MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves have added some much-needed size on the perimeter by signing 6-foot-7 shooting guard Sasha Pavlovic to a one-year deal.

Pavlovic agreed to a buyout with the Phoenix Suns earlier this week. The Cavaliers traded him to Phoenix as part of the deal that brought Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland.
Now he comes to a young and rebuilding team with plenty of room in the backcourt. Pavlovic averaged 4.6 points and shot 41 percent from 3-point range in 16 minutes a game for the Cavs last season.
The minutes could be bigger in Minnesota. Rookie first-rounder Wayne Ellington is the only other true shooting guard on the roster. Corey Brewer, a swingman who is coming off major knee surgery, is also in the mix.
“We are excited to add Sasha to our team,” president of basketball operations David Kahn said in a statement Thursday. “His size and athleticism will help round out our wing position and provide us added experience.”
It’s the latest in a summer full of moves made by Kahn, who has spent his first four months on the job reshaping the roster to try and position the team to be a major player in free agency next season.
Before Pavlovic was added, the Wolves backcourt consisted primarily of a handful of combo guards including rookie Jonny Flynn, Ramon Sessions and Antonio Daniels. All three can switch between point and the shooting guard, but none are taller than 6-feet-4.
Pavlovic will give new coach Kurt Rambis another option to match up against some of the NBA’s bigger backcourts and also brings a shooter’s touch from beyond the arc that the Wolves lost when Randy Foye and Mike Miller were traded to Washington before the draft.