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Wolves Updates 10/31 Part 2

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Check out Celtics Blog for a complete list of the NBA Blogger Previews.
 
 
From the Wolves site's Wednesday Wolves Roundup:
Kevin McHale on the midnight deadline to sign Al Jefferson to an extension:
You really want to get something done. For the player, he's under contract for this year, so he's doing something for the future. For the team, you have the right of first refusal so you can see where the market is again next year. So you want to get something done but if you don't ... Usually things get done when there's a little bit more of a crunch...
 
 
Also: 
Jaric was wearing the black jersey and running the first team in practice today, though coach Wittman explicitly mentioned no decision has been made as to who will start. Alas, the first team has traditionally worn black and the second wears white. This may be because Kevin Garnett would never, ever wear anything but black.
 
 
 
Troy Hudson responds to owner Glen Taylor's recent interview with the Pioneer Press.  
"I could have been a better player during the time that I was there, but they never really gave me a chance to really get healthy," Hudson said. "He could have mentioned that I had reconstructive surgery and microfracture surgery at the same time that limited my abilities, but he didn't want to mention that and he didn't have to. ... Sometimes people take situations and turn the attention off themselves and put it on others."
 
As for the charge that he was a Garnett confidant, Hudson pleaded guilty without remorse.
 
"(Garnett) felt like he had more of a bond on and off the court with me and Trenton Hassell than he had with other players that they were bringing in," Hudson said. "He felt like me and Trenton could really help win games. He felt that way. They didn't feel that way. So they made the moves that they had to make."
 
 
On Oct. 11, over 70 Wolves staffers volunteered for more than 400 hours at St. Paul's Scheffer Park to paint, build and detail a new reading and learning center for the St. Paul community.
 
 
Bill Simmons predicts the Wolves will finish last this season.
 
 
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No news on Jefferson's extension

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Jerry Zgoda/On The Wolves blog on lack of news on a possible extension for Al Jefferson: 
The guess here: The dotted line goes unsigned until next summer, when the Wolves will match any offer Jefferson might get as a restricted free agent.
 
Kevin McHale on the extension:
I’d like to get something done, but if we don’t, it’s not like it’s the end of the world...
 

 

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Wolves Updates 10/31

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Kevin Garnett is the moral center of the NBA universe and the newfound spokesman for the league after being traded from Minnesota to Boston this summer. As a Timberwolves fan since Sidney Lowe was running point with Sam Mitchell on the wing, my NBA offseason felt like a parental divorce, a reincarnation, a bar mitzvah and a funeral all in one. I revoke a mentor, I breathed anew, I grew up a little bit, and I performed mummification and ancestral worship rituals at the site of a lost loved one...
 
The Wolves have until midnight tomorrow (Wednesday) to sign Al Jefferson to a contract extension. After that, they cannot sign him until next summer, when he would be a restricted free agent and the Wolves would retain the rights to match any other team’s offer.
Jefferson said he isn’t worried if the deal gets done now or not. Hey, that’s what he said.
 
 
Minnesota is believed to be offering a five-year extension worth as much as $60 million if Jefferson reaches bonus incentives, most of them based on the team's performance. Jefferson's agent likely is seeking a deal approaching the maximum contract allowed, which would pay him $13 million next season and near $80 million total.
 
On Mark Madsen:
Mark Madsen's summer personal-watercraft accident was supposed to keep the Wolves forward sidelined until mid-November because of a shoulder injury that required surgery. On Tuesday, he practiced fully for the second consecutive game and declared himself, subject to matchups and lineup opportunity, ready to play. 
 
 
Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune on Randy Foye's injury which he describes as a "precursor to what might have become a stress fracture":
Rest is the prescription. The injury will heal on its own, but it will take time, at least three weeks. That's when Foye will have a follow-up CT scan. The layoff could last longer than three weeks, though, because even if he is cleared to play, he will need time to get into game shape.
 
 
Foye's absence means Sebastian Telfair and Marko Jaric will take over the point guard duties for a young team that is rebuilding. Coach Randy Wittman said after Tuesday's practice he hasn't decided who will start in the season opener Friday night against the Denver Nuggets at Target Center.
 
 
Though Ricky Davis couldn't be there, his father and former teammates were in attendance at a benefit recognizing the I-35W bridge collapse hosted by Davis.
 
 
If Foye’s injury doesn’t keep him out longer than the 4-6 weeks, Marko Jaric should be serviceable as the backup point in limited minutes. If Telfair is running well, Jaric can run the show in small chunks of time if on the court with the starters, who should be there to bail him out if needed. If Jaric is being Jaric, trying too hard and turning the ball over as he does frequently, Wittman should have no problems with yanking Jaric from the game and placing Buckner in the game.
   
 
The Timberwolves have been pleased with the way Craig Smith has taken care of his body and his effort in training camp. And look for Wolves executive Fred Hoiberg to be honored as part of the Iowa State all-time team this winter.
 
 
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site with a season preview of Craig Smith.  
 
 
The Timberwolves open their season against Denver at Target Center in Minneapolis on Friday, the same night Bruce Springsteen performs at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. One will be a sellout. 
 
 
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A Billion To One

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Via Jonathan Kaminsky/City Pages, USA Today has the chances of the Wolves winning the championship this season listed as 1 billion:1.  no comments

Wolves Updates 10/30 Part 2

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Randy Foye on the diagnosis of a stress reaction in his left knee cap:
I was trying so hard to fight through it and get back. I didn't know what was going on but now that I know it is a relief. They're showing me that it is a stress reaction. I took a spill in summer camp that triggered it. I was working out over the summer and the level of competition is so high. I was pushing off and jumping more so it really started to aggravate me and I had to sit out. 
 
Coach Wittman on the news:
This is going to be a setback. You have no control over injuries. This is a situation where we really don't know how long it's going to take. We recognize where we were at, but we'll see in the next couple weeks how our progress is. It's disappointing but we aren't the only team with injuries. We've guys that through the exhibition season have had to do different things, so maybe it's a blessing in disguise.
 
 
We Rite Goode asked a a bunch of bloggers, including Anthony, for their predictions for the upcoming season.  Make sure to check out the results.
 
 
Wittman said he hasn't decided on a starter to replace Foye at point guard for the season opener Friday against Denver at Target Center. Sebastian Telfair and Marko Jaric are the alternatives.
  
 
It doesn't appear that the Minnesota Timberwolves also will buy out center Michael Doleac's contract (as they did Juwan Howard's), but if they do, the Magic would be very interested in bringing back Doleac.
 
 
Dime Magazine on Foye's injury:
What does this mean for Minnesota? They are clearly going to struggle mightily this season no matter what; the only bright spots being the young guys coming together (Foye, Rashad McCants, Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, etc.). 
 
 
Bobby Cifardini/NY Daily News on new assistant coach Ed Pinckney. On Jefferson, Pinckney says:
"Working with Al is ridiculous," Pinckney said of Jefferson, a 6-10, 250-pound forward. "He's an amazing talent. He loves to work. I never have to call him or try to persuade him to spend extra time in the gym. It's always the other way around."
 
 
Sebastian Telfair will now get his shot to start. If he is able to play at a high level in Foye's absence, he may very well hold onto the role as starting point guard for Minnesota even after Foye returns. 
 
 
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site with a season preview of Mark Madsen.  Trudell also posts video of Gerald Green from media day. 
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NBA Blog Previews- Pacific Division

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Check out the following blogs for previews on the teams in the Pacific Division.
 

Golden St. Warriors
Golden State of Mind

Los Angeles Clippers
ClipsNation.com

Los Angeles Lakers
Forum Blue & Gold
With Malice

Phoenix Suns
Bright Side of the Sun

Sacramento Kings
Sactown Royalty

Archives
CelticsBlog NBA Page

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Dallas picks up Howard

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The Mavericks picked up some much-needed frontline help by agreeing to terms with free agent Juwan Howard today. The contract can’t be completed until Howard clears waivers tomorrow  
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Foye out indefinitely

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The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that guard Randy Foye has suffered a stress reaction of his left patella (knee cap). On Monday, Foye received an MRI and a CT Scan, which revealed the injury. Foye will be out indefinitely.  
Update:
“Indefinitely” isn’t good, so look for Sebastian Telfair to start Friday’s opener against Denver. After that? Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner.
Update:
Randy Foye's lingering left knee injury will sideline him for several weeks...

 

Now you can get the history of the Timberwolves book by shopping online. These days doing you're online shopping for different products like entertainment centers has its advantages because usually you can find the best deals online.

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Finalizing the roster

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From the Sports Network:
The Minnesota Timberwolves waived forward Juwan Howard on Monday, buying out the veteran's contract.
"The thinking was to get some kind of cooperative effort between the two of us," Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said. "We had some offers from teams who weren't playoff teams that wanted a veteran leader, which would have been the same situation as here. He wasn't happy about that."
 
 
Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune on Howard's buyout:
Instead, the Wolves owed Howard $14,259,300 over the next two seasons, but negotiated the $10 million buyout, which will be paid over four years, according to Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor.
 
 
The Timberwolves sent a protected 2008 second-round pick to the Spurs for cash considerations and guard Beno Udrih, whom the Wolves immediately waived. 
The deal helped both teams.San Antonio was able to avoid taking a luxury tax hit, while the Wolves were able to get some cash to help them buy out the final two years of Howard’s deal.
 
Essentially, the Wolves make money on the deal and will not be in jeopardy of losing the pick because it is protected. San Antonio, which gained salary-cap relief from the trade, will not receive the pick after next year.
 
 
Click here for the official roster. Kevin McHale on the current lineup:
We were able to do some stuff and get down to 15 (players). I do like the blend that we have of young guys and old guys. I was impressed today in practice when I saw Mike (Doleac) and Antoine (Walker) out there. They both know how to play, both are in the right spots and are doing a lot of the veteran stuff that you want. The only negative right now if that Randy Foye's knee is bothering him. We need to somehow get him back in there. It's been interesting getting to this number but I'm glad with what we've got.
 
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Wolves Updates 10/30

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Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune on Randy Foye's tendinitis
"We are concerned, very concerned, I'm not going to lie to you," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said after an intense practice that lasted nearly three hours. "Him coming in today and not being able to do anything? That was a little bit of a shock. I have the concern of, how ready will he be?"
 
This has been an issue since Foye originally hurt his knee falling to the floor during summer league in Las Vegas. Foye played extensively in the Wolves' first preseason game, then only seven minutes against Boston. He returned to practice days before the preseason finale, then played 16 minutes in that game, a victory over Milwaukee. Foye took part in Sunday's scrimmage at Target Center but fell awkwardly on the knee.
 
Foye had more tests done on the knee Monday, and the results should be available today.
 
 
A woman paid $550 for a date with Vikings director of community relations Brad Madson at an auction the other day to benefit the Children's Cancer Research Fund. Madson will take his date to a Vikings game.
Meanwhile, another woman bid nearly $1,000 for a date with Mark Madsen of the Timberwolves. She's bringing a friend; Madsen will take them to a Wolves game (front-row seats), then dinner.
 
 
But McHale doesn't sound ready to leave.
"There's no resignation to accept," McHale said. "I've never had a contract. If I don't want to come in tomorrow, I won't come in. We've always had a handshake deal. That's the way it's been."
  
 
Rick Kamla/NBA.com looks at the team from a fantasy perspective.  
 
 
I’m a big, big fan of KG. That’s a HUGE loss for them, first and foremost, but in the same breath, I’m happy for KG that he gets a chance to win now. I mean, gimme a break: He did everything he could for that team every year, and it wasn’t enough. He’s a big loss for them, but they got a ton of young talent now. Randy Foye, I like him a lot. Al Jefferson’s gonna be a stud. I like Sebastian; he’s quick and has got all those moves...
 
 
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune predicts the team will finish 13th in the West. Zgoda also picks Al Jefferson to pick up the Most Improved Player award. On the team's record this season, Zgoda writes:
A 29-53 record will have Timberwolves followers talking about next season, the May draft lottery and college point guards such as O.J. Mayo and Derrick Rose.
 
 
The Cleveland Cavaliers are exploring the possibility of signing 13-year veteran Juwan Howard to improve their depth before Wednesday's season opener against the Dallas Mavericks.
 
 
 
 
"I still think it's second to the West," Buckner said. "Until they prove they can do on a consistent basis, the West still is the cream of the crop. Whoever comes out of the West will be hands down the favorite to win the championship. That's just how I feel. I've been in the West a long time and I've seen it. Since Michael left the Bulls, the East hasn't been the same."
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