Brendan from the excellent Cavs blog Stepien Rules, emailed me the other day asking what Cavs fans could expect from Ramon Sessions this upcoming season. I figured I could help him out here (especially since he didn't ask what could be expected from Ryan Hollins.) I like Ramon, so no harm no foul.
Re-reading what I had sent him, it really does appear that I'm "defending" Sessions' last season with the Wolves. I'm ok with that since I like him, liked the signing initially, and the Wolves blogosphere irrationally seems to hate him.
To read the entire post about Sessions, as well as thoughts from Brew Hoop on this matter, check it out over at Stepien Rules by clicking HERE.
Here's what I said about Sessions over at Stepien Rules...
"Ramon Sessions' career has been interesting. He certainly has the talent and ability, but hasn't really been given the chance to take over a PG role full-time in either Milwaukee or Minnesota. He had been playing very well for the Bucks (which partly convinced KAHN to sign him), although the Bucks choose to let him go rather than match the relatively paltry salary of $4 million per year offered by the Wolves. A Jennings-Sessions combo would have been nice though, I think.
He is a good floor leader, nice passer, solid at getting to the rim, and a serviceable defender. Unfortunately, he can't shoot from 3-point range if his life depended on it. He's so bad (and he knows it), that he simply doesn't even attempt 3's. Which if you think about it, probably means he's pretty smart for not jacking up terrible shots. And for the record, he's only made 10 out of 56 career threes (17.9%!) in 4,354 minutes played. Egads.
The downside to this is that his defender can sag off him, close off driving lanes, and clog up the lane/help with other defenders. So although I like Sessions and liked the signing, he really wasn't a very good fit in the TWolves hybrid Uptempo-Fail Triangle offense. Because even in a sucktastic hybrid Triangle offense, you still need your PG to be able to shoot the ball, even moreso when he's left open. And really, this problem falls on Kahn. I get that he signed him because he was a cheap asset that (presumably at the time), could have been flipped for something better later down the road, but he didn't fit on our team, and he eventually moved him for nothing other than a salary dump to help cancel out yet another bad signing (Ryan "Cement Hands" Hollins.)
With all that said, he actually still managed to play decently well for the TWolves last year. At least, he passed the eye test. I'm not even going to pretend to go spouting off synergy sports numbers or other such blah blah blah; because who cares when the team won 15 games and has 80% new players the next off-season. His stats weren't great, but he never played enough minutes, nor was he consistently given a chance to succeed. And Flynn certainly was NOT head and shoulders above him, regardless of what sexy stats show. Sessions just never got enough of a chance. That's the bottom line to this story.
And let's not even talk about the players he was mostly stuck playing alongside. Guys like Sasha Pavlobrick, Ryan Hollins, Wayne Ellington, Damien Wilkins, etc. How is he going to put up any stats playing the majority of his minutes with the likes of that?!?
As a Wolves fan that watches 90%+ of our games, I honestly and truly believe Ramon Sessions is a better player than any statistic from last season will negatively point out.
I think he will fit in nicely with Cleveland. It's still not the ideal role for him, as I presume Mo Williams will get the lion's share of minutes at PG. However, Sessions can play off the ball at SG as well. His stats last year playing SG were no worse than PG, and in some cases he played better at SG. So maybe he and Mo Will can mesh on the court and work out nicely together. If you give Sessions a consistent 25-30 minutes per game on your squad, I think it will turn out to be a big 'plus' trade for the Cavs. I mean, at least in comparison to what you gave up (basically nothing, although I loved Delonte's game 2 years ago.)"
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Having the "Monday" Wolves news assignment can be a tough gig. Very little happens between Friday and Sunday during the off-season and coming up with good material is difficult. On the flip side, very little happens between Friday and Sunday during the off-season and I can get away with being a slacker. Here's your "breaking" TWolves News...
The Minnesota Timberwolves officially went into re-building mode when the team traded Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics back in 2007. Unfortunately for T-Wolves fans, the team hasn't won as many as 25 games in a season since Garnett's departure and the 15 games Minnesota won last year tied the franchise record for fewest in a season.
President of Basketball Operations David Kahn has overseen a major roster transformation in his short tenure with the team, adding several young, talented players and creating significant salary cap flexibility moving forward.
As HOOPSWORLD's "How They Measure Up" segment continues, today we look at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
I'm not so sure that Luke has the starting lineup properly pegged with Corey Brewer at SG and Wes Johnson at SF. I think we're going to see some Webster and Be Easy in the starting lineup off the bat. At least he didn't turn this into a Minnesota bash-fest.
It turns out, that Tolliver's more than just a three-pointer-jacking big man; he's got a healthy, self-effacing sense of humor. And if his tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves produces more moments of mirth like this, we're all winners.
The Wolves couldn't stop Tolliver -- he scored 34 points for Golden State in an April game at Target Center -- so they went out and signed him instead to complete a frontcourt rotation that features Kevin Love at power forward, Darko Milicic and Nikola Pekovic at center and Michael Beasley at both forward spots.
"I think so. ... Maybe they said, 'We need to take a look at this guy,' " Tolliver said by phone Friday when asked if that 34-point game might have swayed Wolves coach Kurt Rambis and personnel boss David Kahn.
"I think I'll fit perfectly," Tolliver said. "It's a passing offense, and I love to pass the ball. It's one of the favorite parts of my game. I think I can do that well ... I'll go wherever Coach tells me. I feel like I have the versatility to play all three [frontcourt] positions."
Tolliver said he ultimately chose the Wolves over a return to Golden State because of the opportunity being on such a young team presents and because the attention to detail Kahn and assistant GM Tony Ronzone displayed in recruiting him.
Other than the Beasley trade, thisTolliver signing may be the highlight of the off-season for me. I know he'll probably end up being a role player and may not make a huge difference, but it's nice to see some humor and positive vibes coming from somebody who willingly chose to come to Minnesota.
And that's your pretty limted and sorta outdated Timberwolves news for today. It's tough to find the scoops on Monday morning that haven't already been discussed over the weekend in our forum. If you haven't checked the forum out, do yourself a favor and visit it today!
I guess we do need another backup PF. I just hope he doesn't turn into a regrettable contract (aka Ryan Hollins v. 2.0) Clearly Tolliver is better than Ryan Hollins ever was, or ever will be. What I mean is, I just hope it's not a signing that Kahn soon regrets, and is forced to dump a year later.
Forward Anthony Tolliver, one of the top free agents left out of a very thin crop, has reached an agreement to sign with Minnesota.
Tolliver's agent, Larry Fox, told FanHouse on Friday his client will join the Timberwolves. While Fox wouldn't discuss terms, sources said he'll get a two-year deal that could be worth as much as $4.8 million over two years.
"He's really excited,'' Fox said. "He can play (power forward) for them and be a stretch (small forward).''
Tolliver, 25, averaged 11.7 points and 7.0 rebounds last season in 46 games with Portland and Golden State. Take away a scoreless two games with the Trail Blazers early in the season and he averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 44 games with the Warriors.
Golden State had strongly considered re-signing Tolliver. But in the end the Timberwolves, which had cleared a spot for Tolliver by trading Ryan Hollins last week, were thought to be the better option.
I admit, personally I have been on a bit of a hiatus lately. An aggresive job hunt, a move, a new dog, a variety of Wolves moves that have rendered me speechless, and a few other things have kept me from posting much other the past month+. However, apparantly based on a few bits of loose information I have gathered, the Wolves need to sign some guys to bring our cap number up to the minimum amount required. This, of course, makes the Sessions trade all the more silly, but let's just move on.
One of my most favorite sports blogs, Sham Sports, has posted an extremely in depth review of the remaining free agents on the market. This thing is huge and likely will require multiple trips to the corner stall, so prepare yourself. The Sham simply cannot be outdone and I encourage anyone to consistently read his very unique and awesome content as much as possible. Simply an incredible site for NBA junkies, as I have said before. Anyhow, I encourage all to check out this link to read about some of the guys could and should bring in to boost the payroll. It was published last week, so I apologize if anyone else has read this fantastic write-up. Enjoy.
Here is the LINK if it's too tough to pick out above!
The Minnesota Timberwolves announced the team has waived guard Delonte West. West was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers along with Sebastian Telfair in exchange for Ryan Hollins and Ramon Sessions on July 26.
The Wolves only have to pay him $500,000 of his $4.6 million contract. I agree with Kahn here, as I wouldn't want us to keep Delonte under any circumstances. Delonte was solid for Cleveland two years ago, but now he's not worth the risk of keeping on our team with impressionable youngsters. As much as I have ripped Kahn for almost solely acquiring cap space, this move makes complete sense with Delonte's almost entirely unguaranteed contract.
There is one specific play that will always result in gigantic smiles and a round of applause from the coaching staff. It's quite possibly the most difficult call for the referee crew as the defender slides in front of the driving offensive player to draw a charge. A second of silence usually follows the collision before the man in stripes places one hand behind his head and the other arm fully extended, pointing in the opposite direction.
Aside from a blocked shot, the offensive charge is a momentum changing play, which proves the amount of physical pain a player is willing to endure.
The No. 30 overall pick in the 2010 Draft understands the importance of this small but important aspect to the NBA game. Lazar Hayward posted some nice offensive games in four outings during the Wolves summer league action. However, his attention to detail on the defensive side of the floor quickly caught the eye of NBA fans escaping the sweltering Vegas heat inside the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. On multiple possessions, Hayward needed assistance from his teammates to peel him off the hardwood after drawing a charge.
Nemanja Bjelica Signs With Spanish Team Caja Laboral
Timberwolves second-round pick Nemanja Bjelica on Monday signed a five-year contract with a buyout option to leave for the NBA after two years with Spanish club Caja Laboral, the team for which newly signed Spurs prospect Tiago Splitter played.
That buyout option would place Bjelica, a point guard in a 6-foot-10 power forward's body, with the Wolves in 2012, which also could be the year Ricky Rubio joins them if the 2011-12 NBA season is lost, or mostly lost, to labor strife.
The Serbian-born forward spent the last two seasons playing for Red Star of the Serbian Super League, where, during 2009-10, he averaged 18.1 ppg and 7.2 rpg.
I know what you're thinking. Wait a minute, David Kahn isn't last? KAAAAHHN!
No, he's not, and there's only one reason why: Kahn, unlike the guys ahead of him, actually has a long-term plan. As mad as he is (and he is really, really mad), there at least is a method to his madness. His method? Build around Ricky Rubio.
(Stop laughing please).
Yes, it's true that there is no guarantee Rubio actually comes to Minnesota. The young Spanish point guard has been pretty cool (literally) on making a firm commitment to the Timberwolves. But let's not go too crazy here, because this is really an issue about money, as Canis Hoopus notes. The risk of Rubio screwing the Timberwolves over and never coming to the NBA is much less than people think.
Now, that doesn't make Kahn's plan a good one. Rubio is not David Robinson, so it's probably not worth throwing three years away for him. In addition, while the goal is to assemble a team that fits his strengths (goodbye Al Jefferson!), the cast they've assembled to date doesn't really get the job done (some players do, but ... Michael Beasley? Jonny Flynn? Luke Ridnour? Hell, Kurt Rambis and his Triangle offense?). Finally, it's kind of baffling to put all your eggs in the Rubio basket to the point where you're either passing on much better talent (DeMarcus Cousins) or trading away real talent for very little (Jefferson).
So I'm not saying Kahn knows what he's doing, because he doesn't. I'm just saying that Kahn, unlike Colangelo, Stefanski and Bird, has a long-term plan. It may not be a good plan. In fact, right now, I'd say it's a terrible pan. But it is an actual plan, which is what every rebuilding team needs.
Then again, he did just re-sign Darko.
I have to say that I'm glad that Prada didn't take the bait and stick Kahn at #30. He's unconventional for sure, but if there's one feather in Kahn's cap, it's that he has yet to make a devastating long-term move that is crippling to the franchise. That was Kevin McHale's specialty. We are locking up role players to ridiculously long, overpriced contracts. We're stockpiling picks vs. trading them away. We're gaining cap space vs. luxury tax dollars.
I wouldn't stick Kahn near the top of the list for sure. In fact, he's still too early in his tenure for anyone to adequately judge. All you can say at this point is that he's working on his "plan" and the good news is that if his plan fails, the Wolves will likely be able to bounce back quickly vs. wait 4-5 years for all his bad deals to clear.
That being said, I'd still probably move Kahn up a few notches. Mike Dunleavy? No way. Rick Sund, the guy who gave Joe Johnson $120 million? I'll pass. Chris Wallace and Rudy Gay's $80 million deal? No thanks. Donnie Walsh who swung for the fences with 2010's free agency and completely whiffed? Nope.
The Sixers have more talent on their roster and a slightly less incompetent (!) front office. The only thing the Wolves have going for them is a little cap space and the rights to Ricky Rubio. In my extremely biased opinion the Sixers have a brighter future than the the Wolves. What say you?
I say a lot of it depends on whether Evan Turner can really be an alpha dog in this league. If he is, then Philly definitely has a leg up on the Wolves as that's the hardest piece in the NBA to acquire. If he's just "good", then I'd rather take the potential of Rubio and the Wolves' glut of cap space.
And now some Nemaja Bjelica news hot off the press for your reading pleasure...
22 metų 209 cm ūgio serbas Nemanja Bjelica galiausiai susirado naują komandą. Krepšininkas oficialiai sukirto rankomis su Vitorijos "Caja Laboral" ekipa.
Skelbiama, jog Minesotos "Timberwolves" komandai priklausantis žaidėjas baskų klubo gretose rungtyniaus mažiausiai penkerius metus.
Šią vasarą istorija apie N.Bjelicos ateitį virto tikra drama. Serbo pavardė buvo linksniuojama su Trevizo "Benetton", Barselonos "Regal Barcelona", Pirėjo "Olympiacos" komandomis. Keturiose pozicijose galinčiui žaisti krepšininkui teko ne kartą paneigti žiniasklaidoje pasirodžiusią informaciją apie naują jo darbovietę.
Praėjusį sezoną N.Bjelica gynė Belgrado "Crvena Zvezda" garbę. Europos taurės turnyre aukštaūgis aikštėje vidutiniškai praleisdavo po 23 minutes, rinkdavo 8,5 taško, sugriebdavo 5,8 atšokusio kamuolio bei atlikdavo po 2 rezultatyvius perdavimus.
Šių metų Šiaurės Amerikos Nacionalinės krepšinio asociacijos (NBA) naujokų biržoje N.Bjelicą 35-uoju šaukimu pasirinko "Timberwolves" klubas.
Astounding! I have to say, the future in Minesotos looks bright if what this article says is correct!
Serb został wybrany w drugiej rundzie tegorocznego Draftu NBA przez Washington Wizards, ale prawa do niego zostały oddane do Minnesoty Timberwolves.
W sezonie 2009-10 Bjelica grał w Crvenie Zvezdzie Belgrad, w barwach której zdobywał 9.9 punktu, 4.6 zbiórki i 2.0 asysty w Lidze Adriatyckiej i 8.5 punktu, 5.8 zbiórki i 2.0 asysty w Eurocup.
Just some solid coverage here. I think we may ask this site to join Bloguin. Hopefully SB Nation doesn't gobble them up before we get a chance.
Nemanja Bjelica será jugador baskonista al menos los próximos cinco años. El club ha confirmado esta mañana que han llegado a un acuerdo por el que el jugador serbio. El joven talento nacido en Belgrado (9/05/1988) tiene una estatura de 2.09 m. y juega en la posición de alero. Aún así, su enorme polivalencia le permite ocupar la posición de 4 o incluso la de escolta.
Bjelica se formó en la cantera del Partizan de Belgrado pero comienza su carrera profesional en Austria defendiendo los colores del Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions en la temporada 2007–08. En el 2008 el retorna a su país para jugar con el Estrella Roja de Belgrado, reclamado por el técnico Svetislav Pesic y permanece dos temporadas en el club. En el verano de 2009 juega con la Selección Serbia el Europeo de Polonia, donde consigue la medalla de Plata.
Nemanja Bjelica es elegido en el Draft al comienzo de la 2ª ronda con el número 35 por Washington Wizards, quienes posteriormente traspasan sus derechos a Minnesota Timberwolves. En la temporada 2009-2010 milita de nuevo en el Estrella Roja de Belgrado (Liga Adriática) con el que ha promediado 9,9 puntos 4,6 rebotes y 2,4 asistencias, con un 12,8 de valoración en 25:04 minutos. En Eurocup sus promedios han sido de 8,5 puntos 5,8 rebotes y 2 asistencias, con un 10,7 de valoración en 23:16 minutos.
Man, Bjeclia was blazing up Google News this morning! The Great White Mana and The Big Pecker better watch out! Bjelica is going to Bjring it when he comes to the TWolves and totally steal the Eastern European spotlight from them!
Past T-Wolves (agonizingly subpar and soft) big men have been pushed around for far too long in the post... but not THIS YEAR. We've got the Serbian Gangsta. We've got The Big Pecker. No more nice little timberpuppies.
So what do you guys think? Our Serbian Hitsquad need a proper nickname.
"The Serbian Stockade"
"The Great European Embankment"
"15 Feet of Foreign Fortification"
Or, when referring to just one of them we could use "The Slo-Mo From Montenegro."
Those are just a few for starters, but I'm sure you all can do better in the comments...
***UPDATE: If I had to choose one favorite so far, I think I'd go with: "The Eastern Bloc(k)"
There are those few rare moments in life when you realize that you are witnessing something truly spectacular. I had one of those moments last night. As Stephanie Graham gracefully extended her slender arms to complete the perfect pirouette, it was a reconfirmation of why I love this artform and why I feel it is my life's calling to share its splendor with the world through my writing. There are few things as breathtaking as a young dancer perfecting her craft in the dark, with a lone blue spotlight revealing her beauty to the hidden spectators nestled quietyly in the crowd.
I have seen many, nay hundreds, of versions of the Nutcracker Suite, but none were as riveting as what I witnessed last evening. The tiny dancers, their hearts full of youthful exuberance, put on a performance of a lifetime. Their fluid movements, their meticulous lines, they validated the notion that dance is a universal language which all human beings speak. As inexperienced and as raw as these children were, they carried with tham an air of pride, which captured my heart and made me grateful that I was able to catch a glimpse of their playful innocence. I believe with all that is within me that these young girls will one day be the leaders of our art, that their work and dedication will pave the way and light the streets for the young dancers that will follow them. A legacy of dance was built tonight on that stage and it is one that will echo not only through these young girls' careers, but through the generations of dancers that will follow in their slippers.
An excerpt from The Bergen Records' review of my niece's ballet recital.
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Bloguin is the revolutionary blog network specifically focused on helping bloggers get the most out of their websites. We're currently working on building a large network of online communities and hope to expand our blogging coverage to include a wide range of topics. 
The Bloguin Network allows advertisers to promote their products and services to our ever-growing number of visitors. We offer both site-specific ad placements as well as the ability to run a network-wide campaign. If you're interested in working with Bloguin to meet your advertising needs, please contact us.
The Bloguin Network is always looking to expand. We're specifically looking for blogs in the sports, entertainment, and video games field, but are open to adding any type of quality site.. If you're a blogger and interested in joining our network, please fill out our application form.
The Bloguin Login gives you full access to everything our network has to offer. Your name and password will work for each and every one of our sites. Signing up is simple, and will allow you to post in all our forums, create member blogs, and access other cool features! What are you waiting for? Create an Account! 