It seemed an innocent enough question. Was it tough for Anthony Tolliver to leave the Minnesota Timberwolves after two seasons?
The answer wasn’t innocent.
“No,’’ the power forward said Tuesday after making the decision to sign with the Atlanta Hawks as a free agent. “It’s a business. They told me they were looking to bring me back. ... But they never really offered me anything. They had said signing me was a priority, but at the end of the day they didn’t move forward. Everything happens for a reason. It’s all part of the business.’’
Tolliver said he will sign a one-year contract with the Hawks for the minimum of $915,852. He knew his time was done with the Timberwolves after they agreed Monday to sign power forward Louis Amundson to a one-year deal for the minimum of $1.07 million.
FOX Sports Florida had reported first both the Amundson and Tolliver deals.
The 6-foot-8 Tolliver believes he will fit in well with the Hawks because they don’t have a big man similar to him who can step out and shoot from the perimeter.
“I just thought it was the best situation for me,’’ said Tolliver, who averaged 4.1 points and 3.0 rebounds last season for Minnesota to drop his four-year career averages to 6.8 and 4.5. “I just think they don’t have a lot of players like me. I think it’s a great opportunity.’’
Tolliver said Phoenix also was in the mix for him. But he said the Suns wanted him to come in for a workout before making a final decision.
By preferring Amundson over Tolliver, the Timberwolves sought a big man to provide instant energy off the bench.
“With his athleticism, he fits really well with them and complements very well what they have,’’ agent Mark Bartelstein said of Amundson.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson
