Minnesota Timberwolves sign 4 players to training camp contracts
By Ben Beecken
The Minnesota Timberwolves have officially inked four players to training camp deals.
Of the four, two of them played on the Wolves squad at Las Vegas Summer League. All would seem to have a chance to latch on with the Iowa Wolves of the G League following camp.
Minnesota Timberwolves sign 4 players to training camp deals
The Wolves have built out their training camp roster by bringing in four young players. The group includes two undrafted rookies and two players who have previous NBA experience.
Isaiah Miller previously signed an Exhibit 10 contract prior to summer league. The team has now announced that he will officially be part of training camp.
Miller was named the Southern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year three times while at UNC-Greensboro. While he stands just six feet tall and doesn’t have an outside shot to speak of, he’s a bulldog with the ball in his hands and is able to get his shot off around the rim and in the paint regardless of his size.
His defensive intensity was on full display in Las Vegas; his willingness to pick up the opposing ball-handler full-court would have made Patrick Beverley, Mr. 94 Feet himself, proud.
Also with the Wolves in Summer League was Brian Bowen II, who appeared in 12 games over the past two seasons with the Indiana Pacers and was signed to a two-way deal with them last year.
Bowen started all five games in Las Vegas for the Wolves and should be able to provide some solid defense at the wing spot. He’s not much of a shooter, but if he could develop a bit more range he has some potential as a 3-and-D option.
The other player with previous NBA experience is Chris Silva. The native of Gabon spent time on a two-way contract with the Miami Heat and played in 44 games for them back in the COVID-19-shortened 2019-20 season. Last year, he appeared in 11 games before he was traded to Sacramento, where he saw the floor for four more contests.
Silva played four years at the University of South Carolina, averaging 11.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He’s a 6-foot-8 big man who has started to add a bit of an outside shot to his repertoire and is still an intriguing depth play in the frontcourt.
For more on Silva, be sure to check out FanSided’s David Ramil’s insightful piece on Silva’s experience coming to the United States and playing for the Heat.
The final addition is Matt Lewis, an undrafted rookie guard out of James Madison University who apparently first agreed to join the Wolves back at the end of July.
Lewis averaged 17.1 points per game over four years at James Madison, including 19.2 points per game over his final two seasons. He shot 43 percent from the floor and 37.7 percent from beyond the 3-point line in his junior and senior years combined and has good size, standing 6-foot-5.
All four of these players will add depth to the training camp roster and will almost certainly be waived and end up with the Iowa Wolves early this season.