The Timberwolves have been beset by injuries in recent months. Anthony Bennett, Nikola Pekovic, Shabazz Muhammad and Robbie Hummel (almost a third of the roster) are still out and don’t seem like they’ll be back in the near future. Because of this, the NBA has granted Minnesota a hardship exception, allowing them to sign a 16th player, and they’ve signed former D-League guard Sean Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract.
From the team’s press release:The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed guard Sean Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract. The Timberwolves were granted an NBA hardship exception for a 16th roster spot due to having four players out due to injury.
Kilpatrick, 25, has averaged 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 42 games this season with Delaware and Santa Cruz of the NBADL. Kilpatrick, 6-4, went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft after a four-year career at the University of Cincinnati. Kilpatrick finished his career with averages of 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 140 contests, earning Second-Team All-America honors his senior season. Kilpatrick was signed by the Golden State Warriors on October 20, 2014 and waived on October 24, 2014 after playing with the Philadelphia 76ers on their 2014 NBA Summer League team.Kilpatrick likely won’t play much, but the Timberwolves need bodies to close out the season with so many rotation players out, and he’ll help to keep down the minutes for Ricky Rubio and Kevin Martin, who have had injury problems of their own earlier in the year.