Newest TWolves A.J. Lawson hits unusual NBA Trifecta in 1st 24 hours

The Minnesota Timberwolves had released forward Eric Paschall from their second of two Two-Way contracts as the NBA season began, and have carried that uncommitted contract for nearly a month. Fortunately, the player who was released to make room for signing center Luka Garza to a Two-Way contract, A.J. Lawson, was still unsigned. That is a bit of a surprise because Lawson has performed very well in the G-League while playing for the College Park Skyhawks.

In four games, Lawson has averaged 22.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 38.9 minutes per game. Since signing a Two-Way Contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lawson will join three Timberwolves teammates currently assigned to the Iowa Wolves roster: Forward Josh Minott, guard Wendell Moore Jr., and center Luka Garza. So what of Lawson’s unorthodox NBA Trifecta? Well, he signed his NBA Two-Way Contract to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves:

He scored his first NBA bucket the following day as a player for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their game on the road against the Orlando Magic:

And perhaps, best of all, he was justly rewarded for scoring his first NBA points in just two minutes of gameplay by being awarded the game ball.

The past 24 hours have clearly been charmed for the newest member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, A.J. Lawson. And rightfully so, as he has done nothing but roll up his sleeves and get right back to work after his earlier release from the Timberwolves. Will his NBA career be smooth sailing from here on out?  That’s above my pay grade to say.

What I can say is this. Adding A.J. Lawson to the future players of the Minnesota Timberwolves of Luka Garza, Wendell Moore Jr., and Josh Minott tells me two things:

First, it tells me that the eye of Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly is still as sharp at identifying potential in young basketball players as ever.

And second, and perhaps more importantly, it affirms the fact that despite the willingness of the team to trade a significant number of draft picks for the foreseeable future, the Timberwolves’ pipeline of young talent remains full even now.