With all the rumors of trades, free agent signings and the like surrounding the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer, it should be no surprise when they are thought to have interest in any available player. The latest player to fit that bill is center Andray Blatche, who the team reportedly sent a scout to watch work out recently.
Blatche has played his entire NBA career to this point with the Washington Wizards since being drafted in the second round by that team in 2005. The Wizards placed him on amnesty waivers after a disappointing 2011-12 season when he played just 26 games (13 starts) as injury and conditioning issues plagued him. When Blatche was on the floor he struggled, averaging 8.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while making just 38 percent of his shots from the floor.
Blatche had the best season of his career in 2010-2011, when he averaged 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game over 64 games (63 starts). For his career, over seven seasons and 409 games (176 starts), he has career averages of 9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He is still just 26 years old, so he should have some good years left if he can get his act together.
If the Timberwolves are looking to acquire a big man as the rumors suggest, Blatche fits that criteria at 6’11″ tall and he may be willing to take the veteran’s minimum in order to get an opportunity to get his career back on track. That is the most the Timberwolves can offer to any free agent right now, so there could be a match between the two sides. Blatche had some reported interest from other teams, most notably the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, but nothing came to fruition there and it can be assumed Minnesota is Blatche’s top suitor at this point.
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