Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, Nikola Pekovic and Roney Turiaf are all important parts to a Minnesota Timberwolves team that knew they were young and inexperienced coming into the season, but they were going to make the most of it. Insert former UConn Husky Star, Jeff Adrien.
Now, about a month into the season and all 4 of those important veterans are done for extended amounts of time and will not be helping the T-Wolves anytime soon. The Wolves though are trying to make a move and decided to sign Adrien after the NBA has granted them an extra roster spot due to the NBA’s hardship extension, which allows an NBA team who is riddled with injury to add a player to their team, if they need to add some depth to that roster.
The official announcement from the T-Wolves.
The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed forward Jeff Adrien. The Timberwolves were granted an NBA hardship exception for a 16th roster spot due to having four players out due to injury. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
Adrien, 28, averaged 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last season in 53 games (12 starts) between Milwaukee and Charlotte. Adrien averaged 10.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 28 games (12 starts) after being acquired by the Bucks on Feb. 20 in a midseason trade with the Bobcats.
A 6-7 forward, Adrien has averaged 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 136 career games over four seasons between Charlotte, Golden State, Houston and Milwaukee.
The signing of Adrien, by any means, isn’t going to bolster the Wolves into the playoffs and he might not see any significant minutes for the Wolves. Playing him though may be beneficial in the paint. Adrien has the body and athleticism of a player in the league and he looks like a NBA player. He hustles, plays tough and he works hard on the glass, some toughness the Wolves may need.
