While the Minnesota Timberwolves may not have filled either their 15-player roster or their three Two-Way contract slots just yet, they are still working to fill all roster slots. The team has the opportunity to add up to five Exhibit-10 contracted players to work through training camp and preseason games.
While we haven’t heard much on that front so far, we cannot make that claim any longer. You see, per NBA analyst Michael Scotto, the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with young combination guard Javonte Cooke:
The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Javonte Cooke, agent Jerry Dianis told @hoopshype. Cook played for Minnesota’s G League affiliate last season, the Iowa Wolves.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 4, 2023
So now the question is, who is Javonte Cooke, and what can the Timberwolves fans expect from him?
Promising perimeter shooting
Combination guard Javonte Cooke was a promising young contributor on the Iowa Wolves roster in the 2022-23 season. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 182 pounds. Throughout his NCAA basketball chapter, Cooke displayed steady growth in his ability to score and ended his final season nearly having mastered a 40.0 percent shot from the perimeter. Last season, he competed in 25 games for the Iowa Wolves, starting five contests. He averaged:
25 GP | 5 GS | 20.5 MPG | 8.0 PPG | 42.4 FG% | 30.4 3P% | 3.0 RPG | 1.6 APG | 0.7 SPG | 0.5 BPG
He was drafted into playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves 2023 Summer League team, and he put up the following stats in that event:
5 GP | 1 GS | 16.5 MPG | 6.4 PPG | 38.7 FG% | 31.3 3P% | 2.2 RPG | 0.8 APG | 0.4 SPG | 0.6 BPG
All in all, he is a young backcourt player who is likely earmarked for another season in G-League competition. But even as that is likely his destiny, he will benefit greatly from training camp and preseason games with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It’s never too early to begin amassing talented guards for the inevitable day when the Timberwolves roster may need to anoint a successor for veteran PG Mike Conley Jr. Not only does increasing the number of young prospects under consideration for that role someday improve the Wolves’ chances of finding that player when the time comes, but an assortment of players and a variety of skill sets will also help the team narrow the search and define the optimal bookend to pair with All-Star SG Anthony Edwards.
Do not be surprised if the Timberwolves add another backcourt option on an Exhibit 10 contract.