Timberwolves sign discount Lu Dort for training camp

Training camp for the Minnesota Timberwolves will officially begin this coming Friday. After a long offseason, the Wolves will be getting a jump on their competition by starting camp early.

The early start is thanks to Minnesota’s upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi, where they will be officially kicking off the NBA’s preseason slate of games on October 5. As expected, the Timberwolves have been signing additional players to participate in the team’s training camp ahead of preseason.

Their newest addition was announced on Monday when Jon Krawczynski reported that the team had signed Trevor Keels to an Exhibit 10 deal. The former New York Knick will get a chance to showcase his skill with the Timberwolves as they make their final preparations for the season.

The Timberwolves have signed Trevor Keels for training camp

Coming off his rookie year in 2022-23, Trevor Keels has routinely garnered comparisons to one NBA player that is sure to excite Timberwolves fans: defensive mastermind Lu Dort. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s staunch perimeter defender has quickly built a reputation as one of the league’s best on the defensive end.

It is Keels’ similar build and play style that have contributed to these comparisons with Dort. After playing one collegiate season with Duke, Keels was taken in the second round of the 2022 draft by the Knicks due to his NBA-ready body and supreme defensive skills.

While he has yet to master the art of defense at the NBA level, the blueprint for Keels’ success is absolutely there. He boasts a slightly larger frame than that of Dort, and he certainly showed more offensive potential at least at the college level.

His addition to the Timberwolves’ training camp roster should prove to be an underrated move. It is probably unlikely, but a scenario exists where Keels’ elite defensive skill and instincts could land him a spot in Minnesota past the middle of October.