That wood wolves have taken a step to strengthen their bench as they continue to transform their roster this summer. Minnesota signs an experienced combo guard Austin Rivers to a one-year contract, agents David Spahn and Aaron Minz Let ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski know.
According to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link).
Rivers will reunite with a familiar face in the Timberwolves’ front office – the Minnesota team president Tim Connelly, who signed a lucrative deal of his own with the club this summer after a successful extended tenure with the Nuggets. Rivers has spent parts of the last two NBA seasons as a key reserve at Denver under Connelly.
After signing a 10-day contract with the Nuggets in April 2021, Rivers quickly proved himself worthy of a roster spot with a postseason contender and was promptly brought back for the remainder of the season. He further cemented his role at the club by rising as a goalscorer in the 2021 playoffs. In Denver’s first-round matchup against the Trail Blazers, Rivers averaged 11.5 PPG (while shooting 48.3% from deep), 2.3 APG, and 2.2 RPG.
The 29-year-old journeyman re-signed with Denver in the 2021 offseason. He would continue to play a crucial role, mostly off the bench, for a Denver club that no longer has guards. In 67 competitions, including 18 starts, Rivers averaged 6.0 PPG on .417/.342/.727 shooting splits during 22.1 MPG of game action. He also pulled down 1.7 RPG, dealt 1.3 APG and grabbed 0.8 SPG.
Rivers joins a revamped Minnesota team that shed much of its veteran depth to add three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. He will serve as a helpful ball handler off the bench behind projected backfielders D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards. Another new free agent signee, Kyle Andersonwill likely start at small forward while Gobert will join All-Star Big Man Karl-Anthony-Cities to form a jumbo-sized forecourt tandem.