Per Jerry Zgoda from the Star Tribune:

In a last bit of bookkeeping before Friday's expected NBA player lockout...

The Wolves today exercised the fourth-year contract option for Wayne Ellington and third-year options for Wes Johnson and Lazar Hayward for the 2012-13 season.

Wes will make $4.2 million that season, Ellington $2.1 million and Hayward $1.2 million.

Picking up Wes' option by Thursday's league deadlline was an obvious move?

But why Ellington and Hayward on a roster that's getting mighty crowded?

Well, remember: The options are for the 2012-13 season. They're already committed to all three players for this next season, whenever (or if) that might be.

And also remember that the roster today -- already at the 15 man limit when they sign Derrick Williams and Malcolm Lee -- is not what it's going to look like when a new labor agreement is reached and teams hustle to get ready for the season.

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I cannot state enough how horrible two of these moves are by Kahn. Paying Ellington and Major Lazer $3.3 million TWO years from now is unexplainable. Hayward should never play. Ever. So you want to sign him so that he can be traded in a deal later?!? Or what?  Because I don't get it. How about just don't sign him in the first place, and keep the raw cap space!

Ellington most likely has the worst overall stats across the board for anyone that played over 1,000 minutes last season:

PER: Wayne was ranked #252 out of 255 eligible players with 1,000+ minutes played.
eFG%: Wayne was ranked #214 out of 255 players.
Win Shares per 48 Minutes: Wayne was ranked #250 out of 255 players.

His only redeeming quality is that he shoots 3's at an ok rate (but nothing special, especially for $2+ million dollars), and brings nothing defensively. He is NOT a player that should be on the court for us, ever. Especially not with all the other young guys we've got that need legitimate minutes.  Nearly any stud D-Leaguer or minimum salaried FA SG signing would replace and/or surpass his "production." This was a total failure extension by Kahn, and there is no sugar-coating it.  I can't get over this.

Wes Johnson, yes... extend him. But there is NO sense in signing those other two guys pre-lockout!

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This is yet another example of Kahn failing to properly evaluate talent. There's simply no reason these extensions should have been given now, TWO years in advance. They could have been done later after the lockout/new CBA.  Or if Kahn really, really, really loved the smiles that these players possess, he could have let their contracts expire and then re-signed them later as free agents for minimum salaries.  They must try really hard in practice, or something.

Speaking of which, we don't even know what the new CBA/Salary Cap rules will be yet. And he goes and gives two players that should never play three and a half million dollars. If there is a hard cap, every single dollar will count. And every single dollar that we are below the cap will give us an advantage over the rest of the competition... namely when it comes to signing prime free agents.

These extensions for two(!) DNP-caliber players is just simply mind-boggling.

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Enjoy:

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That is all. Highly repetetive (to the rest of the world) draft recap to follow. Too much going on and ducks need to be aligned and heads screwed back on.

 

Initial thought? Not a bad draft for the Wolves. And of course a vet trade did not happen. Of course. Who's shocked? Probably many.



 

 

Derrick Williams was the pick. I like it and am glad we didn't get cute if the vet trade wasn't up to standards.

 

Solid idea to trade back for Malcolm Lee, an excellent value selection, rather than take him at #20. Yeah...let's sleep on this.

 

Oh, and the Brad Miller era has begun, (in 2012 when he recovers from surgery). Ladies and gentlemen, your veteran addition:

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Well, the day is upon us. Two months after the Wolves' horrid season ends, we have come to draft day. The Wolves hold the #2 and #20 picks, no second rounders, and have been the subject of a barrage of rumors. 

Andre Iguodala, Pau Gasol, Monta Ellis, Andrew Bogut, Josh Smith, Marcin Gortat, Steve Nash, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom have all been mentioned as potential trade targets. The #2 pick holds the most value for us in tradeable options.

What will happen? Can Kahn pull some magic? Can he make his first meaningful trade, for an established player, of his career? Do teams even work with us anymore? Too many questions. We will find out tonight.

It may be wise to lower expectations a bit. Every Kahn Window of Opportunity has produced a zombie-army of armchair GM speculation with none other than Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry's mumu and sports bra to show for it. It seems very real that all of the allure of a good move will come crashing down when no deal materializes. Not trying to be negative, just temper expectations a bit so one can enjoy their evening.

My prediction: Wolves draft and keep Williams, and trade the #20 pick for either a 2nd rounder and cash to pay the Rambis buyout, or 2 2nd rounders. I don't think Kahn has it in him to acquire the player we all covet. 

But that's just me. Only a few hours way.....thoughts? Feel free to join the forum conversations on draft night or head down to Target Center at 5:30 for the draft party. A few of us staffers and friends will be there. Look for the group of eight or so standing on the edge of the Hennepin Avenue bridge after Kahn trades the #2 pick for Matt Bonner and come say hi.

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Decision will be announced after the draft. Sheesh, what a week. 

Article Link

Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn has decided to fire coach Kurt Rambis, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Kahn isn’t expected to announce the decision until after Thursday’s NBA draft, but he’s already begun collecting information on prospective replacements for Rambis, sources said.

Kahn met with Rambis last week and believes he has reached an impasse with the coach. The relationship between Kahn and Rambis deteriorated over the course of the past season, to the point where there’s been little communication between them.

Rambis has two years left on his original four-year contract. With the Timberwolves in the midst of a major rebuilding project, he went 32-132 as their coach, including a league-worst 17-65 this season.

 

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Behind that man patting himself vigorously on the back is the one and only Ricky Rubio. You'd think Paul McCartney was getting off that plane if it wasn't all guys cheering.  Thanks to everyone who showed up for this. It is great that the Wolves fans represented. 

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ESPN.com is currently running a headline that Ricky Rubio may not be heading to Minnesota after all. 

If you actually read the article, you'll see that it's nothing more than pure unfounded speculation that is being drummed up by the Worldwide Leader in order to create some off-season NBA buzz after their very own posterboys, the Miami Heat, went down in flames.  Clearly "We are talking to Barcelona and we will soon see" is synonymous with "I will not play for the Minnesota Timberwolves".  Ricky's other quote, that he was "very happy" that his team won the Spanish League Title, also indicates that he has no intention of coming to the NBA this season.  If you click on the Sports Nation poll located on that page, you'll also see that 59% of the masses believe that Rubio will be playing for Barcelona next season after hearing about these hard-hitting quotes. 

Personally, I tend to believe the reports that came out a few weeks back that Rubio had already inked a deal with the Wolves and was just respectfully waiting for his team's season to end before making an announcment.  Those reports aligned perfectly with both logic and the NBA collective bargaining agreement. The fact that he didn't don his T-Wolves jersey the second after the final buzzer sounded is no cause for concern.  Let's all give Ricky a little time to enjoy his team's championship and soak it all in before he makes his big announcement.  If we haven't heard something by this time next week, then it's time to hit the panic button. 

In all seriousness, the Timberwolves simply cannot afford the massive backlash that would come from Ricky remaining in Spain, especially after those reports of him coming leaked out.  If the Wolves had any indication that Rubio may not play for the team, they would have vehemently denied those reports instead of giving the very transparent "no comment" response.  To do otherwise would have been setting the scene for a PR nightmare that would undoubtedly upstage LeBron's "go back to their lives" comment as the biggest gaffe this summer. David Kahn may have made some questionable moves and said some dumb things in the past, but there's no way he's stupid enough to let the Ricky Rubio novela play out that way.

...Right?

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Draft Prospects Enes Kanter and Derrick Williams Featured in Workouts for Timberwolves Thursday at Target Center

What:  The Minnesota Timberwolves will host workouts for potential draft picks at the Life Time Fitness Training Center in Target Center on Thursday, June 16.

Who:  Timberwolves assistant general manager Tony Ronzone, along with draft prospects Enes Kanter, Derrick Williams and others, will be available to the media.

When:  Thursday, June 16

10:00 a.m. media availability:

Enes Kanter, C, Kentucky/Turkey
Keith Benson, C, Oakland
Alec Burks, G, Colorado
Malcolm Delaney, G, Virginia Tech
Isaiah Thomas, G, Washington

 
2:30 p.m. media availability:

Derrick Williams, F, Arizona
Jamar Diggs, G, Wofford
Anthony Moody, G, Univ. of Mary
Tai Wesley, F, Utah State

 
Where:  Life Time Fitness Training Center - Target Center

Info:
· All workouts are closed. Media will only be allowed in at the conclusion of the workouts.
· Draft prospects will only be available during media access periods following their workouts. The players will have other obligations following their workouts and will not be available for radio call-ins or off-site interviews.

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One of the favorite past times of any basketball junkie who roots for a bad team, is scheming up deals to trade his garbage for other team's treasure.  Over the past several years, seeing this done on our TWB Forums has been pretty depressing.  (Do you think we could swing Sebastian Telfair for Rudy Fernandez? Really???) Anyway, with Senor Rubio on his way, K. Love in the fold, and the #2 pick on the horizon, things have gotten much brighter for the T-Wolves.  (At least until Kahn drafts four centers this June.)  With that in mind, forum regular, Roundhouse, has come up with The Ultimate Dream Trade Challenge.  I won't go into the nitty-gritty here on the front page, but basically we're pitting dream trade scenarios against each other and then letting the people vote on which deal they'd rather see the Wolves make. 

It's pretty cool, extremely sports-nerdy, and actually quite a bit of fun.  Check it out here in the forums!

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As has been speculated in recent days, David Kahn has apparently pulled it off: Ricky Rubio has agreed to join the Minnesota Timberwolves next season! Hats off to Kahn for this one. 

Lot's more thoughts coming on this soon....

As reported by Adrian W, the man often made fun of but the man who also never fails to break a Wolves-related story.

Barriero was also involved. 

As was the ever excellent JON KRAWCZYNSKI,  (yes I copied ans pasted that) who, along with Adrian Wojnairjegrtiwe make crediting sources immensely difficult. 

 

Welcome Ricky!!!! (if true, of course)

 

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