I Heart KG

I Heart KG is moving

2007-08-30T23:25:00.000-05:00

I am now over at Twolves Blog. Please come check it out.

Wolves Updates 8/30

2007-08-30T02:18:00.000-05:00

The Timberwolves site on Al Jefferson and Randy Wittman hosting kids from the Minneapolis Waite House:
The 58 kids and two Waite House staff members in attendance at Wednesday's lunch-in at NBA City and shopping spree in the Target Center's media room were on a school bus when the I35W bridge collapsed...

Jefferson on why he decided to help out:
"Being a young guy, I was real shocked when (the trade) happened," Jefferson said Wednesday. "So I got through that. I got here and I realized this was the best situation for me.

"Then (the bridge collapse) happened and it was just like, 'Wow.' So it was a strange time for me. Then we had to come back and redo the press conference a week later. It was just bad for me. A lot of things were happening in a short period of time. So I knew I had to do something then."

WCCO has video of the event. Other players donated money to benefit the kids and there are also plans to them shopping for winter clothes.

Ted Silary/Philadelphia Daily News on Eddie Griffin's funeral.

From Matt Steinmetz/Examiner.com:
It will be a long season in Minneapolis. It is unrealistic to expect Minnesota will lose Kevin Garnett and get better. Ricky Davis, Al Jefferson and Mark Blount? That’s not good enough.

The Nuggets waived former Timberwolves player Anthony Carter.

Wolves assistant to Sacramento

2007-08-30T00:58:00.000-05:00

From the Sacramento Kings website:
The The Sacramento Kings today added Rex Kalamian to their coaching staff as an assistant coach, it was announced by Kings' President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

"Rex brings a lot of experience to the job," said Petrie. "Reggie intervied a lot of people and felt he would be the best fit for the remaining vacancy on his staff. We all look forward to working with him and the contribution he can make."

Kalamian, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves, enters his first season with the Kings and 15th year overall in the NBA. He served as an assistant coach for player development for the Denver Nuggets in 2004-05.

Mark Cuban on KG

2007-08-29T21:28:00.000-05:00

From Mike Fisher/Dallas Blog:
“We went after KG hard. But – and maybe I shouldn’t say this – dealing with Minnesota was very tough. They didn’t want to trade him but they knew they had to. I guess we’ve been on the other side of that, with guys we had to trade that we didn’t want to trade. ...

“We thought we were very close on Draft Day. We were waiting for the phone to ring, we were waiting on a call from Minnesota. It was that close. But it never turned out that way. Our goal was to try to make a deal that wouldn’t hurt our roster as it was. You don’t want to go out there with Dirk and KG and three guys named Moe. You’ve got to have a team. We tried, but in the end, we didn’t offer as good a deal as Boston."

Miami turns down "overtures" from T-Hud

2007-08-29T13:05:00.000-05:00

From Barry Jackson/Miami Herald:
The Heat declined overtures from point guard Troy Hudson, a proven scorer.

Wolves Updates 8/29

2007-08-29T01:53:00.000-05:00

Al Jefferson and Coach Wittman are hosting lunch and providing school supplies for the kids from the Waite House, the program whose kids and staff were on the school bus on the I-35W bridge when it collapsed.

Kare 11 has video of Corey Brewer and Chris Richard at the Minnesota State Fair.

From Mike Max/WCCO:
The recently-acquired Wolves player, Al Jefferson has moved to the Twin Cities and is working out with coaches daily.

And did you know first round pick Cory Brewer was offered a scholarship by every SEC team coming out of high school but one? The only one not to offer him one was Kentucky, who then head coach Tubby Smith told Brewer he was not big enough.

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site talks to Randy Foye about his offseason. On Brewer looking to him for leadership during the summer league, Foye said:
I've played against Corey before, and he knows that I'm quiet and humble, but I'm an assassin. I'm not the rowdy type that needs to tell everyone what I'm doing. I'm not the type to dunk and look in the crowd; if I dunk, I'll look at my teammates and say, "Good pass." I'm not playing for the crowd, I'm playing for my teammates. Hopefully the younger guys around me see how I act in that leadership role and can do the same thing.

Click here for info on the league's "official secondary ticketing partner" for the October preseason game between the Wolves and the Celtics.

Hassell and Hudson attend Griffin's funeral

2007-08-29T01:44:00.000-05:00

Along with Garnett, Troy Hudson and Trenton Hassell attended Eddie Griffin's funeral in Philadelphia.

Mike Jensen/Philadelphia Inquirer on the service for the player.

Gilbert Arenas on Griffin's death:
I heard about Eddie Griffin. Oh man. I didn’t know him personally, but for a guy who was in my draft, you just have to hope he rests in peace and give condolences to his family. When I found out I was like, “What?! Oh my God!” When I called other players it was all the same, everybody was going crazy and just like, “Damn. How’d he get hit by a train?”

Aschburner gives the team a "C-"

2007-08-28T15:37:00.000-05:00

Steve Aschburner/SI.com grades the teams in the Northwest Division and gives the Wolves a C-.

Griffin's funeral

2007-08-28T15:30:00.000-05:00

SI.com on Eddie Griffin's funeral:
Kevin Garnett, his former Timberwolves teammate, former Seton Hall coach Tommy Amaker and former NBA coach John Lucas were among the 200 friends, players and family members who attended the service at First African Baptist Church.

Also:
Griffin's sister, Marian Middleton, told the crowd to ignore stories that portrayed Griffin as troubled or spoiled, and that indicated there was anything suspicious about his death. Middleton said Griffin was excited about spending upcoming birthdays with his nieces and nephews and would never waste those opportunities because he loved his family.

"Everything you read, throw it in the trash, like he was so unhappy and it was all planned," she said.

Updates Part II

2007-08-28T12:32:00.000-05:00

From Britt Robson/On The Ball:
Anyone scanning Minnesota's roster will notice a void of veteran leadership, at a time when the post-KG wake promises to wash up all kinds of pecking order disputes, even as Randy Wittman implements the hard-ass discipline that has been the most frequent justification made for his rehiring. Bottom line, the Wolves need Howard's level head and mitigating demeanor, especially with clubhouse balm Mark Madsen waylaid by a watercraft incident. Too bad for Juwon, who isn't getting any younger and wants a shot at a ring-- or at least a chance to believe his role as lead babysitter will lead to tangible rewards before he retires.

Ryan Gomes "led his team to victory" in the 15th Annual Osgood Shootout.

On the NBA Live Summer Camp in Canada on Wednesday:
Along with Arenas, NBA stars Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics), Josh Howard (Dallas Mavericks), Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors), Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns) and Randy Foye (Minnesota Timberwolves) will be on hand to have their go-to moves authentically represented in NBA LIVE through motion capture.

Wolves assistant Rex Kalamian is one of the coaches for the NBA Korea Development camp.

Wolves Updates 8/28

2007-08-28T02:07:00.000-05:00

Click here to watch Corey Brewer and Fred Hoiberg golfing with WCCO's Mark Rosen and hear the rookie talk briefly about his love for golf.

KFAN's Sludge and Lake talk to Brewer and Chris Richard at the Minnesota State Fair. Click here to listen.

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site chats with assistant GM Rob Babcock about the Fiba America's Tournament.

Ryan/Hoops Addict interviews Ballhype's Jason Gurney about the site.

Wolves Updates 8/27

2007-08-27T01:35:00.000-05:00

From the Tatum Cadmus Blog, Chris Rock on the Garnett trade:
"It's like Dick Cheney and Halliburton,” Rock said. “It makes no sense (for the T'Wolves)…I almost expect to see Kevin McHale announced as the new coach of the Celtics.”

Shoals/Fanhouse- "There's a Logjam Up in Minny"

Click here for info on the 25th Anniversary of the song 'NBA Rap'

John Lucas on Eddie Griffin:
"He'd give you the shirt off his back," said John Lucas, the former NBA player and coach who has turned to counseling troubled athletes. "I had two friends put out of their house. Ed took them in. They slept on his sofa. He put blankets on them. A lot of ways, he was selfless to a fault."

From Shira Springer/The Boston Globe:
"When he gets back onto the court for a drill, the intensity level goes up about five notches," said former Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey of Garnett. "If a guy's slacking off, he'll tell a guy, but he leads by example. He'll embarrass guys. He's always the first one to dive on the floor.

"He can't stand young guys not giving their all and working as hard as he does. If a guy matches his intensity in practice, he'll love that."

Ben Bolch/LA Times on O.J. Mayo:
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard has also displayed his considerable skills in pickup games throughout the Southland against an impressive array of NBA players, including Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Sam Cassell and J.J. Redick.

Maurice Draine/Hibbing Daily News on the new Celtics

Wolves Updates 8/26

2007-08-26T02:26:00.001-05:00

Eddie Griffin's funeral is scheduled for Tuesday.

Jerome Solomn/Houston Chronicle and Larry Mcshane/AP on Griffin's path to the NBA.

From Michael Cunningham/South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
Agent Bill Neff said he's been in contact with the Heat about guard Troy Hudson. The 10-year veteran played 34 games last season with Minnesota.

From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
The Timberwolves report that they have heard from fewer than 30 season-ticket holders who said they would drop their seats because of the trade of Kevin Garnett to the Celtics. The Wolves are trying to get them to reconsider.

Glen Taylor, who has vowed to become a hands-on owner of his Timberwolves this season, plans to accompany the team to training camp in Turkey and Great Britain this fall.

Stephen Litel/Hoopsworld- The Case For Starting Corey Brewer.

Bullets Forever lists Juwan Howard as the 15th best Bullets/Wizards player of all time.

HoopsAddict with "Celebrity-NBA Namealikes- The Musical."

UCLA's Kevin Love on playing against Garnett in pickup games.

Reggie Miller on why he's not making a comeback:
"Um . . . I don't know. I don't know. I've been wrestling with this all day. I'm sure I'll keep wrestling with it. I know I could have done it. And it would have been fun to play with KG (Kevin Garnett). It was hard telling him I wasn't going to do it. I don't know if Boston can win a championship, but I think they're going to be one of the best teams in the East, and they'll definitely have a chance to go a long way.''

Updates Part II

2007-08-24T13:30:00.000-05:00

Battle of the Bloggers No. 2 is up at Timberwolves.com.

From Dime Magazine:
The Wolves are going to try and grant Juwan Howard’s trade request. You know it’s a very real possibility that Juwan, C-Webb and Jalen could all end up on the same team? That’d be a perfect way for them to go out.

From My Fox Houston:
Former Houston Rockets star Calvin Murphy was trying to get ex-Rocket Eddie Griffin ready for an NBA comeback in recent weeks. Murphy now says he sensed something was wrong before the 25-year-old Griffin was killed when he drove around a train guard and crashed into a moving train last Friday...

Eddie Griffin's attorney on the player:
"I think it's always hard with anybody who has an alcohol problem, to tell if they turned the corner," Hollingsworth said. "But Eddie appeared to be in good shape, he was coherent, he made all of his appointments with me. Those are things that people who've turned the corner do.

"At the same time, when someone is suffering from alcoholism, it's always hard to tell what's going on in the dark hours of the night," he said.

Wolves Updates 8/24

2007-08-24T02:32:00.000-05:00

From Judd Zulgad/Star Tribune:
The Timberwolves have reached a multiyear agreement with MNN to continue serving as distributor for the 30-plus-station radio network.

John Lucas talks about Eddie Griffin.

From Sid Hartman:
This is the story of the two Leiweke brothers, Tim and Tod, who respectively played a big part in getting the expansion Timberwolves and Wild started and now have two of the biggest jobs in professional sports...

From Greg Lee/Boston Globe:
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has been playing pickup ball against current and former NBA players, Los Angeles standouts and college players at UCLA this week. Word is Garnett's team did not lose one game on Wednesday. Several attendees raved about how he dominated easily. On one play, he caught an offensive rebound on the block and jumped and dunked without taking a step.

From Bill Ingram/Hoopsworld:
It appears the San Antonio Spurs are on the verge of signing Troy Hudson, representing their last move of the 2007 offseason. The team had just one roster spot left open after signing Ime Udoka and waiving Vassilis Spanoulis last week, and it seems the Spurs had their sights set on Hudson before he was even waived by the Timberwolves. They were looking for one more back-up point guard, and for whatever reason Hudson fits the bill.

Thanks to Natalie/Need4Sheed for posting the video of Mad Dog dancing during the Lakers championship celebration.

From Charlie Walters/Pioneer Press:
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, who repeatedly tried to assist troubled Eddie Griffin, on the ex-Wolf's tragic death at age 25: "You see the potential and you want to help, and you feel so helpless."

From The Star Tribune:
The Seattle SuperSonics added former Timberwolves guard Scott Brooks, Mark Bryant and Ralph Lewis to the coaching staff of P.J. Carlesimo. Brooks, 42, was an assistant coach for Sacramento last season.

Updates Part II

2007-08-23T13:21:00.000-05:00

From PRWeb.com:
During the 1995 NBA Draft Kevin Garnett became the first player since Moses Malone in 1974 to jump from high school to the pros. He was the 5th pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves. KG now wears the No. 5 for the Boston Celtics.

Kevin Garnett wore the No. 21 for 12 seasons for Minnesota. The numbers 21+12=33. Larry Bird wore the No. 33 for the Boston Celtics. KG and Bird are the only 2 players in NBA history to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists for 5 straight seasons.

KG will wear the No. 5 for Boston. His No. 21 in Minnesota minus his No. 5 in Boston comes to 16. 16 is the number of NBA Championships won by the Celtics an NBA record. In 1986 Bill Walton wore the same No. 5 for Boston. The Celtics won their last NBA Championship in 1986 21 years ago. KG wore the No. 21 for Minnesota.

From Scott Stump/NJ.Digitalsports.com:
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Randy Foye, a new Rumson resident, has been working out at Rumson-Fair Haven this summer and helping some of the Bulldogs' players, particularly junior guard Matt Blumel, improve during the process.

From Ted Silary/Philadelphia Daily News:
Though thirdhand, information provided yesterday by one of Griffin's Houston-based lawyers, Derek Hollingsworth, also appears to indicate the crash was accidental.

Hollingsworth said he spoke Tuesday with Queen, Eddie's mother. In turn, he said, she'd received info from the mother of Eddie's daughter.

"Queen indicated the word from Jessica was that she was on the cell phone with Eddie shortly before the time he crashed," Hollingsworth said. "He said he was trying to get home, but was lost. The phone then went dead."

Phil Sheridan/Philadelphia Inquirer on Griffin.

Flea on the Garnett trade (via the Basketball Jones).

Wolves Updates 8/23

2007-08-23T01:15:00.000-05:00

From Garnett Tribute, a great video of highlights from KG's career thus far.

From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
After receiving what was described as a dignified trade request from Juwan Howard, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said he will try to accommodate the power forward, who was acquired in June as part of a three-team deal. Howard initially made the request to Wolves vice president Kevin McHale.

The Wolves are talking to three teams about potential trades in an attempt to deal players with longer-term contracts. But because of contract complexities, a deal could take until training camp in October.

Also from Walters:
With Mark Madsen sidelined after shoulder surgery, look for the Wolves to sign second-round draft pick Chris Richard to a guaranteed contract soon rather than wait and see how he performs in training camp...

Click here for info on Ricky Davis's official YouTube channel.

Meet the new Timberwolves Dance Team. No sign of my favorite, Ginger, but hopefully she's involved in some capacity.

Chris Sheridan/ESPN on Saturday's scrimmage between the national team and Al Jefferson and the select team.

McHale and Griffin's agent on the player

2007-08-23T00:22:00.001-05:00

Steve Aschburner/SI.com with a detailed history of Eddie Griffin's stint with the Wolves.

From Roman Augostovic/Star Tribune:
Eddie Griffin was starting to drink again before the Timberwolves waived him March 13, Kevin McHale said during a conference call Wednesday.

At that time the troubled 6-10 forward needed help best available at a rehabilitation center near his home in Houston, said the Wolves vice president of basketball operations. "He was cycling down into a bad, bad spot," McHale said. "In one of the last conversations I had with Eddie, he said, 'I got to go. It's unhealthy for me here.' "

Click here for excerpts from Wednesday's press conference.

From Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:
A civil suit filed against Griffin stemming from a March 2006 car crash in Minneapolis remains pending, and Griffin's camp is still involved in arbitration with the Wolves regarding the final season of his contract, Wernick said.

From Howard Beck/New York Times:
Wary of restarting his career under the N.B.A. microscope, Griffin had asked his agent, Jeff Wernick, to find him an opportunity overseas. Wernick had an offer from a Serbian team but never got the chance to present it to him.

Wernick spoke with Griffin last week and said he “was in good spirits, looking forward to trying to reestablish himself.” Griffin leaves a 3-year-old daughter, Amaree, who lives in Houston with her mother.

Contrary to Griffin’s public image, Wernick described him as warm and caring — “a very misunderstood and complex person” who never got over the death of his older brother in 2001.

Moroni at Canis Hoopus and Jon Krawczynski/AP Sports on the player's death.

Agent doesn't expect T-Hud to sign with Spurs

2007-08-22T13:17:00.000-05:00

From WOAI.com:
That is true, the Spurs had Hudson here last week, but his agent told News 4, Tuesday, that he does not expect Hudson to sign with the Spurs. Hudson is looking to play a lot and that won't happen with Tony Parker here. He said it was not an ideal situation for either side.

More on Eddie Griffin

2007-08-22T12:40:00.000-05:00

From Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo Sports:
From someone who knew him well Tuesday night, his was a belief there was a "strong possibility" that this was exactly how poor, tortured Eddie Griffin chose to end it all.

From J.A. Adande/ESPN:
But what we do know of Griffin is this: The stream of incidents, arrests and unsuccessful stints in rehabilitation centers allows us to list him as Exhibit A in the argument that just because you can enter the NBA, that doesn't mean you should.

Henry at True Hoop wonders "who's to blame for the sad misdirection of Eddie Griffin?" Henry also talks to Michael Ray Richardson about the player.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Dennis Seddon, Roman's coach, said of Griffin: "This is so sad. I'm really hurting right now . . . If you're trying to play Monday morning quarterback, you'd probably say Eddie's story was too much too soon with too little guidance" in later years.

From NY Daily News:
"It's just terrible," said Nets president Rod Thorn, who drafted Griffin for the Rockets in a deal arranged with Houston GM Carroll Dawson before the 2001 draft. "Eddie obviously had a lot of talent and should have had a tremendous NBA career. He could have had an outstanding career. He was a tremendous shot-blocker. But, obviously, there were things that he could never get control of. You really never knew what was going on in his mind. It's just a very unfortunate thing."

Sam Rubenstein/SLAM Online on the player's death.

Bill Ingram/Hoopsworld on Griffin.

"Milwaukee's Best" repossessed

2007-08-22T02:32:00.000-05:00

From Rick Romell/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Former professional basketball star Latrell Sprewell, who three years ago rejected a $21 million contract offer, calling it insulting and saying he had a family to feed, had his 70-foot, $1.5 million, Italian-built yacht repossessed Tuesday.

Armed with an order from U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Callahan Jr., a federal marshal seized the vessel in Manitowoc, where it sat in storage.

Callahan is presiding in a court case filed by a New York bank that claims the yacht's owner, a company run by Sprewell, has defaulted on a mortgage loan...

On Eddie Griffin

2007-08-22T02:08:00.000-05:00

Don Shelby/WCCO with a (video) report of the crash.

From Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:
Griffin was living with his girlfriend and daughter in Houston, Lucas said. Lucas had heard that Griffin had begun to work out in hopes of playing basketball again, perhaps in Europe.

From Britt Robson/On The Ball:
Despite all the stupid, wrong-headed things Griffin did to sabotage his basketball career, not to mention his life, over and over again, I never heard one of his teammates or basketball bosses speak of him in anger, only sadness and concern, or, when he was really going well a couple years back, guarded optimism and a sense of quiet but fierce protection.

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle comments on Griffin's death.

Click here for Kevin McHale's statement.

Mark Madsen and Trenton Hassell talk about the player.

Dwane Casey on Griffin:
"Everybody tried to help him from the top to the bottom of the organization," said Casey, who coached Griffin for 1 1/2 seasons. "He just couldn't get it straight. It's a tragic ending for a beautiful kid. He had a beautiful heart."

A Philadelphia high school coach on Griffin:
"He was one of the best to ever play in Philadelphia. I'd have to put him up there with the great players in high school basketball history. But he got into so many things. Something had to be wrong for him to do what he did. I feel sorry for his family."

Shoals/Free Darko on the player:
Len Bias is a tragedy because of what he could've been; Griffin, on the other hand, was doomed from the beginning. In some ways, he might as well have never been an NBA player. His demons were going to run him down sooner or later, and that wondrous game of his? In the end, it existed only to remind us all how little it actually mattered.

Eddie Griffin dies in crash

2007-08-21T20:27:00.000-05:00

From Lindsay Wise/Houston Chronicle:
The Harris County Medical Examiner's office has identified former Rockets power forward Eddie Griffin as the man who died when the SUV he was driving plowed into a moving train in southeast Houston last week.

Officials said Griffin, 25, drove his SUV through a railroad crossing barrier, past flashing warning lights and into a moving train in the 5300 block of Lawndale about 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 17.

Griffin's vehicle burst into flames on impact, burning his body so badly that investigators had to use dental records to confirm his identity Tuesday.

Chris Duncan/AP sports also has an article on the accident.

Update: Stephen Litel/Hoopsworld on Griffin's death.

My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends.

Craig Smith interview

2007-08-21T14:05:00.000-05:00

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site talks to Craig Smith about the dance team auditions, pilates, and his new teammates.

Wolves Updates 8/21

2007-08-21T01:26:00.000-05:00

Steve at Taking It To The Rack hosts Crashing the Party, Carnival of the NBA #48.

From CelticsBlog, a note from ESPN The Magazine:
Trading Kevin Garnett and his monster contract should have at least earned some financial freedom for the Wolves. But no. Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes, the two key pieces in the swap, will be restricted free agents next summer and VP Kevin McHale had better keep them if he hopes to salvage any face. That gives both players huge leverage. "It's a killer," says a rival GM.

Agence France Press on the league's new London office:
It is planning to run several events in the coming months, the first one dubbed "NBA Madness", set for the first week of September in southeast London's O2 Arena -- the site of an October 28 pre-season game between Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves, a game which Goldschmidt said sold out before marketing even got under way.

"We were very pleasantly surprised ourselves, and that really underlined the potential of even the popularity that's already here that people aren't aware of," she said.

From Dime Magazine:
So what makes guys like Damon and Juwan Howard and Marko Jaric feel like they should be publicly calling for trades? It’s a little different with someone like KG (who never actually said he wanted to leave Minnesota), who’s given a lot to the franchise and could never get over the hump due to bad management (and, to be fair, his huge contract). What have Damon, Juwan and Marko done to where the Grizzlies/Wolves owe them? You have your team, so play for that team.

Corey Brewer and Chris Richard will be signing autographs at the Wolves booth at the MN State Fair.

Stephen Litel and Jessica Camerato/Hoopsworld discuss the players acquired in the Garnett trade.

From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
Troy Hudson, whose Timberwolves contract was bought out for $10 million, the other day worked out for the San Antonio Spurs, who were the first to call after the point guard became a free agent.

Former Timberwolf and Gopher Walter Bond has been a big hit as a motivational speaker for the Gophers football team in training camp.

Brad Rock/Deseret Morning News on Mad Dog's jet ski accident:
Official reports say he had to dive off the craft into the water, injuring himself in the process. But Rock On sources say he actually got hurt trying to groove his way through K.C. and the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way I Like It."

Updates Part II

2007-08-20T14:44:00.000-05:00

From Jonathan Givony/DraftExpress:
#41 pick Chris Richard is caught in a numbers game, as the T’Wolves already have 14 guaranteed contracts in addition to one partially guaranteed contract of a player who is a lock to make the squad—Craig Smith. They already bought out Troy Hudson to save a spot (bringing them down to 15), and now will have to choose between waiving Theo Ratliff’s very valuable ending contract, and signing their second round draft choice Richard (currently projected as the 4th string power forward on the depth chart). Our guess is they hold onto Ratliff and see what’s being dangled around the trade deadline. Richard is reportedly already working on his third agent in as many months.

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site chats with True Hoop's Henry Abbott.

HoopsHype on Ryan Gomes' non-profit organization, Hoops for Heart Health.

Shannon Booher/SLAM Online on Saturday's scrimmage between Team USA's Senior Team and its Select Team:
The Seniors tried to step it up on both ends, highlighted by a LeBron drive-and-foul (though he missed the free throw) and a strong block by Kobe on Al Jefferson. Jefferson tried to put up a baby hook, and Kobe was right there to stuff it before it left the new Timberwolve’s hand. Sick.

You can read more on the game here.

Wolves Updates 8/20

2007-08-20T01:14:00.000-05:00

Craig Smith on playing with Garnett:
"It was a blast to play side-to-side with a Hall of Famer and go against him every day in practice," said Smith. "He taught me so much in my first year that I think I'll be able to handle a little bit more by myself this upcoming season. I tried to steal everything I could from footwork to the way he handles different situations, the focus he brings to the game. He's going to try to take your head off [in practice], so be prepared. He's only trying to make you better. So, at the same time, step up to the challenge. Do the best of your ability and you'll earn respect that way. The Kevin Garnett you see on the court is the same Kevin Garnett you see in practice."

Roman Augustoviz/Star Tribune on the Lynx finishing the season 10-24:
The Lynx youth movement mirrors what the Timberwolves have done. Which is OK with Glen Taylor, the owner of both teams.

"Everything is a gamble, nothing is for sure," Taylor said. "I still like what I saw out here. Now we are not done. I know this team has got to get to better."

Wolves Updates 8/19

2007-08-19T02:19:00.000-05:00

From Sid Hartman:
Glen Taylor, owner of the Timberwolves, admitted the club received a phone call from Juwan Howard, who was acquired from Houston for Mike James and Justin Reed, saying the reason he approved the trade was that he was looking forward to play with Kevin Garnett. Now that Garnett is gone, Howard says he wants to be traded because, at 34 years old, he doesn't have too many seasons left to play and he wants to finish with a winning team. Taylor's answer was that if the Wolves could get equal value for Howard in a trade, he would make a deal. Otherwise, he felt the veteran presence of Howard would be a big plus for the team.

From Dime Magazine:
Team USA didn’t lose to the select squad of NBA youngsters (Andre Iguodala, Al Jefferson, etc.) on Saturday, but they didn’t beat ‘em either. Split into four separately-scored quarters, the scrimmage was a tie: the kids won two quarters and the grown-ups won two.

Lonnie White/LA Times says that Jefferson has "battled well inside."

Marko Jaric on playing for Serbia in EuroBasket 2007 in Spain:
"I know just one thing: I came here to be victorious," he said.

From Oly Sandor/Hoopsvibe:
After Mark Madsen’s jet-skiing accident and Vlad Radmanovic’s snowboarding injury, franchises must be praying players return to making hip hop music. Both Madsen and Radmanovic were lucky not to have their contracts voided.

From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
Former Gopher Rick Rickert leaves today to play basketball in New Zealand.

Wolves Updates 8/18

2007-08-18T02:51:00.000-05:00

From John Vomhof Jr/Mpls St Paul Business Journal:
The Minnesota Timberwolves will give their season tickets a trading-card-style look next season under a sponsorship deal with Topps Co. Inc.

The tickets will feature a different Topps basketball card for each game, with an average of three different cards for each Wolves player over the course of the season.

Along with Garnett, Corey Brewer and Sebastian Telfair are spending part of their offseason training at Abunassar Impact Basketball in Las Vegas.

Mad Dog undergoes surgery, out for 3 months

2007-08-17T18:04:00.000-05:00

From Mark Wollemann/Star Tribune:
Timberwolves forward Mark Madsen, injured in a personal watercraft accident on Monday, underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder pectoral muscle Friday, the team said in a statement.

Madsen, entering his eighth NBA season and fifth with the Wolves, is expected to be sidelined for at least three months, meaning he won't be available until after the season begins in early November. The accident occurred on a Twin Cities-area lake.

For more info on the surgery, click here.

Update:
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press writes that the accident took place on a jet ski.

From Jon Krawczynski/AP Sports:
Madsen was using the watercraft Monday and was hurt after he had to bail off the machine and dive into the water, a team spokesman said.

Battle of the Bloggers: Week I

2007-08-17T12:19:00.001-05:00

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site hosts the Battle Of The Bloggers. The first task was to address whether or not Al Jefferson will be an All-Star this year.

Wolves Updates 8/17

2007-08-17T11:57:00.000-05:00

Jon Vomhof Jr/Mpls St Paul Business Journal on the team's post-Garnett marketing plans:
Then team officials began planning for the weeks and months ahead, looking at other similar situations around the league. The Timberwolves expect to build a marketing plan similar to the one the Chicago Bulls used after Michael Jordan retired, which highlighted the team's young talent and its plan for rebuilding into a title contender.

The Wolves' new campaign should launch in early October, about a month before the season starts. It will focus on the team as a whole, not just one superstar, Wright said.

Vomhof writes that the team's new campaign could involve getting new uniforms at some point.

On measuring public reaction to the trade:
The local market was pretty evenly split on whether or not to trade Garnett, according to the Timberwolves' internal research.

Via MNspeak, an article in which Garnett spoke about Joe Abunassar's training program for basketball players.

Boston's Kendrick Perkins on Al Jefferson's reaction to the trade:
According to Perkins, Jefferson struggled in the days after the deal.
"He didn't take it too good," said Perkins. "I think he's doing a little bit better with it now. After he talked with the personnel, owners, and stuff in Minnesota, he was more comfortable."
"I saw in [Danny Ainge's] eyes when he made the trade that it hurt him to give up Al. I was right here when we all put in a lot of time to see [Jefferson] develop. He's still my boy no matter what, but we're on separate teams."

Updates Part II

2007-08-16T21:31:00.000-05:00

Bill Simmons categorizes sports trades:
The Herschel Walker. Remember when the Cowboys famously soaked the Vikings for a potent package of youngsters and picks? We'll never see a contender overpay quite so badly again. But GMs still love multiplayer rebuilding trades because they can't be judged for years, and that buys them time, during which they keep getting paid. One funny side effect: A frustrated fan base bristles as its incompetent brain trust spins something like the KG trade without acknowledging the elephant in the room -- namely, that the same incompetent brain trust that drove KG away remains in charge of the post-KG rebuilding effort. Now, that's comedy. Well, unless you're a Wolves fan.

From Bill Zwecker/Chicago Sun-Times:
White Soxer Scott Posednik and his wife, Lisa, were spied dining at Il Mulino Chicago on North Dearborn. Ditto for NBA star Juwan Howard and veteran travel guru Burt Wolf.

Jon Laging/Albert Lea Tribune with a belated farewell to Garnett.

McHale helps start the HMH Foundation

2007-08-16T13:05:00.000-05:00

From PR Newswire:
Kevin McHale is one of five board members to start the Help Me Hear Foundation ("HMH"), a non-profit organization incorporated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. McHale will also act as the spokesperson. HMH was created to gift cochlear implants to impoverished deaf children who would otherwise never be able to obtain one...

Because of the prohibitive cost, it is estimated that only 1% of the world's deaf population will ever receive a cochlear implant. HMH hopes to change that statistic by raising funds to provide impoverished deaf children with cochlear implants.

Click here for the Help Me Hear Foundation's website.

Wolves Updates 8/16

2007-08-16T01:53:00.001-05:00

Loy's Place has a recap of Garnett's appearance yesterday on the Dan Patrick show.

Via True Hoop, an amusing take on the Garnett trade from a Minnesotan fan of the team living in Boston.

Mike Trudell at the Timberwolves site is hosting a battle of the bloggers.

From Patrick Reusse/Star Tribune:
The amount of sloppy kisses we deliver to sports entities in the weeks leading to the start of their seasons never fails to amaze...

Wolves Updates 8/15

2007-08-15T14:28:00.001-05:00

Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune on the team's preseason schedule.

Dime Magazine on the shortage of bigs on the US Basketball Team:
Is Collison really the best option? Our instinct said “Of course not,” but when you go through the NBA rosters and consider who’s available, he’s not too far off. Unless you wanna go with a really young guy like Shelden Williams or Tyrus Thomas, your best bet next to Collison would be Emeka Okafor. Why not Al Jefferson, though? We’re assuming he’s not being considered because he’s on the team of young guys being used to give Team USA a tune-up, but couldn’t he still practice with the senior team and just scrimmage as part of the young team?

Updates Part II

2007-08-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

Click here for the team's full preseason schedule.

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site chats with the team's new dance team director and the team's in-arena host about the final dance team prep class.

Stephen Litel/Hoopsworld on Juwan Howard and Marko Jaric reportedly wanting off the team.

Wolves Updates 8/14

2007-08-14T12:24:00.000-05:00

Sean Deveney/Sporting News writes that of all the remaining free agents, "there's none quite as intriguing" as Troy Hudson.

Bob Finnan/News-Herald on Cleveland's newly filled lead assistant position:
Another coach in the running for the position was ex-Minnesota coach Dwane Casey. A source said the Cavs talked to him twice, and he was interested in coming to Cleveland.

Erin and Jason of Ballhype hosted a small local blogger gathering on Monday.

Lakers' Maurice Evans on KG as a Celtic:
Yeah. Obviously, with him being a Timberwolf for so long, I think everybody's going to have to ease into seeing him in green and white. But they've done a total makeover. Ray Allen added. KG. And having a great player in Paul Pierce.

Updates Part II

2007-08-13T21:01:00.000-05:00

Click here for the Wolves preseason schedule. October 10 is the day the Wolves face the Celtics in London.

Mark Blount took part in the NBA Fair at the Illinois State Fair last weekend.
Blount also participated in NBA Stance, the NBA Fair’s rendition of Simon Says.
He said the NBA Fair is a unique opportunity for children to interact with NBA players instead of just watching them on T.V. or seeing them courtside. And, it’s a good opportunity for him “to be honest and have fun,” Blount said.

Check out the new "Who Shot Mamba?" website.

Oly Sandor/Hoopsvibe on Juwan Howard:
Howard should prepare to stay in Minnesota. The Wolves only took him because the Rockets agreed to take Mike James’ contract. Other teams won’t break the door down for a guy who averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds per game last year.

Wolves Updates 8/13

2007-08-13T00:48:00.000-05:00

In an interview with Bob Sansevere/Pioneer Press, Al Jefferson talks about wanting to see real dinosaurs, stealing a ninja turtle as a kid, his love for the show "Martin," an online class called "Decision-Making and Finance" he took last year, and how he wants his epitaph to read: "Here lies Al Jefferson, who was a hall of famer in the NBA."

According to a new T-Hud myspace page, the player is releasing an album with T.Q. called "Mid-West."

Updates Part II

2007-08-12T17:00:00.000-05:00

Mark Murphy/Boston Herald on Gerald Green:
In addition to Green’s usual workouts in his hometown of Houston with John Lucas, he also trained with two other fitness gurus, including one who trains Tracy McGrady, in an attempt to get ready for the games in Vegas.

The result was a shooting disaster.

“He was trying to build strength in his legs - that’s what he really focused on - and that threw off his shooting once he started playing,” said Green’s father, Gerald Sr.

From Shira Springer/Boston Globe:
With the acquisition of Kevin Garnett, interest in all things Celtic has dramatically increased. The league reports that Garnett's new No. 5 Boston jersey has been the No. 1 seller since it became available online Aug. 1. The Celtics have seen spikes in season ticket sales and sponsorship interest. Individual-game ticket prices could be the next thing on the rise.

According to team president Rich Gotham, the Celtics' season ticket base has grown by more than 50 percent since the Garnett trade and more than 60 percent since the end of last season...

From Scott Howard-Cooper/Sacramento Bee:
The pressure of building around superstar Garnett has been replaced by the patience of waiting to see what develops from a lineup that could immediately include rookie swingman Corey Brewer, second-year guard Randy Foye and fourth-year power forward Al Jefferson, the headliner that came in return for KG. Even the coach, Randy Wittman, will be in his first full season with this group, having replaced Dwane Casey in January.

From Bob Finnan/News-Herald:
Free agent point guard Troy Hudson's agent, Bill Neff, said his client is interested in joining the Cavs. It's unclear how much interest the Cavs have in Hudson.

Wolves Updates 8/12

2007-08-12T02:40:00.000-05:00

David Aldridge/Philadelphia Inquirer ranks every team based on offseason moves and places the Wolves last on the list.
It's not that the Wolves traded Garnett; it was time. But how did they not get the guy they really wanted - Rajon Rondo - from Boston? Rajon Rondo was a deal-breaker for one of the league's top five players? It's another example of how brain-dead this franchise has been for a decade.

SI.com lists Al Jefferson at #3 on its list of players on the verge of stardom.
The centerpiece of the Kevin Garnett deal for Minnesota, Jefferson's advanced low-post skills will be put to good use next season. The Timberwolves are likely to run their offense through the 22-year-old power forward, who averaged 19.8 points and 11.5 rebounds in 25 games after the All-Star break last season for Boston.

Celtics assistant coach Armond Hill on Al Jefferson:
"That was the toughest part about getting Garnett, losing Al. He was a great kid, who really worked to improve his game. He is going to be a very good player in this league. I know he loved playing for the Celtics and the fans loved him. Sometimes you have to realize this is a business, first."

on Ryan Gomes:
"I am really going to miss him (Hill attended his wedding on Friday night). He worked on fundamentals as much as anyone. They don't make better people than Ryan. If I had a son I would wish it was him. Again, this is a business. He really improved his game and is going to be around the NBA a long time. I will miss Ryan a lot."

From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
-Former Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey is headed to Brazil to conduct instructional basketball clinics.

-The Timberwolves' Randy Wittman, asked what it will be like coaching against new Celtic Kevin Garnett this season: "Different. But he knows us and we know him."

-Timberwolves public address announcer Rod Johnson won the Wisconsin State Auctioneering competition in Milwaukee the other day.

-By buying out guard Troy Hudson for $10 million, the Timberwolves saved $1 million on luxury tax for the coming season.

-Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman, who acquired, aside from Al Jefferson, four nondescript players from the Boston Celtics for Kevin Garnett, asked if he's a patient coach: "We're going to find out."

From Jim Souhan/Star Tribune:
Given the events of the past two weeks, could we reach the once-incomprehensible conclusion that the Timberwolves, among the three local pro teams with games televised on major networks, have concocted the most sensible plan?

From Sid Hartman:
Taylor realizes there is going to be criticism by fans because of the Garnett trade with Boston, but he is willing to take it.

"I'm really willing to take the chance, to step backwards a little bit, so that we can go build with these guys," Taylor said. "... I guess some people rip me, and it's part of leadership. ... When things don't go well, you're going to get criticized. And that's the way I take it, I understand that. I don't know, well I know I don't always agree that's justified, or that it's fair, or that people have all the information. But I do understand the world and that's the way it is. I mean it's just like Terry Ryan is getting criticized now and certainly he's done a great job on a lot of things, you know?"

Sid Hartman: Howard asking for a trade

2007-08-11T23:43:00.000-05:00

From Sid Hartman:
Juwan Howard, whom the Timberwolves acquired from Houston in the trade for Mike James, has been on the phone with the Wolves asking that he also be traded now that he won't get the opportunity to play with Kevin Garnett. But at present, the Wolves don't have any plans to trade the former Michigan standout, even though owner Glen Taylor said that some of the veterans might be traded away as the team goes young.

Wolves Updates 8/11

2007-08-11T01:13:00.000-05:00

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site chats with assistant GM Rob Babcock.

The team's site also has video of "Wolves dance team veteran" Erica sporting a Pistons/Billups jersey while interviewing an auditioning dancer.

Some People's Kids on the team- Too many MCs, not enough mics

The Basketball Jones with video of the NBA Rookie Dance Showdown.

Tom Ziller/Fanhouse on the corporate sponsors of NBA Europe Live, the league tour which will send the Wolves to Istanbul and London in the preseason.

From Brandon Glover/The Demopolis Times:
The Theo Ratliff Center, which was started as a way for the community to access facilities that they would otherwise not have, has been embraced by individuals of the area and it programs continue to grow. Ratliff said he has stayed involved with the center he helped create and is not surprised by its success.

Bill Simmons answers a few Wolves related questions from readers, including the following:
I'm wondering if per your rules of being a true fan, am I allowed to drop the Wolves in favor of the Celtics? I want to be a real fan, but I have so much respect for KG and very little for the Timberwolves organization. Can I switch teams without being a fraud?

Wolves Updates 8/10

2007-08-10T02:32:00.000-05:00

Check out BigAlJefferson.com for a classy letter on the player's excitement over being on the team. (Via Rubechat)

Torii Hunter on Garnett's departure:
"It's going to be weird to see him not in a Timberwolves uniform, but it's tough for one player to stay with one team, especially when they're trying to rebuild," said Twins center fielder Torii Hunter, a good friend of Garnett's and a candidate to leave the area soon as well. "He would never be the Kevin Garnett that he wants to be, as long as he stayed with the Timberwolves. He moved on, and hopefully he can get that title he's looking for."

Adena Andrews/ESPN on Corey Brewer and others in the 2007 draft class at the NBA Rookie photo shoot.

Chad Courrier/Mankato Free Press on the team's long-term plans:
Another flaw in the plan is that when some of these bad contracts start expiring, no valuable free agent is going to want to play here. When the top-level free agents start saying “no thanks,” that’s when you start taking gambles on marginal players, such as Mike James, and end up with more bad contracts.

Dave Campbell/AP Sports writes that the Wolves are the local sports team that "did the best job of producing a realistic self-evaluation and using that as a guide through the summer."

Hoopsworld gives the Wolves a couple awards for worst offseason moves.

Updates Part II

2007-08-09T12:48:00.000-05:00

Via MNSportsFans. a short video of Ricky Davis at the LA Stars Charity All-Star Game talking about being a mentor to the younger guys on the team.

From Jarring.it via Hoopshype:
Marko Jaric: "I'm not happy with the Kevin Garnett trade. We're not expected to win and I want to be with a team that fights for the title. If it's not the Wolves, it must be another team."

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site on losing Garnett and the team's future.
Cool. But what does this all mean in real NBA terms? You can think of it, to an extent, as the Chicago Bulls model: stockpiling a lot of high draft picks, working hard to develop them collectively, and eventually bringing in a few established veterans with the cap space and picks as the final pieces to the proverbial pie. The Wolves can now, realistically, do just that; there is light in the Minnesota sky.

From Chris Clarke/End Of The Bench:
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the NBA, former Celtics Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale jointly announced today that they are each contemplating comebacks with the Celtics for the upcoming 2007-2008 season.

In a chat on ESPN, David Thorpe replies that it's "simply unknown at this point" how Rashad McCants fits into the team's plans.

Update: Thanks to commenter Carlos for pointing out another Wolves related question posed to Thorpe.

Shawn (Rochester, MN): Hi David. Who will be the starting SG for the Wolves in a year or two? Green, McCants, or Brewer?

David Thorpe: Brewer is simply not a 2.

Wolves Updates 8/9

2007-08-09T01:29:00.000-05:00

From Steve Aschburner/SI.com:
It is a different Al Jefferson who joins the Minnesota Timberwolves now. He's older, more established and more clearly the cornerstone of whatever the Wolves can put together in their rebuilding plan than he was in Boston. So however uneasy the reunion gets for Davis and Blount, however tempted they might be to pull what little locker-room rank they think they have as veterans who knew Jefferson when, they need to get over it right now.

Al Jefferson figures to be around a lot longer than Davis or Blount, whether the duration is measured in seasons or months.

GetGarnett.com introduces GotGarnett.com.

Bob Sansevere/Pioneer Press talks to Kevin McHale about his reputation, whether Jefferson will have the same impact here as Garnett, and what kind of record the team will have next season.

Click here for video of Mike Trudell's post press conference interview with Gerald Green.

Trudell also talked to Theo Ratliff. The player says that he is "trying to get ready, back for this moment, to be able to get back on the floor."

From Stephen Litel/Hoopsworld:
To a certain degree, it is as if all the frustration this team has caused throughout the years is being taken out on the young men who just arrived in town, however misplaced that may be.

Dime Magazine on Tuesday's press conference and the team's potential starting five.

Wolves Updates 8/8

2007-08-08T01:32:00.000-05:00

From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
McHale said he has had preliminary discussions with Jefferson's agent about a contract extension...

According to Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press, Al Jefferson says he "would love to sign a contract extension here" and " would love to do it this summer, get it out the way and know that I'm going to be here. I'd love to be here (long-term)."

Click here for stats on the new roster.

From Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:
Still, Taylor insists McHale is the right person for the job and that the Wolves made the right decision to trade Garnett because it gives them a fresh start and was the best way to improve long term. And he said most season-ticket holders he has spoken with understand that.

He said McHale absolutely could steer the team through the rebuilding process. With help.

"I don't think I would rely on one person to do that," Taylor said. "I think we've gone to, at least for now, more of a group concept..."

Charley Walters/Pioneer Press on Glen Taylor:
For instance, he said, "Let's say we have some guys who aren't working hard enough; that's not going to be enough for me. I'm going to be keeping an eye on it, I'm going to be even more involved, I'm going to be asking questions."

Jack McCallum/SI.com on the "NBAsuperstarus":
Yet despite the Celtics' rebirth and an accompanying outbreak of civic pride, it is quite likely that next summer the league's latest Big Three will come up ringless, just like other Terrific Troikas of the past.

On Tuesday's press conference

2007-08-08T01:14:00.000-05:00

Click here for a transcript of yesterday's press conference.

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site has a follow-up with Kevin McHale.

From Brandt Williams/MPR:
Timberwolves Vice President Kevin McHale says it was a hard decision to trade Garnett, but he says it was apparent that the team and Garnett were going in different directions.

"He really wanted to play -- at this stage in his career -- with older guys that had a chance to win a championship. So if we were going young I'm not sure our paths were on the same path."

From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
"When people say young, they mean we're supposed to lose," said Al Jefferson, the fourth-year power forward who was the centerpiece of the trade. "I don't agree with that at all."
A report out of Boston when the trade was finalized suggested Jefferson was devastated that day.

"It wasn't that I took it hard," he said. "I just had never been traded before. The trade was more of a shock, but now I think it's a great opportunity for all of us. ... It's a compliment for all of us to be traded for KG, one of the best players in the league. I don't feel any pressure."

From Jon Krawczynski/AP Sports:
The word "potential" was thrown around plenty on Tuesday, par for the course when four of the five players acquired for the franchise icon are 25 or younger.

"Potential doesn't mean much until you realize it," McHale said. "These guys all can play, but can they win? Can they go out and help the team win, that's what our league's all about. They have a lot of challenges ahead of them."

From Todd Sikorski/AHN:
The man who gave the thumbs up on the deal brushed aside the questions reporters asked about the Boston connection.

"If all these guys had played in New Orleans and were the same type of players, it would have been the same thing," McHale said. "It's the players you're getting and not where they played. That has no bearing whatsoever."

From Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:
Forward/center Theo Ratliff said his surgically repaired back is feeling well and that he's looking forward to contributing to the Wolves next season. Ratliff was limited to two games last season because of a bulging disk...

-Jefferson will wear No. 25, Sebastian Telfair No. 3, Ryan Gomes No. 8, Gerald Green No. 15 and Ratliff No. 42.

Jim Souhan/Star Tribune writes that Sebastian Telfair made a "good first impression" at the press conference.
I asked him about being stopped with an expired driver's license and a firearm he didn't own being found in the car, and about the time he carried a loaded firearm onto a Blazers charter.

"I have not been charged with anything," he said. "I've been in some unfortunate situations where I've been in the wrong place at the wrong time. I fully take responsibility for that. I grew up learning how not to be in those situations ... and now I've taken myself out of New York City and moved to Vegas so I can concentrate on basketball."

Updates Part II

2007-08-07T18:29:00.000-05:00

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo Sports declares the Celtics an offseason winner while naming the Wolves one of this summer's losers.
Again and again, McHale failed to make Garnett the cornerstone of a contender. Now, he has gutted a lottery team in the Eastern Conference and made it his own. Despite his stature as a beloved son of Minnesota, it's hard to believe Wolves fans have much patience left with him.

According to Mavs Full-Court Press , Mark Madsen is one of the player participating in the NBA Players' Association 2nd Annual Business Opportunities Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

From Brandon Glover/Demopolis Times:
With all of this Ratliff has still found time to contribute to the betterment of his hometown, helping to start the Theo Ratliff Center to encourage community activities. Ratliff has more recently been involved in work to expand the existing center, something he said has been in the works since the idea of a center first came about.

The Gold Seat takes a look at Al Jefferson.

Celtics Carnival of Blogs, a compilation of posts from Celtics blogs looking at the Garnett trade.

David Berri/Wages Of Wins Journal says that the Wolves are "not much" worse off without Garnett.

Hartman interview with Glen Taylor

2007-08-07T16:59:00.001-05:00

Glen Taylor was on KFAN with Chad Hartman following today's press conference. You can listen here.

Below is a summary.

On trade talks with the Wolves and Celtics:
When he talked to Garnett after the season, they talked about going younger and initially, KG said he wanted to be part of that. Then Taylor said reality set in for Garnett and the player wondered if that was what he wanted to do. Taylor said they "moved ahead on that together" and started to explore trade opportunities.

On whether there were legitimate talks with other teams regarding Garnett:
Taylor said he talked about Garnett with the owners of at least six teams. He was looking for young players, draft choices, and cap room. For a number of reasons, he said, these deals didn't work out. Taylor did say there were a couple times, judging by the team's initial enthusiasm, that Garnett could go to teams other than Boston.

On whether he is frustrated with Garnett's initial refusal to go to Boston because the team could have had the Celtics #5 pick:
Taylor agreed that deal would have been a better one than the deal it ultimately received.

On whether it matters if a player doesn't want to be traded:
The owner said you have to do what is best for your particular team. If there's a conflict, you still have to make that decision.

On whether he feels the organization failed Garnett:
Taylor said collectively they all didn't reach their goals and that KG was both part of the solution and part of the problem.

On particular moves made by the team that he regretted:
Taylor said the long-term contracts with mid-level players didn't produce the expected results and that the players signed didn't show any growth.

On conversations between Taylor and Garnett this summer about the player's contract:
Taylor said he did talk to KG and McHale talked to his agent. The owner said Garnett's side wanted a 3-year, $60 million deal. When asked if they were willing to take less, KG/his agent refused. The owner said that type of money paid over 5 years was going to cause problems with finding people to put around Garnett.

On convincing Wolves fans it's worth it to pay attention to the team over the next couple years:
Taylor talked about the excitement that comes from putting together a young group of players and watching them grow and develop in front of your own eyes. He said the team wants to put together a group of people who are "we" players because last season there were too many "me" players on the team.

Tuesday's press conference

2007-08-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

KFAN provides a link the press conference which you can listen to here.

Update: Kare 11 has video.

The organization invited some season ticket holders to today's press conference introducing the players acquired in the Garnett trade. One week after the trade that sent Garnett to Boston, any chance to get excited about these players seemed like a good one so I decided to attend.

Unfortunately, it didn't pan out the way I'd hoped. Based on the looks on the players' faces, I thought I'd walked into the waiting room of an ER. That changed after a few minutes when they instead began to exhibit merely a lack of excitement and slight boredom. In contrast to the celebratory Celtics press conference last week, this one was, for the most part, uninspiring. Though the session was geared towards the media and came in the wake of last week's bridge tragedy, there were plenty of fans in attendance, watching on tv, or listening to it on the radio so it would have been a convenient opportunity to get the skeptical ones hyped up about the trade.

Update:
MPR has a recap of the press conference.

Press Conference coverage

2007-08-07T12:51:00.000-05:00

According to Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site, today's 2pm press conference will be covered live by FSN North, NBA TV and KFAN 1130 AM.

Wolves Updates 8/7

2007-08-07T01:27:00.000-05:00

The team's news conference to introduce the new players is today at at 2pm.

Owner Glen Taylor is scheduled to be on the air with Chad Hartman at KFAN at 3:30pm.

The Journal-Standard talks to Troy Hudson about the events of the last week:
It's definitely been a hectic week. For me it's been a blessed week as far as my contract is concerned. I got bought out, and I think that was in the best interests of me, the best interests of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the best interests of my family, and I think God has put me in the position right now that has turned out to be great for me. So that was sweet. But the bitter came with the bridge falling down and a lot of people in that community being killed...

On the Garnett trade, T-Hud said "It wasn't a shock at all" and that the move was "overdue."

Hudson also says he's going to work out for San Antonio and "see what the opportunity is there."

From Desmond Conner/Hartford Courant:
Letting Gomes go was more difficult for the Celtics than you might think. He had shown potential as an inside/mid-range threat, was a great ambassador for the organization off the court and he could have thrived next to K.G. in the post.

Gomes on joining the Wolves:
"I'm still going to work hard, and I'm still going to do things in the community in Minnesota," he said. "That's just who I am, no matter where I am."

From DLIC/Free Darko:
The only real benefit that I can discern from the KG trade is a crucial step on the path first braved by Gilbert Arenas, and aided by Baron Davis' bullet Fedora. A watershed moment for the League Of Stars onward march. That is: The recognition of pure CELEBRITY on smaller market/non-contending teams.

Russ Bengtson/SLAM Online on a quest for a KG Celtics t-shirt in NYC.

From Bob Sansevere/Pioneer Press:
Folks would feel better about the trade if it had been someone other than Wolves Vice President Kevin McHale who made the deal. McHale has been cited as the primary source for the Wolves' ineptitude. As a player, McHale was popular and a larger-than-life figure, like Paul Bunyan, in Minnesota. Nowadays, he's about as popular as a bunion. I'm not as down on him as others, but he has made some lousy decisions. Trading Garnett isn't necessarily one of them. By dumping Garnett's salary, at least the Wolves will have some money to work with and a chance to start building around young players.

Updates Part II

2007-08-06T14:39:00.000-05:00

Shoals at Free Darko on the Garnett trade.

Mike Trudell/Wolves site chats with Sebastian Telfair.

From the Boston Globe:
Looking a bit like the Silver Surfer, Paul Pierce was a dancing fool at a star-studded LA fund-raiser over the weekend...The fun continued yesterday with a charity basketball game featuring NBA stars Rashad McCants, Cuttino Mobley, and Deron Williams.

From Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh:
"The Boston-Minnesota trade was being talked about before the draft, during the draft and obviously after the draft," he said. "There were a lot of teams that were interested in a player like Kevin Garnett. Most of those teams fell by the wayside early in the process and that's what made this Boston-Minnesota trade somewhat of a surprise."

"There may be one or two teams that felt they had a chance to get Garnett that will continue to search for that kind of trade but there's really no way of knowing that. So it's really up in the air as to whether this is going to shake loose teams that are going to continue to search for major trades – but it's a possibility."

Jefferson named to USA Basketball Men's Select Team

2007-08-06T14:30:00.000-05:00

From the Timberwolves site:
USA Basketball today announced that Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson is one of ten young NBA players named to a USA Basketball Men's Select Team that has been chosen to help prepare the 2007 USA Senior National Team for the Aug. 22-Sept. 3 FIBA Americas Championship that will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Other players named to the USA Basketball Select Team include: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Aaron Brooks (Houston Rockets); Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors); Channing Frye (Portland Trail Blazers); Jeff Green (Seattle SuperSonics); Devin Harris (Dallas Mavericks); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Jason Kapono (Toronto Raptors); and David Lee (New York Knicks).

Wolves Updates 8/6

2007-08-06T00:54:00.000-05:00

Using "league and team sources," Shira Springer/Boston Globe describes the events leading up to the Garnett trade. Springer refers to it as "a study in the ups and downs, starts and stops of deal-making in the NBA."

Springer also notes that Garnett's choice of #5 was "symbolic of being the fifth pick in the 1995 NBA draft."

From Mitch Lawrence/New York Daily News:
What Garnett didn't reveal was that during those talks with Taylor, he reiterated that he did not want to be traded. According to people who spoke with Taylor, the fiercely loyal Garnett told the owner he wanted to re-sign with Minnesota next summer when he had a chance to opt for free agency. But Taylor informed Garnett he would only re-sign him if Garnett agreed to take a pay cut.

From a letter sent to the Star Tribune:
Retire No. 21 right now. Retire it to serve as a reminder of the qualities we admire in sports stars and public figures. Retire it to acknowledge that nobody as good will ever wear a Wolves uniform. Retire it to thank KG.

From Peter May/Boston Globe:
Ainge has dumped nine players on McHale in the last 18 months. Nine! And we're not talking the '71-72 Lakers roster. ("They ought to retire his number again," e-mailed one reader.) Three of the four players Ainge got in return were top-six draft picks. None of the nine he gave up was a top-12 draft pick. He got McHale to take clubhouse problems Mark Blount and Ricky Davis, and then pried Kevin Garnett away with the potential of Al Jefferson and four other maybes, one of whom has an unfortunate history with firearms.

Matt Kamalsky/Draft Express lists Randy Foye in his All-Summer League: Honorable Mention category.

David Berri/Wages Of Wins journal on how the "Super-Star theory" relates to Garnett.

From Frank Haataja /Mesaba Daily News on the trade.

Taylor on KG's #21 jersey

2007-08-05T01:59:00.000-05:00

From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
The Timberwolves have no immediate plans to retire the No. 21 jersey of Kevin Garnett, the future hall of famer who was traded to the Boston Celtics last week.

"But if somebody asks for that number, I don't think I'm going to give it out," team owner Glen Taylor said. "Kevin was a special guy for our franchise and for Minnesota."

Garnett's new No. 5 Celtics jersey already is the top-selling NBA jersey at NBAStore.com and at the NBA Store in New York City.

Wolves Updates 8/5

2007-08-05T01:44:00.000-05:00

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.

Wolves Updates 8/4

2007-08-04T02:52:00.000-05:00

Kevin Hench/Fox Sports lists Garnett at #10 on his top 10 list of the worst uniform number changes in sports history.

From The Times Plus:
Minnesota Timberwolves guard and rap artist Troy Hudson -- "T-Hud" to his fans -- will shoot some hoops and perform some of his music (including his newest single "White 550") as part of the Freeport Park District 3-on-3 Classic to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Illinois.

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site talks to Wolves scout Brent Haskins about the team's most recent acquisitions.

Trudell also talks to the Hornets site about the Garnett trade.

From Marc Spears/ESPN:
Davis, Celtics star Paul Pierce and Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas are hosting the second annual L.A. Stars Celebrity Charity Weekend, benefiting at-risk youth in the Los Angeles area, this weekend. Davis said Tuesday that Pierce hopes to convince new Celtics teammates Garnett and Ray Allen to play in the charity game at the University of Southern California's Galen Center on Sunday night.

Team announces T-Hud buyout

2007-08-03T17:33:00.000-05:00

From the Timberwolves site:
The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has requested waivers on guard Troy Hudson after reaching a contractual buyout agreement. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"This decision is in the best interest of both the organization and Troy," said Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale. "Looking at our roster and what would have been Troy's role on the Timberwolves, this was the most amicable way to move forward for both parties. We wish Troy the best in the future."

Josh Hartnett on the Garnett trade

2007-08-03T17:18:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Arash Markazi/SI.com for giving me an excuse to post a picture of local boy Josh Hartnett.

Josh Hartnett needs a smoke. He wasn't planning on lighting one up, but as soon as his agent leaves his suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles he opens up the balcony windows overlooking West Hollywood and grabs a pack from the nearby room service cart.

"I can't believe it," he says. "I can't believe he got traded."

Hartnett, who was born in Minnesota and is a die-hard Timberwolves fan, just found out Kevin Garnett has been traded, and he's not quite sure how to take the news...

Updates Part II

2007-08-03T15:50:00.000-05:00

Marty Burns/SI.com currently has the Wolves finishing last in the Western Conference:
With the KG era officially over, they can get on with the rebuilding. Al Jefferson and Juwan Howard (acquired in a trade with the Rockets) take over at power forward, while top rookie Corey Brewer joins a whole bunch of young players who figure to need a lot of time to grow.

From Mark Murphy/Boston Herald:
According to Gotham, a league official told the Celtics that ticket sales during the 72-hour period following announcement of the trade to acquire Garnett broke a mark set by the Cleveland Cavaliers upon securing the top pick - and LeBron James - for the 2003 NBA draft.

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site talks to Ryan Gomes.

Jeff Clark of CelticsBlog writes that Kevin Garnett is the perfect basketball player.

NBA.com surveyed the rookies on who they thought would have the best performance this season.

Jack Cobra at YaySports! comments on the trade.

From Jim Fenton/The Enterprise:
At the age of 22, he is a player with a bright future in the NBA, seemingly capable of reaching All-Star status soon.

Press Conference rescheduled for Tuesday

2007-08-03T15:47:00.000-05:00

From a Wolves newsletter:
The press conference to announce our new players acquired in the trade with Boston has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, August 7 at 2:00 pm.

Wolves Updates 8/3

2007-08-03T03:19:00.000-05:00

According to Charley Walters/Pioneer Press, Garnett was looking for the Wolves to give him a $60 million, three year contract extension.

"If he wanted $12 million, $12 million and $12 million instead, I would have signed him," Wolves owner Glen Taylor said Thursday...

During a six-week period leading up to the Garnett trade, an eight-member Wolves committee met five times to discuss franchise strategy that included whether to trade Garnett. Members were Taylor, Kevin McHale, Rob Moor, Randy Wittman, Fred Hoiberg, Jim Stack, Rob Babcock and Zarko Durisic.

Taylor said that "everyone came to the same conclusion..."

Britt Robson/On The Ball with an in-depth look at the team's current status.
I expect to see the Wolves flounder for at least a year or two, but can't help but notice the dim light at the end of a long tunnel...

The latest Hoops Addict podcast features discussion on the Garnett trade.

From Sid Hartman:
Sheldon Burns, the team physician for the Timberwolves, Vikings and Wild, is the chief medical director for the U.S. basketball team in the upcoming World University Games in Thailand. Burns, who has been a doctor for the U.S. Olympic team for many years, will continue the job at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Wolves had an option on Bracey Wright, the team's second-round pick in 2005 out of Indiana, but they decided not to pick him up.

Click here for more screenshots of KG from NBA Live 08.

Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune with highlights from the team's schedule for the upcoming season.

Updates Part II

2007-08-02T13:41:00.000-05:00

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site talks to Al Jefferson who had the following to say about the team:
"Coming over with Ryan (Gomes), Sebastian (Telfair) and Gerald (Green), I know those guys feel how I feel. They want to win. I feel like people say 'young' like it's an excuse, like we're supposed to lose. But it shouldn't be. We've still got five players on the floor and we're still pros. Every night we've just got to step out there and be ready to play and give it our all."

From Jodie Valade/Plain Dealer:
The Cavaliers were one of a handful of teams that tried to get in on the Kevin Garnett Sweepstakes, an NBA source said, even in the hours before Minnesota finalized the mega-deal that sent Garnett to Boston.

SI.com ranks the Twin Cities as the fifth worst sports city of 2007.

Restaurant critic Andrew Zimmern on meeting Ricky Davis on a plane ride during which the player was apparently "singing hip-hop tunes the whole flight home." When Zimmerman asked if he thought Garnett would be traded, Davis "emphatically said no way, insisting that no team would be stupid enough to trade an NBA player of Kevin’s caliber without getting equal value in return."

Stephon Marbury on Sebastian Telfair coming to Minnesota:
"As far as my little cousin, I wish him all the best because he's got to deal with Kevin McHale," Marbury said. "I wouldn't want to play for Kevin McHale. When I left, all of a sudden I became a bad person from his standpoint. I became selfish and jealous of Kevin."

From Al Iannazzone/NorthJersey.com:
Because of McHale, the game has mattered more the last few days than whether Tim Donaghy shaved points.

From Dime Magazine:
...the presumed starting backcourt in Minnesota would be Randy Foye at the point and Ricky Buckets at the two, with Corey Brewer at the three. Then again, you could start Foye, Rashad McCants at the guards and Davis at the three. Or Telfair at the point, Foye at the two, and Gerald Green at the three. Lots of guys there with only so many minutes to go around. For Question No. 2, this could be the best thing to happen to Bassy at this point in his career. There’s not going to be any pressure on him in Minnesota. The kid still has promise, after all …

From Jeff Grayson/10,000 Takes:
People get convenient memories about things like this. Where was all the passion when thousands of seats went unfilled last season, a season where KG was a Timberwolf? The Timberwolves won 32 games last season. The only way I thought KG should stay here would be if the Wolves could’ve gotten Allen Iverson at midseason---a move they were this close to making---or another star during the offseason.

Minneapolis bridge tragedy

2007-08-02T13:09:00.000-05:00

My heart and thoughts are with those affected by yesterday's tragic bridge collapse. For ways in which to offer your support, go to the Memorial Blood Centers site and the American Red Cross site.

Michael Rand discusses various aspects of the disaster. Khalid Salaam/SLAM Online and Stephen Litel/Hoopsworld on the unfortunate ways in which it puts things like basketball into perspective.

Games on National TV: Wolves 3, Celtics 19

2007-08-02T12:28:00.000-05:00

The schedule for the 2007-2008 NBA season was released today after reportedly being delayed due to the Celtics acquisition of Garnett.

According to the Timberwolves schedule, only three of the team's games will be broadcast on national television next season: two on NBA TV and one on ESPN.

The Wolves lone game on ESPN marks Garnett's return to Minnesota, one of 19 times a non-playoff Celtics game will be shown on national tv next season. Unsurprisingly, Boston's home opener is scheduled to air on ESPN and is the first of six games that month the team has on national tv. The first Wolves game to be broadcast to a larger audience is the team's Dec 26 game at Golden State, almost two months into the season.

Update:
Marc Stein/ESPN with highlights of next season's schedule.

Wolves Updates 8/2

2007-08-02T03:04:00.000-05:00

From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
Look for Al Jefferson, 22, traded by the Celtics to the Timberwolves in the Garnett deal, to demand a contract extension soon that could be worth $10 million a season. Jefferson is signed for nearly $6 million over the next two seasons.

A little birdie says the reason the Wolves couldn't make a deal with Phoenix for Garnett is that the Suns were unwilling to give up the first-round unprotected 2008 draft pick they have coming from Atlanta. That pick could end up being No. 1 overall.

Don't count out Saunders as a general manager candidate for the Timberwolves when his contract expires in two years.

Pic: Al Jefferson posing for pics at the Target Center yesterday.

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site takes a look at the players acquired in the Garnett trade.

Trudell also talks to some of the dancers at the Wolves dance team prep classes.

From Randy Kim/AOL.com:
By getting rid of Garnett, the Timberwolves will be bad next season. Really bad. In fact, it isn't far-fetched to say that the 2007-08 'Wolves run the risk of having one of the worst seasons in NBA history.

Mike Finger/Express News on the trade:
This is the world of blockbuster trades, where everyone has upside and no one admits defeat, even though time will eventually show many of them should have. Yes, there are some deals that end up benefiting both teams equally, but history has shown that one side almost always ends up getting the best of the other. The reason these trades are so compelling is that no one is sure whose celebration is really warranted.

Garnett Updates 8/2

2007-08-02T02:22:00.000-05:00

Garnett threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park on Wednesday night.

Lang Whitaker /SLAM Online posts an interview with KG from last summer in which the player talks about the Red Sox.

Shira Springer/Boston Globe breaks down KG's new contract.

From Steve Bulpett/Boston Herald:
“I think once KG realizes how much the Celtics really want him, he’ll really settle in there well,” said someone close to the situation. “You’ll be amazed at how fast he becomes a Celtic. I think Kevin really likes belonging. He takes relationships very seriously.”

Flip Saunders on watching KG's pre-draft work out:
"You could see his passion, how he worked out, that he was going to be something really special," Saunders said.

From Rick Kamla/NBA.com:
On behalf of the great state of ‘Sota, I want to wish KG nothing but happiness and success in Boston, and I want to thank him for never taking a day off, always carrying himself with the utmost class, and delivering many of the greatest memories in Minnesota sports history.

Press Conference to be rescheduled, "possibly next week"

2007-08-01T21:32:00.000-05:00

According to Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune, owner Glen Taylor canceled today's press conference introducing the players from the Garnett trade because he "wanted to be "as respectful as possible" to people injured or killed in the collapse."

Taylor's granddaughter was on the freeway when the I-35W bridge collapsed.

"She was going over the bridge, but she called," Taylor said, his voice breaking off.

On the press conference:
Newly acquired Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Sebastian Telfair were at Target Center, but are expected to leave town today. Taylor said the players' introductions will be rescheduled, possibly next week.

Tonight's press conference- canceled

2007-08-01T16:07:00.000-05:00

Tonight's press conference introducing the new players at the Target Center will be broadcast on KFAN live at 7:00pm.

Update: KFAN is currently broadcasting coverage of the bridge collapse.

Update: The press conference has been canceled.

Update:
From Inside Bay Area.com:
In response to the tragedy, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor canceled tonight's scheduled press conference, which had been called to introduce players acquired in Tuesday's trade of Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics.

Taylor's eyes welled up as he met with the media at Target Center not long after the bridge collapse. He said his granddaughter was near the scene but was safe. Taylor didn't elaborate.

Updates Part II

2007-08-01T13:54:00.000-05:00

From CelticsBlog:
There is a rumor going around that Ryan Gomes might get cut by the TWolves and sign back with the Celtics...

Kevin McNamara/the Providence Journal on Ryan Gomes:
Gomes was the Celtics’ community award winner for his efforts in helping the franchise reach out to the New England area. Rich Gotham, the team’s president and a PC alumnus, said that losing Gomes “hurts me personally. He is the type of person we want representing the Celtics.”

Stephen Litel has rejoined the staff of Basketball News Services at Hoopsworld.com.

From Shira Springer/Boston Globe:
If Rondo does not progress as quickly as expected, the Celtics will need someone who can distribute the ball to their big three. Brevin Knight, Juan Carlos Navarro, Keith McLeod, and Gary Payton come to mind. And Garnett might push for former teammate Troy Hudson. The Timberwolves have agreed to buy out his contract, which would make him a free agent.

Garnett trade updates

2007-08-01T13:43:00.000-05:00

Marc Stein/ESPN on how owner Glen Taylor is a "much bigger culprit in Minnesota" than Kevin McHale:
Taylor is the enabler who has kept the overmatched McHale in the job for so long.

Taylor is the confrontation-fearing boss who, according to some team insiders, doesn't keep close enough tabs on his ballclub to understand how big the mess is.

Taylor is the final-say decision maker who waited and waited and waited for a "Trade me" demand from Garnett that was never going to come, refusing to take the initiative when it became clear that moving KG and starting over was in the Wolves' best interests at least a year ago. All because he was hoping Minnesota's favorite son would bail him out by asking out first.

From Al Iannazzone/North Jersey.com:
Earlier this off-season, Minnesota rebuffed a Nets' offer that included Richard Jefferson, Nenad Krstic and Marcus Williams for Garnett.

From Frank Isola/New York Daily News:
Dallas, Chicago, Cleveland and the Lakers all made last-ditch efforts to acquire Garnett before losing out to Boston. The Knicks were told last month that they didn’t have the assets to land Garnett, which has to be a bitter pill for Thomas to swallow.
It also didn’t hurt the Celtics that Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale have been boys for years. The joke among league GM's is that McHale only talks to two or three executives and in fact this is the second major deal McHale has orchestrated with his old team.

Gilbert Arenas on KG to Boston:
It’s going to be …
Whooo!
Wow.

The writers at Hoopsworld react to the trade. Jonathan Feigen at Hoopsworld on KG's legacy:
The next stage of his career should not define him, but it might just clarify what he has done to those focused on what he has not.

A member at Armchair GM analyzes the trade.

Slowly coming to terms with the trade

2007-08-01T04:55:00.001-05:00

For the last 3 seasons, the length of my basketball fandom thus far, I’ve missed only a handful of Wolves games at the Target Center. For each game, I always make sure I’m in the arena for my favorite part of the night: the player intros.

At forward, 6’11, from Farragut Academy High School

KEVINNNNNNNNNN GARNETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Hearing the PA announcer call KG's name provides a rush of emotion that’s almost incomparable. I've been to many rock shows and, with the exception of Prince, nothing comes close. From that moment until the point where the player finishes his pregame ritual by walking across the court to pound his chest, the team’s sub par record is forgotten. It becomes too easy to imagine a team with immense potential if only because the Big Ticket is on the court. It’s only after tip-off that you remember that your favorite team is mediocre at best.

Draft picks are great. Yes, salary cap flexibility is always a good time. I understand that rebuilding is a solid option after having squandered the talents of a league superstar who could opt out after this season. I’m also aware that I’m in the minority of Wolves fans (based on messageboards, blogs, mainstream media, and conversations with friends and acquaintances) who couldn’t stomach the idea of shipping out the team’s franchise player. Still, knowing that the team will probably never again have a player who inspires the feelings that Garnett does makes this trade seem very bitter and not at all sweet. The fact that not only the Celtics faithful, but also basketball fans everywhere are celebrating what they view as the liberation of Kevin Garnett offers no consolation.

The question that has been asked lately among team supporters is whether one is a Wolves fan or a Garnett fan. Having attended and at least somwhat enjoyed games at the tail end of the last two seasons in which KG sat out due to "injury,” I can safely say I fall into both categories. Still, while yesterday I was pricing plane tickets to go to Boston for the Celtics home opener, today I'm unsure of when I'll finally be able to watch Garnett play in a green jersey with a big, fat #5 on his back. As twisted as it sounds, it's similar to the aftermath of a breakup: it's a roller coaster ride and though you may wish the other well, right now you don't want to see your ex flourish with a new partner.

Unfortunately, I'll have to come to terms with these issues before the regular season even begins as the Wolves and Celtics will face each other in a sold out exhibition game in London during the preseason.

In the meantime, I have no choice but to, as owner Glen Taylor said, watch a team "embarking on a journey that will be measured in years, not months." The youth movement begins...

Wolves Updates 8/1

2007-08-01T02:21:00.000-05:00

Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press on the team's buyout of Troy Hudson's contract:
Hudson even received a visit at his Twin Cities home from Garnett, a longtime friend, on Monday night, Neff said. And Garnett put in a good word to the Celtics on Hudson's behalf, Neff said. Celtics executive Danny Ainge spoke with Neff today about Hudson.

It's possible Hudson could sign with Boston, although Neff and his client haven't decided how much money they will seek in a new deal...

Michael Rand/Star Tribune on Al Jefferson:
In fact, Wolves owner Glen Taylor said Tuesday he hopes to work out a contract extension for Jefferson, who can become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2007-08 season. "My guess is yes we would do that during the year," Taylor said, "as he is probably the most important part of this trade."

The Star Tribune's CJ talks to the Boston Herald about Garnett:
C.J. tells a funny story about how KG broke his little niece and nephews’ basketball hoop in their playroom.
“Can you imagine him playing to win with a toy hoop,” she laughed. “Yeah, I thank you all for taking our No. 1 athlete and giving us five nobodies. Thank you very much.”

Owner Glen Taylor on the trade

2007-08-01T02:19:00.000-05:00

Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune on the Celtics press conference:
Garnett went out of his way to say how nice it felt to be appreciated -- in Boston. He talked of the differences he has seen between Boston and Minnesota, saying how impressed he's been with how professional and first-class the Celtics are. A passionate player, he talked about how hard it has been to lose a lot of games the past few seasons. And then there was this:

"I guess at the end of the day, I'm loyal to a point where I feel, if someone's loyal to me, then I have no problem with that," Garnett said. "But when that changes, it's pretty easy for me [to move on]."

From Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:
Taylor said he spoke with Garnett about an extension, but apparently Taylor wasn't willing to meet Garnett's salary demands...

From AP Sports:
Taylor said he didn't know how to respond to that, nor to Garnett's glowing assessment of the Celtics' "professional" organization, a clear shot at the disarray in Minnesota.

"If he could have had his druthers and everything would have worked out, he preferred to stay here," Taylor said. "He always assumed, as I did, that we would be together. That was his goal and that's what he wanted. He was a little emotional when he talked to me. Sort of like you're parting with good friends, but you have to get on with your journey."

On Boston's Kevin Garnett

2007-08-01T02:17:00.000-05:00

For Celtics news, rumors, commentary, and forum, you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't check out Celtics Blog, Loy's Place, Red's Army, Celtics 17, Green Bandwagon, Perkisabeast or any of the other blogs listed here.

From Howard Ullman/AP Sports:
The Celtics, who have 16 championships but have gone without one for more than two decades, obtained the former MVP and 10-time All-Star on Tuesday in a 7-for-1 deal -- the NBA’s biggest trade for one player.

Marc Stein/ESPN on Garnett's deal.

Keith Reed/Boston Globe on Celtics ticket sales:
While most are talking about the huge bet the team placed by trading five players and two draft picks to secure Garnett, KG was already helping them at the cash register to the tune of nearly $2 million worth of new tickets sold on Monday alone -- before a deal with Garnett was even confirmed by the team.

From Steve Bulpett and Mark Murphy/Boston Herald:
In a rather amazing turn of events, Boston has suddenly become a desirable city for NBA free agents. Agents for legitimate veteran players were actually calling the Celtics [team stats] yesterday, looking to place their clients in Boston as news of Kevin Garnett’s arrival spilled out further.

From Tony Massarotti/Boston Herald:
Seriously, now that Garnett has arrived, what American sports city has the kind of headliners that Boston does? New York? Los Angeles? Chicago? No, no, no.

From John Hollinger/ESPN:
Can the Celtics compete for a title with the triumvirate of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce? Seems like they should, right? But if they're going to, Danny Ainge's work is far from done.

From Slam Online:
...it seems apparent that—without playing a game or even practicing with the team—KG is already the best No. 5 in the history of the Boston Celtics.

On Minnesota's Kevin Garnett

2007-08-01T02:15:00.000-05:00

Click here for memorable quotes from Garnett, including this from October 2002:
"I'm going to be here until they don't want me anymore. ... I'm 'Sota, man. This is where I live, 365 days -- or in leap year, 366 days -- of the year. I'm here. Life is tough. You can't run from everything."

Mad Dog shares a few memories about Garnett and tells a story of KG once wearing Trail Blazers shoes to practice.

From Karla Hult/KARE 11:
In his 12 years as a Minnesotan, Garnett has given. He's given computers to students at Washburn High School. He's given homes to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He's given a new start to people a world away who suffered the 2004 Asian tsunami.

DeROK has a great video tribute to KG.

Alex/Minnesota Sports Zone with a thank you letter to Garnett.

More trade reaction

2007-08-01T02:03:00.000-05:00

From Jim Souhan/Star Tribune:
With this trade, McHale has effectively taken responsibility for his misguided stewardship of the Wolves by trading the only franchise player in franchise history. Now one Kevin should follow the other out of Target Center.

Sid Hartman on the newest Wolves:
These players couldn't win in Boston, where they played alongside a superstar in Paul Pierce, much like the Wolves couldn't win the past few years despite having a superstar in Garnett.

From Patrick Reusse:
What KG demanded from himself over the past month was to take another look at the Boston situation and the chance to win. And when he thought about Allen and Paul Pierce being there to help with the heavy lifting, he took the plunge.

Tom Powers/Pioneer Press writes that "this seems like a good time" for Garnett to leave.

From Mike McFeely/In-Forum News:
We knew Kirby Puckett and, we can safely say, Kevin Garnett was no Kirby Puckett. Heck, we’re not even sure he was Randy Moss.

From Dan Barreiro/KFAN:
All this deal does is cement the symmetry: The Ostrich didn't know how to support and complement his (flawed) superstar, and in the end, he didn't know how to trade him, either.

Real GM give the Wolves an "A" for the trade. The site also analyzes the incoming players and posts on the "Sad Day In 'Sota."

Bill Ingram/Hoopsworld also looks at the team's latest arrivals.

From Charley Rosen/Fox Sports:
But, with a core of talented youngsters and the extra first-round draft picks, at least Minnesota now has a future.

The trade also buys some honeymoon time for Kevin McHale. The wolves in the local media and fan base will stop howling for his hide — at least for a while. And given that Garnett's tenure with the T-Wolves had become untenable, McHale got the best return possible.

Former coach Chuck Daly and George Gervin on the trade.

Celtics press conference

2007-07-31T17:34:00.000-05:00

Update:
The Pioneer Press has a transcript of the press conference.

Click here to watch the press conference.

You can listen here.

Update:
From the Boston Globe:
The newly acquired big man kissed his No. 5 Celtics jersey as he, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen were posing for photographs. He was slightly teary. His emotion was genuine.

This is probably been the hardest 72 hours I've dealt with since I've been in the NBA, said Garnett. Initially I had no interest in leaving Minnesota. After [Timberwolves owner] Glen Taylor shared his views about the future, they contradicted mine.

On draft night when Boston traded for Ray Allen, the whole situation changed for me. I didn't say anything to anyone. But I contemplated. I really tried to be comfortable in seeing myself in a Celtic jersey.

I thought this was probably my best opportunity of winning a ring.

Update:
Garnett wore his emotions on his sleeve during the press conference. He looked visibly upset when talking about leaving Minnesota, and given his reputation for loyalty, it was hard to question him. He nodded feverishly when Danny Ainge shot down any comparisons to The Big 3.

"I'm a very passionate player, but the one thing that hurts more than anything is losing," Garnett said. "Knowing that going into a game and knowing that you have a slight chance of winning is difficult. It feels good to have two big guns on the side of me. It feels real good."

Garnett said he was frustrated with Minnesota's youth movement.

"I can't do young. You need veterans in this league to win."

He also dispelled any notion of not wanting to come to Boston. While admitting he had interest in Phoenix and Los Angeles, he said he was leery of Kobe's contract situation and just didn't feel the same passion in those two cities...

Garnett to wear #5

2007-07-31T16:46:00.000-05:00

Via KFAN

Update:
Marc Stein/ESPN on Garnett's new number:

I'm told it's almost certainly going to be No. 5.

If there's a more superstitious player in the NBA than Garnett, I'm struggling to picture him. But Garnett, remember, is about to join the franchise that has retired 21 numbers, including KG's trademark No. 21. He's going to have to change numbers whether he wants to or not.

Word is Garnett's first three choices with his new team were Nos. 21, 1 and 2. But all three have been retired by the Celts: No. 21 for Bill Sharman, No. 1 for franchise founder Walter Brown and No. 2 for Red Auerbach.

So why No. 5?

It's about to be vacated by Gerald Green . . . and Garnett, don't forget, was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1995 draft.

And if there's another reason, I'm sure we'll hear it from KG himself by Wednesday at the latest.

Another Wolves/Celtics conspiracy theory

2007-07-31T16:06:00.001-05:00

Today marks the first time that I wish my windows at work didn't overlook the Target Center. It's just another bitter reminder. Shouldn't the flags over there be at half-mast?

Staring at the desolate arena isn't half as bad as the front page of the Celtics site or the fact that Boston is already asking people to "get your big ticket." (Via True Hoop)

In any case, the letter on the left is one I found at this year's draft party at the positively dreadful bar that for some reason calls itself NBA City in spite of the fact that

1) on the night of the NBA draft lottery, my party had to plead with them for several minutes to convince them to televise the lottery instead of the Twins game

2) the bar shut the volume off during the first round of the actual NBA draft to set up for a (poorly attended) dance night.

Regardless, I found the letter amusing so took it home because its owner was nowhere to be found. I forgot all about it until yesterday when I read the columns from Simmons and Steve Aschburner. If ever Wolves fans needed a reason to laugh, it's now. Click on the letter to read. Obviously, this is to be taken with several grains of salt.

T-Hud's contract bought out

2007-07-31T15:34:00.000-05:00

Something that will offer at least some consolation...

From Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune:
Meanwhile, Bill Neff, the agent for point guard Troy Hudson, said he had reached a verbal agreement with the Wolves to buy out his contract for approximately 80 percent of the $12.256 million owed him over the next two seasons.

"It's bittersweet for Troy," Neff said. "Because this is the team that signed him. He felt strongly about Mr. Taylor and about the fans. He felt strongly about Kevin Garnett, too, but he's leaving. But he was stuck in jail here and this is the get-out-of-jail-free card."

Deal is official

2007-07-31T15:32:00.000-05:00

From Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:
The Timberwolves have traded Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics for Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes, two first-round picks and cash considerations.

The two picks are Boston's 2009 first-round draft choice and the selection Minnesota had traded to Boston in January 2006.

From Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune:
"I am excited to become a Celtic," Garnett said in a statement released by the Celtics. "It's wonderful to have the opportunity to play with players the quality of Paul [Pierce] and Ray [Allen]. The Celtics have had a proud tradition and now I hope that we can add to the legacy."

From the Wolves site:
A press conference and media availability with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale and newly acquired players will be held Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. in the skyway level of Target Center. All interview requests will be deferred until Wednesday's press conference.

Garnett press conference

2007-07-31T15:08:00.000-05:00

Via Celtics Blog

Letter from Glen Taylor

2007-07-31T14:52:00.000-05:00

The following is a letter from owner Glen Taylor sent out to season ticket holders. It's finally starting to feel real...

Dear Sonia,

I write to you today with some momentous news. Earlier today, we decided to fundamentally change the direction of our team and trade Kevin Garnett. We acquired Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and two first-round draft picks from Boston. We're excited about the new players that we have acquired and the potential that the new draft picks represent.

As with any great change, I am filled with mixed emotions. Sadness in seeing our franchise player depart but also great excitement in what the future holds. Our team is definitely young, but also extremely talented. Our core group of Randy Foye, Craig Smith, Rashad McCants, 2007 NBA Draft picks Corey Brewer and Chris Richard and the newly acquired players plus two future first-round picks have me energized about our long-term future.

Yes, I'll miss Kevin Garnett. For 12 years Kevin has been the face of our franchise. We have all watched him grow and mature from "The Kid" into "The Big Ticket" right before our very eyes. I appreciate everything he has done for this franchise; the blood, the sweat and the tears that he has shed on our behalf. I wish only the best for Kevin and his family.

However, this move was made in the best interest of the Minnesota Timberwolves and regaining our place among the best teams in the NBA. During the past three years, we have struggled unsuccessfully to assemble a team around Kevin that could bring us back to the playoffs. These years have been hard on all of us. During this time it has become increasingly apparent to me that given the complicated formulas needed to move and acquire players, we needed greater flexibility. To move our team forward, we will need the flexibility this trade provides.

This past spring, I sat down with the team's top executives and drafted a plan on how we wanted to rebuild our team. We evaluated our successes and failures over the years and looked to other franchises on how they built winning teams. The result of this reflection was the "Blueprint for the Future" that I shared with many of you. This plan outlined how we planned to rebuild our team. It was our acknowledgment that we had strayed from building a team that didn't just speak of character, but rather lived it. A team more focused on working as a team than seeking individual recognition.

We took that first step today. We know it won't be easy - nothing that is worthwhile ever is. We know that we are embarking on a journey that will be measured in years, not months. We understand that every team in professional sports is in a never-ending cycle of death and rebirth. I wholly believe that it is our time to give birth to a new team that will return our Timberwolves franchise to the elite of the NBA.

I appreciate your continued support as we undergo this transformation and urge you to follow our progress. I am convinced that you will like what you see and believe that it will mean only better days ahead. Please feel free to contact any of my staff with additional questions.

Regards,
Glen Taylor

Stein: Deal likely to be announced later today

2007-07-31T13:59:00.000-05:00

From Marc Stein/ESPN:
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, who nearly completed a blockbuster Kevin Garnett trade before the June draft, resurrected those talks in recent days and have agreed to a megadeal that is likely to be announced later Tuesday, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Tuesday afternoon that the required trade call has been completed by the league office, which should soon lead to a news conference in Boston that formally brings a blockbuster end to Garnett's 12-year association with the Wolves.

Boston Herald: Deal finalized

2007-07-31T12:55:00.000-05:00

From Mark Muphy/Boston Herald:
A league source just confirmed that the Celtics and Timberwolves have finalized a deal that will bring Kevin Garnett to Boston in exchange for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and two first round draft picks.

Garnett is expected to arrive in Boston this afternoon for a physical.

Garnett has agreed to a three-year extension with the Celtics beyond the two remaining on his contract, guaranteeing that he will be a Celtic for the next five years...

Wolves Updates 7/31

2007-07-31T03:30:00.000-05:00

From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
There's whispering that Kevin Garnett already has chatted about the possibility of a jersey number switch from his No. 21 with the Timberwolves to either No. 5 or 45 with the Boston Celtics.

From the Blazer's Mike Barrett:
Just as the league was preparing to unveil the 2007-08 schedule Tuesday morning, the presses were stopped, and the teams were told to hang on a minute. The sole reason for this delay? Of course, the Kevin Garnett trade to Boston.

In an effort to demonstrate "how badly" Ricky Davis and Mark Blount need to be gone, Stephen Litel posts an interview with Davis and describes a late season encounter with a player he now identifies as Blount. The player enters the locker room before a game and responds to Litel's greetings by saying:
“Yeah, I’m loose and feeling good. I mean, what do I have to worry about? When’s the last time I had to work. I’ve never worked a day in my life.”

Miss Gossip has some great limericks about the possible trade for Garnett.

The Star Tribune has a timeline of Garnett's NBA career.

Bob Young/Arizona Republic on why Suns fans should be celebrating:
That's because if the Suns weren't going to get him, they sure didn't want him falling into the hands of the Lakers, Warriors or - heaven forbid - Dallas Mavericks.

Our spies tell us that was exactly what the Suns were worried about, and Dallas was a much bigger concern than anybody realized.

KG trade rumors updates

2007-07-31T03:22:00.000-05:00

From Sam Smith/Chicago Tribune:
Even in February teams were being told the same thing, that Garnett was not available. But that all changed dramatically earlier this month when Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor reportedly decided not to offer Garnett an extension. Garnett can opt out of his contract after this season, so an extension is vital to any trade. The most serious talks continued with Boston as Minnesota general manager Kevin McHale apparently wanted to deal with former teammate Danny Ainge.

But Minnesota also went hunting for a bigger prize at the same time, asking for major pieces with several teams, including the Bulls. The requests generally included two of the team's starters, its best young players, draft picks and expiring contracts. So the Timberwolves then went back to the Celtics as the outrageous demands were scoffed at around the NBA.

From Patrick Reusse:
People on the fringe of the Wolves' operation kept telling reporters that Taylor wanted Garnett gone -- not for any personal reason, but because of this:

Garnett could have opted out of his contract after the 2007-08 season...

From Shira Springer/Boston Globe:
League sources added Garnett is now more amenable to playing in Boston, especially since he would be teaming with fellow All-Stars Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, not Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak and a group of young players with largely unrealized potential. As a result, those same sources said both sides are confident the contractual issues will not block completion of the deal. Trade talks resumed in recent weeks and intensified over the weekend.

Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune on the pieces the Wolves will reportedly get in return for KG:
If this all sounds familiar, it is. In the pre-draft frenzy of trade rumors, the strongest had the Wolves dealing Garnett to Boston in a package that would also have included the Celtics' first-round draft pick, No. 5 overall.

Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press on the potential trade.

If the trade happens, there could be 9 players age 24 or younger on the team.
"One thing is for sure," Wolves veteran forward Mark Madsen said. "[If the trade happens] there will be a lot of opportunity for guys to step up. In one fell swoop we'd go from being an older team to being one of the youngest."

Aschburner: It was not supposed to end this way at all

2007-07-31T03:15:00.000-05:00

From Steve Aschburner/SI.com:
No, it was not supposed to end this way at all.

The only reason it is, or can, is that the T'wolves so lowered the bar of expectations that they inadvertently prepped their fans for this downer.

On a Celtics team with Garnett, Chris McCosky/Detroit News writes that it's "hard to see them being legitimate title contenders."

Jackie MacMullan/Boston Globe believes the same team is "one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference."

Gerry Callahan/Boston Herald writes that "just like that, your Boston Celtics go from 24-58 to a spot in the NBA Finals..."

From Steve Greenberg/Sporting News:
Let's also pause to give thanks for the friendship of Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge. Without that, this deal never happens.

From Bob Sansevere/Pioneer Press:
The thing is, the Wolves reeked with K.G. the past few seasons. They'll probably reek without him the next few seasons. So, in the overall scheme of things, nothing really would change for Glen Taylor's money pit.

Simmons on the possible trade

2007-07-30T21:33:00.000-05:00

From Bill Simmons:
My NBA guide claims that McHale retired from the Celtics in 1993, but apparently that's a misprint. How else could you explain his decision to trade Kevin Garnett to Boston for the Al Jefferson pu pu platter deluxe? Just five weeks ago, McHale and Minnesota couldn't close a potential deal in which they received Jefferson and Boston's No. 5 pick. Now? They're settling for Jefferson (a potential franchise player), Ryan Gomes (an intangibles guy who's useless on a bad team), Bassy Telfair (a year away from signing in Italy), Gerald Green (a homeless man's J.R. Smith), Theo Ratliff's expiring deal, a 2009 lottery-protected No. 1 pick (congrats on picking in the mid-20s) and the return of Minny's future No. 1 that was stupidly included in the Ricky Davis/Mark Blount-Wally Szczerbiak trade.

Fox Sports: Draft picks "may also be included"

2007-07-30T20:43:00.000-05:00

(Via KFAN) From Jeff Goodman/Fox Sports:
According to multiple sources close to the situation, Danny Ainge and the Celtics are close to finalizing the deal that will bring the 10-time NBA All-Star from Minnesota in exchange for Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff and his expiring contract, Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair.

Ryan Gomes and a pair of 2009 first-round picks — including Minnesota's pick it owed the Celtics in the Ricky Davis-Wally Szczerbiak trade — may also be included in the deal to Minnesota.

Updates Part II

2007-07-30T19:46:00.000-05:00

KFAN's Doogie said that Troy Hudson's agent Bill Neff told the station the Wolves were talking to the Wizards about a possible trade for T-Hud.

From Euroleague Basketball:
Aris TT Bank remained busy on Monday by announcing that guard Bracey Wright has signed a one-year contract with the team.

Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site on Randy Foye vs Brandon Roy. Sean Meagher/Blazers Blog comments on the comparisons.

Garnett on a cruise

2007-07-30T18:57:00.000-05:00

From Shira Springer/Boston Globe:
The Celtics and Timberwolves have agreed on the players to make a Kevin Garnett-to-Boston trade but no deal can be completed until issues with Garnett's contract can be worked out.

As the trade currently stands, Boston will send Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and two first-round picks to Minnesota in exchange for Garnett.

League sources said that the reworking of Garnett's contract could still be a sticking point...

Springer notes:
Slowing down the trade/approval process is the fact that Garnett is on a cruise until the end of this week.

From the Star Tribune:
The NBA would have to approve the trade, which has complications because of salary cap issues, and that approval would probably not come until Tuesday. An official announcement from either team is not likely before then.

Marc Stein on KG trade kicker

2007-07-30T18:05:00.000-05:00

Marc Stein/ESPN explains the following four points in relation to KG's trade kicker.

1) Garnett only has a limited ability to waive his trade kicker. He can't just waive it to make a trade easier -- even if he wanted to -- no matter what you've heard or read...

2) Garnett is one of only a handful of current players whose trade kicker causes such havoc.

3) If a Garnett trade had been completed before July 1, Garnett's trade kicker would have been charged in equal amounts to Boston's payroll last season and next season at $3.375 million each. Completing the deal after July 1 requires Boston to charge the entire $6.75 million to its 2007-08 payroll.

4) The longest extension Garnett can sign with the Celtics is a four-year deal. Garnett has two seasons left on his current contract and the total -- contract plus extension -- can't exceed six years.

Ainge: They can speculate all they want

2007-07-30T17:57:00.000-05:00

From Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:
Boston Celtics executive Danny Ainge refuted a report Monday afternoon that his team had reached an agreement in principal to acquire Timberwolves all-star Kevin Garnett.

The Associated Press, citing an unnamed Boston official, reported that the Celtics who could be traded to the Wolves are Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green and Theo Ratliff in addition to at least one future draft pick. But Ainge said no deal is in place.

"They can speculate all they want," Ainge told the Pioneer Press.

From Mike Max/WCCO:
WCCO's Mike Max had learned the Timberwolves may have been holding out for a first-round draft pick to go along with the four players.

From Britt Robson/On The Ball:
One reason this deal is likely "rumored" without confirmation for so long is because the Celts want to ensure they get a contract extension with Garnett totally firmed up if not in writing.

Mad Dog: I never thought it would happen, ever.

2007-07-30T17:42:00.000-05:00

From Howard Ulman/AP Sports:
The teams still had some things to clarify with the players' contracts, but the official said that would not keep the Celtics from acquiring Garnett, although there could be a change in the players ticketed for the Timberwolves.

Mad Dog reacts to the news:
"I never thought it would happen this offseason. I never thought it would happen, ever," Madsen said, adding: "Even before I entered the NBA, when I thought of Kevin Garnett I always thought of Minnesota. But at the same time in this business, we all know that anything can happen."

#21 retired in Boston

2007-07-30T16:48:00.000-05:00

The Celtics retired Bill Sharman's #21 in 1966.