Scouting Minnesota's two-way man Jared Terrell

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While the jaw-dropping moves of LeBron James and DeMarcus Cousins will deservedly dominate the headlines for the foreseeable future, there has been a few minor moves in the Minnesota Timberwolves organization that may have slipped past your wondering eye.

Cole Aldrich's puzzling contract was waived - and likely stretched over three years - and 3-point gunner Anthony Tolliver joined the Wolves on a one-year deal $5.5 million deal. However, the most minuscule of moves came before the official free agency moratorium had kicked off, signing Rhode Island University guard Jared Terrell to a two-way contract. The 23-year-old averaged 16.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Rams in 2017-18.

It took until the season was already underway before Tom Thibodeau signed Amile Jefferson and Anthony Brown to two-way contract's last season, so it's pleasing to see the Thibs, Scott Layden and the rest of the front office brass move quickly this summer. It will be interesting to see if they use the two-way guys any differently than last year, which consisted of four total minutes for Brown and zero for Jefferson, despite dominating the G-League in Iowa.

Nevertheless, Terrell will feature for Minnesota in the Summer League, and can spend up to 45 days on the NBA roster throughout the season, so he is worth keeping tabs on.

The 6-foot-3 guard will hope to make his name by continuing to connect on triples the same way he did in senior year at RIU, where he nailed 41.4 percent of his 5.3 long range shots per game. He is a willing gunner from deep and if he can hit them at a reliable clip in the big leagues he has a chance to stick on a roster, whether it is the Timberwolves' or elsewhere.

Despite his stature, Terrell built like a brick wall and uses that strength to bulldoze his way to the rim at a serviceable level, that knack for getting inside buckets helps create space for his sweet shooting stroke as well. This kind of scoring guard fits the mold of a Thibs guy, much like Derrick Rose and Jeff Teague, although obviously not at that level.

Problems definitely arise for Terrell when projecting his fit in the NBA. In an ideal world, he would slot in as a small shooting guard, thanks to his below average playmaking, but he lacks the size and length to compete with NBA wings. This leaves him as a point guard who doesn't pass at an NBA level, essentially a dog without a bark.

Even at the one-guard position, Terrell will need to show more than he did at Rhode Island on the defensive end if he wants to make hay with the defensive mad scientist we call Tom Thibodeau. The 23-year-old has quick hands and a knack for getting into the passing lane, but he is far too lazy and disinterested when it comes to one on one defense and often doesn't even bother to rotate at the ring to provide some sort of defensive help.  

If the former Ram can show some sort of summer improvement during his time under John Lucas' team in Las Vegas, he might have a chance to grab some minutes in the Timberwolves rotation. However an injury to Jeff Teague, Derrick Rose, Tyus Jones or Josh Okogie would likely have to occur to create that path. Either way, he should be a solid piece of the Iowa Wolves G-League squad and another fresh face with a chance in Minneapolis.

Keep an eye on Jared Terrell in the Las Vegas Summer League, which kicks off on Friday!


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