Timberwolves agree to one-year deal with Austin Rivers

Jace Frederick, Pioneer Press

Minnesota further bolstered its backcourt and wing rotation Thursday, while Tim Connelly acquired another familiar face from his not-so-distant past. The Timberwolves agreed to a one-year deal with Austin Rivers, a source confirmed.

Rivers spent the previous season and a half with Connelly in Denver. He was a critical piece of the Nuggets’ success, specifically last season. With Denver’s injury-riddled roster, Rivers averaged 22 minutes a game and served as one of the Nuggets’ premier perimeter defenders.

It was Rivers who did the best job of any of Denver’s wings guarding Steph Curry in the Nuggets’ first-round series against Golden State. Rivers also provides another outside shooting threat. The 6-foot-4 wing, who turns 30 on Aug. 1, is another experienced veteran who can help guide Minnesota’s youthful wings ranging from the likes of Anthony Edwards to Jaylen Nowell.

Rivers is the second Nuggets reserve guard signed by Minnesota this offseason, joining Bryn Forbes.

Rivers is a solid rotational wing, of which the Wolves now have many. In a League dominated by wings, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has a fully-stocked arsenal of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan McLaughlin, Forbes, Rivers, Nowell, Edwards, Taurean Prince, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson and Wendell Moore.

That type of depth will pay off throughout a grueling regular season and give Finch plenty of different options and combinations to play with come the postseason.

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