MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -Kevin Garnett remains in Minnesota, for now. And his newest teammate is Florida defensive wizard Corey Brewer.
The Timberwolves drafted the 6-foot-9 swingman with the seventh overall selection in Thursday night’s NBA draft. He averaged 13.2 points as a junior last season, helping the Gators to their second straight NCAA championship.
Brewer was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four and the SEC co-defensive player of the year last season and will bring some defensive intensity on the perimeter to a Timberwolves team that had little of it last season.
When Brewer came to Minneapolis for a workout last week, he said he would like to play in Minnesota with Garnett and Randy Foye. It looks like he could get that chance.
Coming into the draft, there were doubts whether Brewer would be available when the Timberwolves came on the clock. But Boston took Georgetown’s Jeff Green at No. 5, and Chinese forward Yi Jianlian went to Milwaukee at No. 6.
Speculation – mostly through unsubstantiated internet reports – swirled around Garnett’s status with the team, with the destination and teams involved changing nearly by the hour.
In the end, the vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale did not pull the trigger, increasing the likelihood that Garnett will return to Minnesota for at least the start of his 13th season.
He’ll have a little more help in his quest to return to the playoffs for the first time in four years, with Juwan Howard, who was acquired in a trade with Houston, and now Brewer.
Brewer has the size to guard small forwards, but is still quick enough to take on shooting guards, which will be an asset for Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman, who is looking for more consistent defense.
“Corey is a versatile player who plays well on both ends of the basketball court,” McHale said in a statement. “As a two-time champion in college and the 2007 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, he comes with a winning background and plenty of experience in big games. He’s a great addition to our young core of talent.”
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