If you wanted to keep up with the Minnesota Timberwolves draft-and-stashed players, you are in luck. It just so happens that the Timberwolves have flown their hidden European gem back to work out at the team’s practice facility. Who might that be? None other than PG Matteo Spagnolo.
He is a young but quite promising guard with the potential to become a significant contributor to the team. Drafted with the 50th overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, Matteo Spagnolo hails from Italy and has been competing in progressively more challenging Euroleague circles for several years.
He did play for the Minnesota Timberwolves 2022 Summer League team, appearing in five games and starting once. With that initial NBA experience under his belt, does that mean that he is heading to compete in the NBA this season?
Not exactly.
Spagnolo signed a three-year deal with Real Madrid in 2021, a contract that runs through 2024. That means that the Minnesota Timberwolves have one more year before Spagnolo becomes a viable option for the Timberwolves roster:
Matteo Spagnolo and Real Madrid have fully agreed on a three-year contract, I am told.
— Emiliano Carchia (@Carchia) June 30, 2021
This is Matteo Spagnolo’s first pro contract.
Spagnolo and Real Madrid are deciding whether to play one season on loan in ACB or Serie A or spend the season with Real Madrid
So for now, the team is limited to bringing him in, working with him at the practice facility, and likely engaging him to play for the Timberwolves Summer League team once more.
Matteo Spagnolo in the building today at the Wolves practice facility.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) June 16, 2023
Spagnolo likely to be on the Wolves Summer League roster again this summer.
On a positive note, Matteo Spagnolo will become available as the contract for veteran PG Mike Conley Jr. expires, setting up the team to transition to Spagnolo if he exhibits enough promise.
Will Matteo Spagnolo earn a role on the Timberwolves roster? Stay tuned . . .