After a sophomore slog in which his stats and his sentiment suffered, Timberwolves shooting guard Alexey Shved has accepted his new job duty as a point guard.

“It doesn’t matter — point guard, shooting guard,” said Shved after the Wolves’ first minicamp practice before the Las Vegas summer league. “I just want to play.”

On draft night, Wolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said Shved’s longevity in the NBA likely relied on his ability to play the point. On Monday, Saunders said the switch wouldn’t be full time. The bigger point, Saunders said, is reinstating his confidence, which waned a year ago.

“The thing that I like about him is defensively,” Saunders said. “He is pretty long and lanky and stays in front of his guy and probably led us in rebounding in the scrimmage (Monday).”

After a nearly three-hour practice, Shved teamed with four recent draft picks — Zach LaVine, Glenn Robinson, Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng — against the rest of the summer league roster.

As Shved has staggered, LaVine zoomed along in his first practice.

“I thought LaVine was exceptional,” Saunders said. “He has an unbelievable feel for the game.

“There is no question that he can play (point guard), his understanding of what we want to do, how to play and his ability to initiate the offense and be creative.”

During an injury-ravaged 2012-13 season that left the Wolves depleted, Shved got plenty of opportunities in 77 games and 16 starts. Among qualified NBA rookies, he ranked second with 3.7 assists per game and fifth in scoring with 8.6 points per game. He also shot 288 three-point attempts, a team high.

But in his second season, his minutes dropped from 23.9 per game to 10.5 across 63 games. His per-game numbers fell to 4.0 points and 1.1 assists, taking 102 three-point shots.

The Wolves signed the 6-feet-6, 190-pound Russian as a free agent in July 2012, and he will earn about $3.1 million next season. But before becoming a restricted free agent next offseason, the 25-year-old likely will have to show Saunders, the new coach, he has the ability to back up starting point guard Ricky Rubio.

Tipping the scales

Saunders called on second-year players Dieng to gain weight this offseason and Muhammad to lose some.

Muhammad, who was listed at 6-6, 225 pounds last season, is believed to have lost about seven or eight pounds, and Saunders said the Wolves would like him to lose about 15 before the start of the season.

Dieng, who was listed at 6-11, 245 pounds, has gained “a lot” of weight and “good” strength, Saunders said.

Budinger’s status

Sixth-year small forward Chase Budinger, who returned last season from repeated knee injuries, was expected to practice Tuesday and accompany the summer league squad to Las Vegas at the end of the week.

“He will either work with us in practice or do some individual stuff,” Saunders said. “He just wants to get back.”

Briefly

Former Wisconsin forward Ryan Evans was added to the summer league roster Monday. … Gophers coach Richard Pitino observed practice.

Follow Andy Greder at twitter.com/twolvesnow.