7 People who turned their backs on the Timberwolves

6. Omari Spellman

One of the more obscure names on the list, Omari Spellman didn't suit up for one game in a Timberwolves jersey. The former first-rounder began his career in Atlanta before being traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2019.

The Villanova product made his way to Minneapolis in the trade centered around Andrew Wiggins and D'Angelo Russell. After the trade, Spellman was assigned to the Timberwolves G-League affiliate—the Iowa Wolves. Spellman performed quite well in the G-League. He averaged 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Wolves.

Prior to his days in Iowa, Spellman began his career on a sour note. The former Wildcat entered the NBA at around 250 pounds. A terrific playing weight for a 6-foot-9 big man. However, six months into his career, Spellman's weight ballooned to 290-plus pounds.

The forward did work hard to cut down his weight, and it showed. His averages increased across the board as a member of the Warriors. And then abruptly, midway through the season, Spellman was uprooted and shipped to Minnesota.

The big man never seemed to want to play for the Timberwolves. He took his departure from Golden State pretty hard despite playing just half a season in the Bay Area. As soon as he came over via trade, he was listed as inactive in the first game, then given a "not with team" designation by the second.

The situation was seemingly kept under wraps, but after a successful half-season with Golden State, why would an up-and-coming Spellman not want the opportunity to shine for a faltering Minnesota squad? Whether it be an attitude problem, trade remorse, or something different, Spellman's time in Minnesota was non-existent and he never played another game in the NBA after this bizarre situation.