David Kahn Ranked #26 among NBA GM's
via Mike Prada at SBNation.com

I know what you're thinking. Wait a minute, David Kahn isn't last? KAAAAHHN!

No, he's not, and there's only one reason why: Kahn, unlike the guys ahead of him, actually has a long-term plan. As mad as he is (and he is really, really mad), there at least is a method to his madness. His method? Build around Ricky Rubio.

(Stop laughing please).

Yes, it's true that there is no guarantee Rubio actually comes to Minnesota. The young Spanish point guard has been pretty cool (literally) on making a firm commitment to the Timberwolves. But let's not go too crazy here, because this is really an issue about money, as Canis Hoopus notes. The risk of Rubio screwing the Timberwolves over and never coming to the NBA is much less than people think.

Now, that doesn't make Kahn's plan a good one. Rubio is not David Robinson, so it's probably not worth throwing three years away for him. In addition, while the goal is to assemble a team that fits his strengths (goodbye Al Jefferson!), the cast they've assembled to date doesn't really get the job done (some players do, but ... Michael Beasley? Jonny Flynn? Luke Ridnour? Hell, Kurt Rambis and his Triangle offense?). Finally, it's kind of baffling to put all your eggs in the Rubio basket to the point where you're either passing on much better talent (DeMarcus Cousins) or trading away real talent for very little (Jefferson).

So I'm not saying Kahn knows what he's doing, because he doesn't. I'm just saying that Kahn, unlike Colangelo, Stefanski and Bird, has a long-term plan. It may not be a good plan. In fact, right now, I'd say it's a terrible pan. But it is an actual plan, which is what every rebuilding team needs.

Then again, he did just re-sign Darko.

I have to say that I'm glad that Prada didn't take the bait and stick Kahn at #30.  He's unconventional for sure, but if there's one feather in Kahn's cap, it's that he has yet to make a devastating long-term move that is crippling to the franchise.  That was Kevin McHale's specialty.  We are locking up role players to ridiculously long, overpriced contracts.  We're stockpiling picks vs. trading them away.  We're gaining cap space vs. luxury tax dollars.

I wouldn't stick Kahn near the top of the list for sure.  In fact, he's still too early in his tenure for anyone to adequately judge.  All you can say at this point is that he's working on his "plan" and the good news is that if his plan fails, the Wolves will likely be able to bounce back quickly vs. wait 4-5 years for all his bad deals to clear.

That being said, I'd still probably move Kahn up a few notches.   Mike Dunleavy?  No way.  Rick Sund, the guy who gave Joe Johnson $120 million?  I'll pass.   Chris Wallace and Rudy Gay's $80 million deal?  No thanks.  Donnie Walsh who swung for the fences with 2010's free agency and completely whiffed?  Nope.

Would you rather be a Wolves or Sixers fan?
from Liberty Ballers

The Sixers have more talent on their roster and a slightly less incompetent (!) front office. The only thing the Wolves have going for them is a little cap space and the rights to Ricky Rubio. In my extremely biased opinion the Sixers have a brighter future than the the Wolves. What say you?

I say a lot of it depends on whether Evan Turner can really be an alpha dog in this league.  If he is, then Philly definitely has a leg up on the Wolves as that's the hardest piece in the NBA to acquire.  If he's just "good", then I'd rather take the potential of Rubio and the Wolves' glut of cap space.

And now some Nemaja Bjelica news hot off the press for your reading pleasure...

N.Bjelicos istorijoje padėtas taškas: serbas oficialiai keliasi į Vitoriją
via Krepsis.net

22 metų 209 cm ūgio serbas Nemanja Bjelica galiausiai susirado naują komandą. Krepšininkas oficialiai sukirto rankomis su Vitorijos "Caja Laboral" ekipa.

Skelbiama, jog Minesotos "Timberwolves" komandai priklausantis žaidėjas baskų klubo gretose rungtyniaus mažiausiai penkerius metus.

Šią vasarą istorija apie N.Bjelicos ateitį virto tikra drama. Serbo pavardė buvo linksniuojama su Trevizo "Benetton", Barselonos "Regal Barcelona", Pirėjo "Olympiacos" komandomis. Keturiose pozicijose galinčiui žaisti krepšininkui teko ne kartą paneigti žiniasklaidoje pasirodžiusią informaciją apie naują jo darbovietę.

Praėjusį sezoną N.Bjelica gynė Belgrado "Crvena Zvezda" garbę. Europos taurės turnyre aukštaūgis aikštėje vidutiniškai praleisdavo po 23 minutes, rinkdavo 8,5 taško, sugriebdavo 5,8 atšokusio kamuolio bei atlikdavo po 2 rezultatyvius perdavimus.

Šių metų Šiaurės Amerikos Nacionalinės krepšinio asociacijos (NBA) naujokų biržoje N.Bjelicą 35-uoju šaukimu pasirinko "Timberwolves" klubas.

Astounding!  I have to say, the future in Minesotos looks bright if what this article says is correct!

More from Probasket.pl

Serb został wybrany w drugiej rundzie tegorocznego Draftu NBA przez Washington Wizards, ale prawa do niego zostały oddane do Minnesoty Timberwolves.

W sezonie 2009-10 Bjelica grał w Crvenie Zvezdzie Belgrad, w barwach której zdobywał 9.9 punktu, 4.6 zbiórki i 2.0 asysty w Lidze Adriatyckiej i 8.5 punktu, 5.8 zbiórki i 2.0 asysty w Eurocup.

Just some solid coverage here.  I think we may ask this site to join Bloguin. Hopefully SB Nation doesn't gobble them up before we get a chance.

Bjelica ya es azulgrana
via canalBaskonia

Nemanja Bjelica será jugador baskonista al menos los próximos cinco años. El club ha confirmado esta mañana que han llegado a un acuerdo por el que el jugador serbio. El joven talento nacido en Belgrado (9/05/1988) tiene una estatura de 2.09 m. y juega en la posición de alero. Aún así, su enorme polivalencia le permite ocupar la posición de 4 o incluso la de escolta.

Bjelica se formó en la cantera del Partizan de Belgrado pero comienza su carrera profesional en Austria defendiendo los colores del Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions en la temporada 2007–08. En el 2008 el retorna a su país para jugar con el Estrella Roja de Belgrado, reclamado por el técnico Svetislav Pesic y permanece dos temporadas en el club. En el verano de 2009 juega con la Selección Serbia el Europeo de Polonia, donde consigue la medalla de Plata.

Nemanja Bjelica es elegido en el Draft al comienzo de la 2ª ronda con el número 35 por Washington Wizards, quienes posteriormente traspasan sus derechos a Minnesota Timberwolves. En la temporada 2009-2010 milita de nuevo en el Estrella Roja de Belgrado (Liga Adriática) con el que ha promediado 9,9 puntos 4,6 rebotes y 2,4 asistencias, con un 12,8 de valoración en 25:04 minutos. En Eurocup sus promedios han sido de 8,5 puntos 5,8 rebotes y 2 asistencias, con un 10,7 de valoración en 23:16 minutos.

Man, Bjeclia was blazing up Google News this morning!  The Great White Mana and The Big Pecker better watch out!  Bjelica is going to Bjring it when he comes to the TWolves and totally steal the Eastern European spotlight from them!

There are those few rare moments in life when you realize that you are witnessing something truly spectacular.  I had one of those moments last night.  As Stephanie Graham gracefully extended her slender arms to complete the perfect pirouette, it was a reconfirmation of why I love this artform and why I feel it is my life's calling to share its splendor with the world through my writing.  There are few things as breathtaking as a young dancer perfecting her craft in the dark, with a lone blue spotlight revealing her beauty to the hidden spectators nestled quietyly in the crowd.

I have seen many, nay hundreds, of versions of the Nutcracker Suite, but none were as riveting as what I witnessed last evening.  The tiny dancers, their hearts full of youthful exuberance, put on a performance of a lifetime.  Their fluid movements, their meticulous lines, they validated the notion that dance is a universal language which all human beings speak.  As inexperienced and as raw as these children were, they carried with tham an air of pride, which captured my heart and made me grateful that I was able to catch a glimpse of their playful innocence.  I believe with all that is within me that these young girls will one day be the leaders of our art, that their work and dedication will pave the way and light the streets for the young dancers that will follow them.  A legacy of dance was built tonight on that stage and it is one that will echo not only through these young girls' careers, but through the generations of dancers that will follow in their slippers.

An excerpt from The Bergen Records' review of my niece's ballet recital.

Hollins + Sessions + Future 2nd Round Pick for Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair (Welcome Back!)

Jonny Flynn out 3 to 4 Months with Hip Surgery

The "Big" Trade.  Ha.  At least we dumped Hollins! God he was worthless

From the Official T-Wolves Site

From Jon Krawczynski at the AP

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced the team has traded center Ryan Hollins, guard Ramon Sessions and a future second-round draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for the player contracts of guards Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair.

"I want to thank Ramon and Ryan for their time with us last season," said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. "With the arrivals of Luke Ridnour, Michael Beasley, Nikola Pekovic and the signing of Darko Milicic, it was clear that Ramon and Ryan would have lesser roles this season if they were to remain. This move provides them a better opportunity in Cleveland and adds to our flexibility both this season and beyond in relation to the salary cap."

From Jerry Zgoda's Blog:

The Timberwolves' payroll continues to shrink.

They have traded point guard Ramon Sessions and forward/center Ryan Hollins -- two players David Kahn signed last summer to multi-year deals -- as well as a 2013 second-round pick to Cleveland for two players who likely will never wear a Wolves jersey.

They receive in return guard Delone West and former Wolves guard Sebastian Telfair.

Not long after the Wolves traded away one of their three point guards, Marc Spears from YahooSports! reported that Jonny Flynn will need hip surgery that will keep him out three to four months.

Expect West to be waived by an Aug. 5 deadline so they can pay him only $500,000 of a mostly non-guaranteed $4.6 million salary.

Telfair probably will be either bought out of the final year ($2.7 million) of a three-year deal Kevin McHale originally signed him to three years ago or traded away before training camp, if the Wolves can find a team willing to take him.

The deal further pares the Wolves' payroll.

Expect them to sign a veteran point guard to a one-year minimum contract as their next move.

- Jerry doesn't seem overly excited about this.  Count me in with him.  We have already been discussing this all night in the TWB Forums, so no need to repeat all that here.  Just check out the link and join the convo!

Wolves Will Definitely Cut Delonte West, and save $4.1 Million Dollars

From Marc J. Spears at Yahoo Sports/Twitter:

Wolves will waive Delonte West, source tells Y! Sports.

Please Click "Read More" for Additional Wolves News/Reactions and the Flynn Hip Injury...

Surprise, surprise...  It's late July and there's very little Timberwolves news out there on this fine Monday morning.  Here's what we managed to scrounge up for you today.

Chris Paul to the Wolves???
via Joe Gerrity at Hornets247.com

But if he won't listen to reason then get number three out of New Orleans for the best talent possible no matter who offers it. Chris Paul doesn't want to play for David Kahn and the Timberwolves? Tough. Nobody cares.

I really don't see this happening, and neither do the folks at H247.com.  Needless to say, it's never a good thing when a trade to your team is considered the ultimate "eff you" to a star who's worn out his welcome.

HoopsWorld Ranks Wolves Last in the West
by Susan Bible

15. Minnesota Timberwolves – The rebuilding process continues. David Kahn, President of Basketball Operations, was frank last year in saying they are a couple years away from making any noise. And so the changes just keep on coming, presumably leading them on a path to perceived glory when Ricky Rubio finally makes the move to the NBA next year. Still, sending your best player away (Al Jefferson with 17.1 points per game/9.3 boards last year) doesn't seem exactly sound, but Kahn is focused on giving Kevin Love his chance. Most eyes will be squarely on how new acquisition, Michael Beasley, performs in Minnesota. People scoffed at the Darko Milicic re-signing, but Kahn is a believer. The latest move was adding Luke Ridnour, and his goal is to challenge promising Johnny Flynn for the starting point guard position. Funny, that's what Rubio's goal will be, too. The Wolves have signed their two first-round picks in the 2010 draft, Wesley Johnson (taken fourth overall and should impact right away) and Lazar Hayward.

Hey, if the above trade goes through, the #14 Hornets could eeeeeeeeasily swap places with us.  All hope is not lost!

Kahn off limits?
via Jerry Zgoda's Twitter acount

How long do you think new #Timberwolves media policy - all requests for David Kahn go thru PR, no more texting or calling him - will last?

Could this be some backlash from the Be Easy "smoked too much marajuana" comment?  I know that this personally upsets me.  The Jeff VanGundy/David Kahn interview was such a rousing success.  The fact that a road block has been set up for a repeat is a little frustrating.

On a semi-related note, how much do you think the Kahnster makes per year?  I was thinking that if I were fined $50k, I'd be seriously hurting financially.  Obviously the Kahn Man is pocketing significantly more coin than I am, but how much more?  What is Kahn's "value" to the team?  Does Glen Taylor, who has to be losing tons of money from this team, spend $500k, $1M, or even more for Kahn's basketball "expertise"?  And what makes Kahn soooooo qualified that he would deserve a massive salary like that over, say, you or I?

Granted, Taylor is trusting Kahn to run his franchise worth hundreds of millions of dollars and relying on him to wisely spend tens of millions each year in salaries for the team's players.  That alone probably makes Kahn's salary in the seven figures annually.  But it does raise some questions.  I get that Kobe Bryant makes $10 Million plus per season because he can do things that I physically can't and get millions of people to watch him do it.  But what does the Kahnster do that you or I can't do?   Pick Wes Johnson over DMC?

I'm not saying that Kahn doesn't deserve what he's making (I dont' even know what he's making) or that he's bad at his job.  I'm just wondering what qualifies somebody to earn that kind of coin for their basketball insight.  Even a guy like McHale, who's an NBA legend, might add some prestige or credibility to the position (ironic as that is), so I get where he could be worth a large salary as compared to any knowledgeable fan off the street.

What are your thoughts?

 
Well, the T-Wolves signed a nother Point Guard.  Luke Ridnour... come on down! He's the lucky contestant to the tune of $16 million dollars over 4 years; which also happens to be the same contract KAHN gave Ramon Sessions last off-season.  I can't say I like this deal as is.  There are a plethora of reasons (check out our discussions in the TWB Forums about this.)  For concern over boring our readers to death, Ben Polk from AWAW summed it up nicely last week:

Let me tell you what this makes me wonder. Over their careers, Ridnour’s and Sessions’s stats are awfully similar (Ridnour’s sample size, of course, being quite a bit bigger than Ramon’s). Sessions boasts a career PER of 15.6 to Ridnour’s 14.5 Sessions’s true shooting percentage is .519, while Ridnour’s is .512. Dimes? Sessions’s assist rate is 31% while Ridnour’s is 29.7%. Turnover rate? 15.9% for Sessions, 15.5 for Ridnour. Even defensively, the two players’ profiles are remarkably similar.

So what’s this about? As mentioned above, veteran leadership was something sorely lacking from the Wolves’ lineup last year; Ridnour certainly provides that–although Sessions, despite his relative youth, offered a quiet, steady contrast to Jonny Flynn’s exuberant vocal stylee. I certainly hope this isn’t an overreaction to Sessions’s disappointing stats last season and Ridnour’s career year (Luke’s PER and true shooting percentage were significantly higher last year than in any of his previous six seasons–which suggests that they’re more than likely an aberration).

Because if anyone got a rotten deal last year, it wasn’t Jefferson or Kevin Love, but Sessions.  For an entire season, he watched from the sidelines as Flynn received on-the-job training from the Wolves’ starting unit. Ramon, meanwhile, had to make do with the truly impressive cast D-Leaguers and Eurostars on the Wolves’ bench–and I’ll tell you, that crew could suck the life out of anybody’s game. Over and over, Sessions found himself the most competent scorer on the floor, forced to shoulder the man’s share of the offensive burden.

 I like this a lot more if KAHN moves Sessions for a decent asset (Delonte West's salary-dump contract does not count.)  I hate this signing if we keep Sessions, Ridnour, AND Flynn going into next season.  Who is the starter?  Who's the initial backup?  What's going on?  On top of having a PG orgy, what the heck would Rubio think about this?  Let's just hope Kahn can move Sessions without just giving him away.

Luke Ridnour to Join the T-Wolves Today at Noon

From Ray Richardson at the Pioneer Press:

The Timberwolves apparently have finalized contract talks with free-agent point guard Luke Ridnour and plan to introduce the eight-year NBA veteran today at a news conference at Target Center.

Ridnour, who played last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth $16 million. Ridnour, 29, averaged 10.4 points, 4.0 assists and 1.3 turnovers in 21.2 minutes as the backup point guard to rookie standout Brandon Jennings.

Jerry Zgoda Wants You to Say Hello to Luke Ridnour

The Wolves haven't officially announced the signing of point guard Luke Ridnour just yet, but they'll introduce the former Milwaukee Buck anyway tomorrow at noon at Target Center.

The two sides agreed last week on a four-year deal worth about $16 million.

So will Sessions be traded soon, or not?  Like I said, I'd sure hope so.  Here are two conflicting accounts:

Sessions Thinks He's Staying with the T-Wolves

From USA Today:

Reserve point guard Ramon (rah-MAHN') Sessions says he expects to remain with the Minnesota Timberwolves this season.

Sessions spoke Tuesday during a stop at Owatonna High School on the team's summer caravan.

He says he embraces the challenge of competing for playing time at his position, with Jonny Flynn and Luke Ridnour. Sessions has been rumored as a strong candidate to be traded.

Timberwolves Dealing Again

Bill Ingram at HoopsWorld:

Last summer Ramon Sessions was one of the more sought-after point guards in free agency. The Milwaukee Bucks liked him, but didn't want to overpay to keep him, the New York Knicks offered a one-year deal, and the LA Clippers also showed a great deal of interest. At the end of the day the Minnesota Timberwolves made the best offer, getting four years and $16.4 million.

It was an odd signing, considering the Timberwolves drafted two point guards in Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio, and the more head coach Kurt Rambis tried Sessions in the triangle offense the less he looked like the right point guard for the Timberwolves. This summer the Timberwolves have added Luke Ridnour, who is a much better fit in the triangle, spelling the beginning of the end for Sessions.

The timing couldn't be better for Minnesota to move Sessions, as a number of teams are looking for point guard help. The Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Bobcats, and Cleveland Cavaliers have all been in contact with Minnesota to explore what it would take to land Sessions. The Cavaliers are believed to be the frontrunners at this point, primarily because the Timberwolves would love to have Delonte West's contract in return, with the idea that they would waive him and it would cost the team just $500,000 to save $4 million. Minnesota would throw in Kosta Koufas, as well.

Sessions may not be an elite level point guard, but he is more than capable of running a team. The issue in Minnesota has everything to do with his inability to run the triangle, not his overall ability to play the point. Considering that the Timberwolves are seeking little beyond cap relief in return, don't be surprised to see Sessions moved soon.

Please click "Read More" to discover Kahn's Master Plan, & additional Wolves News...

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