Deng Adel Gets the Opportunity to Prove He’s an NBA Caliber Player

According to Sham Charania former Louisville basketball wing Deng Adel will sign a deal to go to training camp with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Does he have any shot to make the team?

It’s no secret that former Louisville basketball forward and top 50 recruit, Deng Adel, didn’t have a great junior season. Tasked with being “the guy” for the first time in his career, heaped with pressure to succeed, amongst other factors out of his control, ultimately it all hampered the development and potential of a player many thought would be a future first rounder heading into his sophomore campaign two years ago.

After missing out on being invited to the NBA Combine, resulting in him going undrafted, Adel got a chance to compete in the 2018 Las Vegas NBA Summer League with the Houston Rockets, an opportunity he made the most of.

Deng Adel appeared in four games for Houston, playing an average of 21.3 minutes, finishing with averages of 8.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, shooting 58% from the field. Here’s what I wrote about Adel’s performance back in July.

"To me, no former Card played better in the summer league than Deng Adel. Granted, Ray Spalding had a better all around performance, but that was to be expected from one of the 2018 NBA Draft picks. Adel latched on with Houston after going undrafted, and showed (at least me) that he can be a developmental, 3 & D prospect in the NBA. Adel showed much improved ball handling, better shot selection, defensive instincts, and of course the ability to score in a multitude of ways. Adel put up 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals against the Clippers, and then followed that up with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 assists against the Nets. After losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, the Rockets are looking for quality wings. I wouldn’t be shocked to see them take a look another look at Adel in training camp. At the least, Adel earned himself some money with his impressive performance."

Apparently the front office from the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed, as they signed Adel to a non-guaranteed training camp deal for 2018 yesterday, according to NBA news wizard, Shams Charania.

Adel will go to camp with a team that puts more emphasis on hard nosed defense than just about any other team in the league, something that you don’t really associate with Adel. Head Coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t accept anything less than 100% effort all the time, and for Deng, a player who often times “took plays off” on the defensive end, a big change will have to be shown in order for him to catch on with the team or play for their NBA G-League affiliate this winter.

The Timberwolves are already extremely deep on the wing position behind stars Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins. The roster also features 2018 draft picks Josh Okogie, Keita Bates-Diop, along with journeymen C.J. Williams. Not to mention the Timberwolves have already filled both of their allotted two way contract positions with former Rhode Island guard Jared Terrell, and former NBA wing James Nunnally. Needless to say the battle to make the roster for Adel will be an uphill battle.

However, if Adel shows promise in camp and puts together a couple of good performances throughout the preseason there’s a chance another team could offer a two-way contract or Adel could transition to play for the Iowa Wolves in the NBA G-League. As I’ve said several times, Adel has the length, athleticism, and ability to play on the NBA level, and be successful at that, but will need to drastically improve his lackadaisical ball handling, shot selection, and attention to detail on defense.

Though he struggled at times, Adel finished his junior season as the team’s leading scorer, averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, while showing that under the right coach, in the right system, there is still life for an NBA career.

The Timberwolves will get training camp started in late September, taking the court for the first time against the defending champion, Golden State Warriors, on September 29th.