Jerry Zgoda's Sunday Insider: Brewer is back already

Corey Brewer is back.

Back at Target Center on Monday night, just two weeks after the Timberwolves traded him away.

Back with an NBA team that sees him as part of their future.

Back with a contract extension he sought but didn't receive last fall.

And, most important, back finally with a chance to win another championship to go with the two NCAA titles he won with Joakim Noah and Al Horford at Florida.

Dealt to the Knicks, waived and signed by Dallas, Brewer has gone in two weeks from the frozen north and a franchise that hasn't sniffed the playoffs since 2004 to a richly financed Mavericks team that could contend for an NBA title. Suddenly, he's living the dream of every Timberwolf .

"I'm happy for him," Wolves guard Jonny Flynn said Friday. "He went through four losing seasons. When you go through losing as much as he did, you want to win. Everything worked out great for him. He deserves it. He definitely deserves it."

The Wolves concluded Brewer didn't --and never will -- handle or shoot the ball well enough to justify significant playing time.

The Knicks apparently had some of the same concerns, but the Mavericks likely will use him as a designated defender in the playoffs for a team that's already loaded with offensive talents.

"He's a different kind of player than we have," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's a wing player who's long, athletic and very fast. He played on two national championship teams [at Florida]. So he knows how to win.

"There were other teams that offered him more money, but I think he likes what our team looks like and has an opportunity to help us this year. This is one of those situations where if we can get a guy who can get one stop at the right time, it's a good move for us."

Brewer turned just 25 on Saturday.

"I think he's going to fit in great for them," Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said. "They push the ball. They have exceptional guards who do a good job finding guys in transition. They'll need, and want, his defensive presence. His activity, his on-ball defense, how active he can be at that end of the floor, I think he'll fit in nice. "

Asked if he expects Brewer to be used as a situational defensive player in the playoffs, Rambis said, "He could be that and more for them."

The Mavericks signed veteran guard Peja Stojakovic in January for his offense. They added Brewer in March for his defense.

"I think they're missing a guy like that," Flynn said. "A guy who can cause havoc on the defensive end. You've seen it here for years, what he can do on the defensive end, just being a pest, getting in the passing lanes, running the floor. He's going to be a valuable piece to that team come playoff time.

"Corey, he'll know his role down there. They have enough guys who can do things on the offensive end. He can really find his niche on that team just being the guy that gets nine deflections a game, getting three steals, being that main defender for them."

Flynn talked to Brewer by phone Thursday night.

"The first thing he said was, 'We all play you Monday,"' Flynn said. "I think he's excited. I think he's ecstatic."