Wolves Sign Corey Brewer

[key2win]

They never should have traded him for scraps in the first place.

Corey Brewer has agreed to a three-year, $15 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Brewer was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2007.

[key2win]

Y! SPORTS

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- When the Minnesota Timberwolves initially agreed to terms with shooting guard Kevin Martin last week, they were still left looking for a versatile, defensive-minded swingman that could help them make up for the loss of the departed Andrei Kirilenko.

They were all set to introduce Martin, a free-agent signing from Oklahoma City, at a press conference Wednesday morning until the door opened at the last minute for them to address the need for perimeter defense and energy. Timberwolves President Flip Saunders turned one free-agent signing into a sign-and-trade deal that is helping them bring Corey Brewer back to Minnesota.

The Timberwolves will send guard Luke Ridnour to Milwaukee as part of a three-team deal with Oklahoma City getting a trade exception worth about $7 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday night. The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been officially announced. Martin's deal, a four-year contract worth nearly $30 million, remains the same as the one he agreed to last week and Brewer will get a three-year deal worth $15 million.

The Timberwolves had to send out Ridnour and his expiring contract, worth $4.3 million, to make room for Brewer. Because of complex rules in the new collective bargaining agreement, the Timberwolves have to complete the trade and have Martin and Brewer sign their contracts to push them over the salary cap before they can re-sign swingman Chase Budinger, who agreed to a three-year deal worth $18 million last week, and restricted free agent center Nikola Pekovic, who is still mulling an offer from the Wolves.