2018 NBA free agency grades: Timberwolves to sign Anthony Tolliver

The Minnesota Timberwolves have added journeyman forward Anthony Tolliver on a one-year deal. How does he fit in with the rest of the team?

A few hours after pulling the rug from under Nemanja Bjelica and rescinding his nearly $5 million offer, the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to sign sharpshooter Anthony Tolliver, a 33-year-old who last played for the Detroit Pistons. The deal is for one year at $5.75 million.

Last year in Detroit, Tolliver averaged a solid 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 22.2 minutes per game. He also averaged a career high in field goal percentage with a 46 percent clip and a career high in 3-point percentage at 43.6 percent. He finished sixth in the league in 3-point percentage, tying Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver, and was the highest ranking among forwards and centers.

Tolliver has had a very interesting career up to this point. This is now the second time that he is entering a second stint with a franchise. Previously, he had played for the Pistons from 2014-16 then again last season. This is also now his second time playing for the Timberwolves after spending two seasons up north from 2010-12. This move to Detroit will bring Tolliver’s total team count to nine in his 10 seasons in the league.

Tolliver was an underrated free agent in the market and according to Yahoo! Sports’ own Shams Charnaria, Tolliver had serious interest from multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers.

In an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Tolliver had this to say about his journeyman-ship and what made him sign with the Timberwolves over other squads;

"“My wife and I, we’ve moved a lot, had a lot of different changes,” he said. “This will still be a change again, but at least we won’t be starting from scratch. And the other factor is, I want to win.”"

With the Western Conference all of a sudden looking like a dozen rosters full of Space Jam Monstars, adding underrated and cheap talent like Tolliver was a great move for the Timberwolves. He will provide immediate scoring and defense off the bench.

At 6’8″, Tolliver can guard 3-5. Last year, Tolliver only allowed 3-point shooters an average of 35.7 percent. Outside of 15 feet, shooters only put in 36.8 percent of their field goals on him. With his ranginess and close-out abilities, Tolliver puts pressure on shooters to make them think twice.

Bench play for the Timberwolves was utterly miserable last season. Coming in second-to-last in bench scoring, they also finished dead-last in bench offensive efficiency, dead-last in bench defensive efficiency and only finished 12th in 3-point percentage (with that stats being inflated by Bjelica’s 41.5 percent mark). Reserve play for the Timberwolves will be imperative for them moving forward if they want to continue to contend.

This is where Tolliver helps. He will never be expected to take on the huge minutes that head coach Tom Thibodeau exerts on his starters and will be a spark in the reserve cast. Last season at age 32, Tolliver had one of the best seasons of his career and I fully expect his progression to trend upwards if healthy. He posted a career high in win shares last year with 5.2 wins added. For a bench player, that’s outstanding.

Tolliver is walking into a potential winning situation in Minnesota. After making their first playoff appearance in 13 seasons, the Wolves are trending upwards and if healthy, are still a formidable team in the Western Conference. I fully expect Tollliver to be a difference-maker in Minnesota’s second unit.

Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far

Grade: A