Timberwolves Sign Greg Stiemsma From The D-League

Former Wisconsin Badger Greg Stiemsma has been called up the Minnesota Timberwolves according to agent Mike Naiditch.  This move also likely locks him up for the NBA Summer League schedule as well as next season's preseason roster.

The 6-foot-11 Sioux Falls Skyforce center averaged 8.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.6 blocks during the D-League's regular season while averaging a little over 30 minutes of playing time.  Stiemsma came up with a much more impressive playoff performance, though, by averaging 15 points, 10.7 rebounds and and 4.3 blocks while shooting 58% from the field in three games for Sioux Falls before his team ultimately lost their first round series to the Tulsa 66ers.

The Timberwolves Director of Pro Player Personnel, Jerry Sichting, was in attendance for Stiemsma's second game of the series when he scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and swatted eight shots in a 106-99 Skyforce victory while matched up with Byron Mullens, the Oklahoma City Thunder's first round draft pick.  He then traveled to Minneapolis for a workout on Saturday before returning to Sioux Falls for their final game of the season.

I've been high on Stiemsma all season - actually since his performance shown above when he was playing for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Summer League - simply because he plays the game the way I like to watch it being played: with passion.

He'll also fit great on the Timberwolves roster - provided it stays similar to this season - because he's a true center, a big body, defensive specialist AND is used to playing alongside a dominant power forward (frontcourt mate Alexander Johnson was recently called up to the Houston Rockets after averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds next to Stiemsma).

For more on Stiemsma, notice I mentioned him as a prospect way back when the Trail Blazers were looking at potential call-ups in December as well as naming him the best center prospect while examining the D-League's talent on January 11.