Mike Miller grew into a South Dakota legend while playing his high school games at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, a tiny town of 14,000 near the eastern edge of the state.

He may be a native of South Dakota and an alumnus of the University of Florida, but Miller has always thought of the Twin Cities as a home away from home.

"I was a big Vikings fan, Timberwolves fan, Twins fan," Miller said Tuesday. "This is pretty much home for me as far as professional athletics go."

Miller dreamed of playing for the Wolves as a boy and he made the five-hour drive to the big city to watch games in all sports regularly as a youngster. Now, after eight years in the NBA playing for Orlando and Memphis, Miller is finally coming "home."

The Timberwolves acquired the sharp-shooting swingman from Memphis on draft night last week as part of an eight-player deal that also landed them UCLA forward Kevin Love and Grizzlies Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins in exchange for O.J. Mayo, Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner.

"He was a huge, huge part of that deal on draft night," vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said. "As a matter of fact, if Mike hadn't been involved, the deal wouldn't have gone through. We're really excited to have him."

Miller averaged 16.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and shot 43 percent from 3-point range last season. The Timberwolves have long been in search of a quality perimeter shooter to spread the floor and create room for their superior post players -- first Kevin Garnett and now Al Jefferson.

The 6-8 Miller is the first dead-eye 3-point shooter the team has had since Fred Hoiberg, who is now an assistant GM, had to leave the game after having heart surgery in 2005. But McHale said Miller is more than just a spot-up shooter.

"It helps everybody. He's a great court spreader. He's a proven NBA 3-point shooter, but also he can make plays," McHale said. "He's certainly not a specialist."

At his introductory news conference Tuesday, Miller said he couldn't wait to play with Jefferson, who emerged as a star last season after being acquired from Boston in the Garnett trade.

"Anyone that demands a double-team is a shooter's dream," Miller said. "I just always want to keep him healthy and keep feeding him the ball."

Miller was in Cancun, Mexico, for his brother's wedding when he received a call notifying him of the trade. The rest of his family "almost all of whom live in South Dakota" rejoiced at the news they had all hoped for, but never could count on actually happening.

"You envision it," Miller said of playing in Minnesota. "But everyone knows in this league it's a big business and you never know if you're going to have the opportunity to do that."

"When I woke up to that phone call, I was excited. It just gives me an opportunity to come back home in front of friends and family and a lot of great fans."