The Minnesota Timberwolves, suddenly depleted thanks to a surge of injuries, have signed guard Othyus Jeffers for the rest of the season, the team announced Tuesday.
Jeffers, 28, played in six preseason games with the club, averaging 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game.
He didn’t make the Wolves’ final roster and played with the D-League’s Iowa Energy for much of the year. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Jeffers was averaged 20.9 points per game (ninth best in the league) and 9.9 rebounds per game (fourth best) for the 31-19 Energy.
#Twolves announce they've signed Othyus Jeffers for the rest of the 2013-14 season. –> http://t.co/iMQUTisbTZ
— Mark Remme (@MarkRemme) April 8, 2014
The Spurs – the next opponent for the Wolves – signed Jeffers to a 10-day contract in January. He played in four games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.
Canis Hoopus notes he was “impressive” for the Wolves in Summer League play, describing his style as a wing player that can’t shoot well, but is strong enough to finish around the basket. Here’s a collection of D-League highlights from this year.
Jeffers is expected to suit up for Minnesota against San Antonio Tuesday night.
The signing comes after a slew of injury news: Shabazz Muhammad (right knee) and Chase Budinger (ankle) are likely out for the rest of the season, head coach Rick Adelman said Monday. Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic have been ruled out at least through Tuesday night’s home game against San Antonio: According to the Star Tribune it’s a sore ankle for the bruising center, and a sore foot for the sharpshooter.
Kevin Love didn’t play a second in Saturday’s 100-92 loss in Orlando due to back spasms (he plans to play Tuesday night against San Antonio, however).
Potentially compounding the injuries is the most recent arrest of Dante Cunningham. He was arrested for the second time in four days early Sunday for what police have described as “threatening messages.” Cunningham was originally arrested on Thursday and later charged with felony domestic assault. Cunningham played big minutes Saturday in Orlando, prior to his second arrest. Whether he plays against the Spurs is up in the air, the Star Tribune says.
Tuesday’s home game against San Antonio is a makeup date, for when a smoke-filled arena canceled the original contest in Mexico City last December.
