When it comes to undrafted rookies, the Minnesota Timberwolves have had one of the best success stories in recent memory with Naz Reid. He was a burly player from LSU who changed his playstyle and his body to make it in the pros, then rewarded Minnesota’s ability to develop him by re-signing with the team twice.
However, Reid was a 19-year-old lump of clay, ready to be molded into an NBA player, which sets him apart from the undrafted players in Las Vegas this summer. The Wolves want to contend this year, so their priorities for undrafted players have changed.
The four undrafted players the Wolves brought in have all played over 100 college basketball games and have at least one elite skill that can help the Wolves win if they were to make the roster.
Trey Campbell (Northern Iowa)
Leading off the undrafted players is Campbell. After starting 132 games over four years at Northern Iowa, the Cedar Falls native earned a Summer League invitation, much like other players on the roster. The 6’4” guard can shoot, hitting 37.7% of his threes over his career on 4.4 per game and 42.9% as a junior.
As a senior, his three-point shooting dipped to 34.5% as teams focused more on defending him as a primary option. Still, he posted career highs in rebounds (3.8) and steals (1.7). Campbell will have to compete for playing time this summer. However, using his Summer League experience as a tryout for the G League is invaluable for a player that didn’t play at a blue-blood program.
Toby Harris (Iona)
Harris logged three seasons at Division III Brandeis University before transferring to Division I Iona. In his lone season at Iona, he proved to be a – you guessed it – devastating shooter, hitting 41.1% on 6.8 three-point attempts per game.
The 6’8” wing also pulled in 3.4 rebounds per game. Harris has established himself as a shooter. However, like some of his teammates, he will try to showcase his development on the defensive side and his rebounding for his size. He would also like to show NBA scouts more of who he is as a player, after only playing 836 minutes in the NCAA’s top division.
Aiden Mahaney (UC Santa Barbara)
Mahaney has played a lot of college basketball. He played 135 games over four seasons: two seasons for St. Mary’s University in California, one for Connecticut, and his final season at UC Santa Barbara.
He logged 97 starts and played 3685 minutes of college basketball as a 6’3” guard. He’s a 37.6% career three-point shooter on 678 total attempts. Still, Mahaney is at a bit of a crossroads.
In college, he was more of an off-ball, spot-up shooter who sprung open for low-usage, high-percentage makes. However, due to his size and some limitations as a ball-handler, it will be harder for him to be as effective at the next level. Like others, Mahaney has elite shooting potential but will essentially be learning an entirely new way to be effective to make an NBA roster.
Devin McGlockton (Vanderbilt)
McGlockton is the final player on the Summer League roster, and he follows a trend that has become evident by now. McGlockton is a four-year college player who has started 115 games for Boston College and Vanderbilt.
He’s an okay shooter, making 34.0% of his attempts over four years. Still, he’s a 6’7” wing who pulled down 6.8 rebounds his senior season. More importantly, McGlockton has learned a role and a place to thrive.
In his senior season, he hit 71.1% of his 4.2 two-point attempts per game, mostly off cuts and ball movement, which kept him open at the rim. McGlockton will likely transition to a wing player over the summer due to his size. Like his other teammates, McGlockton will attempt to showcase what he can do at the next level in a new position.
The Wolves are playing to win in Summer League. They have a roster full of shooting talent. It has older players comfortable in their roles, players dangerously close to breaking through to an NBA roster, and a couple of blue-chip players.
Minnesota’s expectations to win are well-founded. By Summer League standards, the roster is a veteran bunch of players who are all figuring out together what their roles could be in an NBA system. This summer, they have a clear objective.
Win it all.
