Sonia
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Posted by SG
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Saturday, 12 July 2008 |
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Former Marquette forward Dan Fitzgerald, who grew up in St. Paul and
attended St. Thomas Academy, was a late addition to the summer-league
team that also includes Love, Corey Brewer, Chris Richard and Rodney
Carney, who was acquired from Philadelphia in a trade on Wednesday.
Randy Foye, the Wolves' starting point guard, will practice with Love
and Carney, his new teammates, for two days, but will not participate
in games generally intended for first- and second-year players and free
agents.
The Wolves practice twice daily until Monday, when they play Dallas in the first of five summer-league games at UNLV.
Forward Craig Smith was also scheduled to attend summer league, but the
restricted free agent has not come to terms with the Timberwolves on a
new deal and will not participate.
As I boarded the plane Thursday afternoon for my flight from Newark,
N.J. to Las Vegas, I noticed a familiar face. Sitting in first class
was Timberwolves guard Randy Foye.
Two things crossed my mind: 1) I can't believe he is wearing a hat with
FB on it -- I thought FUBU clothing went out of business years ago; and
2) This is going to be his third year in the league -- is he really
playing summer-league ball again?
After chatting with him for a few minutes, I found out that he'll be in
Sin City to practice with his teammates, but he doesn't expect to
actually play in a game. Also, he had been home in New Jersey spending
time with his young child. And most importantly, the FB on his cap
stood for Foye's Boy, not FUBU.
With the recent addition of Rodney Carney the pressure is really on Corey Brewer to show that the Timberwolves should give him time next season. Despite extensive minutes, Brewer had a really underwhelming rookie campaign and his spot from the rotation is far from guaranteed. Vincent Grier is an impressive scorer in the same unorthodox way that Chris Douglas-Roberts is. Kevin Love is really going to have to produce at a high rate if this Minnesota squad is going to have any success. He will really be under the spotlight, but considering the type of shape he is in and his incredible basketball IQ he should play well. Chris Richard will have to have a strong performance too if he hopes to stay out of the NBDL next season. Bryce Taylor is a sleeper guy to keep an eye on. Longar Longar was just recently drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters, who he has a much better chance of sticking with compared to Minnesota.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 12 July 2008 )
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Posted by SG
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Friday, 11 July 2008 |
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The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has
signed 2008 first-round draft pick Kevin Love. Love, a 6-10 forward from UCLA,
was the fifth overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies
and was acquired by the Wolves in an eight-player trade on draft night. Per
team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"We're really excited to bring a player and person of Kevin's caliber into our
franchise," said Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin
McHale. "He brings a lot to our team both defensively and offensively and will
be a great fit with the talented young players on our roster."
The Wolves have just taken to the floor for their first practice in Las Vegas for summer-league games they begin on Monday.
Kevin Love has signed his rookie contract, which guarantees him $5.47
million for his first two seasons and breaks down like this: $2.636
million this season, $2.834 million next season, team options for
$3.031 in 2010-2011 and $3.841 million in 2011-2012.
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Posted by SG
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Friday, 11 July 2008 |
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Nice deal: Not only did the Timberwolves get a first-round draft pick from the Philadelphia 76ers for Rodney Carney and Calvin Booth this week, but a little birdie says Philadelphia also will pick up almost all of Carney's and Booth's salaries for next season, which total nearly $3 million. The Wolves will pay $500,000 of Carney's $1.65 million paycheck. The 76ers are paying all of Booth's $1.3 million contract.
Gomes, a Waterbury native and an NBA free agent after spending last
season with the Timberwolves, is again expected to play after he signs
a contract.
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site profiles new Wolves acquisition Rodney Carney.
The Timberwolves announced they will host eight coed youth basketball
camps and the Lynx will host an all-girls camp in the Twin Cities metro
area this summer. Two-time NBA champ and Timberwolves forward Mark
Madsen, former first-round NBA draft pick and Timberwolves assistant
coach Ed Pinckney and Timberwolves radio voice Billy McKinney will
co-host camps in select communities.
Bryce Taylor, the undrafted member of the Oregon Ducks trio of seniors,
agreed Friday to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA summer
league.
Taylor, who watched as former teammates Malik Hairston (48th overall by
Phoenix, then traded to San Antonio) and Maarty Leunen (54th by
Houston) were selected in the second round Thursday, picked a team
clearly in need of a shooting guard.
"Once that O.J. Mayo trade went down, I knew they would be needing a
two-guard,'' said Taylor, who worked out for the Timberwolves earlier
this month.
One
reason local players are signing with colleges all over the country is
because AAU programs have expanded and coaches are getting to see these
basketball players in tournaments across the nation. This is one reason
new Timberwolves swingman Mike Miller of Mitchell, S.D., wound up with
the Florida Gators...
Miller said the Gophers recruited him and he ''looked heavily" at the
school so he could stay close to home. "But, at the end of the day,
coach Donovan, and making my own mark at the University of Florida, was
something that won out," he said.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 July 2008 )
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Posted by SG
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Thursday, 10 July 2008 |
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After selecting Pooh Richardson, it took 20 years
for the Timberwolves to acquire another UCLA player with a top draft
pick. Richardson believes Kevin Love will be worth it.
"Most definitely," Richardson said. "When you play at UCLA, all summer long you play against the pros — Paul Pierce, Tayshaun Prince, Tyson Chandler, Craig Smith, Baron Davis, Elton Brand, Kobe (Bryant), they all play up there — in UCLA pickup games. And when you have success against those guys, you know you can do it when the (NBA) games start. You've been battle-tested, and he (Love) has done well against that level of talent."
Another good fit. Miller's long-distance dialing will help open up the
middle for Al Jefferson. Also, escaping from Memphis to a team that at
least has the glimmer of a viable future will make Miller a much
happier camper.
GRADE: A
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 July 2008 )
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Posted by SG
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Thursday, 10 July 2008 |
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E) McHale called Carney a: "Freakish athlete (who) can really get up
and down the floor. High-wire act guy. Like all young guys, has stuff
to work on. He's been working hard this summer. He went down and spent
time with Mark Price at Mark Price Shooting Camp in Atlanta. He spent
money out of his own pocket to go down there and spend time with him. I
think he played more as a rookie and not quite as much last year and
he's hungry." McHale also said that another bonus for the Wolves is
that Elton Brand won't be in the Western Conference.
F) The Wolves are by no means done wheeling and dealing. McHale and Co.
are targeting both a backup point guard and a backup combo guard. He
said the team still really likes Sebastian Telfair and is trying to
bring him back.
Third-year swingman Rodney Carney will play for the Wolves summer
league team that begins play in Las Vegas on Monday. Randy Foye will be
practice with the team this weekend to get acquainted to his new
teammates Carney and Kevin Love, but won’t play in games.
Craig Smith was going to go practice, but with negotiations to re-sign
the restricted free agent at a standstill, he won’t be there.
It's been a dizzying, and shrewd, 14 months for a basketball executive
who has been the target of venom from disgruntled fans and fed-up
sports columnists for the past four years.
It was all part of a philosophical change the Wolves made - from fringe
contenders so desperate to improve that they threw ludicrous money at
James to patient rebuilders trying to develop players and stockpile
assets and cap room.
Now, for the first time in a loooooong time, the Timberwolves appear
headed in the right direction. Al Jefferson is the only current player
under contract longer than 2009-10. He signed a five-year, $65 million
deal just before last season that looks more like a steal every time he
backs his big posterior into the post and scores over an overmatched
defender.
Now, the Wolves are still over the salary cap, but under the luxury tax
with a young base that includes Al Jefferson, Randy Foye, Rashad
McCants and Love. And they are getting ready to have large cap room
after the upcoming season and even more the following year.
"That's the mode we're in right now — get flexibility, get young guys and get them better," McHale said.
There is still plenty of work to be done. McHale is talking to
restricted free agents Ryan Gomes and Craig Smith about returning and
also said he would like to bring unrestricted free agent point guard
Sebastian Telfair back next season. He would also like to add a
versatile player who could play point guard, shooting guard and small
forward, like Jaric did last season.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 July 2008 )
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Posted by SG
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
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Matt (MN): Big Dave, does Rodney Carney have any value to the Wolves? Half of the roster is shooting gaurds.
David Thorpe: Not really, no. Has not gotten any better in years.
Derek (Minneapolis): Am I crazy or are McHale and Co. actually make some good offseason moves?
David Thorpe: You are not crazy.
The Wolves also received a first-round pick the 76ers owned from a
trade with Utah. McHale said that first-rounder is protected for the
top 22 in 2009, the top 17 in 2010, the top 15 in 2011 and the top 16
in 2012 and 2013.
If the Jazz hasn't had to surrender the pick by then, McHale said, "It goes away.''
McHale offered two more details of the trade that would be favorable to
the Wolves: One, the 76ers gave cash considerations to the Wolves that
basically cover the salaries of both Carney and Booth; and two, the
2010 second-round choice surrendered by the Wolves will go to
Philadelphia only if Minnesota is drafting 55 through 60.
"We would have to finish as one of the five, six best teams in the league,'' McHale said.
Asked what he considered the best part of the trade, McHale said:
“Rodney Carney. He’s a first-rounder. We liked him out of Memphis. He’s
one of those high-wire act guys. He can really run the wing. And we
have a great outlet passer now in Kevin Love.
“As I told Rodney, ‘There’s a lot of competition here. You can either earn playing time, and earn time on the bench.’ ”
McHale said he expects veteran center Calvin Booth to be at training camp and said the team remains active in trade discussions.
“I don’t think we’re done,’’ he said.
Booth has one year left on his contract and it is unlikely he will stay
in Minnesota. Carney has one year left plus a team option for 2009-10.
Three Stars:
3. Kevin McHale
Suddenly,
the Wolves have about eighteen first-round picks stockpiled - and have
done nothing but dump horrible players and bad contracts in return.
It's like this is some Bizarro NBA where the Wolves signed Joe Smith to
a normal contract.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been the primary actor in the two
biggest deals of the last two seasons. There was, of course, the KG
deal which was an outright robbery, no matter how good Al "The
Harbinger" Jefferson is or will be. Then, very quietly, McHale traded
with Philly for Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth, and a future first round
pick, in exchange for cap space. In turn, Phill used that cap space to
get them into the upper spending echelon, which, in turn, allowed them
to get Brand.
So now this is two years when McHale has helped a power shift from the
West to the East take place with a formidable big man going to a team
with talent to form a legitimate playoff contender. And neither time
has resulted in his team getting discernibly better.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 July 2008 )
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Posted by SG
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
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Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin
McHale today announced the team has acquired a first-round draft pick,
guard Rodney Carney, center Calvin Booth and cash considerations from
the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a future conditional
second-round draft pick.
"Acquiring another first-round draft pick gives us an additional asset
as we continue building our team," said McHale. "This trade continues
our plan of building around our young core of developing players while
acquiring future assets. Carney is a player who is still developing,
but has tremendous athletic ability. Booth provides another veteran
presence to the team and our locker room."
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Posted by SG
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
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The 6-7 Carney will give the Timberwolves an athletic swingman who
averaged 5.8 points and 2.1 rebounds last year, his second season. The
76ers will throw in reserve forward Calvin Booth and acquired a future
second-round draft pick and Minnesota’s $2.8 million trade exception
gained in a 2007 deal with Miami.
“The only thing I can share with you is that Calvin’s contract will be
traded to Minnesota tomorrow,” said Booth’s agent, Mark Termini.
Gomes' agent said he expects discussions with other teams to extend
into next week. Smith's agent said Tuesday he is hopeful he will have
an offer sheet from another team to take to the Wolves by the end of
this week. The Wolves then would have seven days to match the offer or
relinquish Smith.
Booth's agent told the Associated Press his client's "contract" would
be traded to Minnesota today. That might mean Booth will never wear a
Wolves uniform, and instead, his contract could be either absorbed as a
price paid for the future first-round pick or dealt to another team.
A ceremonial tee-off will begin ticket sales today. Among those
participating are Gophers football coach Tim Brewster, Vikings
linebacker Chad Greenway, former Twins catcher Tim Laudner, former Wild
defenseman Brad Bombardir, Timberwolves executive Fred Hoiberg and
Wolves forward Corey Brewer.
Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love is just 19, but he's amazingly
glib and there's little doubt he could become an NBA analyst if he
wants to after he's through playing.
Mike Miller, who was just traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, has a brother who is on Steve Alford's staff at New Mexico.
Holy Angels' grad Troy Bell played with Miller in Memphis.
"Mike is a good guy, hard worker, great shooter
and I think Minnesota is lucky to have him ... Good guy all-around, not
only can he play but got a great personality and he works hard and he's
definitely a team guy and I think he'll be great for the Timberwolves,"
said Bell.
The Bobcats made it official that Larry Brown hired his brother, Herb, as an assistant. Reminds me of the nepotism fuss a few years back concerning Bernie Bickerstaff hiring son John-Blair. As it played out, J.B. Bickerstaff was the best assistant on that staff because he outworked just about everyone else in the organization. He was determined to prove he earned his paycheck, and now he's with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 July 2008 )
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Posted by SG
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
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In a deal that is almost certain to become official when the NBA trade
moratorium is lifted tomorrow, the Wolves will take on center Calvin
Booth and swingman Rodney Carney from the Philadelphia 76ers, plus
receive a first-round pick that is likely the one the Sixers got from
Utah in the Kyle Korver trade. As of now, no one is reporting what
Minnesota is likely to yield in return--and it really doesn't matter.
This is a salary cap deal, and--unless the compensation turns out to be
Rashad McCants or something--a shrewd one for Minnesota. [Update:
Various sources are reporting that the compensation will simply be one
of our bushel of second-round picks and the trade exception that was
part of the Blount/Davis deal, a trade that apparently keeps on giving.]
That pick potentially gives the Wolves four first-round selections next summer.
The Wolves also own Boston's first-round pick in 2009 and will receive
Miami's first-round choice as well if the pick is not among the draft's
top 10. The Wolves keep their own first-round pick if it's among the
top 10. If not, that pick goes to the Los Angeles Clippers for a 2005
trade that brought Marko Jaric to Minnesota.
The Wolves' accumulation of draft picks provides them assets they could use now or later to acquire a player...
While I'm a big fan of accumulating additional 1st round picks, I'm not
sure this trade is a good deal unless the Wolves can move some of their
assets for a backup (or starting) point guard. Keeping Carney on the
squad simply doesn't make a lot of sense.
This trade does not hurt the chances of Ryan Gomes' return to the club, but may impact several other players. Restricted free agent Kirk Snyder was a longshot to return, and now his chances of residing in Minnesota for next season are exactly zero. Expect Carney to take on many of Snyder's minutes and he could take on an even bigger reserve role if Rashad McCants is dealt for a backup point guard before next season.
There's also the possibility Carney could be traded to Memphis, a team rumored to have interest, for one of their excess point guards...
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 July 2008 )
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Posted by SG
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
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The Timberwolves are set to acquire Rodney Carney
and Calvin Booth from the Philadelphia 76ers in a trade that should
include a future first-round draft pick coming to Minnesota, a source
close to the situation said Tuesday.
The Wolves would give Philadelphia a future
second-round pick and a $2.8 million trade exception, acquired as a
result of a trade with Miami last season.
The source could not confirm when the draft picks involved would be used.
Sixers prospect Rodney Carney and aged center Calvin Booth seem
superfluous in a deal that gives the Wolves a first-round pick — top 15
protected in 2009, according to a Wolves source — that Utah sent to
Philly last season in the Kyle Korver trade.
The hunch here is that the Wolves use some of their assets — they also
could own Boston’s, Miami’s and their own first rounders next summer —
and perhaps the expiring contracts of Booth and maybe Carney to swing
another trade that could address, among other things, their need for
point-guard depth. A team such as Memphis, trade partners with the
Wolves just two weeks ago, has too many guards (Kyle Lowry?).
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Columnists
Sonia Grover started her Wolves site, "I Heart KG", in 2006. In the wake of the big trade, she moved over to TWolves Blog and brought her column,
"Wolves Daily News"Email:
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Derek Hanson, the founder of TWolves Blog, delivers his optimistic and often inspiring take on the Wolves in his column,
"DeROK's One Shot"
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Dave Kelsey, life-long Wolves fan, season ticket holder, and forum post champion gives his humorous take on the Wolves and life in general in
"Club Seating with College Wolf"
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Jeremy Knutson packed up his stuff from the Old Wolves Logo, drove over to the TWolves Blog, unloaded the car, and now invites you to come along for a ride through the NBA in his
"Hoop De Ville"
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Rob Brewer and Neil Olstad launched the first-ever Minnesota Timberwolves podcast back in 2007. After acheiving critical acclaim with "The Kissing Marney Gellner Show", the duo decided bring their act to TWolves Blog. "Timberwolves Today"
Jon Marthaler considers Mark Madsen to be the absolute height of comedy - high praise, since he's been observing Timberwolf follies for almost two decades. When not watching Mad Dog brick free throws, he writes at TNABACG. Now you can find him here on TWolves Blog with his column,
"Both Teams Played Hard"
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