I like to do a Google Images search before I write my post to see if there's anything interesting that I can use to spice up my posts.  In the past, I've had mixed results.  For example, a few weeks back, I happened to stumble upon the awesomeness that is Courage Wolf.  Today, while searching for "Iggy", thinking that I'd find a picture of an iguana or one of the Koopa Kids from Super Mario Bros. 3, I was treated with this...

Now that you've been sufficiently horrified this Monday morning, we'll get to the point of this post.

Rumors have begun to swirl that Andre Iguodala may be on the trading block.  As anyone who's visited the forum lately knows, this is a pretty big deal here at TWB as College Wolf has been lusting for Iggy to join the Wolves for months. A lot of the forum conversation (a.k.a. bickering back and forth between Dave and Mike) has centered around whether an Iggy/Love deal would be a worthwhile move to persue.  However, the thinking there was that the Sixers were content with Iguodala and the Wolves would have to give them a pretty sweet package to convince them to part ways. If, as this article suggests, Philadelphia is actually a bit disenchanted with Iggy and looking to move his rather sizeable contract, then it's entirely possible that Minnesota could acquire him without handing over K. Lav. 

So what do you think the play should be here for the Kahn man, you know, assuming he's willing to break the mold and pursue someone who's not a European or overly smiley? 

I personally think the aforementioned Love/Iguodala swap might be a slight upgrade, but not enough to get the Wolves over the hump, so we won't even go thre.

As CW mentioned in his forum post on the subject, a deal involving anyone other than Love, Rubio, and the #1 pick this year if the Wolves win it (yeah, right) would probably be good value for the T-Wolves.  I'd tend to agree, as a core of Rubio/Love/Iggy could be a solid foundation for a playoff team. 

What are your thoughts on a potential trade?  Discuss away either in the comments below, or the forum.

Is the End of the Bermuda Triangle upon us?

Leave it to Little Birdies to provide the first hint or lick of Rambis news in weeks. While it is only one sentence from Shooter Walters that should be taken with an Oliver Miller-sized portion of salt, it is at least something. And it's great news for the 87.5% of Wolves fandom (7 of 8 people) who would like to see a changing in the guard on the sidelines:

 A little birdie says the Timberwolves are negotiating a buyout on the remaining two years of coach Kurt Rambis' contract. 

This is encouraging, to say the last. But who would replace Rhombus? There are likely going to be several much more attractive coaching jobs opening up this offseason, and the Wolves will surely be left out to dry if Rambis gets canned. And will Taylor break the bank and make a major investment in a high priced replacement? History says absolutely not. Despite the candidacy implications (or lack thereof), can it get much worse than Rambis? 32 wins in two seasons would say no. Personally, I am inclined to try a young, energetic rising assistant in the Dwayne Casey mold. A workhorse who knows his players and builds an offense around what they do well.

Or Rick Adelman, but he probably would cost far too much.

Either way it is maddening this process once again is taking forever. Who knows how long this will take or if it will be done before draft day. 

This could be a significant month for us. With the draft lottery weeks away, a potential new coach in the works, and the Rubio saga finally perhaps reaching its conclusion, this could all turn out very good, or very bad. Stay tuned.

When it comes to the young Spanish "Superstar" there remain so many intangibles....not including his eyebrows.

These become more and more confusing as time passes......so let's rewind to summer 2009, just after the NBA draft.

David Kahn, according to ESPN, has spent all summer trying to carve out some sort of solution to the Rubio contract complexities and eventually has to abandon hope of Rubio joining the Twolves in the immediate future.

"Of course there's disappointment, but I don't think that disappointment should overshadow the big picture, which is, he's still so young," Kahn told ESPN. "It appears now we will have a two-year wait. But if you frame it as he'll be 20 years old and he'll have two more years to develop, I can think of a lot worse things to happen to us as a franchise."

"Two more years to develop.." hold that thought and let's push the fast forward button to 2011. no comments

Photo Source

From the Timberwolves' Twitter Feed:

Harrison Barnes, the one prospect that I really wanted to see join the Timberwolves next season, in the year where we finally have the most ping pong balls, has decided to forgoe the NBA and potential #1 overall status to return to UNC for his sophomore season.  You can't make this stuff up.  Just when you look to the heavens for a sign that things will get better, a bird rains turd down on your face. 

Of course, my disappointment regarding this situation is based on the assumption that the Wolves would actually end up with one of this year's top picks, so I could be getting worked up about nothing.  (And given history, I likely am).   Still, the absence of Barnes makes this already weak draft class that much weaker.  When the Wolves do end up picking 4th, it will be like they were picking 5th in a draft that contained Harrison Barnes. 

Remind me to stab myself in the eye when Barnes is starting for the Clippers in 2012, Rubio is still in Spain, and we've got some smiley Euro sitting on the bench for us that we picked 4th overall. 

As you can see, it's easy to let any bump in the road lead to a downward spiral of self-pity when you're a Wolves fan.  That's why I've enlisted the help of Courage Wolf to keep our spirits up during these rough times.  I initially found Courage Wolf on a random Google Images search for the post below this one.  I had no idea who or what he was until Roundhouse filled me in on his story.  After doing a little research of my own, I think he's a good companion to keep around to keep us all mentally tough. After all, if Harrison Barnes prance around in his powder blues against inferior competition instead of finally taking his shot at Kobe, LeBron, and Durant, he's probably not the alpha dog this team needs anyway.  How many guys who deferred entering the NBA in the past 10 years ended up being super stars? 

Rubio

Ken Berger reporting that Ricky Rubio has told Kahn that he'll cross the pond if there isn't a lockout. How's the Farmers Almanac prediction for 2012? This is good news. It is hard to expect Ricky to get out of a contract in Europe NOT to play basketball in the USA.

Draft

In other news at least one top prospect will be in the draft. Kyrie Irving has officially declared and will hire an agent. At this point it sounds like he is the #1 pick for any team without a stud player at PG. Given the absence of Shooting Guards in this draft you have to imagine Irving is at the top of the Wolves chart among the players currently declared. 

Rambis

From the same Ken Berger article:

...Rambis appears to have developed the talent he's been given well enough to warrant coming back. 

Agree to disagree Mr. Berger.  

I recommend the Steve Kerr podcast on the B.S. Report. In a discussion about Mike D'Antoni not being a good fit with a great half court player like Carmelo he comments that a coach needs to be a good fit for the players he has. I felt this was a solid piece of insight. It is generally assumed that good coach should be good with any team and adapt appropriately. Maybe we need to think about fit and coaches a little more. It isn't clear to me that Rambis style is working with young guys that need this much guidance. Maybe it would with a team like the Mavs.  

Wolves v. Suns

Steve Nash, Vince Carter, and Vince's horrible, horrible beard beat the Wolves tonight. Seemed like each time the Wolves got into a position to tie it or take a lead they'd give up back to back to back dunks. The Wolves didn't have tons of TO's but they made the most of the ones they had. Beas and AR eased their way to 20 points while Wes laid brick after brick. 

Darko Selling Championship paraphernalia for Charity

The cause is The Zorana and Darko Milicic Fund for Children with Life Threatening Diseases and the prize is the 2004 Championship Ring, Belt and a host of other things surrounding the NBA Finals. It is going off Raffle Ticket style. Prize wise, it doesn't get much better than this one.  $10 can get you in the mix for it too. Not bad Darko, not bad.  

Wolves versus Suns

Wednesday, April 6th on NBA League Pass (i.e. not on TV)

What is at stake for the Wolves?

Wolves are 2 games back of Cleveland for the number 1 spot. Clearly they are not going to give them any quarter. The Cavs have the Wizards still on the schedule which means there is still hope to be inverse champs. Presumably Love is still out tonight which means we'll get 20 and 15 from Anthony Randolph instead. 

What is at stake for the Suns?

Nothing. They are now under .500 and are certainly deflated. They've lost 6 of their last 7 against mostly very difficult competition (last two against Chicago and the Spurs). 

Result

This is the last Wolves win of the season.  I don't think they'll lose out the last month of the year. They have to win sometime. The ex-factor to me is Gortat pummeling us for fun. Peko needs to take an early double ejection for the team here.  Sun come out hot but look like they are waiting for the team flight during the 3rd quarter.  

Enjoy it tonight if the you have the LP. Hopefully I can squeeze in the double header of last nights game and tonights via LP Broadband.  

Lineups

Ridnour, Wes, Beas, Tolliver, Darko

Nash, Hill, Dudley,  Frye, Gortat

Egads! Another Eastern Conference powerhouse to deal with tonight! And an angry one, as well, coming off a loss against the Sixers. Former Wolves assistant and non-Wolves head coach hiree Tom Thibodeau is probably ready for vengeance. maybe not. Some brief thoughts, per usual:

1. Is Derrick Rose not shockingly underrated? The guy has lead his team to the 2nd best record in the NBA! Very quietly as well, amidst the Heat and Melo drama. This guy deserves the MVP award, and I think he will get it, along with the recognition he deserves.

LeBron does not. Speaking of LeBron, this guy just keeps getting worse and worse, skipping player-intros in Cleveland for alleged urinary reasons (BS), and just continuing to be an all-out clown. I'm happy for Cleveland after last night.

2. Don't expect the Wolves to win tonight or Friday, they are in full-out tank mode now resting Kevin Love for penile reasons. He may play tonight it seems.

3. A spirited forum discussion generated the other day on why Duke, such a college powerhouse, has only really produced 1 superstar player (Grant Hill early on). Surely guys like Boozer, Brand and others have made impacts, but 1 star. As the draft approaches, does this concern you with Kyrie Irving as a potential Wolves draft pick? Furthermore, how odd is it the # of former Dukie NBA careers that have been cut short by injury? Hurley, J Williams, Hill, Boozer to an extent, Brand, Maggette. There are others. Is a curse afoot?