Timberwolves sign Champlin Park’s Wright, Minneapolis’ Sims lands with Knicks

Minneapolis native and former Texas big Jericho Sims went pick No. 58 to New York, while the Timberwolves agreed to a 1-year, 2-way contract with former Champlin Park high school star McKinley Wright.

The Timberwolves didn’t have a pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, but were active the minute it wrapped up, securing Wright.

A three-time All-Pac-12 Conference first team selection, Wright is Colorado’s all-time leader in assists (683) and the first player in Pac-12 history with 1,800 points, 600 assists and 600 rebounds. Wright averaged 15.2 points and 5.7 assists as a senior in 2020-21.

Wright led the Pac-12 assists and ranked third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7), sixth in free throw percentage (.844) and 13th in scoring as a senior, per his University of Colorado bio. His 182 total assists in 2020-21 ranked fourth in the nation.

Sims, who attended Cristo Rey high school, started 77 games in his college career, and during his senior season he put up an impressive 9.2 points on 70% shooting, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks.

Sims measures in at 6-foot-10, 250-pounds and can jump out of the gym. His 44.5-inch max vertical jump at the combine tied for the third-highest jump in event history.