Timberwolves close to getting Chase Budinger back

Oct 13, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Chase Budinger (10) looks on during the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

After the Minnesota Timberwolves decided to hang on to forward Chase Budinger by giving him a three-year, $16 million deal in hopes that he could offer them help on the perimeter and that he was fully recovered from a knee injury that limited him to 23 games during the 2012-13 season.

However, just before training camp opened, the Timberwolves found out Budinger had significant cartilage damage in his surgically repaired knee and would require a second surgery to fix the process.

Budinger has yet to play this season.

On Wednesday, Budinger and the Timberwolves received good news.

Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Budinger is closing in on a return.

"Six weeks after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, Minnesota forward Chase Budinger has been cleared to resume basketball activities and will rejoin the team Friday, a league source told Yahoo Sports.It is unclear how soon Budinger, 25, can return to the Timberwolves’ lineup, but doctors are enthusiastic about his progress and expect him to make a complete recovery, a source said."

Over the course of his career, Budinger has averaged 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.