Summer league standout should receive two-way contract from Timberwolves

The Timberwolves completed their summer league schedule on Saturday. It was their first loss in five games as they fell to the Rockets by the score of 104-101. With Minnesota not qualifying for the semifinals despite winning their first four outings, many of their more notable players sat out the Houston game. It allowed Tristen Newton an opportunity to shine more, and that’s exactly what he did.

Tristen Newton excelled in the Wolves summer league finale

Playing 33 minutes on Saturday, Newton secured a double-double with 24 points and 10 assists. He also added five rebounds and three steals. The 24-year-old was mighty efficient, shooting 8-12 from the field and 6-9 from beyond the arc.

It was definitely the way that Newton wanted to end the summer league as he looks to earn another contract. It just so happens that the Wolves have an open two-way slot at the moment. Their two players currently on two-way contracts are centers Jesse Edwards and Rocco Zikarsky.

Notably, the Wolves have extended a two-way qualifying offer to Newton, so the hope is he picks it up. Ideally, the Wolves can bring Newton back on a two-way sooner rather than later. Perhaps he was betting on himself to possibly earn a standard deal; however, Newton seems better suited for a two-way contract.

Minnesota also has two roster spots open for standard deals, although Newton receiving one of those is less likely. The team may want to go with more of a veteran route to fill one (or both) of those roster openings. They could look to begin filling those now that rumored options such as Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard have signed elsewhere.

Newton saw minimal action at NBA level last season with two teams

Selected by the Pacers in the second round (49th overall pick) of the 2024 NBA Draft out of UConn, Newton began last season on a two-way contract with them. He was later released by Indiana after appearing in five games for the Pacers and was subsequently claimed off waivers by the Timberwolves.

Last season, the 6-foot-5 guard got into just three games for the Timberwolves for eight total minutes. Newton missed his two field goal tries in that brief time, but did grab four rebounds.

He appeared in 20 games (19 starts) last season for the Timberwolves' G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. There, Newton posted averages of 16.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 35.9 minutes.

Prior to the beginning of his career in the NBA, Newton was a member of back-to-back national championship teams with UConn in 2023 and 2024. In the latter, he was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, a season in which he was also named a consensus first-team All-American.