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Minnesota Timberwolves: Andre Miller Brings Balance To Young Roster

By Jameson Miller

Mar 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Andre Miller (22) dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Andre Miller (22) dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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With talented youngsters Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Karl-Anthony Towns already in tow, the Minnesota Timberwolves needed to add some experience to their roster before the upcoming 2015-16 season. The Wolves needed someone to throw pinpoint lob passes to their stable of uber-athletic young bloods.

They needed someone who could keep things cool, calm and collected as execution inevitably tightens down the stretch of close games. Minnesota needed a little leadership and craftiness. They needed a little Andre Miller.

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Per The Associated Press, Miller’s agent, Andy Miller, has confirmed that his client will sign with the Timberwolves on a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum:

"Miller visited the Wolves on Wednesday, met with coach Flip Saunders, GM Milt Newton and several team officials and toured the team’s new practice facility. Hours later, he agreed to terms on a one-year deal for the veterans minimum.“He’s very excited about the opportunity,” Andy Miller said. “He was sold on the direction of the team and the veteran leadership he could provide to a promising young roster. He felt it was a good fit for him.”"

While nobody was going to mistake the T-Wolves for playoff contenders next season, this is exactly the type of signing a team with an enviable collection of young talent and realistic short-term goals should be making.

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Minnesota isn’t taking unnecessary moonshots and undermining the development of their up and comers with short-sighted overpays for sub-star level “name” free agents or mortgaging their future by chasing mediocrity in the name of overnight tangible improvement.

Signing Miller signals a team that is very much willing to let their young guys develop at the appropriate pace, as he’s not the kind of vet who will demand huge minutes or act threatened by youthful teammates who are clearly more essential to the organization’s long-term plans than he is.

It is fair to note, however, that just because he’s comfortable in his own skin doesn’t mean Miller will be willing to sit idly on the bench next year–just ask Brian Shaw.

It was only the season before last that Miller and Shaw got into a shouting match in plain view of fans, players and reporters in the aftermath of a particularly demoralizing home loss to the outwardly tanking Philadelphia 76ers. Though to be fair, there are few, if any similarities between Miller’s situation in Denver and the one he’ll be entering in ‘Sota.

There are no 239-game active streaks to maintain, no rookie head coach trying to make his bones in the league following up a 57-win season and no reason for anything other than mutual respect to flourish in the Wolves locker room.

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Timberwolves incoming ownership have one job to keep the Wolves alive
Timberwolves incoming ownership have one job to keep the Wolves alive /

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    • Yet, lest you think the 39-year-old point guard’s only role on the Wolves next year will be telling tall tales, keeping his pockets full of Werther’s Originals and keeping fellow NBA Methuselah Kevin Garnett company, Andre Miller is still a very capable NBA player.

    While Miller’s raw numbers–4.4 points and 3.5 assists per game last season–won’t knock anyone’s socks off, the fact that his assist ratio led the entire league certainly should. That’s right, per ESPN’s Hollinger stats, the Professor racked up an assist ratio (the percentage of a player’s possessions that end in an assist) of 39.9, tops in the NBA.

    Aside from his slick passing ability, Miller sports the quintessential old man game that keeps players like him floating around the NBA long after many of his less refined brethren have washed out.

    Though he’s never wowed anyone with his athleticism or quickness, Miller utilizes his excellent body control and impeccable timing to bend possessions in his favor while brutalizing smaller defenders with a polished post game more befitting of a power forward than a point guard.

    Though there may be more vibrant pastures ahead for Miller in his eventual retirement, it’s tough to imagine anything greener than the areas inside the three-point arc on his NBA.com shot chart (right baseline be damned):

    andre miller shot chart
    andre miller shot chart /

    While it does seem strange that Miller was able to slip past George Karl‘s clutches in Sacramento in the first place, his presence in Minnesota should be a welcome addition for Wolves fans.

    Just because Flip Saunders and the rest of the Timberwolves brass are taking a patient approach with their young guys’ education doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a good idea to enroll them in some graduate-level classes. The Professor can help with that.

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