Good Afternoon all. The NBA season is upon us, which is obviously exciting. Jeff over at CelticsBlog is at it again, starting up a fresh array of team-by-team previews. The TWB contribution will hit in a couple of weeks, but for now go ahead and check out the sites below for their team previews. Enjoy.

Here's the full list of Atlantic Division previews.

Celtics: CelticsBlog | Celtics 24/7 | Celtics Central | Celtics Hub | CelticsLife | Gino's Jungle | RedsArmy.com | SBNation Boston | SBN Recap

Knicks: Posting and Toasting | Bandwagon Knick | KnickerBlogger.Net | SBN Recap

Nets: NetsDaily | NetsAreScorching | Fanway | SBN Recap

Raptors: Raptors HQ | Hoops Addict | Hip Hoop Junkies | SBN Recap

Sixers: Liberty Ballers

Recaps: All Previews

For those of you who have been closely following the aptly titled “Jon Koncak Commemorative Awards,” courtesy of Bloguin's own TheRealShaq, you have been treated to a classic slew of epically terrible deals from equally terrible players. While the list is full of NBA eyesores, I thought for our first of a few TWB contributions to the series that I would take a wholly different, and  controversial approach: the somewhat crucifixion of Kevin Garnett. The timing (1997) of his contract is admittedly breaking the rules of the series, but given the name and controversy behind the post, an exception was granted.

Now before you take your computer or portable handheld device, heave it out the window, run it over with a car, and stick the remains on a cargo ship headed to Guam, let’s take a collective Oliver Miller-sized step back and discuss the fundamental “realities” behind that one ex-girlfriend Timberwolves fans simply cannot get over.

First and foremost, this write-up is not intended to flame Garnett’s obvious impeccable basketball ability, nor the awe-inspiring impact he had on Minnesota and NBA history. This series is titled “Contracts that Ruined the NBA,” and as such even the most nauseating of Minnesota-based Garnett apologists (you know who you are) should understand the reality behind the impact of Garnett’s contract(s). We all know he is a future Hall-of-Famer who was the heart and soul of Minneapolis for many years. Regardless of any forthcoming negative comment, KG is still missed and that’s that.

Onward with negativity, and completing the Antoine Walker gambling dept-sized step back, let’s take a trip back to 1997, when “’Mo Money, ‘Mo Problems” and “Return of the Mack” were Grammy contenders. Kevin Garnett, Tom Gugliotta and Stephon Marbury were forming a fantastic, yet ultimately short lived, title-contending trio. Garnett was in talks for a contract extension to keep him in Minnesota for years to come after showing enough promise in his first couple of years to demonstrate star potential. The first deal on the table was, from memory, about 6-years and $105 million. Seeing as though that was not enough money, Garnett and his agent demanded more and ultimately “settled” at a then-record-setting contract extension of 6-years and $126 million. This would not be altogether too shocking in the modern-day NBA, however during the 1997 season this was an unprecedented amount. Fans rejoiced that the franchise savior was here to stay. However, the media was a bit more critical and suggested a supporting cast would never exist and that Garnett and the Wolves would be doomed to mediocrity. While it was not all KG's fault in the slightest, they ended up being exactly right.

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You would think that a team that was out of the playoff picture before the season even started would want their young, talented big man to play as many minutes as possible. But Kevin Love started just 22 games for the Timberwolves last season and logged just 28.7 minutes per contest.

Love, a guy selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2008 Draft, averaged fewer minutes than former second-round pick Ryan Gomes and started fewer games than former second-round pick Ryan Hollins. Minnesota was a below-average rebounding team, yet they couldn't find more than 29 minutes for the best per-minute rebounder in the league.

I admit, personally I have been on a bit of a hiatus lately. An aggresive job hunt, a move, a new dog, a variety of Wolves moves that have rendered me speechless, and a few other things have kept me from posting much other the past month+. However, apparantly based on a few bits of loose information I have gathered, the Wolves need to sign some guys to bring our cap number up to the minimum amount required. This, of course, makes the Sessions trade all the more silly, but let's just move on.

One of my most favorite sports blogs, Sham Sports, has posted an extremely in depth review of the remaining free agents on the market. This thing is huge and likely will require multiple trips to the corner stall, so prepare yourself. The Sham simply cannot be outdone and I encourage anyone to consistently read his very unique and awesome content as much as possible. Simply an incredible site for NBA junkies, as I have said before. Anyhow, I encourage all to check out this link to read about some of the guys could and should bring in to boost the payroll. It was published last week, so I apologize if anyone else has read this fantastic write-up. Enjoy.

Here is the LINK if it's too tough to pick out above!

Here's a guest post about the recent Kahn Salary Dump Special, from our valued TWolvesBlog Forum user "Bonk"

Enjoy...

The Sessions/Hollins/Draft Pick for cap space (technically Delonte West & Sebastian Telfair, but word is we will be cutting both to save money) trade bothers me for a number of reasons:

1 - Unlike other KAHNstructed trades, this one included HIS GUYS. He has only been around for a little over a year, yet he has already traded multiple players that he signed to F.A. contracts and was boasting about merely a year ago?! So basically both of his FA signings last year were mistakes? For people who believe he has a long-term plan that we all just do not see, this makes ZERO sense.

2 - I read somewhere that we are now around $8 million under the minimum salary required before the season starts...so why wouldn't we keep Delonte &/or Bassy? They are solid players. We will have to use that 8 milly before the season starts on someone. What am I missing here?

3 - As the KAHNniver said several times during the season ticket holder brunch I attended with him last summer, one of his main goals is to make this organization a prime destination for player development. He wants this place to be the type of place that free agents want to go to in order to get better and become more visible. Well we did just the opposite of that for Sessions, our big free agent signing last year, so that is pretty contradictory. All he did here was go from a 2nd year on the rise starter averaging 13 & 6 to a 3rd year backup averagin 8 & 3 on a horrible team. Yeah, I'm sure that did wonders for his development, confidence, exposure, game, and visibility. NOT.

4 - Telfair is a good backup. He plays the game the right way, and deserves a fair shot somewhere. Now with J-Fly injured and Ridnour as our only healthy point, shouldn't we be keeping him? (again, see point #2 as well) Of course we won't, because he is "McHale's guy" and David already KAHNcelled his first stint here, by trading him and Rhino (2 relatively effective, young, and cheap players) for an expiring contract (Q-Rich, then Sleepy Blount) which we never used to trade, or for anything really.

5 - Ridnour > Sessions? Maybe. But maybe not. And Ridnour is older, slower, and clearly has less upside than Sessions. So David KAHNpounded his Sessions "mistake signing" by basically redoing it a year later, except for a dude who is almost 30 and has nowhere to go but down? On a 15 win team...this really makes sense? Oh, but I forgot, KAHN has a master plan. Yeah, doesn't seem like it.

6 - Did a draft pick really need to be thrown in to get this trade KAHNducted? I mean, all we are in essence doing is selling Sessions and Hollins to the Cavs for dudes who either they or we are going to cut. Therefore, they are really already getting the 2 assets in the trade. I understand that Hollins was worth getting rid of, but the Cavs clearly wanted Sessions, and are desperate for new and decent talent. I just wonder if we couldn't have pulled this trade off somehow with someone without including a pick. Once again, we are in essence getting nothing in return but their salaries off our books.

7 - Why do we keep making money saving changes over and over and over? What is this money going to ever get used for? To sign more guys like Webster/Pekovic/Darko? I really don't see how we are going to SIGN a player of much of a higher caliber than that anytime in the forseeable future. So shouldn't we occassionally try to get BETTER via trade, rather than get worse and cut money? It's not like we are over the salary cap, or have an abundance of assets, or have key free agent targets to use this money on, so shouldn't a trade involving us occassionally IMPROVE the team? (aside from the Beasley trade. So Kahn is like 1 for 6 in these trades)

8 - It seems like David KAHN't think ahead properly. He signs Pekovic & Darko first, so then everyone in the league knows he has to trade Al. He signs Ridnour first, so then everyone in the league knows he has to trade Sessions. This is killing their trade value! And everyone obviously knows the KAHNman has an itchy trigger finger, which also doesn't help our cause.

I had more reasons but these are the only ones I can remember off the top of my head this morning. Hopefully I'll think of the rest later when I have more time, and can ammend this list to make it a full top 10.

Discuss this (and more!) in the TWolves Blog Forums

Every first pick we have drafted in the Past 5 years...

McCants: knee, Foye: knee, Brewer: knee, Love: hand, now...

Flynn and his hip.

Ugh.  Good thing you just traded Sessions KAHN!?!?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Epic Tactical Triple FacePalm.

From Marc Spears at Yahoo Sports/Twitter:

Wolves Jonny Flynn expected to be out 3-4 months after hip surgery next week, NBA sources tell Y! Sports. Missed summer league with injury.
14 minutes ago

Per Marc Spears. Surely more details forthcoming.

Cleveland trades Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair to Minnesota for Ramon Sessions, Ryan Hollins and a draft pick, a source told Y! Sports.

Wolves could waive Delonte West, only guaranteed $500,000, to further get under the salary cap, and trade Telfair, source tells Y! Sports.

Let's not fool ourselves into thinking we are going to flip Delonte's non-guaranteed deal. This is another salary dump. I understand the financial position this team is in, but...really? Discuss.

***UPDATE: John Hollinger ripping us on Twitter:

If they waive West, T'wolves just traded last year's two free agent signings for a No. 3 point guard. Remind me again what the plan is here?
about 1 hour ago via web


70 replies in half an hour for a T'wolves Tweet on a Monday night in late July. Who knew Kahn could move the needle like this? #KAHHHHHHN!!!
26 minutes ago via web


On a related note, my offseason losers column runs tomorrow. Already filed before this trade. Let's just say I won't need to add any teams.
25 minutes ago via web

Discuss this (and more!) in the TWolves Blog Forums

Kahn is starting to become more and more classic as the days go by. The whipping boy of the NBA. I find it all hilarious and dare I admit it: fantastic. Stop whining about the guy "shutting up" or "keeping his mouth shut." This is the stuff of comedy legends. Just remember one thing: this is sports and entertainment, not filing your annual tax return. Let's all stop taking this stuff so seriously.

Have a good weekend all and Say No to Drugs.

On to the news of the fine:

NEW YORK (AP) -The NBA has fined Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn $50,000 for his comments about forward Michael Beasley's marijuana use.

The league also fined the Timberwolves organization $50,000 Friday for what it called inappropriate comments.

In an interview with a local ESPN Radio affiliate, Kahn called the recently acquired Beasley "a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana" while he was playing in Miami.

UPDATE

I also want to take this opportunity to emphasize the below quote from the ESPN 1500 interview.

"He has developed a really good support system around him this past season in Miami," Kahn told 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. "He has hired people to help him grow up. He is growing up -- he's not grown up. He's 21 ... and if you think back, as I do all the time, to when I was 21, and if you had given me this kind of money and put me in this kind of world with these kinds of pressures attached to it and some of the demands, I don't know how well I would have handled it, any easier than, say, he has."

"I think that if Michael was 25 or 26, maybe I would have felt differently," Kahn said. "Some of these kids simply deserve the opportunity to make mistakes and grow up."

In Kahn's defense, that is a very well put, articulate and sensible thing to say as follow up to the much talked about pot comments. Of course, this will never be talked about nor published, nor ranted about on sister sites. Give the guy a break. And again, have a good weekend and never take life too seriously.

Warmest Regards,

Mike