MINNEAPOLIS (AP) 鈥� Terrence Shannon Jr.'s journey to the was longer than that of most first-rounders, including a trying last year in college with an off-the-court challenge that cast doubt over his professional prospects.
Shannon with the , a place that sure looks like an ideal fit.
The Timberwolves took Shannon out of Illinois with the 27th overall draft pick, their original selection, after making a trade with San Antonio to obtain the eighth overall pick for the rights to Rob Dillingham from Kentucky.
Shannon was after a jury in Kansas spent less than two hours deliberating. He'd been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a bar last year while on a road trip to attend a football game, leading to a suspension by the school that eventually was halted by a federal judge's ruling that his civil rights had been violated. Shannon testified at the trial he鈥檇 never seen the woman. His lawyers called the case a 鈥渂lind accusation.鈥�
The seriousness of the situation loomed over Shannon and the Illini all season, but they rarely wavered. Shannon, who was an All-Big Ten first team and All-American third-team selection by The Associated Press, was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Tournament after a gave the Illini the title.
鈥淚t made me a better leader,鈥� Shannon said Wednesday. 鈥淚 just gravitated toward my team and my coaches more, my family.鈥�
The two rookie guards were introduced at a news conference in the Target Center atrium, after they each threw out ceremonial first pitches the night before at a Twins game across the street.
The Timberwolves also rounded out their roster with an agreement Wednesday on a one-year, $3.3 million contract with free agent forward Joe Ingles, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been finalized.
Ingles spent the first eight seasons of his career with Utah, where he played with current Timberwolves Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert. The 6-foot-9 native of Australia will join his fourth team in four years after playing for Milwaukee and Orlando the previous two seasons.
When the accusation arose last December, Shannon for legal reasons stopped doing interviews despite being the star player of a top-15 team that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before getting blown out by eventual champion UConn.
Two months ago at the NBA pre-draft combine, he finally broke his silence, though because the trial was looming he stopped short of discussing any subject beyond basketball.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 a good kid. I make sure everybody鈥檚 good, and I just take care of everybody around me,鈥� Shannon said then in Chicago.
The Timberwolves were adamant about the quality of Shannon's character. President of basketball operations Tim Connelly said the team did 鈥渁 ton鈥� of due diligence and was nothing but encouraged about the person and the player it was getting.
鈥淗e was on the wrong end of a really unfortunate situation and his ability to play through that and play winning basketball for a great coach in Brad Underwood, we just think brings toughness,鈥� Connelly said.
On a team already established as a true championship contender that has all but one reserve 鈥� Kyle Anderson, who's 鈥� coming back from the regular rotation, Dillingham and Shannon can learn from a stalwart like Conley and watch a superstar like Anthony Edwards without being forced into too much action too soon.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 go to a contender right off the bat,鈥� Dillingham said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just happy that I鈥檝e got to learn from so many vets on the team.鈥�
After averaging 23 points per game and becoming one of the best two-way players in the country last season, Shannon at age 23 with five seasons of major conference experience 鈥� he started his college career at Texas Tech 鈥� ought to be as rotation-ready as any of the recent draft picks on Minnesota鈥檚 roster. Dillingham is just 19. Shannon is older than second-rounders from the previous two drafts, too: Jaylen Clark (22), Leonard Miller (20) and Josh Minott (21).
鈥淭here's roles to be had,鈥� coach Chris Finch said. 鈥淭here's roles to be earned.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Dave Campbell, The Associated Press
