Minnesota Timberwolves Re-Sign Free-Agent Forward Eddie GriffinAugust 22, 2005
Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale today announced the team has re-signed free-agent forward Eddie Griffin. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We were extremely pleased with Eddie's progress and development last season," McHale said. "He is a player who has a wealth of talent and potential, and we believe that he will continue to improve and become an impact player for us. We're excited that he has returned to our team."
In his first season with the Timberwolves in 2004-05, Griffin averaged 7.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 70 contests. He ranked 15th in the NBA in blocked shots (1.69 per game), and tallied a career high with seven blocks vs. Detroit on Jan. 24. The 6-10 forward set career highs with 27 points and seven three-pointers at Philadelphia on Dec. 8. Griffin registered six point/rebound double-doubles and scored 20+ points on three occasions. He spent nine games on the Injured List (Feb. 25-March 14) after suffering a fractured second metacarpal in his left hand. The Timberwolves originally signed Griffin on Oct. 5, 2004.
In 220 NBA games (90 starts), Griffin has averaged 8.3 points (.384 FG%, .330% 3FG%), 6.0 rebounds, 1.65 blocks and 24.0 minutes with the Timberwolves and Houston Rockets (2001-02, 2002-03). Griffin earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors after averaging 8.8 points (.366 FG%, .330 3FG%), 5.7 rebounds and a team-leading 1.84 blocks per game in 2001-02. He became the first rookie and just the sixth player in NBA history to average more than one blocked shot and one three-pointer made per game (90 made) in a season.
The Philadelphia native was selected by the Nets with the seventh pick overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded by New Jersey to Houston for the draft rights to Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong on June 27, 2001. Griffin was waived by Houston on Dec. 19, 2003 and was signed as a free agent by the New Jersey Nets on Jan. 8, 2004. He did not play in a game during the 2003-04 campaign.