Karl-Anthony Towns, the top pick in last month’s NBA Draft, has signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the club announced Tuesday, while veteran center Kevin Garnett has agreed to return.
Garnett is set to play his 21st NBA campaign with the T-Wolves after returning last season in a trade with Brooklyn but playing only five games due to injury.
The 39-year-old will be an important teacher to rookie big man Towns and a locker room leader after leading Boston to a 2008 NBA crown.
Free agents such as Garnett cannot sign contracts until Thursday but can agree to terms, while deals can be completed with draft picks such as Towns, a star for the University of Kentucky last season.
Towns joins 2014 top pick Andrew Wiggins and 2013 top pick Anthony Bennett on the roster, the other two obtained in a trade with Cleveland last year for Kevin Love. Minnesota is the first team in NBA history with three consecutive top picks in the same lineup.
Towns had 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.26 blocked shots a game for Kentucky last season.
The Timberolves also signed guard Tyus Jones, the 24th overall selection from Duke University.