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Shootaround Access: Wolves vs. Nuggets | Nov. 27, 2013

Shootaround Access: Wolves vs. Nuggets | Nov. 27, 2013

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets | 7:00 PM — Target Center

Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Plus

Where to Listen: 830 WCCO-AM

Luc Mbah a Moute passed his physical this morning, clearing the final hurdle of the Wolves’ deal with Sacramento that brings Mbah a Moute to Minnesota and sends Derrick Williams to the Kings. Mbah a Moute was not at shootaround this morning, and it is unclear right now if he will suit up tonight against the Nuggets or if he’ll be held out until Saturday’s game at Dallas.
Regardless, he will soon be a new piece of the rotation Adelman can play with moving forward. And if there’s one guy on this Wolves team that knows what Mbah a Moute can bring to a squad, it’s Kevin Love. Love played with Mbah a Moute at UCLA, and the two of them coupled with Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison helped the Bruins to the 2008 Final Four.
Love said he’s excited to have Mbah a Moute back on his team.
“Just a great guy to have around, period,” Love said. “He’s really going to help the locker room out, bring an intensity and a defensive presence for us.”
Love said Mbah a Moute hasn’t changed a lot as a player since college because he’s been able to transition well to the NBA game. He brings defensive awareness that has continued to improve, and offensively he’s a player who picks his spots and can either hit the open jumper or take it to the basket. At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, Mbah a Moute does have the size to play physically against wing opponents depending on who he is matched up against.
“He can guard basically anybody, 1 through 5, if you need him to,” Love said. “So, that versatility really helps us.”

Love said there is a downside to the deal, too. He enjoyed his two-plus seasons with Williams as his teammate, and he sees this as a chance for him to have success in Sacramento.
“He’ll definitely get a chance, and I think he’ll have success,” Love said. “If he keeps working hard, keeps his nose to the grind. He has the talent, just has to go out there and show it.”
Lawson Shows Love For Brewer
Earlier this season when the Wolves visited the Nuggets on Nov. 15, Wolves wing Corey Brewer had nothing but good things to say about the team he spent the last two years for.
One of the players that he named was point guard Ty Lawson. Brewer praised his speed and overall effort.
Lawson returned the favor.
“It was fun (playing with Brewer),” Lawson said. “He plays defense, plays hard every night. You know exactly what you’re going to get from him… He was a great teammate. We’re going to try to make sure he doesn’t get any steals tonight.”

Lawson nailed it. Brewer plays with incredible effort and intensity each and every night and that hasn’t been put into question at all. Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw also noted that it’s important for his team to stop the combination of Love to Brewer on the long outlet passes, something Lawson is familiar with as well.
With his speed, Lawson might be the only player on the floor that can catch Brewer if the former Gator decides to leak out.
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