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Wolves Updates 10/1

Written by SG on .

Click here for some photos of the team from its first practice in Turkey.
 
 
Stephen Litel/Downtown Journal with some more observations from Friday's media day.  
 
 
Talkin' T-Wolves has a link to video of Randy Foye during the NBA Live 08 Summer Camp.  
 
 
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Preseason in Turkey

Written by SG on .

The Timberwolves flew by chartered aircraft Saturday afternoon to Istanbul, Turkey, with a copy of the 1978 film "Midnight Express" in hand and newly acquired Greg Buckner, newly signed Chris Richard and ailing Ricky Davis on board...
 
Richard, a second-round pick from the University of Florida who missed Friday's media day, signed Saturday morning and then participated in the team's opening practice of training camp at Target Center. Davis missed both media day and Saturday's opening practice because he was ill, team officials said, but he joined his teammates later in the day for the overnight flight to Turkey...
 
 
The Wolves will participate in five community relations events while in Europe. Owner Glen Taylor, who will attend training camp, spearheaded an effort to distribute hearing aids to more than 1,000 children on Oct. 5 in Turkey. Other events include the dedication of a new school in Istanbul, a city devastated by an earthquake in 1999.
 
Through all the experiences, from practice to charity events, the players hope to bond.
 
"You can take advantage of that, being together, out of the country, not knowing anybody there but each other," forward Al Jefferson said. "Being out of the country is good. Not having all the (distractions) bother you off the court when you're here, I think it's going to help us more than hurt us."
 
 
Besides owner Glen Taylor, a half-dozen limited partners and spouses are making the training camp trip with the Timberwolves on a charter flight to Istanbul, Turkey, and London. NBA Commissioner David Stern also will be in Istanbul and London. Four security agencies are with the team.
 
 
Timberwolves will be the first NBA team visiting Turkey, and is expected to be in Istanbul around noon on Sunday, according to the report.
 
It added that besides training camp to take place in Istanbul between September 30th and October 5th, the Minnesota Timberwolves will play a friendly match with Turkey's Efes Pilsen at the Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall on October 6th.
 
 
 
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Wolves Updates 9/30

Written by SG on .

Buckner signed as a free agent last summer for $18 million over five seasons. The Mavs hoped he would add perimeter defense and toughness, but he was erratic last season. 
 
 
Wolves coach Randy Wittman praised Buckner's professionalism, leadership and versatility. Buckner's lighter contract also might make him a better candidate to have his contract bought out if the Wolves cannot otherwise reduce their roster from 16 to 15 or fewer by opening night Nov. 2. 
 
 
It's clear that Greg Buckner's contract, which includes a buyout clause, was a reason for the trade that sent Trenton Hassell to Dallas on Friday. Buckner is guaranteed $3.5 million this season and $3.76 million next season. But after that, the Wolves can get out of the remaining two years on the deal with a $1 million buyout.
 
Alonzo on Chris Richard:
Richard spent much of the summer working out with the Wolves at Target Center, showing his commitment to the team even though he hadn't signed a contract. Now he has - terms weren't disclosed - and he can move forward.

 

Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune addresses 10 questions about the new team, including the player most likely to lead the team this season:
The most obvious candidate is 13-year NBA veteran Juwan Howard, but he's the reluctant Timberwolf who said he will guide this team by committee with veterans Theo Ratliff and Mark Madsen for as long as he is in Minnesota.
 
The most willing candidate? Randy Foye...
 
 
Marko Jaric, attending the Timberwolves media session Friday, made it very clear that he has asked to be traded and would prefer to play for another team this season. ... Wolves forward Mark Madsen, who injured his shoulder in a personal watercraft accident in August, said his "rehab is coming great. ... Hopefully I'll be other playing full speed in six weeks."
 
 
Pssst: The Dallas Mavs' 6-11, 235-pound Nick Fazekas, who is Nevada's all-time leading scorer, was discussed as an inclusion for the Timberwolves in the Trenton Hassell-Greg Buckner trade Friday night.
 
Despite the Timberwolves' rebuilding project, more than a few people were interested in buying the midcourt Target Center seats that were owned by departed Kevin Garnett, and they sold the other day for $26,500 each for the coming season.
 
Look for Timberwolves radio producer Bill Hohenecker to resign. 
 
 
"I'm not worried about any comparisons or anything like that. I'm my own player. I know we've got some big shoes to fill because of the things he has done here. But it's a challenge for me. I always like a big challenge."
 
 
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Wolves sign Richard

Written by SG on .

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed second-round draft pick Chris Richard, the team announced Saturday.
 
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
 
Richard, a 6-foot-9 forward from Florida, was the 41st overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft.
 
Kevin McHale, Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations, said Richard will bring size and toughness to the post positions.

 

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Media Day Updates

Written by SG on .

Click here for a photo gallery of Friday's media day.
 
 
The Minnesota Timberwolves were back from another too-long offseason, gathering for photos and interviews Friday on the eve of their first practice, a few days earlier this year in advance of their training-camp trek to Istanbul and London. Only this time, some familiar annual rituals were absent.

There was, for a change, no armchair psychoanalyzing of Kevin Garnett's mood. No probing for the Big Ticket's views on Kevin McHale's summer maneuvers. No speculation about a possible mega-deal by the trading deadline, and certainly no softballs lobbed to elicit the old "I'm 'Sota'' refrain.

There was none of that Friday, because there was no Kevin Garnett.

 

Perhaps it's fitting that Jefferson, the key player acquired in the trade, has taken over Garnett's old locker at Target Center.  

Said Jefferson: "When I went back to Boston to get my stuff, I heard he got my locker, so I figured I'd return the favor and get his locker."

Alonzo's article also quotes Foye on his reaction to the KG trade.
"I was in shock when it first went down," guard Randy Foye said of the trade. "I always thought I'd get at least two or three years to play with him. His name was always brought up during the trading deadline, but I was just like, it won't happen."
 

 

Ricky Davis was not in attendance during the media session because, according to the team, he was sick and at the doctor's office.
McHale said he expected Davis to miss this morning's first training-camp practice and join the team this afternoon for its flight to Turkey, where the Wolves will begin 10 days of practices and games overseas.

   

From Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:
McHale said his goal is to sign second-round pick Chris Richard to a contract before the team's chartered plane leaves today for Istanbul, Turkey. Richard can't participate in training camp unless he signs, so he might not make the trip, which includes an exhibition game Oct. 6 in Istanbul and another Oct. 10 in London against Garnett's Boston Celtics.

McHale said he has told Richard's agent to be patient because the Wolves might make another move first...

Guard Rashad McCants said he feels "totally healthy" for the first time since college. He said he feels a big increase in his quickness as well, a positive sign for a player a year and a half removed from right knee surgery.  


In his article at Hoopsworld, Stephen Litel wonders if Ricky Davis really has "the flu." He also notes that Trent Hassell seemed like he did not care,  Mark Blount "looked lost," and Marko Jaric "has barely cracked a smile since arriving in the Twin Cities." 
 
 
Laurence Farah/Timberwolves site with Craig Smith's response to "which two Wolves players he thinks have a great opportunity to step up and lead the team this season":
I think it’s going to be a couple of young guys stepping up to the occasion. I think Rashad and Randy will be able to step up and put themselves in a leadership role.

 

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Juwan Howard's trade request

Written by SG on .

From the Associated Press: (Click here for video)
Soon after Garnett was dealt, Howard asked vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale and owner Glen Taylor to trade him to a contender.

"Yes I would love to play for a contender and put myself in the position to win a title before my career is over with," the 34-year-old Howard said Friday in his first public comments about the situation. "If I was 27 or 30 years old, this situation wouldn't be bad at all. That would mean I would still have time to grow with this team, because this is going to be a growing process." 
 
 
"He doesn't really want to go to just any team," McHale said. "I had a long talk with Juwan and I told him, 'I understand where you're coming from.' Your career is a finite thing. And when it's over, you can't go back and re-do it. ... But it's got to be a deal that fits what we're trying to accomplish. If that handful of teams can come up with what we need, we'll try to get something done." 

 

Howard from a transcript at KSTP:
"If the trade request is not rewarded, I'm going to come here and play hard. Be the professional I've always been. I'm not going to be a cancer or a distraction to the team...I'm here today as a Minnesota Timberwolf and if I continue to play throughout this season as a Minnesota Timberwolf I will respect that decision. If I was 27 or 30 years old this situation would not be bad at all whatsoever. This is going to be a growing process. This is a young talented group of players that has a chance to be special. " 
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On the Hassell/Buckner deal

Written by SG on .

Second, I don't like the deal. Greg Buckner is about two inches shorter and three years older than Hassell, which, given that both are defensive specialists, is not a good sign. Buckner has a little more range on his jumper but is less accurate overall as a shooter. Probably most significantly, Buckner is nearly $2 million cheaper over the next three seasons, and I suppose if the Wolves are going with youth anyway, the vets on the bench can be discounted.

[Update: A smart reader just informed me that because Buckner's third year is a team option and thus not guaranteed, Wolves could save up to $6.79 million in this deal.]

 

Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune writes that the trade "clears the way for the team to sign second-round draft pick Chris Richard before it leaves for Turkey today."
 
Friday night's trade could be the first in a series of deals this season as the Wolves try to reduce a roster that still stands at 17 players..
 
Update:
Buckner is expected to arrive in the Twin Cities today to take a physical and is expected to join the Wolves for their trip to Istanbul, Turkey, where the team will hold training camp...
 

Buckner, 31, and Hassell, 28, are both known as defense-minded players. But Buckner's contract is potentially shorter and could give the Wolves more roster flexibility.

Hassell is owed $13.05 million for the next three seasons, including $4.35 million this season.

Buckner signed a five-year contract that could be worth up to $19 million. The last two years of the contract reportedly are not guaranteed. Buckner is owed a total of $7,259,259 for the next two seasons. After that, the Wolves can part ways with Buckner.

 

Hassell had been photographed in full Minnesota gear before the trade was announced, as the Timberwolves held their media day Friday.

  

    
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Wolves Trade Hassell To Dallas For Greg Buckner

Written by Anthony Hall on .

This one just came down the wire:

The Minnesota Timberwolves traded guard Trenton Hassell to the Dallas Mavericks for guard Greg Buckner on Friday night.

Hassell, who spent the last four seasons with the Wolves, averaged 6.7 points per game and three rebounds in 476 games. In 2006-07, he played in 76 games and averaged 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Buckner is an eight-year NBA veteran with career averages of 5.5 points and 2.9 rebounds, including two stints with Dallas along with stops in Philadelphia and Denver. Last season, Buckner averaged four points while grabbing 2.1 rebounds.

Reaction to come...

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Robson on Foye and Jefferson

Written by SG on .

It was the Wolves media day this afternoon and this exchange with Randy Foye was probably the most interesting conversation I had.

Who is the leader of this team? I asked Foye, point blank.

"I'll take it," Foye said instantly. "I am the leader. There is pressure in that but I like it. I don't think there are a lot of people in their career get a chance to say, `I was the leader of an NBA team.' That's how I am approaching things and how people approach me. I am the leader."

 

Robson also said that Al Jefferson was "impressive."
It wasn't clear to me whether he requested it or it was given to him by management, but he will be ensconced in KG's locker space, a circumstance that he responded to with a nice blend of "I'm honored" and "I'm not the least bit intimidated."
  
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Wolves Updates 9/28 Part 2

Written by SG on .

Stephen Litel/Hoopsworld with a training camp preview.
 
 
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Davis has announced plans to honor the city's first responders at a special dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis. Representatives from the police, fire and emergency services departments will be invite to attend the First Responders Recognition Benefit, which will be co-hosted by Davis, Torii Hunter of the Minnesota Twins and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings.
 
 
Keith Schofield is directing television commercials for the team.
 
 
Assistant GM Rob Babcock checks in from Belgrade where he is scouting ahead of training camp.
 
 
 
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