Knight was not a regular member of the Hawks’ rotation, of course, and averaged just 8.5 minutes per game. He shot just 6-of-33 (18.2 percent) on 3-point attempts and only 37 percent from the floor.

But the positives are easy to find. Knight has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and plenty of athleticism. He is already impactful in pick-and-roll game, even without being much of a threat from outside the paint.

Perhaps most importantly, Knight can defend the pick-and-roll adeptly and has the ability to switch on the perimeter. He’s also a solid rebounder, putting up a 14.1 percent rebound rate across his 33 games, a number that would have ranked No. 4 on the Wolves last season.

Knight was a four-year player and three-year starter at William & Mary. Over his final three seasons at the collegiate level, Knight averaged 20.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while shooting 55.8 percent from the floor. His career rebound rate at William & Mary was a fantastic 17.7 percent, including crazy marks as a senior: a 30.2 percent defensive rebound rate and a whopping 22.3 total rebound rate.

Knight also showed some playmaking ability, notching a guard-like assist rate of 28.9 percent during his junior year and a total assist rate of 20.4 percent for his collegiate career.

According to SKOR North/KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, both Oklahoma City and Golden State were interested in Knight before he chose to join the Wolves.

There are certainly some similarities between Knight and Wolves restricted free agent Jarred Vanderbilt. Both bring switchable defense at the 4, rebounding ability, a mix of energy and athleticism, and surprising passing ability.

Knight appears to have more offensive upside but is also a year and a half older. Remember, Vanderbilt played just 14 games at the University of Kentucky and received his first taste of regular rotation minutes last season with the Timberwolves.

It’s probably fair to consider Knight as insurance in case the Wolves are unable to retain Vanderbilt. The Wolves would love to keep the latter, as confirmed by Wolfson, but all it takes is one other team to decide that Vanderbilt is worth tendering an offer sheet and potentially pricing out Minnesota.

If nothing else, Knight appears to be a solid depth play with some upside who will likely function as the third-string center and another versatile defensive option at the 4, even if he does spend a decent chunk of the season in Des Moines with the Iowa Wolves.