Friday, October 7, 2011

Top 10 Odd Stints with the Minnesota Timbwolves

These are the guys that when you look over the Minnesota Timberwolves All-Time Roster, you say, “What, they played for the Timberwolves?” All were once stars, intriguing prospects, or cult heroes from the other teams.


Either they were reluctantly traded here, signed here as they were aging and hanging on to their career, or were actually brought on to be a actual contributor. Here are the top 10 according to Shoot That S!:



10. Mark Madsen/Cherokee Parks/Bill Curley


9. Laphonso Ellis (2000) – Signed as a Free Agent in 2000. Played in all 82 games and started 5.



8. Kendall Gill (2002) – Signed as a Free Agent in 2002. Played in all 82 games and started 34.





7. Rod Strickland (2002) – Signed as a Free Agent in 2002 for depth after Terrell Brandon and Felipe Lopez went down with injury. Strickland was 36 years old and on the downside of his career. Played in 46 games and started 8.






6. Michael Williams (1992 – 1999) – Aquired in a trade with the Indiana Pacers along with Chuck Person for Sam Mitchell and Pooh Richardson. Williams had two solid seasons, before foot ailments only allowed him to play in 34 games over the last 4 seasons. Traded to the Toronto in 1999.





5. Oliver Miller (2003) – In 2003, Wolves starting center Michael Olowokandi had a knee injury that going to keep him out for 6 to 8 weeks. Miller was signed after spending 3 years out of the NBA (2 in the CBA). Miller average 10 minutes a game the rest of the way off the bench.















4. Dennis Scott (1999) – Sign to a 10 day contracts with the Wolves in 1999. Played in 9 games.


3. Antoine Walker (2007) – Sent to the Wolves in a 5 player deal in a salary dump by the Miami Heat. Heat coach Pat Riley was sick of Walkers lack of conditioning and even threw in a 1st round pick for the Wolves to take him. Walker spent one season mostly on the Wolves bench and than traded the following season to the Memphis Grizzles on a draft night trade. Average 8 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game.















2. Spud Webb (1995) – Traded along side Center Andrew Lang from the Atlanta Hawks to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Christian Laettner and Sean Rooks. The Wolves wanted to move two disgruntled players and build around their young players. Rooks had asked for a trade and Laettner was feuding with Wolves Rookie, Kevin Garnett. Lang, a 7-footer was the key piece for the Wolves, and Webb was a throw in to match up contracts. Average 9.4 points per game and 5.9 assist per game in his only season with the Wolves.















1. Chuck Person (1992 – 1994) – Traded to the Timerwolves along with Michael Williams from the Indiana Pacers for Pooh Richardson and Sam Mitchell. Person was named team Captain upon his arrival and said he planned to take 3rd pick in the draft Christian Laettner under his wing. But the two never got along after Person accused Laettner of selfish play. The Wolves bought out his contract after the 1994 season to open up a starting spot for rookie Donyell Marshall. Average 14.2 points per game, 3.4 assist per game, and 4.5 rebounds per game.


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