The Minnesota Timberwolves stayed active after moving on from Paul Millsap, signing Oklahoma City’s Taj Gibson to a two-year, $28 million deal on Sunday.
The move adds bench depth to a roster that has let five players fo from last year’s roster. While he will not bring the scoring ability that Millsap offers, he still is a nice piece for Minnesota’s frontcourt.
In his nine seasons, Gibson has only averaged double-digit points three times, with 13 points per game being his career-high for a season. While his offensive production does not offer a lot of fireworks, his shooting percentage from the field has always hovered around 50 percent. While he tends to stay away from the 3-point line, he is great in the pick and roll and can hit from 15 feet with consistency. That’s something the Rockets would have paid a lot for against the Spurs last year.
The part of Gibson’s game that is particularly valuable for the Wolves is his board game. He averages 6.3 rebounds per game and plays an aggressive, physical style in the paint. It’s an aggressive style highlighted by his 710 career blocks — 1.2 per game.
Not only did Minnesota give its somewhat depleted second unit some depth, it also got it on a smart deal. Gibson has had his share of injuries — ankle surgery, hamstring problems and broken ribs to name a few — and is 32 years old, but the Wolves only signed up for two years. Only having to pay him $28 million is a steal when comparing the contract to the one the Golden State Warriors signed with 33-year-old Andre Iguodala (three years, $45 million).
Overall, this is a solid signing for the Wolves as they continue to build on a productive summer.
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