Wolves Updates 8/5
From Sid Hartman:Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said that while different media sources were speculating about trade possibilities for Kevin Garnett for some time, the only trade that even came close before the actual deal was made was an earlier conversation with the Celtics before the June NBA draft...
Taylor said there are no plans to spend money to sign free agents this year even though Garnett's big salary is off the books and that he will seek to trade more veterans to free up salary for 2008-09. The Wolves were fifth in the NBA in total payroll last year...
Former Wolves coach Dwane Casey, who was a finalist for the Seattle SuperSonics coaching job that went to P.J. Carlesimo, apparently will live on his guaranteed salary owed to him by the Wolves this season and not coach anywhere.
From Frank Isola/NBC Sports:
After all the speculation and innuendo Garnett ends up in a Celtics uniform despite his agent, Andy Miller, saying in June that Garnett wouldn't play in Boston.
"At the time, I was protecting the interest of my client," Miller said over the telephone. "If Kevin was traded before the NBA Draft, the Celtics don't get Ray Allen. Once they made the trade for Ray, things changed."
From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
There are no plans for Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale to step down next season.
Timberwolves guard Trenton Hassell scored 33 points in the Howard Pulley summer pro-am championship game Friday at the St. Paul Salvation Army gym.
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor on the $10 million buyout of guard Troy Hudson's contract: "I know it cost me a lot of money, but I'm just going to clean up this roster."
Brian Windhorst/Akron Beacon Journal writes that Cleveland has contacted Troy Hudson.
''Troy would have great interest in the Cavs,'' said Bill Neff, Hudson's agent. ''I hope they kick the tires on him and see if he can help.''
Mark Murphy/Boston Herald on the 10 highest current payrolls in the league.
Theo Ratliff ($11.6M) comes off after this year, and there’s time to trade him yet again. Ricky Davis ($6.8M) is in a contract year, and also tradeable. But the T’wolves are on the books for three more years with three albatross deals - Blount, Marko Jaric and the bought-out Troy Hudson. The biggest financial news is that Al Jefferson [stats] is reportedly seeking a starting point of $10 million on his next contract, and he wants to be extended now.
From Michael Lee/Washington Post:
The blockbuster trade that sent Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the most storied franchise in NBA history potentially changed the pecking order in the East, turning the Celtics into an instant contender and putting the rest of the league on alert.
posted by Lil Dice @ 8/05/2007 01:44:00 AM
Comments: 0
