Timberwolves’ Summer League Reserve Should Get Final Roster Spot

Several standout performances made strong cases. Amari Bailey shot 8-for-15,
scored 17 points, and recorded four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

However, former UConn Huskies star Tristen Newton shot an impressive 8-for-12, including 6-for-9 three-point shooting. His final stat line featured a double-double of 24 points and 10 assists, to go with five rebounds and three steals.

In many of the Timberwolves' previous Summer League games, Newton was coming off the bench to back up Shannon Jr., Dillingham, or others. At times, he was on the court with the Timberwolves' second-year stars, which likely spotlighted his ability to contribute off the bench in the regular season.

Playmaking is a significant concern for the Timberwolves, as they will need younger guards to step up and possibly replace 37-year-old Mike Conley in the lineup. Newton had several highlight passes to teammates, including Jesse Edwards and Rocco Zikarsky, which resulted in dunks.

The Indiana Pacers drafted Newton in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft and signed him to a two-way contract. However, the team eventually waived him, and the Timberwolves added him to their roster last season.

He played in a total of eight NBA games between the Pacers and the Timberwolves. His time during those games was brief, as the most he averaged was 2.7 minutes per game, so his stats aren't impressive.

He spent time with Minnesota's NBA G League team, the Iowa Wolves. The 6-foot-5 guard participated in 24 games, averaging 16.3 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Yesterday's performance spoke volumes about his game to fans. On Reddit's Timberwolves subReddit, fans mostly believe that Newton should sign a two-way contract to become Minnesota's final roster member for the 2024-25 season.

"Newton easy. Loved his game. High iq always playing with his head up," a commenter wrote.

Another Reddit commenter said, "Newton.. smarter and has a championship pedigree."

"Newton was offered it a while back, but hasn't signed it. It sounds like he's trying to find a regular contract before agreeing to a two way," a commenter mentioned.

And one Reddit commenter said that Newton could be a "budget Jrue Holiday" for the Wolves.

Newton played in all five Timberwolves games for the NBA Summer League. He finished with averages of 9.2 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and two steals in 21 minutes per game.

He's seemingly made a case for someone's roster. Time will tell if the Timberwolves add his playmaker potential to the team on a two-way or more significant contract.