It’s that time again, basketball fans. The Timberwolves opened their doors to media members today after a few players on the new-look squad wrapped up a workout.
While the entire roster wasn't in town yet, the energy around the facility could have fooled you. Attending Thursday’s practice was Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, Robbie Hummel, Glenn Robinson III, Brady Heslip and Kyrylo Fesenko.
Minnesota’s General Manager Milt Newton confirmed at the end of practice that the team had signed Heslip and Fesenko to training camp contracts.
It wasn’t a traditional practice, but it was a good chance for the assistant coaches to get some drills done with some of the younger players.
The newest member of the Wolves, Robinson, looked a bit tentative, but then again, it was only his second official day after signing his contract with the Wolves. Robinson was plenty relieved to be in camp with the team that drafted him with the No. 40 pick in this year’s draft.
“It was a big relief off my shoulders. I was just glad that the deal happened after talking back and forth with Milt, Flip (Saunders) and my agent,” Robinson said. “I’m just glad everything got settled and I’m back and ready to get in shape and ready to start playing again and getting to know my teammates a little better.”
One of Robinson’s teammates also had some contract uncertainty go in the right direction this offseason. Hummel was given a guaranteed contract from the team this offseason after proving in 2013-14 that he indeed belongs in the NBA.
Hummel hopes this season that he can fit the roll of a stretch-4 after the departure of Kevin Love.
“I think that's a good thing for me to reach for. At 6-8, you're a little undersized, but at the stretch-four position, there's a lot more of those guys now,” Hummel said. “It's all based on matchups. Obviously, if Zach Randolph's playing the four, I'm probably not the guy who could guard him, but you talk about like Channing Frye, guys that like to shoot 3s and play within the basket, my height doesn't really matter as much in that situation.”
Dunks After Dark
The Wolves announced earlier this week that the team will open their 2014-15 Training Camp, with a “Dunks After Dark” event at Bresnan Arena in the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Wiggins and LaVine are expected to take part in a dunk contest against each other. Throughout the summer, we’ve seen plenty of dunks via social media from the two coveted rookies.
Mankato, get ready. It should be a good time.
“Dang, man. That’s going to be a good one. I can’t show everyone everything,” LaVine said. “I’m trying to get in the Sprite Slam Dunk contest this year. Hopefully I can do a little something something.”
LaVine said in an exclusive interview with Timberwolves.com how much he enjoys putting on a show. We have a feeling he and Wiggins will do just that in the early hours on Sept. 30.
Quick Hits
- The team had a mini 3-point contest at the conclusion of practice. Hummel was 8-for-9 from beyond the arc, winning the contest. The team did conditioning drills after. So yeah, Hummel wasn't exactly rewarded.
- The Wolves aren’t short on wing players heading into Training Camp, but it appears as if Robinson is up for the challenge to compete: “It is what it is. It’s up to all of us to get each other better, to have the right mindset whether you’re the last guy in that wing set or the first guy. That’s something about this young team is that everyone understands that. One thing about having a young team is that you never know who might get the spot.”
- Newton said that the roster is final as of now and the team will head into Training Camp with 18 players.
Quote of Practice