MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota Timberwolves have made a significant move to address their struggling offense, acquiring point guard Monté Morris from the Detroit Pistons. The president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, is bringing Morris back to Minnesota in an effort to bolster the team’s outside shooting and provide playoff experience.
Morris, who previously played under Connelly in Denver, is expected to join the Timberwolves’ rotation as a valuable outside shooter. With a career 39 percent 3-point shooting average, Morris is poised to help lift a Timberwolves team that currently ranks 24th in the league in 3-point attempts and 16th in makes this season. The acquisition of Morris comes at a relatively small price for the Timberwolves, as they traded away two players who were not in the rotation along with a future second-round pick.
Connelly’s priority in the trade deadline season was to secure a backup point guard for Mike Conley, who has been a key player for the Wolves this season. Morris’s return to Minnesota comes after Connelly’s pursuit of the point guard last season while he played for Washington. With Morris now on board, the Timberwolves hope to add another reliable playmaker to their backcourt.
One important aspect of Morris’s game that the Timberwolves are eager to benefit from is his ability to take care of the ball. His strong assist-to-turnover ratio and low average turnovers per game are expected to give a major boost to the Timberwolves, who currently rank 28th in the league in turnovers per game.
Morris’s return to Minnesota also opens up questions about the team’s rotation, with other players like Jordan McLaughlin potentially seeing their playing time reduced. The move also gives the Timberwolves another open roster spot, providing flexibility for potential future roster adjustments.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves are not ruling out further deals, as they could explore adding another player through trade or the upcoming buyout market. With an eye on improving their offense and maintaining their competitiveness, the Timberwolves are leaving the door open for further roster enhancements as the season progresses.