Checking Up on Corey Brewer of the Minnesota Timberwolves

You know, after Corey Brewer got injured, I almost forgot about him. And up until Summer League, I haven't heard anything from him.

With Foye and Miller gone, the Wolves only have one concrete shooting guard, and that's Wayne Ellington. But Ellington is a rookie, and playing two rookies side by side could bode worse than the Wolves situation already is.

Although incredibly rusty, I would consider Corey Brewer's summer league performance "better than I expected", due to the last game, where Corey Brewer had 20 points.

Corey Brewer has been in some headlines, and I'd like to post them:

Matthew (College Park, Georgia):

I have a very interesting question. Phil Jackson's right hand man Kurt Rambis is known for player development right? So is it fair that Kurt Rambis could develop Corey Brewer into a "Trevor Ariza" type of player? Phil Jackson+Trevor Ariza=Kurt Rambis+Corey Brewer???

Jonah Ballow:

First of all, I believe Trevor Ariza is a bit overrated. Ariza decided to sign with the Houston Rockets after failing to reach an agreement with the Lakers this offseason. The versatile forward provided consistent 3-point shooting and defense throughout the 2009 Playoffs as Los Angeles captured an NBA Championship. Ariza benefited from playing on a team with two-dynamic scoring options in the starting lineup with Kobe Bryant in the backcourt and Pau Gasol in the frontcourt.

When the opposing defense collapsed on Bryant or Gasol, Ariza found open space from the perimeter. Ariza is a great complimentary-role player for a team on the verge of a championship.

The comparison between Brewer and Ariza is unfair considering Ariza played with such a talented roster last year. Brewer will need time to effectively rehab his surgically repaired knee. I spent time closely watching Brewer in Summer League play and joined him on the Wolves Caravan last month. Brewer is a young player with a high ceiling of potential in his NBA career.

This year, Brewer will be asked to contribute on the defensive side of the floor and finish in the open court. Brewer will have a big impact inside the locker room with his infectious up-beat personality. I agree that both players have similar physical attributes but at the same time, Brewer will be counted on to produce for an up-and-coming team rather than a contender like Ariza experienced in 2008-09.

Hopefully in a couple of years, Brewer will play the complimentary role for a championship team here in Minneapolis for a Rambis-led squad.

Saulo in MN:

Hows Corey Brewer? Looking like MIP? I always though he was an important part of our young core (build around him, al jeff and love.. now flynn).. but some people are already labeling him a bust..what do you think?

Mike Moreau:

Man, he looks terrific—flying around the gym, over the rim, shooting it well. He's smart, coachable, locked in, and can absolutely be that energetic athletic, lock down defender! Expect him to quiet those naysayers.

He looks great—getting that explosiveness back and really working on his handle and stroke. He really has nice shooting mechanics, and the key is harnessing the athleticism of the move into a controlled shot. He's doing all the right things to get there."

And last but not least, Corey Brewer on wanting to help the Wolves win:

"This is a big year for me, for the team,'' he said earlier this week after a workout at the IMG Training Center in Bradenton. "This (transition) has been tough. I went from a team that didn't know how to lose—we took losing real hard—to a team where we just lose and you get used to it. Things have got to change.''

"We needed something new around the franchise. We needed change,'' Brewer said. "When you lose so much, you fall into a losing mentality, and you can't let that happen.''

"This is the season I have to prove myself,'' Brewer said. "We all do. When you're losing so much, you fall into that losing mentality. We needed fresh ideas, a fresh way of looking at things. I want to be there to help do it.''

That being said, does Corey Brewer have a chip on his shoulder? That's the Corey Brewer all Wolves fans wants.

I'd like to point out that Leslie Monteiro, another Wolves writer, brought to my attention that Bill Lambier, the new assistant coach of the Wolves will bring a real serious toughness to the Wolves, something that the Wolves haven't had. With Corey Brewer being a defense standout, I have a feeling that something special is going to happen with Corey Brewer. Maybe a breakout season?

Anyway, it was just a checkup on Corey Brewer.

Thanks for reading!