With the clock ticking toward the start of free-agency signings tonight, the Wolves today reached agreement with Russian 6-6 guard Alexey Shved on a multi-year contract, NBA sources said.
Shved visited Target Center today, three days after he helped lead Russia to the London Olympics at a qualifying tournament in Venezuela.
Shved, 23, plays both guard spots, although the Wolves like his versatility and believe he can play as many as three positions, including some time at small forward.
He's perhaps more point guard in nature because of his passing abilities.
A bit more of a scouting report on him: Uses ballscreens exceptionally well, high basketball IQ, should fit Rick Adelman's system well.
The Wolves are counting him to be a rotation player, which very well might mean they've got plans to move Luke Ridnour or J.J. Barea in a trade.
Especially if they're adding longtime D League Will Conroy. Brandon Roy told a Seattle radio station Monday that his former college teammate and good pal will be joining the Wolves, and apparently not just for summer league.
In many ways, Shved seems like a Russian Ricky Rubio: Good size, lots of flowing hair, instinctive playmaking abilities, good shooter and like Rubio, he was something of a basketball sensation in his mid teens.
