PJ Dozier, Timberwolves Agree to One-Year Contract

Free agent guard PJ Dozier and the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to a one-year contract, according to sources. Dozier, who turns 28 on Oct. 25, returns to the NBA from a season in Europe after a torn ACL with Nuggets in late 2021 caused him to again make his case for a professional contract.

PJ Dozier played for the Denver Nuggets when Tim Connelly was the team’s president of basketball operations

Dozier’s agent, Kevin Bradbury of Life Sports Management, worked with former Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly on Dozier’s past deal with Denver. Connelly, who is the current Timberwolves president of basketball operations and general manager, now brings Dozier to Minnesota with him.

Moreover, Dozier went undrafted in 2017 out of the University of South Carolina. The Timberwolves are his fifth NBA team after previous stops with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-18 season), Boston Celtics (2018-19 season), Nuggets (2019-22), and Sacramento Kings (2022-23 season).

In 121 career NBA games (six starts), he has averaged 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 16.3 minutes per game while shooting 40.2% from the field, 30.7% from 3-point range, and 67.3% at the foul line.

His best offensive performance came during the 2020-21 season with the Nuggets.

In Denver’s 129-116 win over the Houston Rockets on April 24, 2021, he recorded a career-high 23 points on 10-of-13 (76.9%) shooting from the floor and 3-of-5 (60%) from deep in 27 minutes as a starter.

Minnesota Timberwolves also added veteran forward Joe Ingles

The 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard has also played for four G League teams: Oklahoma City Blue (2017-18 season), Maine Red Claws (2018-19 season), Windy City Bulls (2019-20), and Iowa Wolves (2022-23 season).

On Aug. 12, 2023, Dozier signed a one-year deal with Partizan Mozzart Bet of the Basketball League of Serbia (KLS), the Adriatic League, and the EuroLeague.

In his first season with Partizan, he averaged 9.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 33 EuroLeague games. He finished fifth in steals (43) and seventh in steals per game (1.3) in the EuroLeague.

Additionally, the Timberwolves pursued Dozier within hours of agreeing to terms with free-agent sharpshooter Joe Ingles on a one-year deal. Dozier was with the Wolves for training camp in 2022, but he didn’t make the team.

According to The Star Tribune’s Chris Hine, Dozier’s deal is for a 15-man roster spot.