Every Wednesday, FOX Sports North's Phil Ervin tracks the progress of the Timberwolves' young core (players on the first or second year of their rookie contract). NOTE: With the Wolves playing just one game in the past week due to the All-Star break, this week's Tracker lists players' stats from Feb. 4-11.
ANDREW WIGGINS (age 19, first season)
Statistical averages, since Feb. 4 (season): 39 minutes (34.5), 12.6 points (15.2), 5.8 rebounds (4.3), 3.0 assists (1.9), 0.4 steals (1.1), 0.8 blocks (0.6), 44.2 FG% (43.1), 20.0 3PT% (35.8)
Advanced stats, season: 12.86 player efficiency rating (based on 15.0 league average), 50.6 true shooting percentage (accounting for free throws and 3-pointers), 20.2 usage rate (possessions used per 40 minutes)
Quote: "I think it was the best move for me. It gave me more room and put me in a position where I have to grow up faster. In the league, that's always what's best for you. There, I would've been more of a role player. Here, I'm getting more time to shine and do what I was put in this league to do." -- Wiggins on being traded from Cleveland to Minnesota
Noted: One of four Wolves to play in Friday's Rising Stars Challenge, Wiggins walked away with MVP honors after posting 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. It wasn't the most prestigious hardware Wiggins hopes to hoist above his head, but it was the latest tangible sign Minnesota's future franchise cornerstone is as good as -- maybe even better than -- expected.
ZACH LAVINE (age 19, first season)
Statistical averages, since Feb. 4 (season): 11.4 minutes (21.7), 3.0 points (7.6), 1.2 rebounds (2.1), 1.2 assists (3.2), 0.0 steals (0.8), 0.0 blocks (0.1), 36.8 FG% (41.4), 0.0 3PT% (28.4)
Advanced stats, season: 9.38 player efficiency rating (based on 15.0 league average), 48.5 true shooting percentage (accounting for free throws and 3-pointers), 20.1 usage rate (possessions used per 40 minutes)
Quote: "It's been a lot of fun, just bonding with these guys over the first couple months we've had, then coming down here, all of us being first, second-years. It's been a lot of fun, just having fun and bonding with the guys." -- LaVine on the All-Star experience
Noted: LaVine brought home a trophy of his own from New York, dominating the Slam Dunk Contest and conjuring images of Vince Carter and His Airness -- guys LaVine, 19, grew up watching in the very same event. LaVine also matched Wiggins stride-for-stride Friday, tallying 22 points, four boards, two assists and a steal.
GORGUI DIENG (age 25, second season)
Statistical averages, since Feb. 4 (season): 20.2 minutes (28.7), 5.4 points (9.5), 6.6 rebounds (8.4), 1.4 assists (2.2), 0.4 steals (0.9), 1.2 blocks (1.7), 41.7 FG% (48.9), 0.0 3PT% (20.0)
Advanced stats, season: 18.05 player efficiency rating (based on 15.0 league average), 55.9 true shooting percentage (accounting for free throws and 3-pointers), 14.8 usage rate (possessions used per 40 minutes)
Quote: "He just need to do what he do best, try and be a facilitator on this team. I think if he do that, that's going to help us." -- Dieng on recently returned point guard Ricky Rubio
Noted: At Friday's Rising Stars game, Dieng reminded the league at large he's on his way to becoming an upper-echelon center. His 14 points and four boards weren't spectacular in an exhibition with little defense, but Dieng showed up and played well a year after barely cracking Minnesota's rotation by this point in the season.
SHABAZZ MUHAMMAD (age 22, second season)
Statistical averages, since Feb. 4* (season): 18.8 minutes (23.1), 12.0 points (13.6), 5.0 rebounds (4.1), 0.0 assists (1.2), 0.0 steals (0.5), 0.0 blocks (0.2), 44.4 FG% (48.6), 20.0 3PT% (39.2)
Advanced stats, season: 19.81 player efficiency rating (based on 15.0 league average), 55.4 true shooting percentage (accounting for free throws and 3-pointers), 23.3 usage rate (possessions used per 40 minutes)
Quote: "Obviously, we're probably going to get a lottery pick, so that's going great in another way. The good thing is we've been losing games early, but now we're really starting to play well. . . . Now's a really big stepping stone for us." -- Muhammad on the Wolves' big-picture outlook
Noted: Following a 16-game absence with an outer oblique strain, Muhammad returned in time to round out the Wolves' record four-man contingent in Friday's affair. He had 10 points and five rebounds in that game, but the better news is Minnesota enters the post All-Star break stretch with a fully healthy starting lineup and a tenacious sixth man in Muhammad.
*Muhammad appeared in only two games due to injury.
ANTHONY BENNETT (age 21, second season)
Statistical averages, since Feb. 4 (season): 15.3 minutes (16.0), 4.0 points (5.2), 3.2 rebounds (3.8), 0.8 assists (0.8), 0.2 steals (0.4), 0.4 blocks (0.3), 33.3 FG% (42.1), 0.0 3PT% (29.4)
Advanced stats, season: 11.02 player efficiency rating (based on 15.0 league average), 45.6 true shooting percentage (accounting for free throws and 3-pointers), 16.3 usage rate (possessions used per 40 minutes)
Quote: "We have a 15-man roster, and ideally, we're supposed to have three players at each spot. That's kind of the way it works out. If we wanted to have guys (and not worry about playing) time, we'd only have nine guys on our team so they all could play. Based on what we've seen from an injury perspective and what can happen, we have to have protection. I also think competition brings out the best in players." -- coach and president of basketball operations Flip Saunders after trading for power forward Adreian Payne
Noted: Bennett's lackluster sophomore season kept him from joining his Wolves teammates in Brooklyn for Friday's game. Instead, he's had the break to think about Saunders' repeated requests to become a more physical, gritty player -- and perhaps ponder his future following the addition of Payne.
Coming soon to the Timberpups Tracker
ADREIAN PAYNE (age 23, first season)
After playing just three games for the Hawks -- who drafted him 15th overall -- Payne is expected to get his chance now in Minnesota. Saunders had a keen eye on the Michigan State product and strongly considered drafting him at 13. The coach's relationship with Spartans coach Tom Izzo played a part in that, but so did his evaluation of a long stretch four who spent four years in college and is close to "NBA-ready," Saunders said. "We talked to him and told him that he has to earn his minutes here. And, like all of our guys, he'll have some opportunities based on who we play and personnel and stuff like that. We thought moving forward this was a chance to get him here for the last 30 games and be able to evaluate him and be able to work with him now."
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