Not long ago the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired veteran point guard Monte Morris at the trade deadline in exchange for Shake Milton, Troy Brown Jr., and a 2030 second-round pick. Although the sample size is small, Morris is averaging just 5.7 points and 3.0 assists per game.
However, it was expected that Morris would take some time to acclimate to his new team. Coming off a serious quad injury, Morris only appeared in six games all season for the Pistons. It took the veteran floor general two-and-half months to finally suit up.
Now healthy, it's expected he'll continue to gain momentum and perform like the player he was just a year ago when he averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 assists per game while coughing up the ball only one time a game.
Sitting atop the Western Conference standings, the Wolves' roster is closer to flawless than deficient. A reserve point guard was one of the few needs the Timberwolves had. While Minnesota fulfilled the reserve guard void, adding additional shooting wouldn't hurt.
In all likelihood, Minnesota attempted to fill the void by adding veteran Justin Jackson to a 10-day contract. However, Jackson has only appeared in two games and has recorded just one minute of action. The former Tar Heel was drafted in the first round seven years ago but has failed to live up to expectations in the NBA.
Unlikely to be signed to a second 10-day contract, Minnesota's final roster spot will likely once again reopen. Rumors of signing veteran forward Marcus Morris Sr. have come to light, but another recent addition to the buyout market also makes sense.
The Atlanta Hawks are waiving guard Patty Mills, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The 15-year veteran is shooting 38.2 percent from 3-point range in a limited role this season. pic.twitter.com/6Pdxbz3Kxp
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 29, 2024
The same day as Morris Sr.'s departure from the San Antonio Spurs, longtime guard Patty Mills was bought out by the Atlanta Hawks. Mills had only appeared in 19 games and played 202 minutes for Atlanta. The Australian guard's buyout likely had much to do with Atlanta's poor record.
Despite some high expectations entering the season, the Hawks rank 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 26-33 record. And to make matters worse, superstar guard Trae Young will be out for the foreseeable future.
Prior to this season, Mills contributed regularly for the Brooklyn Nets and the Spurs. He's 35 years old, but his best seasons have occurred after he turned 30. In 2021-22, the sharpshooting guard averaged a career-high 11.4 points and connected on 2.8 threes per game while shooting 40.0 percent from downtown.
In his 15th season in the league, he may not have the same scoring ability as he had a couple of years ago. On Minnesota, Mills wouldn't be asked to come in and score double-digits. The aforementioned Morris is set as the backup point guard.
In all likelihood, Mills would soak up some reserve minutes besides Morris in the backcourt or be relegated to an end-of-the-bench role. Since the addition of Morris, previous backup guard Jordan McLaughlin's role has come and gone.
McLaughlin has seen a DNP, played 10-plus minutes in two contests, and played less than 10 minutes in the other two. If Mills were to arrive, it'd be intriguing to see if McLaughlin retains his role as a third-string guard.
All in all, no matter the guard situation, the addition of Mills is welcoming. He's a career 38.9 percent shooter from deep and specializes in spot-up shooting—a need for Minnesota.
Continue to follow along as we'll have you updated on Jackson, Morris Sr., Mills, and the Wolves' final roster spot.