Wolves Updates 6/12 Part 2

Written by SG

Friday, 12 June 2009 15:31

Stephen Curry took yet another determined step toward being a Knick on Friday when he decided to cancel the rest of his predraft workout schedule -- after he has a previously scheduled workout with the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards hold the fifth overall pick.

The Davidson star did, however, cancel a workout with the Minnesota Timberwolves (sixth overall) next week...

Though a player cannot force teams to not select him, the decision to cancel with the T-Wolves -- a team that picks ahead of the Knicks -- sends a clear message that Curry would prefer they pass on him.

Curry has been somewhat of a hot commodity in the draft, with both the Thunder (No. 3) and Timberwolves considering him and teams such as the Trail Blazers (No. 24) looking into moving up to draft him. He was expected to join in a four-man point guard battle royale in Minnesota next week, along with Holiday, Flynn and Brandon Jennings. That, apparently, is now down to three.

From Dave Campbell/Associated Press:

"The draft has a deadline," new basketball boss David Kahn said. "The coaching decision doesn't."

Kahn and McHale have met formally twice since Kahn was hired three weeks ago as the team's president of basketball operations, replacing McHale in charge of the roster. But a declaration on whether McHale will return as head coach won't be rushed, Kahn said Friday, particularly with the NBA draft approaching in less than two weeks.

The longer the process goes without resolution, the more likely it seems McHale will come back. But Kahn has stressed repeatedly during his short stint here that he needs time to get to know the Hall of Fame power forward and will make a careful decision.

McHale has been unavailable to the media since the Timberwolves finished their season on April 15. He has not been a part of the draft preparation, at least in terms of watching prospects work out.

From Don Seeholzer/Pioneer Press:

Generally speaking, there's no question about Kahn's top priority.

"We need shooters," he said. "We were the worst-shooting team in the Western Conference last year."

The Wolves had four mid to late first-round prospects in for workouts today and will play host to four more Saturday.

The top prospects will be coming in next Friday and Saturday, with Southern California forward DeMar DeRozan joining a list of highly regarded point guards that will include Tyreke Evans (Memphis), Jrue Holliday (UCLA), Brandon Jennings (Italy), Stephen Curry (Davidson) and Jonny Flynn (Syracuse).

From Jason Fleming/Hoopsworld:

After McHale became the team's head coach – basically given the ultimatum of coaching the team he built in the front office or leaving the organization completely – the Wolves were better. After a tough run to begin, McHale had the team playing roughly .500 ball until the season-ending injury from star big man Al Jefferson. With Jefferson out the Wolves couldn't keep up with the rest of the league simply because they didn't have the talent and the experience.

Rookie forward Kevin Love, who looked up to McHale as a youngster, improved greatly in this time. Guard Randy Foye became more consistent as well. The hope is that with a healthy Jefferson (and Corey Brewer, who missed all but 15 games of the 2008-09 season), plus this year's lottery pick, and a full training camp under McHale the Wolves could be poised to surprise some people. They won't be a playoff team and probably won't even be a playoff contender, but improving on last year's 24 wins to the low thirties isn't out of the question.

And for a young team, that's what you want to see – growth year over year.