Timberwolves Sign Jones, Towns To Rookie Contracts

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves announced Tuesday that they've signed their two first-round draft picks, Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyus Jones.

The Timberwolves took Towns, a center out of Kentucky, with the No. 1 overall pick in the June 25 NBA Draft. They acquired the rights to Jones, an Apple Valley native, by trading their two second-round picks and a future second-round draft choice to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Both are in attendance for the team's minicamp this week and will play Wednesday night in the Timberwolves Summer Showcase. They are also both on the roster for the NBA Summer League, which starts later this week in Las Vegas.

Towns averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over about 21 minutes per game in his freshman season at Kentucky. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year, earned First Team All-SEC honors and was a Second-Team All-America pick.

Jones led Duke to the NCAA title this past season and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament in the process. He averaged 11.8 points, 5.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds in one season as the starting point guard for the Blue Devils.

Towns and Jones will make their NBA debut against the L.A. Lakers in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas Friday night.