Checking in on the stars of the Timberwolves’ G League affiliate

The Minnesota Timberwolves have recently been hit with something of a double-whammy on the injury list.

Still, they haven’t had to rely too heavily on calling up talent from the G League. The Iowa Wolves have enjoyed a relatively stable rotation to this point, and a pair of guards have stood out as the most impressive contributors.

Timberwolves two-way player McKinley Wright IV starring for Iowa

The Timberwolves have two players on two-way contracts in guard McKinley Wright IV and big man Nathan Knight. The latter has only played one game with the G League squad, spending most of his time with the big club.

Wright, on the other hand, has only appeared in one game with the Timberwolves and has instead started all six games for the Iowa Wolves.

The undrafted rookie from the University of Colorado has been fantastic thus far in the G League, averaging 23.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and five assists per game while shooting 53.1 percent from the field and a scorching 48.5 percent from 3-point range.

Wright also hit three shots in the final minute of regulation and two overtimes in a win during the Wolves’ opening weekend in early November.

Timberwolves’ Exhibit 10 player Isaiah Miller has impressed with Iowa Wolves

Another player from the Timberwolves’ Las Vegas Summer League team that earned a preferred spot with the organization in the fall is Isaiah Miller. He signed an Exhibit 10 deal, which earned him a training camp invitation and a bonus for landing on the Iowa Wolves roster.

The diminutive yet bouncy guard has made his mark, putting up 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 24.2 minutes per game. Miller has come off the bench in all six contests and has shot the ball surprisingly well, making 50 percent of his field goal tries and 38.5 percent of his long-range attempts.

Miller is a terror on the offensive glass, pulling down three boards per game on that end of the floor and carrying a 12.5 percent offensive rebound rate — insane for a guard. He’s ultra-athletic and plays with an exceptional motor.

Come next season, don’t be surprised if Miller ends up on an NBA roster.

Timberwolves rookie Leandro Bolmaro has rode the G League roller coaster

Leandro Bolmaro is suddenly part of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ rotation, but he appeared in the Iowa Wolves’ first four games before sticking in the Twin Cities for what appears to be the foreseeable future.

Bolmaro had what amounted to two-and-a-half impressive games with Iowa and one-and-a-half that were much more of a struggle, including a 1-for-16 shooting performance against the Grand Rapids Gold.

Overall, Bolmaro has averaged 17 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game on 40 percent shooting across four contests. He’s made 38.7 percent of his 3-point attempts as well.

Bolmaro has been solid defensively and generally shot the ball well from deep, which are the two things he’ll be expected to do immediately at the NBA level. The Wolves will need his length and tenacity while Patrick Beverley remains out, and he has to be able to knock down open jumpers from the perimeter when given the opportunity.

We’ll keep an eye on the Iowa Wolves, and especially Wright and Miller, moving forward, but we can also expect the roster to shift a bit as NBA teams come calling on reinforcements during the dog days of January and February.