The Minnesota Timberwolves' roster is nearly finalized. The Wolves currently have 14 players under contract for next season. And, in addition to the 14, Minnesota rosters two players on two-way contracts, Jaylen Clark and Jesse Edwards.
The Timberwolves have one spot on the active roster up for grabs and a two-way contract slot. Although the roster is almost full, it's possible Minnesota adds extra bodies to compete for the final spot during training camp.
After signing a tenured veteran, Joe Ingles, and a player who spent last season overseas, PJ Dozier, Minnesota has added two vastly different players—one with a high floor and the other with a higher ceiling.
Here, we've pinpointed four players in the middle of the spectrum. All these players appeared in an NBA game last season, however, each player flamed out after once showing promise. It's more than likely every one of the following players will sign one-year "prove it" deals.
4. Killian Hayes
First up, the definition of a flame out. After being drafted seventh overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2020 NBA Draft, Killian Hayes was abruptly released in the middle of last season. However, the release was likely a bit premature.
Sure, Hayes wasn't worthy of the starting nod over Jaden Ivey in Detroit, but he's a quality playmaker who averaged 6.2 assists per game a season prior. Unfortunately for Hayes, his draft position carried a lot of weight. Hayes was selected before All-Stars such as Tyrese Haliburton and Tyrese Maxey. The 22-year-old guard was expected to perform at a high level.
Despite a lack of interest following his release, he may be better suited to come off the bench behind a seasoned, veteran point guard. Hayes is still very young, even younger than a few first-round draftees in last month's draft. Backing up a premier lefty floor general like Mike Conley could lead to a career revival.
The former first-rounder has the size, playmaking, and defense, but his poor efficiency has led to his demise in the NBA. Hayes has never once shot better than 30.0 percent from beyond the arc. His career-high effective field goal percentage was only 45.2 percent— about nine percent lower than the NBA average.
Rectifying Hayes' porous shooting won't be easy, but it's the sole skill to be unlocked. Taking a flier on Hayes as a third-point guard at a minimum contract is both low pressure for Hayes and a worthwhile, marginal investment for the Wolves.