| 29 September 2009
The Timberwolves site posts the team's training camp roster.
The Wolves arrived in Mankato by bus Monday and begin the first of at least four days of two-a-day training camp practices today at the Taylor Center (hmmm, that's a coincidence) on the Minnesota State-Mankato campus.
Oleksiy Pecherov is the only player -- excused and soon-to-be-gone Antonio Daniels and Mark Blount excluded -- not expected to participated in the opening days of camp. Acquired from Washington in the draft-week trade that sent Mike Miller and Randy Foye to the Wizards, Pecherov broke his wrist a month ago while playing for the Ukrainian national team.
Oleksiy Pecherov is the only player -- excused and soon-to-be-gone Antonio Daniels and Mark Blount excluded -- not expected to participated in the opening days of camp. Acquired from Washington in the draft-week trade that sent Mike Miller and Randy Foye to the Wizards, Pecherov broke his wrist a month ago while playing for the Ukrainian national team.
From John Hollinger/ESPN: 2009-10 Forecast: Minn. Timberwolves
But if the core trio of Sessions, Jefferson and Love stay healthy, they're going to be a lot better than people realize. In particular, I don't think people fully understand how important the upgrade from Telfair to Sessions is -- based on my model, that exchange alone will be worth nine wins for the T-Wolves.
If Jefferson makes a strong recovery from the knee injury, Flynn provides an immediate sensation. More importantly, if everybody stays healthy, it's possible for the T-Wolves to sneak into the postseason. Possible, but not likely. The more probable scenario is that inexperience, poor wing play and a glaring lack of frontcourt depth trip them up as the season wears on, but thanks to the changes of the past 12 months, their time as a doormat appears to be drawing to a close.
Prediction: 33-49, 5th in Northwest Division, 13th in Western Conference
If Jefferson makes a strong recovery from the knee injury, Flynn provides an immediate sensation. More importantly, if everybody stays healthy, it's possible for the T-Wolves to sneak into the postseason. Possible, but not likely. The more probable scenario is that inexperience, poor wing play and a glaring lack of frontcourt depth trip them up as the season wears on, but thanks to the changes of the past 12 months, their time as a doormat appears to be drawing to a close.
Prediction: 33-49, 5th in Northwest Division, 13th in Western Conference
From Ira Winderman/Sun-Sentinel:
Jack McClinton's wait for an NBA second chance proved to be short-lived.
The former University of Miami guard who was released last week by the San Antonio Spurs has accepted a training-camp invitation from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
McClinton, who was taken at No. 51 in the second round of last June's NBA Draft, goes from a team loaded with veteran wing talent to a roster lacking in shooting guards.
Jack McClinton's wait for an NBA second chance proved to be short-lived.
The former University of Miami guard who was released last week by the San Antonio Spurs has accepted a training-camp invitation from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
McClinton, who was taken at No. 51 in the second round of last June's NBA Draft, goes from a team loaded with veteran wing talent to a roster lacking in shooting guards.
From Bullets Forever: Randy Foye and Mike Miller are thrilled to be in a winning situation
From Steve Aschburner/NBA.com: Teams weigh benefits of taking training camp on the road
Removing distractions. By planting players far from home, in a hotel, away from family and friends and the obligations of everyday life, some coaches feel that they have a better shot at their undivided attention. The key here, of course, is to go far enough away. When the Houston Rockets held camp one year in Galveston, Texas, some players turned the experience into a commute, trekking home or back late at night or early in the morning. That not only defeats the purpose, it raises the risks for highway mishaps. "If you do go away, you have to go far enough away,'' said Minnesota president of basketball operations David Kahn, whose Timberwolves won't be allowed to bring their own cars to Mankato (70 miles from the Twin Cities).
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