Great article about our Timberwolves!

[abcnerdd]

Hoopsworld.com

OR read below...

Quote:

Don't Overlook the Timberwolves

By: Luke Byrnes

Prior to the trade of Kevin Garnett back in the summer of 2007, the Minnesota Timberwolves had climbed from the cellar of the Western Conference, putting together four 50-win seasons, taking home one Northwest Division crown and advancing to the 2004 Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately for the Minnesota faithful, that is where the train stopped and the T-Wolves haven't been back to the postseason yet, winning no more than 24-games in each of the last three seasons, including a franchise record-tying low of 15-wins a year ago.

With a (relatively) new regime in place, the Timberwolves are looking to the future and hoping to build a contender under the same model that Oklahoma City employed in turning the Thunder from an afterthought into an overnight success.

Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti has lifted the Thunder from obscurity to relevance by building through the draft and maintaining salary cap flexibility. Now, President of Basketball Operations David Kahn is attempting to do the same thing in Minnesota; acquiring talented pieces without jeopardizing the long-term financial viability of the organization. The biggest problem for Kahn so far has been trying to find the "Kevin Durant" to lead his team.

The results have not appeared at first glance to be so good for the Pups. Back-to-back-to-back seasons of fewer than 25-wins and a draft process that has left many fans and pundits scratching their collective head (Kahn, for one, picked point guards Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn with the fifth and sixth overall picks, respectively, in the 2009 NBA Draft).

Nevertheless, Minnesota has a younger, more talented and athletic roster heading into the 2010-11 NBA Season than they have had in the last few years and, perhaps, the mad scientist approach that Kahn has employed, from a personnel standpoint, is finally bearing fruit. After all, like 2Pac Shakur said, "Through every dark night, there is a bright day after that."

Without any real star power in the Twin Cities, few have predicted that the upcoming NBA season will end much differently that have the last few: with losses piling up and legitimate assets being traded to contenders for cap relief and/or young pieces. If you look a little closer, however, it is easy to find a silver lining on the dark cloud that so ominously hangs over the 2010-11 Minnesota Timberwolves; a glimmer of hope that, quite frankly, wasn't there before Kahn took over.

Kahn and the Minnesota front office have completely re-tooled a roster that lost 67-games last season. Gone are Al Jefferson, Brian Cardinal, Ryan Gomes, Jason Hart, Ryan Hollins, Nathan Jawai, Sasha Pavlovic, Oleksiy Pecherov, Ramon Sessions, Alando Tucker and Damien Wilkens, all of whom played at least one game for Minnesota last season. In are Michael Beasley, Martell Webster Luke Ridnour, Nikola Pekovic, Wesley Johnson, Sebastian Telfair, Anthony Tolliver, and Kosta Koufos. Suddenly, this roster has some players. Not great players but, at least, capable players, some with potential for huge upside.

Al Jefferson is a quality NBA big man. Before suffering and ACL injury a couple years ago, he was on his way to becoming one of the best bigs in the NBA, averaging 23 points and eleven rebounds per game through the first 50 games of the 2008-09 season. The only problem is that Jefferson is a plodding, back to the basket player without a ton of skills outside of scoring and rebounding. He doesn't move particularly well (running the court or in the half court without the ball in hands) and he is a below average passer, even for a PF/C. Add to that the fact the Timberwolves had a younger, cheaper, more skilled player in Kevin Love who was coming off the bench so that Jefferson (who will make $13M this season – almost $10M more than Love) could play and, suddenly, shedding that albatross of a contract for a couple of draft picks makes more sense.

Now Minnesota has some cap room with which to work and a pair of first round draft picks to select players who fit the system Kahn and Head Coach Kurt Rambis are employing (an up-tempo offense which, when in the half-court, is predicated on ball and player movement rather than the isolations and two-man games that have become so common in the NBA today). Well played, David Kahn.

With Ricky Rubio still overseas (Kahn understood when he drafted Rubio that he wouldn't be in the NBA, at least not with the Timberwolves, any time soon), the Wolves have a young, athletic leader at the point in Jonny Flynn, who (when he returns from hip surgery) will continue to develop into a quality NBA player and signed the veteran Luke Ridnour, who has been a starter in the NBA and brings some stability and experience to an otherwise extremely young group. With Ridnour's steady hand and (soon) Flynn's athleticism, the Wolves have a nice 1-2 punch at the point.

On the wing is perhaps where the Timberwolves have improved the most. Corey Brewer returns after emerging as a solid offensive player and one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA last season. Martell Webster is versatile and brings starting experience as well as three point shooting from the Portland Trail Blazers, where Webster advanced to the playoffs each of the last two seasons. Rookie Wesley Johnson is a smooth player who makes good decisions and can score the basketball in a variety of ways. He doesn't have the superstar potential of some of the players in his draft class (i.e. John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins), but Johnson is a smart, steady and efficient player who should immediately help this team win basketball games. But maybe you'd rather have Damien Wilkens, Alando Tucker Sasha Pavlovic…

This summer, Kahn pulled off a swap with the Miami HEAT, exchanging two second round draft picks and cash for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Michael Beasley. The former Kansas State star has yet to live up to the expectations placed on him after averaging 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots as a freshman in college, but Beasley is oozing with talent and should fit right in with the fast-paced 'Wolves. If he doesn't pan out, Minnesota has a team option on the $6M Beasley is owed next year. At the very least, Beasley will give Rambis an athletic player who averaged nearly 15 points and more than six rebounds in less than 30 minutes per game last season. Oh, yeah, he can play both forward positions.

The front court will take on a whole new look from where it was a year ago. Gone, obviously, is Jefferson, a mainstay over the course of the last few years. Minnesota, however, has brought in players that, while they will likely never post the impressive numbers put up by Jefferson, fit into what Kurt Rambis is trying to do far better than Big Al ever could. Kevin Love is one of the best rebounders in the NBA and was a solid role player during Team USA's run to the gold medal in the FIBA World Championships this summer. His a terrific passer, can face the basket and score and ignites the fast break by hitting the glass and quickly getting the ball into the hands of the point guard. Darko Milicic, who for so long has been viewed as a bust after becoming the second pick in the 2003 NBA Draft (after LeBron and before Carmelo, D-Wade and Bosh, as we all know by now, I'm sure), but the seven footer earned a four-year, $20M deal with the Pups this offseason. While the deal was almost universally panned by fans and writers alike, Darko provides the 'Wolves with a shot-blocking presence with tons of offensive skill. He's only 25-years old and last year Milicic showed real signs of life, averaging 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocked shots while playing less than 26 minutes per game.

This summer, the Wolves also signed center Nikola Pekovic, a second round selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, who will bring size and an impressive resume from his professional career overseas to the Minnesota front court. At 6-11, 265 lbs., Pekovic was an All-Euroleague selection in 2008 (second team) and 2009 (first team).

Since Kahn has come in and reshuffled the roster that won just 15 games a year ago, the man with some 15 years of front office experience in the NBA has not only created more financial flexibility for the future, but has significantly upgraded the athleticism, talent and depth of the T-Wolves roster.

Ridnour and Flynn both have starting experience in the NBA at the point. In addition to Brewer and Webster, starters the last two seasons, Kahn added a versatile wing in Johnson, the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. The front court is loaded with experience and potential with former lottery picks Beasley, Love and Milicic as well as Pekovic, arguably the best non-NBA center in the world the last two years.

Expecting the Timberwolves to win 50 games this season is certainly unreasonable, but considering the manner in which Kahn has re-built this roster in the relatively short period of time he has been at the helm in Minnesota, the 'Wolves have a realistic shot at a meteoric rise similar to that of the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.

Are the Timberwolves a playoff team this season? Probably not. But with a few lucky breaks, a breakout season by Beasley and an immediate impact from Johnson, it isn't out of the question considering the drop-off in talent amongst Western Conference teams behind the Lakers, Blazers, Thunder, Mavs, Spurs, Jazz and Rockets, along with the uncertainty that surrounds the Denver Nuggets and Carmelo Anthony.

Regardless of if the 'Wolves are able to play their way into playoff contention, this is a far different group than the one that limped through last season. No longer can an NBA team look at the schedule and write in a victory when the face Minnesota.

Don't overlook the Timberwolves.

[Scott M]

Thanks for posting abcnerdd. It reads like the preview Jalen Rose wrote last year about the Wolves when he penciled them in for the 8 seed in the playoffs. A little too much enthusiasm for my part, he lost me when he said

Quote:

Kahn and the Minnesota front office have completely re-tooled a roster that lost 67-games last season. Gone are Al Jefferson, Brian Cardinal, Ryan Gomes, Jason Hart, Ryan Hollins, Nathan Jawai, Sasha Pavlovic, Oleksiy Pecherov, Ramon Sessions, Alando Tucker and Damien Wilkens, all of whom played at least one game for Minnesota last season. In are Michael Beasley, Martell Webster Luke Ridnour, Nikola Pekovic, Wesley Johnson, Sebastian Telfair, Anthony Tolliver, and Kosta Koufos. Suddenly, this roster has some players. Not great players but, at least, capable players, some with potential for huge upside.

Those last two sentences imply that this roster is some huge upgrade. No way. I wish we had a Kevin Durant, but even after the Wolves have a terrible year they never pick higher than 3. They are always in the lottery slot where they hit the bottom of the asymptote where the talent drops off most precipitously. This year they have no scorer. Maybe they'll play good defense and build a good foundation, but they still need the big piece whether it comes through free agency or the draft. To get a guy like Durant, the numbers aren't on their side either way.

[ozzie]

I think they can tap into Michael Beasely and possibly find a good player that could carry us to a couple wins....not Kevin Durant but maybe a little flash

[curtistodd]

Sebastian Telfair sucks, I hope he gets cut soon. The T-wolves are hard to watch because they are usually leading at half, down by 2 at the end of the 3rd and lose by 22. Which either means we have a team full of out-of-shape choke artists, or teams dont even try to beat us until the end because they know they dont have to. Every 4th quarter is bad.

They wont win 30. But i will still watch and yell at the tv.

[CJH]

Story about Ricky (doesn't sound too promising):

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2...imberwolves.php

[ozzie]

doesn't say much at all.......read the comments at the bottom of that page and I think they say it all....

[CJH]

What I got out of it was that they weren't even willing to meet with Glen Taylor while he was in Europe.

That can't be a good thing.

[Scott K]

Would you fly to Boston to meet your sons future employer, just because he was in town? I wouldnt!

[ozzie]

They don't say why they couldn't meet with Taylor...who knows I am sure they still live a normal life and make plans and maybe they didn't want to change their plans to meet with their sons future employer after they have met with other members of his staff over the last few years and as recent as this summer......now if it is Ricky himself not wanting to meet with Glen then I would feel that is a little more concerning

[Scott K]

I think Ricky Rubio will be the next Stephon Marbury, without the attitude. I think he will be a showboat, I think he will be good, and will bring in fans. I dont think he will be a 30+ppg player though. Although, I could see him being a 20ppg, with 10+ assists per game. I think he will soon be a fan favorite, and will bring fun back to the Timberwolves for the fans. Just what they need!

[CJH]

Would you fly to Boston to meet your sons future employer, just because he was in town? I wouldnt!

I would. Its not like he is working for Burger King. Its a move to another continent, when he has played in his home country his entire life. It'd be like somebody moving from MN to London. You wouldn't be involved with that at all for your 20 year old kid? He's a young kid whose parents have pretty much managed him.

[Born2Fish]

His parents have already met with Kahn AND Rambis. I think too much is being put into them not wanting to meet Taylor when the wolves play over there. Maybe they just don't want to travel?

[CJH]

Could be. You never know I guess.

[CJH]

Another good article about the TWolves. Interesting the author was praising Kahn, which hasn't happened much. Its still early, but at least they sound watchable this year.

Timberwolves' offseason moves already paying off

New-look Wolves tough on defense, creating turnovers

By Ray Richardson

[email protected]

Updated: 10/13/2010 12:26:22 AM CDT

The Timberwolves went into the NBA offseason with two major objectives: improve the defense and perimeter scoring. That's why Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn made a number of moves that left only five players from last year's team.

After three exhibition games, the results are already noticeable. The Wolves' 122-108 victory over Denver on Tuesday night at Target Center pushed their record to 3-0 and kept a promising streak intact. It was the third consecutive game in which the new-look Wolves held an opponent below 45 percent shooting from the floor.

In the past two games, Denver and New York shot below 42 percent, prompting somewhat of a prediction from second-year coach Kurt Rambis.

"We're going to win a lot of games if we continue to do that," Rambis said of his team's defense. "We created a lot of turnovers and we scored a lot from it."

Though Rambis says the offense "needs work," the Wolves lead the NBA preseason in three-point shooting with a 53.1 percentage (26 of 49). The Wolves sank 11 of 23 three-pointers Tuesday night, three by rookie Wesley Johnson and two each by forwards Michael Beasley and Kevin Love.

This is the product Rambis envisioned when he asked Kahn after last season to make the team quicker, longer and more athletic. Perhaps the biggest move Kahn made in the offseason was to trade Al Jefferson to Utah. Rambis made a subtle yet defining reference to the trade after the game, giving a clear indication of the

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dramatic change in the Wolves' approach.

"We're not going to just throw the ball inside to somebody and everybody stand around and watch him," Rambis said. "That's not what we're going to do. The ball is moving more. We have a lot of players who can space the floor and shoot the ball well. It puts a lot of pressure on the defense to defend those three-point shooters."

Rambis isn't ready to scrap the Wolves' low-post game entirely, but their effective outside shooting is keeping the team from relying on Love or Darko Milicic to get inside baskets. Love, however, seems intent on replacing Jefferson as the team's primary low-post option. He credited Jefferson for being one of the game's "best low-post scorers" but he wanted to ease fears that the team will struggle to get easy baskets.

"Don't forget about me," Love said. "I still want to do some things down low."

At the moment, the majority of Love's inside contributions have been on the boards. He pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds against the Nuggets to go with his 16 points. Love is already on a double-double streak in the preseason, averaging 14.7 points and 12.3 rebounds.

Rambis said there will be times when players other than Love and Milicic will have post-up opportunities depending on the opponent. Even Beasley, who is operating at the small forward spot, will have those opportunities, but Rambis prefers to keep the ball moving around until somebody has an open shot. The way the Wolves are performing, no one is questioning Rambis' preference.

"I'm very impressed with our outside shooting," Beasley said. "And we're still learning the offense. I can only imagine what it's going to be like once we get the offense down."

Rambis doesn't mind that the team, featuring nine new players, has yet to get a complete grasp of his triangle offense. The Wolves have demonstrated a commitment to playing better defense. A key example was Martell Webster's three blocked shots. Webster entered Tuesday's game averaging 20.5 points.

"You can always control what you do on the defensive end," Webster said. "We are not always going to rely on our offense. We are going to rely on our defense. You can shoot your way out of a slump, but you can't turn the switch on and off on defense."

[hoppe56307]

I actually watched the game last night and was quite impressed on how they moved the ball and were able to keep the nuggets in check.

[ozzie]

i am going to be even more ticked with Dish if they don't figure out this contract thing with FSN and I miss the Wolves this season.......GRRRRRRR The Wolves are going to be fun to watch and they will turn some heads this year!!

[Juan Grande]

I was a little nervous that Wesley Johnson was going to suck, but it looks like he can definitely stroke it from the outside. Now if they could just get Rubio to come over.

[Scott M]

Getting sick of watching the Wolves blow games. Yet another tonight. Led the whole way, then dropped it at the end to Utah. Big Al looked good, was nice to see him talk with Taylor at the end of the game. K Love is still outplaying him statistically though.

At some point this time is going to go on a nice run, hopefully I'm there to see it. I'm planning on getting some tickets after New Years.

[mrklean]

gettin really old seeing them blow those leads they have so much talent on that team but they can play a full game it stinks

[Scott M]

They probably played their most complete game of the season Monday night against New Orleans. Two in a row!

[thatoneguy]

If Rubio pans out and becomes a pass-first PG who can help manage leads in the fourth quarter, the T-Pups have a real chance to be a dangerous team in a few years. I have to admit that I did NOT see Kevin Love becoming the monster that he is. Very fun to watch him operate!

[ozzie]

read in the paper that now they are in talks of swining a trade to maybe land OJ Mayo.....wouldn't that be something sure would make it for an interesting ball club with Beasley, Love, Mayo, Darko, and Ridnour or Flynn and hopefully next year Rubio and another top 5 pick with Johnson and Webster off the bench...nice squad if they played more like a team!!

[Scott K]

That would be awesome! I know they said they are going to go somewhere and be aggressive during the trade this season, to build a competitive team for next year. I hope they do!

[hoppe56307]

I don't think they need much to make this team competitive, if you look at the games they have lost there is quite a few that they have lost by 6pts or less, they just need some leadership during the 4th quarter. I hope they don't make a trade the players need to learn how to win games by themselves and not to rely on someone to save them. I also hope they keep Rambis it takes time to rebuild basiclly from scratch.

[ozzie]

anybody else think Luke Ridnauer (sp) is just terrible??? Johnny Flynn and Ridnauer can be shipped out of here with Corey Brewer and maybe trick someone into giving us a player that can play the point and play the point down the stretch........