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| The Wolves added some size with Greg Stiemsma. (Getty Images) |
I don't know if he's "manna from heaven," but the Timberwolves have a new big man.
The Wolves have come to terms with center Greg Stiemsma, according to reports. A restricted free agent as the Celtics extended him a $1.05 million qualifying offer before the summer. But cap constraints won't allow the Celtics to match anything more than their bi-annual exception ($1.95 million).
Terms of the deal are unknown, but it's likely bigger than $2 million per year, as again, that's all the Celtics could offer.
Stiemsma, 26, was a rookie last season with Boston that displayed a strong defensive presence at a sizeable 6-11. He averaged 2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 55 appearances.
He's from Wisconsin and played college basketball there, so a move to Minnesota puts him much closer to home. After waiving Darko Milicic via the amnesty clause, the Wolves are a bit thin on interior depth with Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic.
In Minnesota, Stiemsma will immediately step in as a key rotational player while in Boston, he might've had to battle for time with newly drafted rookie Fab Melo. Still, with the way the Celtics were ravaged by injury last season, added depth inside wouldn't have been a bad thing. Plus, Stiemsma played well in his role for Boston. Nothing the Celtics could do, but he might be missed.
The Wolves have been said to be targeting Stiemsma for a lot of the summer and after plans to sign Nicolas Batum fell through, they acted on finishing up a deal for the backup big. Not a major signing by any means, but a necessary one for Minnesota and one that certainly adds something solid to the roster.
