The Timberwolves will announce this week they have hired former Gopher John-Blair Bickerstaff as their radio analyst, according to Wolves director of broadcasting Skip Krueger.

The move enables the team to shift Jim Petersen to TV, where he will replace Mychal Thompson. Thompson left to become the radio commentator for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Petersen received a two-year contract; Bickerstaff, 24, is signed for one season.

Bickerstaff, who played with the Gophers from 1999 to 2001, has been director of basketball operations at the university since May 2002 and will continue in the job until Sept. 30.

Bickerstaff is the son of former NBA coach Bernie Bickerstaff and was a speech and communications major at Minnesota.