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Minnesota forward Mark Madsen said Monday that he has been traded along with Sebastian Telfair and Craig Smith to the Los Angeles Clippers for Quentin Richardson. Madsen said his agent confirmed the deal, which was first reported by YahooSports.com.
Madsen's hustle and geniality made him a fan favorite in six seasons in Minnesota. His playing time waned as his career progressed, but he remained a valued leader in the locker room for a young team that is rebuilding.
"This really started to feel like home for me," Madsen told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "I've come to love the state of Minnesota."
Mark Madsen was in MSP airport this afternoon and getting ready to hop a plane for a family reunion in Utah when he learnedfrom his agent that he and teammates Sebastian Telfair and Craig Smith have been traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for 29-year-old swingman Quentin Richardson.
David Kahn’s second big trade as Wolves new boss brings the Wolves a 6-6 player who can play shooting guard, a position of need that until Monday afternoon was filled mostly by rookies Wayne Ellington and Jonny Flynn, a natural point guard.
It also helps create open roster spots with a 3-for-1 deal that also helps balance a roster that was heavy with power forwards and point guards.
Richardson’s $9.35 million contract also expires after this season.
So, too, do the contracts for Madsen and Smith, which means the Wolves get out of Telfair’s $2.7 million player option for the 2010-11 season.
For the Wolves, this essentially saves them some money next season and clears up a potential logjam at the point guard position. New Wolves GM David Kahn is currently in Spain trying to negotiate a buyout for Ricky Rubio. If Kahn can get an agreement, he will have both Rubio and their other lottery pick, Jonny Flynn, as the team's point guards.
Richardson averaged 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds last season for the New York Knicks. This is the third time the shooting guard has been traded this summer. He went from the Knicks to Memphis in a deal for Darko Milicic in June before being shipped from the Grizzlies to the Clippers for Zach Randolph last week.
Richardson has one year remaining on his contract at $9.3 million and gives Minnesota a veteran presence at shooting guard that was not there after they traded Randy Foye and Mike Miller to Washington in June.
Rookie Wayne Ellington was the only true shooting guard on the roster before the Wolves acquired Richardson.
It was just three weeks ago that the Clippers acquired Richardson from Memphis for Zach Randolph.
Telfair and Smith should help solidify the Clippers' bench. Telfair will be the backup to point guard Baron Davis, and Smith is a capable power forward. How Madsen might fit in is less clear. All three players' contracts expire after next season.
I'm going going back back to Cali Cali. Just got traded to clippers. I'm a little upset becuase I love Minnesota but I think I will be happy in LA also.
Madsen spent six seasons in Minnesota and was a valuable leader in the locker room. He played in Los Angeles before he came to Minnesota with the Lakers.
Smith was a big power forward, and solid contributor off the bench for the Wolves, but wasn't receiving consistent playing time behind Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.
Telfair, a point guard who came over in the Kevin garnett trade from Boston, became expendable when the Wolves drafted two point guards in the first round of last month's NBA Draft.
Quentin Richardson might as well just buy a Madden bus and live there until somebody tells him they want him for an entire season. Since the offseason began, Q has been traded three times: First from the Knicks to the Grizzlies in exchange for Darko, then from Memphis to the Clippers for Zach Randolph, and now (according to sources in Minnesota and L.A.) to the Wolves for a package of Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith and Mark Madsen.
That’s what happens when you’re a kinda-sorta effective veteran with a hefty ($9.3 million) expiring contract; teams don’t mind having you on-board, but you’re not making anyone feel like they need to keep you if a better offer comes along.
This removes $2.7 million - a player option for 2010-11 for Telfair - from Minnesota's future commitments. It also puts them in a position to having only 12 players currently under contract, and removes Telfair as a someone who could compete for minutes at the point guard position with rookie Jonny Flynn - and possibly Ricky Rubio if the Wolves can help get that worked out with regards to Rubio's buyout with DKV Joventut.
Where does Richardson fit on the Wolves? He does give them an experienced option on the wing, but he doesn't figure into their long-term plans. His three-point shooting could give them a look they don't currently have after trading Mike Miller and Randy Foye to the Washington Wizards.
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