The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed restricted free agent center Ryan Hollins to a three-year, $7 million offer sheet, a source said. The Dallas Mavericks are not expected to match the offer sheet, the source said, and Hollins is expected to be in Minneapolis next week for informal workouts with his new teammates. Hollins played sparingly for Dallas and Charlotte last season.
From YouTube: Ryan Hollins Game 4 Highlight Reel – Mavs vs Spurs
The Wolves signed restricted free agent Ryan Hollins to an offer sheet today, and while Dallas has seven days to match the offer, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted this response on his Twitter account: “congrats to ryan hollins. wish him the best w twolves.”
So it appears Hollins will be coming to Minnesota as an extra big man in the rotation that currently features starters Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.
From the Associated Press:
The 7-foot Hollins was selected from UCLA in the 2006 draft by Charlotte. He played two-plus seasons with the Bobcats before being traded to Dallas in January. Hollins has career averages of 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn calls Hollins an athletic center who should fit in well on the frontcourt with Kevin Love and Al Jefferson.
From Austin Burton/Dime Magazine: Sneaky-good move for the Wolves
Listed at 7-feet, 230 pounds, Hollins is young (24) and athletic, and while he played less than 10 minutes a night with the Mavs and Bobcats last season, showed some potential in his limited time. (Hollins put up eight boards and three blocks in one playoff game against San Antonio.) He could develop into a Joakim Noah-type down the road, presumably with a less-ugly jumper. The Wolves need some depth behind Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, and having a true center to work into the frontcourt rotation helps their yet-to-be-named coach out a lot, because right now all they have at the five behind Big Al and K-Love is Buckets Pecherov and one of the Garbage Twins.
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