At this pace, youthful may not be the best adjective to describe the Timberwolves, despite the presence of youngsters like Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Flip Saunders, the team's coach and director of basketball operations, has steadily been building a veteran presence as well. On Thursday, he added a familiar face from his past when the Wolves agreed to terms on a one-year deal with 35-year-old forward Tayshaun Prince.
Saunders had earlier added 39-year-old point guard Andre Miller to the roster and re-signed 39-year-old forward Kevin Garnett.
Prince played three seasons for Saunders, from 2005-06 through 2007-08, when both were with the Detroit Pistons. In each of those seasons, Prince started all 82 games and was selected to the NBA's all-defensive second team.
The 6-9 Prince played in a reserve role last season for the first time in his career, and he figures to be in a similar role with the Wolves.
Although Prince started only 16 of 58 games last season for three teams — Memphis, Boston and Detroit — he still averaged 24.1 minutes and converted 46.3 percent of his three-point attempts. He averaged 7.5 and 3.6 rebounds.
He averaged double figures in scoring in 10 straight seasons from 2003-04 through 2012-13.
While Prince was in Detroit from 2002 to 2013, the Pistons appeared in two NBA Finals — winning the championship in 2004 — and six consecutive Eastern Conference finals from 2003 through 2008.
