The Timberwolves will sign veteran forward Omri Casspi for the rest of the season, not in time for this afternoon's game at New Orleans but by Tuesday's home game against San Antonio.
He'll give the Wolves the kind of versatile forward who can play multiple positions and shoot the three that they lost when Nemanja Bjelica was lost for the season Wednesday in Boston.
He has played eight NBA seasons with four different teams since Sacramento drafted him 23rd overall in 2009.
The Kings traded Casspi to New Orleans last month in the blockbuster trade that sent All-Star DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans, but they waived him Feb. 25 after he broke his thumb in his first game with his new team.
At the time, he was expected to miss four to six weeks, but it's believed he is ready to play again since the Wolves have a need for a healthy body to play significant minutes and want to sign him now.
Multiple teams pursued him, but the Wolves offer Casspi the chance to play a notable role the rest of the season and they did not insist on a team option for next season, a provision that will allow Casspi to be a free agent this summer.
Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said before Sunday's game, "We're talking to him. Hopefully, we'll know shortly."
When asked if he had dinner with Casspi Saturday night in New Orleans _ as reported by ESPN.com _ Thibodeau paused, grinned and said, "It's possible. We had a meeting."
The Wolves had signed veteran guard Lance Stephenson to two 10-day contracts, but he injured the same ankle during both contracts and was not re-signed for the rest of the year.
