Unexpected summer league contributor proving he is worthy of two-way contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves 2K25 Summer League squad has already outperformed last year's team. The Wolves are 2-0 after winning just one game last summer. Thus far, both first-rounders have lived up to expectations. Terrence Shannon Jr., Minnesota's 27th overall pick, scored 25 in the first game before contributing 19 points in game two.

The Wolves' top pick, Rob Dillingham, only chipped in four points in the first game. However, he grabbed five boards and dished out five assists. In Minnesota's bout against the Indiana Pacers, he scored a quick eight-points in three minutes before finishing with 14 points and eight assists.

Other than the Wolves' first-rounders, several summer leaguers made their presence felt. Third-year pro, Josh Minott has displayed his elite athleticism in both games. He's totaled 27 points and 20 rebounds. Two-way signee Daishen Nix has put together two all-around good games. Nix has averaged 15.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.5 steals over Minnesota's first two contests.

Free agent point guard Nadir Hifi has stood out

Amongst all the aforementioned players, each one shares a thing in common—they all heard their names called in the NBA Draft. Besides the recent draftees, undrafted French point guard Nadir Hifi has made a difference against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Pacers.

In Minnesota's first contest, Hifi dropped 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting. The 21-year-old floor general also grabbed three rebounds, dished out five assists, and recorded three steals. Hifi compiled all these statistics in just 13 minutes of play.

The 6-foot guard is a sound shooter and a smart playmaker. Despite Hifi handling the ball for the majority of his time on the court, he only turned the ball over once. Hifi possesses a quick, tight handle allowing him to navigate traffic in the open court and the pick-and-roll to make the right reads. He typically doesn't force the action and uses a wide array of dribble moves to get open looks.

Although Hifi isn't even average height for a point guard, his high elevation and quick release on his jumpers make it easy to get good looks. Moreover, his burst and agile crossover increase his shotmaking repertoire even further.

In Minnesota's second game, Hifi forced the action on offense. The 21-year-old scored 18 points in just over 14 minutes of game time. Hifi went 5-of-11 from the field and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. The lefty guard got to the line multiple times and knocked down all seven of his attempts from the charity stripe.

The rookie guard didn't record many other counting stats (only one steal), but his passing and ball handling led to plenty of open looks. After one turnover against the Pelicans, Hifi didn't turn the ball over once against Indiana.

Hifi stepped up under pressure

With the game on the line, the Wolves used Hifi as the primary ball handler when expecting pressure and fouls. Even with Dillingham and Nix on the floor, Hifi has demonstrated keen patience and a controlled handle. He's just 21, but he plays like a veteran.

Currently, Minnesota has all three two-way slots filled. As it stands, Jaylen Clark, Jesse Edwards, and Nix are the three players. Clark is still ramping up after an Achilles tear, but his defense already appears second to none. Nix, as already mentioned, is a complete player with a unique skill set. Only Edwards has yet to flash (3.5 points, 4.0 rebounds).

Hifi overtaking Nix's spot is a possibility, however, Jesse Edwards' spot seems to be more up for grabs. Three guards in two-way spots isn't ideal, but it's not like the Wolves are flush with ball handlers. Minnesota only has Mike Conley and Dillingham as the sole point guards on the roster. As for the bigs, Minnesota rosters Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Naz Reid, Luka Garza, and fellow summer leaguer Leonard Miller.

The French star has proved to be a worthwhile contributor capable of parlaying his excellent play into a two-way contract. It's easy to envision Hifi adding smart decision-making and shotmaking to the Wolves' reserve unit. It may take additional seasoning before Hifi can actually contribute to the Timberwolves but a year playing for Minnesota's G-League affiliate will give him a chance to develop into a reliable reserve.