Ex-Hawkeye keeps thinking big in Wolves' numbers game

A high school valedictorian and finance major in college, Jared Reiner is a smart guy who knows his numbers. But good luck getting the 6-11 former Big Ten rebounding leader to publicly put odds on whether he will still be around for the Timberwolves' Oct. 28 season opener against the Nets.

Instead, he's saying all the right things and just hoping for a fourth crack at playing in an NBA season.

"I have to believe I have a chance; otherwise I wouldn't be here," he said.

It would be a pretty good fit.

Reiner grew up in South Dakota and played four years for Iowa, where he met his wife, Jennifer, in business school. She happens to be from Edina, and the two make their offseason home in Minneapolis.

"Small world, I guess," Reiner said. "It would be good to stay home."

Reiner was invited to training camp late last month. He's been working diligently since at fitting in with the triangle offense that coach Kurt Rambis has brought from Los Angeles. His effort has not gone unappreciated.

"He's a willing passer. I like that," Rambis said. "A lot of big guys are reluctant to move the ball once they get their hands on it."

Reiner, 27, last played in the league two seasons ago when he was signed by Milwaukee and appeared in 27 games down the stretch. Stints in the NBA D-League -- where he was an all-star in 2007 -- and in Germany and Spain followed.

He's a big body Minnesota could surely use this season, especially with Jason Collins now in Atlanta and Al Jefferson trimmed down.

At the moment, other than Reiner, the Timberwolves have 7-footer Ryan Hollins (who checks in at 230 pounds) as a true center. Jefferson can play the role. So too can forward Oleksiy Pecherov, also a 7-foot newcomer.

And as each day dawns, so does another look at the waiver wire, though Rambis earlier this week said he had not had any conversations with management on any moves.

"We have some options," Rambis said of the team's big-body status. "That's where Pecherov fits in, that's where Reiner fits in. We can try and play big, but we've also got small guys in Ryan Gomes who can switch over to the [power forward] spot, too."

Reiner's frame takes up a lot of space under the basket, where as one corner of Rambis' system he could facilitate any number of offensive plays. Rather than just take the ball down low and score, the triangle offense requires big men to look to pass to open teammates cutting to the basket.

"You need to make moves, read the defense," Reiner said. "And I think that's a good offense for big guys."

Pecherov's return from a fractured wrist, however, already has affected Reiner's role. He did not dress for Wednesday's preseason loss to the Bulls. In the Wolves' first two exhibition games, Reiner averaged 11.5 minutes off the bench.

This wait-and-see game is nothing new. He was the last player cut from the 76ers camp last October, and wound up spending a second consecutive season playing in Europe.

Nothing has been a given since he played for the Hawkeyes.

"I've been in situations on non-guaranteed contracts and made the roster, and I've also been in situations where I've played great and gotten great feedback and at the end of the day I still didn't make it," Reiner said. "I appreciate the opportunity. I'm out here to do whatever the team needs me to do to win. I come to practice every day and try to do anything I can to help them.

"Hopefully at the end of the day the higher-ups respect that."

• Rookie guard Wayne Ellington practiced Thursday after missing Wednesday's home loss to Chicago because of a sprained ankle and will be available to play in tonight's rematch at United Center.