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Minnesota Timberwolves: 25 Best Players To Play For The Timberwolves

By Phil Watson

Mar 2, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of the Target Center during the second half of the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Washington Wizards. The Wizards won 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of the Target Center during the second half of the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Washington Wizards. The Wizards won 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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9 Dec 1999: Scottie Pippen #33 of the Portland Trailblazers moves for the ball as he guards Joe Smith #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers defeated the Timberwolves 90-86. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule Jr. /Allsport
9 Dec 1999: Scottie Pippen #33 of the Portland Trailblazers moves for the ball as he guards Joe Smith #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers defeated the Timberwolves 90-86. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule Jr. /Allsport /

86. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Free agent, Jan. 22, 1999; Free agent, July 30, 2001.. C-SF. 1999-2000, 2001-03. Joe Smith. 14. player

Joe Smith was looking for a home after the NBA lockout in 1999 and found one with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The deal ultimately was a costly one for Minnesota.

MIN_14_SMITH
MIN_14_SMITH /

NBA Commissioner David Stern voided Smith’s contract in October 2000 and stripped him of his Bird rights, while also fining the Timberwolves $3.5 million and stripping the team of its first-round draft picks for five years after it was ruled the team and Smith had entered into a long-term deal that was never submitted to the league.

Instead, the Timberwolves filed a one-year contract at well below Smith’s market value as a means of circumventing the salary cap.

Smith signed with the Detroit Pistons, but returned to Minnesota as a free agent in July 2001, playing two more seasons with the Wolves before he was traded with Anthony Peeler to the Milwaukee Bucks for Sam Cassell and Ervin Johnson in June 2003.

In all, Smith spent four seasons in Minnesota, averaging 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 26.0 minutes per game, shooting .467/3-for-9/.779.

Smith was the No. 1 overall pick out of Maryland by the Golden State Warriors in the 1995 NBA Draft and was an All-Rookie pick in 1995-96, but generally underwhelmed as a top overall selection.

He was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in February 1998 before signing with the Timberwolves for the first time.

After he left Minnesota for the second and final time, Smith’s road was long and twisty.

He was traded to the Denver Nuggets in August 2006, went back to the 76ers in December 2006, signed with the Chicago Bulls in July 2007, was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal in February 2008 and went to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-team swap in August 2008.

In March 2009, he returned to Cleveland as a free agent and in August of that year, he signed with the Atlanta Hawks. In September 2010, Smith signed with the New Jersey Nets, who traded him in December of that year to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team deal.

Smith was unsigned as a free agent in the summer of 2011 and ultimately retired. He is one of four players in NBA history to play for a dozen different franchises.

Next: Mr. Big Shot’s Rise Began In Minnesota

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