Coach Rick Adelman’s belief in young players was a major factor in Russian point guard Alexey Shved decision to join the Minnesota Timberwolves, Shved told R-Sport on Monday.

Shved will move to Minnesota on a three-year, $10 million contract, he said.

The Russian’s agent had earlier told R-Sport the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers had also offered contracts.

“Minnesota’s a good, young and ambitious team. All those factors were reasons to choose this club in particular, plus coach Adelman,” Shved said.

“They say that Rick trusts young players and discovers talents, and I’m ready to work, for my part.”

Shved said he already knows the Timberwolves’ Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio from playing against him many times with the Russian men’s and youth national teams.

Shved, who won the Euroleague with CSKA in 2008, will become the second Russian in the NBA after Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov.

Shved will join his new team after the Olympics, where Russia will face Spain, Great Britain, China, Brazil and Australia at the group stage.

Minnesota power forward Kevin Love will be at the Games with the United States team, and Shved said he hoped to meet his new teammate in London.

Last season, the Timberwolves finished 12th in the Western Conference, continuing their eight-year streak of failing to make the playoffs.

Adelman reached the NBA finals twice with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1990 and 1992, losing on both occasions.

An Adelman team has not made the playoffs since the Houston Rockets in the 2008-09 season.