July 23, 2003 — Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Kevin McHale today announced the team has acquired guard/forward Latrell Sprewell from the New York Knicks in a four-team trade.
The Timberwolves send guard Terrell Brandon to the Atlanta Hawks and center Marc Jackson to the Philadelphia 76ers. Atlanta sends forward Glenn Robinson to Philadelphia and receives Brandon. Philadelphia sends forward Keith Van Horn to New York and receives Robinson and Jackson. Finally, New York sends Sprewell to Minnesota and receives Van Horn.
Sprewell, a 6-5, 195-pound product of the University of Alabama, averaged 16.4 points (.403 FG%, .372 3FG%, .794 FT%), 3.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.38 steals and 38.6 minutes per game in 74 contests (started 73) for New York in 2002-03. The 11-year NBA veteran ranked 23rd in the NBA in minutes, 32nd in assists, 36th in three-point shooting and 33rd in steals last season. Sprewell led the Knicks in scoring 23 times and in assists on 21 occasions. He posted 20-plus points 24 times and scored 30-or-more points on four occasions. Sprewell posted three double-figure rebound games, three double-doubles and three double-digit assist games. He recorded his second career triple-double on Feb. 28 versus Orlando, posting 28 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds.
"Latrell gives us a very athletic swing player, something that we have said since the end of last season that we needed," said McHale. "He will give us a tremendous defensive effort every time he steps on the court. He has played in a number of big games and has not been afraid to take big shots over his career. "
In 751 NBA games over 11 seasons with Golden State (1992-93 through 1997-98) and New York (1998-99 through 2002-03), Sprewell has averaged 19.1 points (.428 FG%, .339 3FG%, .802 FT%), 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.54 steals and 39.6 minutes per game. The Milwaukee, Wis., native was selected by the Warriors with the 24th overall selection in the 1992 NBA Draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team following the 1992-93 campaign. He has been named an All-Star on four occasions (1994, 1995, 1997, 2001) and earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors following the 1993-94 season.
Brandon was placed on the injured list on Oct. 28, 2002 and was sidelined for the entire 2002-03 season, his 12th in the NBA (fifth with the Wolves). He underwent surgery on Feb. 21, 2002, to repair a cartilage fracture on the surface of his left femur and sat out the final 34 games of the 2001-02 season.
In 724 NBA games over 12 seasons with Cleveland (1991-92 through 1996-97), Milwaukee (1997-98 through first half of 1998-99) and Minnesota (second half of 1998-99 through 2002-03), Brandon has averaged 13.8 points (.448 FG%, .355 3FG%, .873 FT%), 3.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.58 steals and 29.8 minutes per game. The University of Oregon product was selected after his junior season by the Cavaliers with the 11th overall selection in the 1991 NBA Draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team following the 1991-92 season. The Portland, Ore., native was traded to Milwaukee in a three-way deal on Sept. 25, 1997. He was then traded by the Bucks to Minnesota in another three-way transaction on March 11, 1999 in which the Wolves also received Brian Evans and a 1999 first-round draft choice from New Jersey, while the Nets sent Sam Cassell and Chris Gatling to the Bucks. To complete the deal, Minnesota sent Stephon Marbury, Chris Carr and Bill Curley to New Jersey and Paul Grant to Milwaukee.
Jackson averaged 5.5 points (.438 FG%, .765 FT%), 2.9 rebounds and 13.5 minutes per game in 77 contests for the Wolves last season. The three-year NBA veteran posted three point-rebound double-doubles and scored in double digits on 16 occasions. He scored a season-high 18 points Nov. 20 at Atlanta and netted 15 points and 12 rebounds March 16 versus Portland. The Philadelphia native was originally selected by Golden State in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft (38th overall). Jackson was acquired by the Wolves from the Warriors on Feb. 21, 2002 in exchange for Dean Garrett and the Wolves' second-round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Jackson has averaged 7.6 points (.441 FG%, .793 FT%) and 4.4 rebounds per game in 164 games over three seasons with Golden State (2000-01 through first half of 2001-02) and Minnesota (second half of 2001-02 - 2002-03).