The Minnesota Timberwolves’ season is over, which means it’s time to start assessing how each player on the roster performed this year. In the first installment of this series, we looked at Aaron Brooks’ performance. Up next is Minnesota native Cole Aldrich.

Expectations

The expectations for Aldrich were extremely low coming into this season. He was on the Wolves during the 2016-17 season, though he played just 8.6 minutes per game. Aldrich averaged 1.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. However, the signing of Taj Gibson in the off-season meant that Gorgui Dieng would move to the bench, diminishing Aldrich’s scarce minutes even further. Therefore, Aldrich’s role became similar to Brooks’; be a calming, veteran presence for the young players.

Reality

As expected Aldrich rarely touched the court this season. He averaged just two minutes per game, largely in garbage time. Aldrich appeared in just 21 games and played for five or more minutes only once.

This man has two points all season! That is deserving of an All-Star game appearance! Spam the retweet button!



Cole Aldrich #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/cqfGJHV2BG — The Wolf Den ™ 🏀 (@MNWolfDen) January 1, 2018

Instead, Aldrich spent most of his time on the bench. Or more accurately, standing next to it, waving his towel. He was a one-man cheering squad for Minnesota this year and joined every huddle despite almost never getting to execute the plays he was hearing about.

Highlights

The one game in which Aldrich actually played a significant amount of time was on March 24 against the Philadelphia 76ers. The game quickly turned into a massive, 30-point blowout with the normal rotation. Tom Thibodeau put in Aldrich, Brooks, and Marcus Georges-Hunt attempt to get back in the game. Usually, the appearance of these three signaled the end of competitive play.

To everyone’s amazement, Aldrich, Brooks, and Georges-Hunt turned the turkey run into meaningful basketball. They got within nine points of the Sixers, but it was too late to undo the damage that had been done earlier.

Aldrich had four points, five rebounds, and one assist, and was a plus-17 for the game.

Cole Aldrich getting the opportunity to play minutes for the first time in 45 years and every wolf is laughing at him 😂 pic.twitter.com/gRZ8n7G8J8 — Meredith Minkow (@murrminks) March 25, 2018

Lowlights

Considering Aldrich played just 49 mainly meaningless minutes, he didn’t have a whole lot of on-court lowlights. Since he spent most of the season on the bench, it’s fitting that his worst habit occurred there.

Aldrich wears a mouth guard, and when he’s not playing, which is most of the time, he puts it behind his ear. Aside from being downright disgusting, this is a pretty unsanitary place to store something that goes in your mouth.

Cole Aldrich keeps his mouthpiece behind his ear. It'd be gross, but it doesn't matter because he'll never need to put it in. — The Dream Shake (@DreamShakeSBN) December 20, 2012

Grade: A

Outlook

Aldrich clearly isn’t a big part of the Timberwolves future, but he is under contract for one more year. Unless he’s waived on or before June 20th, 2018, he will be paid just under seven million dollars next year. Even if Minnesota decides to waive him, Aldrich is still guaranteed two million dollars.

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