Greg Stiemsma Agrees To Timberwolves Deal
Greg Stiemsma has agreed to terms on an offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves, CBS Sports reports.
The exact terms of the deal haven’t been released, but it is most likely more than Boston’s offer of $2 million a year. The Celtics extended Stiemsma, a restricted free agent, a $1.05 million qualifying offer before the summer and have three days to match Minnesota’s offer. But the team’s salary cap won’t allow them to offer more than their $1.95 million bi-annual exception. The team’s other option is to rescind their offer and allow Stiemsma to sign as an unrestricted free agent.
The 26-year-old, 6’11 center was a rookie for Boston this past season, playing in 55 games and averaging 2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
Celtics’ coach Doc River would have liked to keep Stiemsma, but after signing Jason Terry, acquiring Courtney Lee in a three team sign-and-trade, and re-signing Jeff Green, the team’s tight cap situation didn’t leave them with enough money to match the Timberwolves’ offer.
Agent Mike Naiditch said that Stiemsma likes that he’ll be playing closer to his hometown of Randolph, Wisconsin, and believes that the Timberwolves’ roster will provide him with good opportunities.
Stiemsma finished his college career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008 before playing for the Turkish Basketball League, the Korean Basketball League, and the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He signed to the Timberwolves in April 2010 for remainder of the 2009-10 season and for the 2010-11 season as Al Jefferson’s workout partner when Jefferson was recovering from a torn ACL.
Stiemsma waived from the Timberwolves on September 10 and signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers two weeks later. Cleveland waived him on October 3 and he went back to Turkey and then the Skyforce before being signed by the Celtics in December.
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