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Minnesota Timberwolves: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Kris Dunn (Providence) walks off the stage after being selected as the number five overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Kris Dunn (Providence) walks off the stage after being selected as the number five overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Minnesota Timberwolves
Mar 21, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) dribbles in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors guard Brandon Rush (4) at Target Center. The Golden State Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-104. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Bringing Aboard Brandon

Offering a one-year, $3.5 million contract, the Timberwolves swiped away a player with championship experience from a team that’s likely to win its second championship in three years. Okay, so maybe that’s a bit generous in describing Brandon Rush, but still. Championship experience!

In all seriousness, this extremely young team needed to find some veterans who could lead by example and provide Minnesota with an actual rotation on the wing without stealing too many minutes from the youngsters. Rush accomplishes that goal.

Even better, he won’t be completely useless in spot minutes either. Last season Rush only averaged 4.2 points in 14.7 minutes per game for the Warriors, but he shot 41.4 percent from three-point range and stepped up when the Dubs lost Harrison Barnes to an ankle sprain.

In 25 starts, Rush averaged 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, shooting 50 percent from the field and a blistering 49.4 percent from three-point range. To be honest, it was a bit baffling head coach Steve Kerr didn’t give him any run in the NBA Finals when Barnes started withering away.

True enough: the Timberwolves aren’t exactly the kind of team where you can plug in any player and watch him thrive like the Warriors, but Rush will at least spread the floor in limited minutes and has plenty of wisdom to impart on the younger guys. Not bad for a one-year, $3.5 million deal.

Grade: B

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