NBA Rumors: Michael Redd Heading To Camp With The Minnesota Timberwolves?

The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to look to try to bolster their talent pool as the 2012-2013 season nears, with the latest news suggesting they are trying hard to bring guard Michael Redd to camp. The report suggests Redd has rebuffed the team’s efforts to bring him aboard to this point, which may mean he has a better opportunity available with another team or is leaning toward retirement. Multiple other teams were reported to have interest in him during the summer, but nothing came to fruition at that time.

Redd spent last season with the Phoenix Suns, and averaged 8.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in just over 15 minutes per game while making less than 32 percent of his three-pointers. The main thing for Redd is that he was mostly healthy, playing in 51 games during the lockout-shortened season. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee twice in roughly a year, in January of 2009 and 2010, and has clearly not been the same player since. Not surprisingly under the circumstances, Redd played in just 28 games during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons combined.

Redd’s best seasons came with the Milwaukee Bucks, who drafted him in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft. He averaged over 21 points per game in six consecutive seasons from 2003-2004 through 2008-2009, and finished in the top 10 of the league in scoring in four of those six seasons. Redd earned his lone career All-Star selection in 2004, but his career high scoring average came in 2006-2007 when averaged 26.7 points per game (fifth in the league). He also played for Team USA in the 2008 Summer Olympics and was part of the gold medal-winning squad.

Redd is now 33 years old, so his best days are behind him and his past knee injuries certainly accelerated his decline. If he wants to play this season the Timberwolves seem ready to give him a chance to earn a spot on their final roster, and may be his best option right now with training camps getting close around the league. If nothing else, Redd can showcase himself for other teams during the preseason by taking Minnesota’s offer and open up some other options for himself if the Timberwolves choose not to keep him.