Former Lakers Player Drew Timme Set To Compete For Timberwolves’ Final Roster Spot

The former Los Angeles Lakers forward Drew Timme has reportedly signed a training camp deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves to compete for the final roster spot.

Drew Timme is Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer (2,307 points) and went undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft. He worked his way up through the G League and earned his first senior opportunity with the Nets in the 2024-25 season.

Last year, in November, he signed a two-way contract with the Lakers after joining South Bay. He played 27 games for the senior team and averaged 3.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists while shooting 57.6% from the field and 44.0% from three.

Drew Timme impressed the Lakers, but they needed a ball-handler analytically, so they picked Nick Smith Jr. over him in the summer. Now, Timme will be competing with Kenyon Martin Jr., the former second-round pick, who also signed a training camp deal with the Timberwolves.

Martin last played in the league for the Utah Jazz before getting waived in September 2025. Martin did not play in the NBA in the 2025-26 season.

KJ Martin split the 2024-25 season between the 76ers and the Jazz, finishing with 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 55.2% from the field and 25.9% from three-point range in 43 games.

Timme has a size advantage over Martin, but Martin is more athletic. As the Timberwolves assess their need for a bench player to replace either Jaden McDaniels or Jonathan Kuminga, each player fills a different role.

Drew Timme is a better shooter and more effective scorer who can space the floor to run their offense. Meanwhile, Kenyon Martin Jr. is more athletic, so he’s a better lob threat to fit LaMelo Ball’s style of play. Moreover, Martin is an exceptional shot-stopper, so he can help on both ends of the floor.

However, Martin’s biggest drawback is his jump shot, while Timme adds another scoring threat who can also block shots due to his size. So the Timberwolves face an interesting decision as they look to fill their final regular season roster spot.

The Timberwolves may not need to include any of these players on their roster by the time the regular season starts. Their head coach, Chris Finch, has said they like the cap flexibility that comes with having only 14 players on the roster.

“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.

Now the ball is in Kenyon Martin Jr. and Drew Timme’s courts to impress the Timberwolves’ coaching staff enough to earn the final roster spot. It will be fascinating to see who earns that final spot.