Drew Timme’s next NBA stop could come with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he’s reportedly signed a training camp deal to fight for the club’s final roster spot.
Timme arrives with a résumé that already includes plenty of production at every stop. He finished as Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer with 2,307 points, went undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, then climbed through the G League before earning his first senior chance with the Nets in the 2024-25 season. Last November, he landed a two-way contract with the Lakers after joining South Bay, and he made that opportunity count.
In 27 games with Los Angeles’ senior team, Timme averaged 3.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting 57.6% from the field and 44.0% from three. He clearly made an impression on the Lakers, but the team ultimately chose a different direction in the summer when it needed a ball-handler analytically and selected Nick Smith Jr. instead.
Now Timme is in the same camp competition as Kenyon Martin Jr., who also signed with Minnesota on a training camp deal. Martin, a former second-round pick, last appeared in the league with the Utah Jazz before being waived in September 2025. He did not play in the NBA in the 2025-26 season.
Martin’s 2024-25 season was split between the 76ers and the Jazz, and he finished with 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists across 43 games while shooting 55.2% from the field and 25.9% from three.
The matchup here is pretty straightforward: Timme brings size, touch and scoring punch, while Martin brings more burst and athleticism. Timme is the cleaner shooter and the more natural floor-spacer. Martin offers a better lob target and, as the source material puts it, “an exceptional shot-stopper,” giving him value on both ends.
At the same time, Timme adds another scoring option and can block shots because of his size, while Martin’s biggest issue is his jump shot. That leaves Minnesota with a real choice as it evaluates which skill set fits best for the final regular season opening.
Of course, the Timberwolves may decide they don’t need either player on the roster when the season begins. Head coach Chris Finch recently said the team likes the flexibility of carrying just 14 players.
“I think we’re gonna hold tight; we like the flexibility, and we think we have enough right now,” Finch said in his recent appearance on the Chad Hartman Show.
For now, Timme and Martin are both trying to make their case in front of the Timberwolves’ staff, with one final spot hanging in the balance.
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