Rafael Araujo with Timberwolves

A native of Brazil, basketball brought Rafael Araujo to the United States and put him on the map as a tough center. In the time since coming here in 2000, however, he has been all over the map.

After attending junior college in Arizona, Araujo starred at Brigham Young, where he was Co-Mountain West Conference Player of the Year in 2003-04 and was selected eighth overall by Toronto in the 2004 NBA draft. He was traded to the Jazz after the 2005-06 season, and after one year there decided to play last season for Spartak St. Petersburg of the Russian Super League. He's back in the States now, with the Wolves for training camp, fighting for a spot on this year's roster.

Before you go putting 2 and 2 together, Wolves Assistant General Manager Rob Babcock -- who as general manager of the Raptors selected Araujo in the 2004 draft -- said not to read too much into Araujo's landing in Minnesota. "That's not the reason he's here," Babcock said, referring to the Toronto connection between the two. "He's here because we're looking at big guys. And he's a good body to have in our camp to take a look at. He does some good things on the court, and he's still young enough that he has his future ahead of him. He's a legitimate prospect to take a look at."

Wolves coach Randy Wittman said the chance of Araujo seeing playing time is a real possibility. That, however, is mostly because of the Timberwolves' injuries at the center position.

Calvin Booth has done little more than ride an exercise bike thus far in training camp, because of back spasms, and Jason Collins, recovering from elbow surgery last month, is going to be "out practically the whole month," Wittman said.

Araujo, 28, sees his chance to step in growing every day. "I just want to play basketball, that's my job," he said. "I dream of coming back to the league, and Minnesota is a great opportunity for me to show up."