Timberwolves to sign Anthony Tolliver, part ways with Nemanja Bjelica

It's not exactly home for a guy who was raised in Missouri and resides in Dallas, but veteran NBA forward Anthony Tolliver's return to Minnesota feels a little like it.

The Timberwolves on Monday reached agreement with the three-point shooting big man on a one-year contract. The $5.75 million deal brings him back to the team for which he played two seasons ending in 2012.

To clear salary-cap space, the Wolves withdrew a qualifying offer worth nearly $5 million to restricted free agent Nemanja Bjelica, who becomes free to sign with any team he chooses without stipulation. Bjelica played three seasons in Minnesota, averaging 6.1 points per game and adding three-point shooting prowess.

The Wolves opted for Tolliver instead. Now 33, Toliver has played with nine different teams during his 10-year NBA career — and now with one team twice. He said he chose the Wolves over four other pursuing teams because he has played here before.

"My wife and I, we've moved a lot, had a lot of different changes," he said. "This will still be a change again, but at least we won't be starting from scratch. And the other factor is, I want to win."

He believes he can do so even in a Western Conference that became more competitive Sunday night when superstar LeBron James chose to play for the Lakers.

The Wolves won 47 games last season — 16 more than the season before — and made the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Tolliver agreed with the Wolves after two conversations with Wolves coach/president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau, including one that lasted an unusually long 35 minutes.

This is the third consecutive summer Tolliver, who bid farewell to his Detroit fans on Instagram, said he talked with Thibodeau about joining the Wolves.

"It just never worked out before, for one reason or the other," Tolliver said. "It seems like we talk every summer now and this year, it just worked out."

Tolliver said he has no concerns about Thibodeau's reputation that he plays his starters to exhaustion and often underutilizes his bench.

Tolliver's agent, Larry Fox, called the agreement between team and player a "perfect fit" because Tolliver provides what the Wolves need most: three-point shooting.

A 6-foot-8 shooter and defender whose range makes him the "stretch" power forward the Wolves need, Tolliver took an average of 7.5 threes a game last season, made an average of 3.3 and shot 43.6 percent while playing 22.2 minutes a game for Detroit last season. He is a 37.6 percent career three-point shooter, and 42 percent overall.

He tied Cleveland's Kyle Korver for sixth place in the league in three-point percentage, the best among any power forward or center.

"I'm confident in myself and what I can bring to a team," Tolliver said. "I've always found a way to get on the court and produce with every coach and every team I've played for. His reputation is short rotations and all that stuff, but, hey, if that wins us games. I've always viewed myself as a huge asset to any team I've played for. I'm more than just a three-point shooter and defender. I do a lot of little things.

"From what I've heard, Thibs is a fair coach. If you deserve to play, you deserve to play. I just go in, do what I do and see what happens."

Four other teams pursued Tolliver, who stretches opposing defenses with his range and can defend some centers and small forwards. He's also known as a steady locker-room presence.

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer led his team's contingent that met Tolliver for three hours Sunday at Tolliver's Dallas home, but the Wolves had more money to offer after withdrawing Bjelica's qualifying offer.

They also had the right fit: A team that needs three-point shooting meet a prolific three-point shooter.

"That was a big thing," Tolliver said. "Finding a team where I can go there and immediately have a niche where I can help."

• The Wolves signed first-round pick Josh Okogie. Terms were not released.