Veteran Minnesota Timberwolves forward T.J. Warren has agreed to a rest-of-year deal to stick with the team through this year, report Shams Charania and Jon Krawcyznski of The Athletic. He had just wrapped up two 10-day agreements with Minnesota, and was thus ineligible for a third this year.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are signing forward TJ Warren to a contract for the remainder of the season, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. Warren finished two consecutive 10-day deals. He’s given Wolves another scorer off the bench. pic.twitter.com/mFvwXbsKtr
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 26, 2024
The 6-foot-eight vet out of North Carolina State, still just 30, would probably be very unavailable for a minimum contract or 10-day deals had he just been able to stay healthy in the past. He suffered a small left navicular stress fracture that required surgery on New Year’s Eve, 2020, and treated it on January 4, 2020.
He missed all but four games of the 2020-21 season, and the entirety of the 2021-22 season, while recuperating. Warren has yet to return to his halcyon days prior to the ailment. In 2019-20, his absolute prime, he appeared in 67 contests (starting all of them) for the 45-28 Pacers in a COVID-19-shortened season. Warren posted averages of 19.8 points on .536/.403/.819 shooting splits, along with 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
During a stellar two-year stint with the Wolfpack from 2012-14, Warren was a consensus All-American Second Teamer, an All-ACC First Teamer, and the ACC Player of the Year. He was selected at the tail end of the NBA draft lottery by the Phoenix Suns, with the No. 14 pick.
In 2017-18, on the heels of inking a four-year, $50 million extension with the Suns, Warren came in 25th among vote-getters for Most Improved Player honors, per Basketball Reference. He posted impressive averages of 19.6 points on 49.8% shooting from the floor (he made just 22.2% from long range on 1.4 triple tries a night) and 75.7% shooting from the charity stripe, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, one steal and 0.6 blocks per bout.
He was flipped to the Indiana Pacers, along with small forward KZ Okpala in exchange for cash considerations. The Miami Heat quickly shipped out three second round draft picks to acquire Okpala. He had finally developed a three point shot with the Suns the year prior. With Indiana, he averaged a career-most 19.8 points on .536/.403/.819 shooting splits, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks a night. Warren enjoyed a spectacular run during the Pacers’ Orlando Magic bubble run, including a career-most 53 points while shooting 20-of-29 from the field (9-of-12 from long range).
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.