Addition of Aaron Brooks gives the Wolves another point guard

September 22, 2017 at 6:08AM
Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Brooks (00) plays in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) ORG XMIT: TNBD
Aaron Brooks averaged 5.0 points and 1.9 assists per game last season for Indiana, his sixth NBA team. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Timberwolves on Thursday again reached back into the past of coach/president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau in an attempt to move forward, reaching a contract agreement with veteran point guard Aaron Brooks.

Brooks, 32, gives the Wolves' point guard depth alongside starter Jeff Teague and third-year backup Tyus Jones.

He is the third former Chicago Bulls player to join Thibodeau for his second season in Minnesota: The Wolves acquired three-time All Star Jimmy Butler in a draft-night trade in June, and they signed Taj Gibson as a free agent in July.

Brooks played for Thibodeau during the coach's final season in Chicago in 2014-15, appearing in all 82 games and averaging 11.6 points and 2.0 assists in 23 minutes a game. He averaged 13.8 minutes in 65 games for Indiana last season.

With Thursday's signing, the Wolves announced they have "finalized" their training-camp roster at 17 players. That likely means they will give free-agent signee and former D League swingman Marcus Georges-Hunt a long look for another "3-and-D" wing player Thibodeau seeks.

The Wolves hold their annual media day at their Mayo Clinic Square facility on Friday morning and then immediately fly to San Diego, where they will open a seven-day training camp. They play the Los Angeles Lakers in Anaheim, Calif., on Sept. 30 before they fly to China to play two preseason games against NBA champion Golden State.

Wolves tweak staff

The Wolves announced additions to its coaching and scouting staffs: Former Wolves guard John Lucas III is the new player-development coach; Larry Greer is the new advance scout; and Steve Molina has been hired as video assistant. Head video coordinator Sam Newman-Beck has been promoted to coaching associate/video scouting director.

A former advance scout with Houston and Portland, Greer is the brother of Wolves assistant coach Andy Greer.

about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Star Tribune.

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