MINNEAPOLIS -- The Timberwolves have added a big man in hopes of alleviating their injury woes.
Minnesota and free agent Jeff Adrien agreed to a deal using a league-approved, temporary hardship roster-limit exception. The Rockets cut the 6-foot-7, 243-pound power forward/center after training camp, and the Wolves added him to bring their roster size to 16.
With point guard Ricky Rubio, center Nikola Pekovic, shooting guard Kevin Martin and center Ronny Turiaf all out with injuries, the NBA signed off on a short-term exception. Usually, rosters are capped at 15.
But until Minnesota can return to health, presumably, Adrien is being asked to provide some frontcourt depth. The 28-year-old Connecticut product has played in 136 NBA games, tallying 17 starts, 4.8 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Adrien split last season between Charlotte and Milwaukee. He entered the league in 2010 with Golden State as an undrafted free agent, played eight games in Houston the next season and spent the 2012-13 season with the Bobcats.
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