Timberwolves announce signing of free-agent center Aldrich

The Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday announced the signing of free-agent center Cole Aldrich to a reported three-year, $22 million contract.

The six-year veteran averaged 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks and 13.3 minutes in 60 regular-season games this past season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 6-foot-11 Aldrich has averaged 3.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game over his career, which has included stints with the Clippers, New York, Sacramento, Houston and Oklahoma City. New Orleans drafted him 11th overall in 2010 before trading him to Oklahoma City.

Aldrich, a Bloomington, Minn., native, earned 2007 Minnesota State High School Player of the Year honors as he led Bloomington Jefferson to the Class 4A state tournament. He played three seasons at Kansas, averaging 9.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game before declaring for the draft after his junior season.