D-League center gets 1-year deal with Wolves
John Edwards is a big man (7-0, 275 pounds) with only a little NBA experience.

By Kent Youngblood, Star Tribune
Last update: September 18, 2007 – 8:57 PM


The Timberwolves have added center John Edwards to their big-man mix, with training camp less than two weeks away.
Andy Bountogianis, director of worldwide basketball for Mark Termini Associates, said Edwards has agreed to a one-year deal with the Wolves and should arrive in the Twin Cities next week.

The 7-0, 275-pound Edwards played at Kent State, then made the Indiana Pacers roster as an undrafted rookie in 2004. Signed by Atlanta before the 2005-06 season, he was part of the sign-and-trade deal in August of last year that sent Al Harrington to Indiana.

Edwards played in the NBA Development League last season after being cut by the Pacers. In 65 NBA games, Edwards has averaged 1.5 points and 1 rebound.

\"He's an active big guy,\" Bountogianis said. \"He'll come in and compete.\"

The Wolves have been looking for depth at center since losing Mark Madsen to an injury in mid-August. Madsen was hurt in a personal watercraft accident and had surgery on his right shoulder pectoral muscle. He could be out until mid-November.

Jefferson update

Owner Glen Taylor said the Wolves will likely wait until the team returns from training camp in Europe to get serious in talks to sign forward Al Jefferson to a contract extension.

The Wolves have until Oct. 31 to get that done. If Jefferson is not signed by then, he can't sign until after the season, when he would be a restricted free agent.

Sorry if I am mistaken, but just to make sure:

~ The Wolves have already a roster of 15 players under contract, right?

~ 2nd rnd pick Chris Richard, of whom most believe could both contribute as well as ease the times for Florida Teammate and supposedly coming franchise cornerstone Corey Brewer, is still unsigned, isn't he?

~ How can they sign some no-name whatsoever? No, seriously...how can they, both by the league rules and by common sense?

Wasn't there some \"injury exception thing\", for signing additional players? Has this something to do with Mark Madsen's injury? But I remember having heard of that only as one of the gazillion of salary cap rules.

Does this mean the Wolves have finally a 1 for 2 trade on the table? And if, why the heck do they intend to use the free roster spot on whatwashisnameagain istead of Richards?

I am definitely confused...but judging from the earlier posts on \"Edwards signing still a rumor thread\", I guess I am not the only one !

Btw: If indeed a 1-2 trade involving Blount was to happen...I will surely be the first to open one of my treasured 1989 Montepulcianos that evening.

Sanyarin wrote:

BWahahahahahahaha what is going on?!?!?! Looks like it's \"official\" now.

To answer your questions Sanyarin:

- Yes, we currently have the *Regular Season* maximum of 15 players under contract.
- Correct, Chris Richard is NOT signed.
- You can sign guys over 15, but have to cut down to 15 by October 31st. (The problem is, who do you simply cut on our roster? All 15 guys have guaranteed contracts.)
- It's not against league rules to sign this chump right now, it's just incredibly stupid.
- There is the disabled player exception from Eddie G, but we can't use that since we cut him last season. Even if we could, you have to apply for it and stuff, which we would have all heard about.
- There has gotta be a trade brewing... doesn't there!? This makes no sense otherwise.

Thanks alot for making that clear. I guess I wan't that far off with my assumptions.

Thanks again CW!

Sanyarin wrote:
Yep, no problem. And yeah... you pretty much had it correct.

Remember when Trenton Hassell and Fred Hoiberg were cut by the Bulls? The T Wolves immediatly signed both of them. I had heard of neither of them but they were definitly on somebody's radar. Turned out to be a pretty good buy Eh?

The only reason this does not make sense to us is that we don't know what they have planned. Timing is everything. I'll bet we will all be pleasantly surprized when the deadline hits. I hope.

mmaland wrote:

Well... I really hope you are correct. I guess I was just hoping they could actually finalize a trade BEFORE they signed a new stiff to add to the roster. Sigh.

mmaland wrote:
In an ideal world, this move is part of some bigger plan management has and a trade is already in the works. What will happen in the real world may not follow the aforementioned scenario very closely...

College Wolf wrote:
Remember when we signed Vin Baker? Remember when we drafted Ndubi Ebi? The list goes on my friends...Two good signings amidst a sea of incoherent ignorance makes not a good franchise.

Hey, Is this a guaranteed contract or just an opportunity to try out for the team?

mmaland wrote:

Not sure. That is the main question though.

From the way that the articles are phrased, it seems to me that it is a guaranteed (or at least partially guaranteed) contract. Makes no sense, I don't get it.