TIMBERWOLVES BASKETBALL

Best Looking NBA Players

2012-01-26T16:11:00.000-06:00

Here are my top five hottest NBA Players. Where are the Timberwolves players? Exactly my point. We need to get some more... flavor.

5. Derrick Rose
4. Dwight Howard
3. Thabo Sefolosha
2. Danilo Gallinari
1. Rudy Fernandez

Are NBA Players Tired?

2012-01-18T16:46:00.000-06:00

Many forecasters expected this season's lockout to be similar to the past. These forecasters expected some erratic basketball played by sore, tired players.

We are about 15 days into the season. What do you think? If you've been to a game or watched from your house, let me know if the players seem more out of shape or tired than they have in a non-lockout season!

Timberwolves Roster

2012-01-16T16:37:00.000-06:00

I know sometimes the Timberwolves Roster on the NBA site takes a while to load. You can bookmark this page and, after a quick load, have the Timberwolves roster right at your fingertips!

#11 Jose Barea, guard
#8 Michael Beasley, forward
#22 Wayne Ellington, guard
#4 Wesley Johnson, guard-forward
#3 Malcolm Lee, guard
#31 Darko Milicic, center
#52 Brad Miller, center-forward
#14 Nikola Pekovic, center
#15 Anthony Randolph, forward
#13 Luke Ridnour, guard
#9 Ricky Rubio, guard
#44 Anthony Tolliver, forward
#5 Martell Webster, guard-forward
#7 Derrick Williams, forward

Should the Season be Permanently Shortened?

2012-01-10T16:17:00.000-06:00

In this shortened 66 game NBA season, after only a handful of games one thing is clear - people are treating each game like it's the end of the world. The Mavs and Lakers are sunk, the Clippers will win it all and the Bulls are waffling.

I would like to think of it as "NFL Syndrome", where because there are only 16 games, there are no games that can be brushed under the rug - every game is important.

Is this a bad thing?

There has been an increasing opinion that several teams and players kind of check out before the season is over due to the duration of the 82 game season. Especially since the beginning of the NBA season coincides with the end of the NFL season, a.k.a NFL playoffs. Fans don't feel the urgency if they catch on to the NBA after the Lombardi trophey has been given because they are only missing 16-20 games anyway.

A 66-game season make every game that much more important, which can't be bad. It is simple economics. Constrict the supply, while demand remains (or falls slightly because of potential price increases).

Should the league keep the season short?

Hot Timberwolves Game

2012-01-02T15:48:00.000-06:00

The NBA season is underway and there are some emerging Timberwolves games that appear to be fan favorites. Check out these top selling games:

1/10 - Timberwolves v Bulls
1/29 - Timberwolves v Lakers
2/10 - Timberwolves v Mavericks
3/9 - Timberwolves v Lakers

These games are bound to catch your eye.

2011-12 Minnesota Timberwolves

2011-12-28T15:47:00.000-06:00

After having only 32 wins over the past two seasons under Kurt Rambis, the Timberwolves are looking for more wins.

Rambis was axed over the summer before the lockout was happening. The Timberwolves went 17-65 in 2010-11.

Rambis was succeeded by veteran NBA coach Rick Adelman. Adelman has a 954-616 career record during head coaching stints in Portland, Sacramento, Golden State and Houston. He left the Rockets this past April.

Minnesota added Ricky Rubio, after a season with Regal Barcelona. Minnesota added a few new faces in guard J.J. Barea, veteran swingman Bonzi Wells and rookie guard Malcolm Lee. Barea played in 81 games for Dallas last season, averaging 9.5 points and 3.9 assists. He also averaged 8.9 points and 3.4 assists in 21 playoff games for the World Champion Mavericks.Wells last played in the NBA during the 2007-08 season, when he split the year with Houston and New Orleans.

The Timberwolves are counting on big things from this year's draft pick talented forward Derrick Williams out of Arizona.

Ricky Rubio Provides Hope

2011-12-27T15:26:00.002-06:00

Ricky Rubio, the long-awaited star, had his Timberwolves debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. His debut wasn't perfect, but it was dazzling and entertaining as well as inspirational.

The guard scored only six points and the Wolves lost, but the team looked like they could string together some wins down the road.

Rubio still has room to improve (but who doesn't?). The Timberwolves have a lot to improve on, too. However, it is a relief to see that Rubio can even play.

I know I breathed a sigh of relief, I bet other Wolves fans did too.

Will the Wolves finish 10th?

2011-12-22T14:53:00.004-06:00

The Timberwolves have had a great preseason. In addition to the good news, a recent statistician known for his accurate predictions on team and player performance has picked the Timberwolves to finish #10 (of 15) in the West.

John Hollinger is his name and his reasoning includes the shift of the offensive focus, Rick Adelman's presence, Ricky Rubio and the growth in maturity of the talent field, and the small ball combo forwards that play for the Wolves.

What are your thoughts?

Most Hated NBA Players

2011-12-22T14:45:00.003-06:00

According to Forbes.com, the most hated NBA players are...

1. Kris Humphries (Nets)
2. LeBron James (Heat)
3. Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
4. Tony Parker (Spurs)
5. Metta World Peace (Lakers)
6. Chris Bosh (Heat)
7. Carmelo Anthony (Knicks)
8. Paul Pierce (Col 2)
9. Dwayne Wade (Heat)
10. Lamar Odom (Mavericks)

Coincidentally, Kim Kardashian was recently named the celebrity with the worst manners. Sounds like they deserve each other.

Kevin Love Excited For Preseason

2011-12-13T14:24:00.002-06:00

This Saturday the Timberwolves will be opening the preseason at home against the Milwaukee Bucs. Kevin Love told the press he is excited to get back on the court in front of the home crowd.

Love is also looking forward to working with some of the younger Timberwolves, though he is only 23 himself. Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams are both fresh faces to the Wolves.

Mavericks' JJ Barea to Minnesota

2011-12-13T13:49:00.003-06:00

Free agent guard J.J. Barea has apparently reached an agreement with the Minnesota Timberwolves regarding a four-year cnotract worth an estimated $19 million.

Barea joins two other free agents that have left in the wake of their championship. Dallas has focused exclusively on acquiring players on one-year deals to preserve maximum salary-cap space for the summer of 2012.

Wolves Announce Coaching Staff

2011-12-08T14:26:00.003-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced the veteran coaching staff that will be next to Rick Adelman this season:

Terry Porter: former Bucks and Suns head coach
Jack Sikma: former NBA all-star
T.R. Dunn: affiliated with Adelman for years
Billy Bayno: former UNLV head coach
R.J. and David Adelman: sons of Rick, front office work
Shawn Respert: former player, scouting and development
Pat Zipfel: former player, scouting and development

Ricky Rubio Ready for Back to Back Games

2011-12-08T14:19:00.003-06:00

The lockout will fire 66 games in 4 short months. Is Ricky Rubio ready?

"Yesterday, I was looking at the schedule and putting it in my iPad and I was saying, '16... 17... 18. I mean, three games in a row? What the hell? You go Sacramento, Chicago and then here. it's going to be tough, but I came here to play basketball." (quote from Boston Herald)

Good answer. The last thing MinneSNOWta (as Rubio fondly refers to his team's state) fans want to hear is that he is complaining about too many games when we assumed we would always have too few games from Rubio.

The Timberwolves will play six of their first seven at the Target Center.

Ricky Rubio Excites Sports Bloggers

2011-12-01T12:14:00.002-06:00

The NBA lockout isn't officially over, but fans have been waiting too long to damper the excitement about the future (cross your fingers) return to the court.

Ricky Rubio was recently named one the "Players We're Most Excited To See When Season Starts" according to BleacherReport.com. The report makes a good point that, while NBA scouts have been drooling over the young Rubio since he was sixteen, few in the United States have seen the talented guard live.

The Wolves drafted Rubio in 2009 with the fifth overall pick. Negotiations regarding a buyout of his Euro League contract fell through, leading to a delay in his U.S. play.

With the lockout almost officially over, the wait seems to be nearly over.

Kevin Love Works Out

2011-12-01T11:57:00.003-06:00

Kevin Love has embodied the new beat by LMFAO "Sexy and I Know it".

Girl look at that body.
Girl look at that body.
Girl look at that body.

I work out.

Cha. So does Kevin Love. You will see less of the basketball beast this season after shedding some pounds in the off season. The 6'9" power forward will enter training camp on December 9 weighing in at 240 lbs, down about 25 from his playing weight at the end of last season.

Love's secret to his buff bod? Taking care of his body, eating the right foods, getting sleep and training the right way.

The world just had an epiphany.

NBA Lockout Impacts Escort Service Industry

2011-11-22T13:14:00.002-06:00

The NBA lockout has struck again. We've all read, I've even written, about the stories of all the individuals (besides players and owners) turned upside down by the NBA lockout - arena workers, team support staff, the media...

We've forgotten the escorts.

There appears to be a 30% decline in the industry, where there are clients who charge $400-4,000 an hour depending on the... woman.

Can we all just say this lockout has gone too far?

Kevin Love Goes Cold Turkey

2011-11-22T13:08:00.002-06:00

Kevin Love turned down Turkey, informing the Istanbul-based club that he will not be joining the team. Love did say that playing abroad while the lockout carries on is still a vital option.

Had Kevin Love decided to play in Turkey, where I will be travelling to this Jterm, he would have teamed up with New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams.

The trend of NBA stars playing abroad seems to be increasing as the lockout continues without an end in sight. Don't be surprised if you are following European basketball this year...

Minnesota Timberwolves Players File Suit

2011-11-17T15:55:00.002-06:00

The NBA players are back to the court. The District Court, that is.

The NBAPA filed a class-action antitrust lawsuit against the NBA and its 30 teams in the same venue where the NFL and its players fought last spring and summer.

The same Minneapolis law firm that helped represent the NFL players filed a lawsuit for all NBA players. Wolves players are specifically named as plaintiffs, Anthony Tolliver and Derrick Williams, as well as Caron Butler and Ben Gordon.

The Minneapolis venue is a popular choice because the NFLPA has had success there, as well as its ability to schedule hearings more quickly than other district courts.

Latrell Sprewell Effect

2011-11-17T15:43:00.005-06:00

Do you guys remember Latrell Sprewell?

In the fall of 2004, the Wolves guard famously claimed, "I'm at risk. I have a lot of risk here. I've got a family to feed." The time was preseason and Sprewell was entering his second year with the Wolves after a conference run that came up just short to the Lakers. Sprewell, the 34-year old guard, was ranting over an "insulting" $27-30 million, 3-year extension offer by the Wolves.

He declined the offer and went on to have a poor season. He claimed, "Why would I want to help them win a title? They're not doing anything for me." Later, when the offer dropped to 421 million over three years, Sprewell became a free agent. When no other NBA team offered him a spot, he said enough was enough and retired.

Sprewell was gone. Never to play another NBA game again.

At the time, Sprewell was ridiculed for his decision from players, media and fans. How crazy do you have to be to turn down an "insulting" $27 million?

Now look at the NBA. Each side has decided that if they can't rake in $2 billion a year, then it isn't even worth playing. Has the NBA become the LSA?

Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks

2011-11-10T14:17:00.004-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves were supposed to have hosted the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, but the game has obviously been cancelled because of the NBA lockout.

The Wolves-Bucks game would have joined a host of Minnesota Border Battles taking place this upcoming weekend and week:

Friday: Gophers @ Badgers men's hockey

Saturday: Badgers @ Gophers football

Saturday: Gophers @ Badgers men's hockey

Monday: Vikings @ Packers football

BUMMER.

Ricky Rubio Keeps Busy During Lockout

2011-11-10T14:09:00.002-06:00

Ricky Rubio is using the lockout time to enjoy some of the aspects of the Golden State. Rubio, six thousand miles from home, has prepped in Los Angeles for the new league by scrimmaging with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Rubio has also made time to enjoy the city's night life.

He arrived in California last month to train twice a day and to play pickup ball with other athletes he will soon (fingers crossed) call opponents.

Rubio has worked with renowned NBA trainer Joe Abunassar and practiced daily with a rotating lineup of players such as Garnett, Pierce, Danny Granger, Joakim Noah, Shawn Marion, Nick Young and many others.

Timberwolves vs Hawks TONIGHT... And then there was the lockout

2011-11-03T12:15:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was supposed to be the debut night for Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams, the 2009 and 2011 first round draft picks. Rick Adelman would have coached his first game with the Wolves, showcasing his veteran experience. Opening night would have held a lot for the Minnesota Timberwolves... too bad the lockout is still going on.

Michael Beasley Breakup

2011-11-03T12:00:00.003-06:00

First the sham by Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries... now this? It appears another relationship has ended abruptly as Michael Beasley and his PR firm have decided to part ways after only three weeks.

Back on 10/21 Beasley announced that he had hired a public relations firm, S & S Associates to help him improve his image. Yesterday a representative of that same firm released a statement saying that the relationship was no longer present.

"Please be advised that S&S Associates is no longer affiliated with Michael Beasley. Please refer all inquireies to 'Shooter'."

Irreconciable differences?

"We think that Michael is a great kid, and we're wishing the best for him, but he was just not a good fit for our firm. Michael is at the stage in his life and his career where he just needs to take a step back and reevaluate a lot of things in his life."

Is that an actual stage? Sure he has almost as many tattoos and Kat Von D and once referred to the NBA labor negotiations as "kind of retarded", but that stuff is minor. He has had a rough year, getting busted with weed this summer, but it's debatable as to whether the fan he famously shoved in the face is having a rougher year.

You know what: hiring a PR firm was probably a smart firm. Too bad the PR firm also hired a PR firm that said Beasely was bad for their image. Oh well.

Lockout: League Will Cancel At Least 2 More Weeks

2011-10-25T12:44:00.002-06:00

More bad news. The NBA will be cancelling at least two more weeks of its season. With talks broken off between the two sides, and the gap seemingly ever-increasing, the cancellations are expected to total at least 102 more games , through November 28.

No further talks are on the schedules.

The first cancellations came on October 10, cancelling all the games between Nov 1 through Nov 14, totalling 100 games.

Beasley Crosses a Line: NBA Negotiations are 'Kind of Retarded'

2011-10-25T12:18:00.004-06:00

Michael 'Be Easy' Beasley has gotten himself into trouble yet again. So far he has gone through a marijuana bust, the 'mushing' of a heckling fan's face, and the failure of his "All-Star Classic" and now this.

"Fighting over 3 percent, that's kind of retarded to me, but it is what it is. We'll come to an agreement." Oh boy.

This isn't the first time we've had memorable quotes from players regarding the lockout. Perhaps the inactivity is making them stir crazy. Who knows? What I do know is that, because Be Easy can't even hold down a shoe deal (getting recently dumped by Adidas) he should probably stick to organizing tournaments in the hopes that the big name players he signs on actually show up.

David GRINCH Stern

2011-10-20T11:53:00.003-06:00

Happy Holidays! My gift to you: no Christmas games?

While David Stern didn't follow through on his threat to cancel Christmas games if talks were not resolved by Tuesday, it's becoming pretty obvious that we won't be watching basketball when the holidays roll around.

What a Grinch.

Christmas games are still on at the moment, but you can expect in the near future for the games to be axed. Both sides are growing frustrated, and the players aren't responding to minor slaps on the wrist.

It is clear to me that the league needs the players for more than the players need the league. Why don't the owners see it that way? Without players, all owners are is expensive suits.

Get to Know Ricky Rubio

2011-10-20T11:10:00.004-06:00

With the lockout being old news (and current news) I thought I would start to feature little bios about Timberwolves players every week until the lockout is over. It's my form of protest: feed you with useless information until you go so crazy you call NBA and NBAPA. It's more of an indirect protest, but I think it'll do the trick.

This week I will be featuring Ricky Rubio.

Rubio became the youngest player ever to play in the Spanish ACB League in 2005; he was 14. Back in 2009, the Timberwolves drafted Rubio with the fifth pick in the first round. This pick made Rubio the first player born in the 1990s to be drafted by the NBA. A fun fact: I am older than Ricky Rubio by 9 months and 15 days. Not so fun fact: I am poor, he is not.

Rubio weighs 190 lbs. and is 6'3" with a 6'9" wingspan. To some he is regarded as the best European guard prospect ever.

Where is Rubio now? Well he signed with Minnesota in June of 2011, but with the lockout, who knows... Probably on a beach somewhere.

Michael Beasley Host All Star Game at Osseo

2011-10-13T11:52:00.004-06:00

With the lockout and no games, I was curious as to what the players were up to.

Michael Beasley has recently finalized plans for a charity all-star basketball game that will be played on October 21 at Osseo High School, a northwest suburb of Minneapolis.

Among the NBA players listed to participate are some of Beasely's teammates Wesley Johnson, Wayne Ellington, Martell Webster, Sebastian Telfair and rookie forward Derrick Williams. Non-Wolves players include John Wall (Washington Wizards), Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls), Jeff Green (Boston Celtics) and DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings).

Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings will serve as a celebrity coach!

General Admission tickets are $50.

This sounds like a great idea to me! Although I find it slightly ironic that the lockout situation stems from the battle over money, yet these guys are setting up charity all-star games all over the country.

Why not split the difference on the NBA revenue and donate the gap-money to charities throughout the country? Riddle me that.

That way, it won't be like either side is 'giving in' to the other side, and it'll make fans think that the players and owners are actually good people... an image that has been deteriorating in recent months.

The NBA Lockout and More Bad News

2011-10-13T11:41:00.005-06:00

The lockout is beyond bad news... almost beyond words.

Because there hasn't been much for Timberwolves-specific news lately, I have been updating you on the NBA lockout. Well, I'm hear to deliver more bad news. The NBA has cancelled the first two weeks of the regular season, with more cacellations seeming inevitable.

The league has now progressed to the fourth month of the lockout; a lockout that could potentially alter the entire 2011-2012 season.

With every missed game, the NBA loses ground. From laid-off NBA staffers to arena employees that go without work, and the NBA looks like the bad guy (true or not? that is your call). The point is there are people besides the players that rely on the game for their livelihood who are now going without work.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the middle class is always on the sidelines of these dilemmas, yet are always the most drastically affected. You can't tell me that the players and owners won't be fine if there is no season. These guys are millionaires and billionaires. The stadium crew, the concession workers, the blue-collar guys? Will they be fine after no work for a year? Doubt it.

Not to mention the resentful fans. In every previous lockout, apologies by players and owners weren't enough; it took a couple seasons for the sport to compensate for the setback caused by the lockout.

We as fans are stuck, unhappily, and waiting out this whole ordeal. Thanks a lot, NBA.

Hey Lockout... What About the Other Workers?

2011-10-06T12:33:00.003-06:00

Kobe Bryant may ride out the NBA lockout overseas in Italy. Others that depend on the existence of the league may not be so lucky...

If the lockout persists and more than just the preseason is cancelled, you're talking about lost jobs and collateral economic damages. The loss of games will mean loss of jobs for waitresses, bartenders, hotel workers and others who count on the NBA season for their paychecks.

Players and owners will be alright, but will everyone else?

Terry Porter to Join Adelman's Assistants

2011-10-06T12:26:00.003-06:00

Until the lockout is over, the Minnesota Timberwolves will not be hiring any of new coach Rick Adelman's assistants. When the lockout is over (yes I said when), former Wolves guard Terry Porter will be among the new hires.

Porter, who coach the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, played for Adelman for six seasons with the Portland trail Blazers, which is a great start to a foundational relationship that should exist in a coaching group. Porter, interestingly, also interviewwed for the Wolves' head coaching job.

More Lockout News...

2011-09-29T10:40:00.002-06:00

When the NFL was in potential-lockout mode, it was all anyone could talk about. Fans were staying updated on free agents, rookies and the daily negotiations. There were news posts everyday and an endless stream of questions signaling fans couldn't get enough information.

The NBA lockout? Not so much.

What's the deal? It appears fans don't care so much about the NBA lockout and that they would rather check their football fantasy draft instead. Are people 'over' the NBA or is it just the frustration of standstill after standstill and the NBA just happens to be the most recent in a long stream? Very few people care about the lockout.

I think there exists a combination of both a lack of interest and a surplus of disgust. Owners and players need to be careful and realize with the economy and so many other options to steal away a fan's disposable income, that they don't think it will always 'just work out'.

What do you think? Give me your thoughts! I would love to hear them.

Rick Adelman Minnesota

2011-09-22T11:59:00.003-06:00

Rick Adelman... coach of the LA Lakers? Not so fast.

Rumors have been circling that the Lakers almost transitioned from Phil Jackson to Rick Adelman, who would have fit in with the no-nonse attitude of LA.

Adelman was a coach for the Kings and Blazers, a nemesis of the Lakers in prior years and subject of antipathy from Lakers fans. No love for Adleman in LA.

Too bad for LA!

NBA Lockout Deadline Fast Approaching

2011-09-22T11:35:00.003-06:00

Training camps are set to open October 2nd. The preseason game about a week after that.

The last time the NBA had a lockout was for the 1998-1999 season... back when Dr. Jack Kevorkian was found guilty of second-degree murder, Internet Explorer version 5 was released, Y2K was a huge problem and bluetooth was announced.

How did that lockout work?

The basic agreement was reached on January 6th and was finalized later that month on the 20th. At that point the lockout officially ended. Training camps opened and negotiations with free agency players began, even the pre-season games followed within the week. The 50-game regular season started on February 5.

There was 30 days between the agreement and the beginning of the regular season. This season is set to start on November 2. To keep the timeline, we would need to get everything in order by October 2.

Can it happen? What are your thoughts?

Rick Adelman Seems a Good Fit for Minnesota

2011-09-15T11:54:00.005-06:00

Welcome Coach Rick Adelman!

Although we all have the NBA lockout in the back of our minds and that the lack of negotiation progressed has corroded any chance of basketball action this season, there has been some front-office movement to catch our eye.

The Minnesota Twolves have managed to sign one of the best coaches on the market: Rick Adelman!

The former Rockets boss will be the Minnesota Timberwolves head coach for the upcoming (or the next) season. Adelman is No. 8 on the victories list in the NBA and is 945-616 in his 20 seasons as a coach.

Taylor is replacing Kurt Rambis.

NBA Lockout Conforms to 2011's Year of Sports

2011-09-15T11:39:00.005-06:00

Lockout 3.0

NFL. Congress. NBA. It appears that this is the year of stalemates as the negotiations between the NBA and NBPA have come to a halt.

The parties have not scheduled any further bargaining sessions at this point and there appears to be no end to the lockout in sight. With training camps set to begin on October 3rd, it would not be out of the question for the camps to be cancelled. As common with avalanches and life in general, one thing often leads to another. As soon as the training camps are cancelled, don't be surprised when one side or the other broaches the subject of cancelling the entire regular season.

Hot topics for the negotiations include the decertification of the players' union. If the union is decertified, the players would be able to file antitrust lawsuits against the league; however, other results of such an action remain uncertain.

Cancellation, another hot button issue, would result in... no season. I seriously don't want it to come to that. Do you? What are your thoughts?

Minnesota Timberwolves Coaching Update

2011-09-05T21:41:00.004-06:00

Guess what? There is nothing to update! The Minnesota Timberwolves haven't done anything with their head coaching search lately and I don't get it. Why aren't they doing anything? Seriously Kahn what are you doing? There is honestly nothing else for you to do. No free agents to sign, no rookies to sign, no nothing except find this coach. I know there is no rush to get this done but come on already. Get Rick Adelman to sign along the dotted line and lets get these fans excited.

Tony Ronzone Leave Minnesota Timberwolves

2011-09-05T21:33:00.003-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Tony Ronzone have parted ways. They "mutually" agreed to part ways. Ronzone was the assistant general manager for the Timberwolves ever since David Kahn was first hired. Ronzone is especially known for his ability to evaluate talent and his connections overseas. You can tell that he had a big influence in the draft room because the Wolves made so many international picks during the time he was a part of the organization. Tony, you shall be missed.

Rick Adelman Wants Timberwolves Head Coaching Position?

2011-08-25T11:14:00.002-06:00

I'm still trying to figure out why Rick Adelman flew in from Portland to interview with the Timberwolves. He really shouldn't be interested in this job, but it seems like he is. At least he might be interested at the money the Wolves would throw at him. For a rebuilding job like this, I'm assuming the Timberwolves would have to offer him somewhere around 5 million dollars a year. Probably more than that. I just can't see him wanting this job. The roster doesn't fit at all and management has a history of treating coaches poorly after the whole Kurt Rambis fiasco. Only time will tell, but I really hope the Timberwolves are able to get Rick Adelman to coach this team. Plus he totally looks like Count Dooku from Star Wars.

Rick Adelman Interviewing With David Kahn Today

2011-08-23T12:37:00.005-06:00

Great news for Timberwolves fans today, Rick Adelman will be interviewing with the Minnesota Timberwolves today IN person. Adelman is clearly the best and most qualified candidate the Timberwolves have interviewed thus far and makes the most sense to be hired. Problem here is, does the guy want the job. My gut says no, but I'm really hoping Glen Taylor can throw some serious dough his way and get him on board.

Adelman is known to be extremely creative as an offensive mind. Something the new coach must have considering we have 4 power forwards 3 point guards and three small forwards. He also emphasizes the up tempo pace and ball movement that David Kahn is looking for. Lets hope Kahn doesn't say anything stupid today to screw this one up. Please hire this man.

Ricky Rubio Could Sign With a Spanish Team

2011-08-17T10:10:00.004-06:00

If there is an NBA lockout that permits a season from happening, Nikola Pekovic won't be sitting around in Minnesota, he'll be playing basketball in Europe. Pekovic agreed to a contract with Partizan Belgrade, a team in Serbia, that has an out clause that allows him to go back to the United States when the lockout ends.

There have been reports that Ricky Rubio would be interested in doing a similar deal. This would make a lot of sense and give Rubio the chance to be at home a little bit longer if there is a lockout. Personally, I think he should come to the United States as soon as possible and start training with NBA trainers and stop playing European basketball. He's been playing games year round since he was 14, he doesn't need to play a few more games to be ready for the NBA. Let him work on parts of his game alone so that he can be as ready as he possibly can.

David Stern Discusses Lockout With Bill Simmons

2011-08-16T08:46:00.004-06:00

The B.S. Report is probably my favorite radio show. Bill Simmons is among one of the finest sports writers in the world and his radio is show is probably the most entertaining sports talk radio you're going to find. He asks all the tough questions, he's smart, and he's hilarious.

Recently, he interviewed David Stern on his radio show about the NBA Lockout. I thought it was a really good interview that helped me understand the lockout a little bit better. Simmons asks all the right questions and you can feel the tension from Stern when he is pressed for answers. I would definitely recommend people to listen to this if they want a better understanding of the lockout. You can listen to the podcast for free on iTunes. Search B.S. Report and you can download the David Stern podcast for free.

My favorite part of the interview is when Simmons asks Stern about why they never made a counter offer in the negotiations. Simmons makes a very valid point that in order to negotiate, both sides need to make an offer. You can totally tell that Stern is flustered when he tries to answer this question.

The Next Head Coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves Will Be...

2011-08-10T10:17:00.005-06:00

I have absolutely no idea who will be the next head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves because none of the candidates who have been interviewed make any sense. The big reason for this is that David Kahn goes only for the big names and clearly doesn't care if his hiring makes any basketball sense what so ever. I'll go through each candidate and tell you why they make no sense to me.

Don Nelson - All time winningest coach and plays up tempo style that Kahn craves. Too bad the guy is 71 years old and will be able to coach this team for a year or two. He also has a history of being terrible with young players. Thankfully this team is littered with them.

Bernie Bickerstaff - Proven to be a terrible coach. Has been a head coach for 13 seasons and has been mediocre in each. He is also very old, 71 to be exact. Maybe Rubio can wheel him along the sidelines while he yells at Beasley during games.

Larry Brown - Has been a terrible coach in his last two stops. Also extremely old at age 70. Has been terrible with young point guards. Good thing we don't have one coming next year... Hasn't been a good coach since 2004 when he was with the Pistons.

Terry Porter - Was fired in Phoenix because his team wasn't playing at a fast enough pace. Weird, I think Kahn wants the Wolves to play at a fast pace.

Sam Mitchell - Wasn't even on Kahn's original list. Clearly a courtesy throw in by Glen Taylor.

Mike Woodson - Defensive coach whose Hawk teams played at one of the slowest paces in the league. Probably won't be hired he is merely just a name.

Rick Adelman - Makes all the sense in the world. Proven winner whose ball movement would likely make sense for the Wolves and appease Kahn. He is not interested in this job and only interviewed for it by phone.

Pretty much I hate all of these candidates and wish Kahn would hire a young assistant and not a big name who will do terribly with this job.

Michael Beasely Shoves Fan at Dyckman Park

2011-08-09T08:22:00.002-06:00

Oh Michael Beasley, thank you so much for staying in the the news. Without you and your nonsense, I would have nothing to write about during the month of August when there is an NBA Lockout and little else to write about.

Michael Beasely played in an exhibition basketball game at Dyckman Park in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood. A fan taunted Beasley and Beasley proceeded to go toward the stands and push the fan.

Alright David Kahn, I'm really not sure how many times someone has to screw up for you to believe that they are not a person you want on your basketball team, but come on now. Beasley has repeatedly been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The sad part about this, is that Kahn believes that Beasley a part of this teams core. If someone is a part of your team's core, then you believe that they can be a winner. What has Beasley done to prove that he can be a winner and a part of a winning locker room? Nothing. He needs to go. Too bad no one will trade for him because of his behavior.

Kevin Love Voices NBA Lockout Discontentment

2011-08-02T08:18:00.003-06:00

The Timberwolves' website, per league policy, has removed all images and refernces to active players while the NBA lockout unfolds. Kevin Love called the act "silly" and pushed for a resolve.

Love has had a successful start to his NBA career in Minnesota and last season emerged as the new post sensation in the leage. However, now no one can see his great stats. David Stern ordered all NBA teams to remove the stats of league players from their team websites.

After the NFL lockout and the US government debt talks I think fans of sports and the red, white and blue would like the NBA lockout discussions to come to a swift end. No one wants a repeat of the shortened 50-game season of 1999. Let's hope for all 82 games.

I agree with Love, this is silly.

Minnesota Timberwolves Interview Rick Adelman by Phone

2011-07-28T11:17:00.005-06:00

Former Houston Rocket's head coach Rick Adelman was interviewed by Minnesota Timberwolve's head of basketball operations David Kahn over the phone last weekend.

This shows that Rick Adelman has at least some interest in the head coaching vacancy left by Kurt Rambis. If the talks are going to get more serious, he will likely have to meet with David Kahn and owner Glen Taylor in a face to face meeting.

I'm personally doubting we are able to hire Adelman. Although he has ties to Kevin Love (his son played high school basketball with him) and is a huge fan of the Wolve's power forward, I just can't see him wanting to coach this young of a team. He would be great for the Wolves, but I have the feeling he wants one last chance at coaching a contender and getting an NBA title. Unless the Wolves are able to blow him away with money, I really can't see this one happening.

Kevin Love to Play Volleyball During NBA Lockout

2011-07-27T09:47:00.003-06:00

Kevin Love will not be spending his time during the NBA lockout in Europe like NBA superstar Deron Williams. Love will spend his time at the beach. No he won't be sitting in the sun, making smiley faces out of sun tan lotion his belly, or picking up chicks. He will be playing on the professional beach volleyball tour. He's going to play in the Manhattan Beach Open from August 26-28. Love said he hopes to make it through at least the first day of the tournament.

I'm okay with Love playing beach volleyball for a little bit. First of all, I think he will be a very good beach volleyball player. He has unbelievable anticipation skills and he has very soft hands. Both should help him tremendously as a volleyball player.

I hope that he gets on the court with his teammates and works to improve during the lockout. I think it would be great if Love could be like Drew Brees and organize full team workouts just like the Saints did during the NFL lockout. That would be a feel-good story for the franchise and would energize the fan base. It would go a long way in proving to the fans that this team is committed to winning.

Timberwolves Planning to Interview Larry Brown

2011-07-26T10:15:00.002-06:00

After interviewing Don Nelson over the weekend and Rick Adelman over the phone, the Minnesota Timberwolves intend on interviewing Larry Brown sometime this week. Brown is 6th all time on the all time wins list with 1,098. Brown has coached for 9 different teams and won an NBA championship with the 2003-2004 Detroit Pistons.

Once again, this one just makes no sense. Is David Kahn just putting his hand into a hat and pulling out names here or is he really thinking about this? Not only is Brown extremely old, he is 70, he also has not coached a winning team since his days in Detroit. Not only that, he doesn't even run an up tempo offense that Kahn wants this team to play with.

This honestly would be hilarious if we hired him though. Imagine Larry Brown and David Kahn together. They would probably trade the entire team except for Derrick Williams. Larry Brown always trades all of his players and David Kahn loves to trade all of his players, so it's a perfect match.

Seriously I hope this doesn't happen though.

Bernie Bickerstaff is Latest to Interview for Head Coaching Job

2011-07-22T10:07:00.005-06:00

Minnesota Timberwolve's owner Glen Taylor and president of basketball operations David Kahn will be interviewing Bernie Bickerstaff today. When it was first rumored that Kurt Rambis was going to be fired, Bernie Bickerstaff was the first person who was mentioned as a possible replacement for Rambis. In fact, it was rumored that Kahn even reached out to Bickerstaff in early June to join the Wolves. The idea here was that Bickerstaff would groom his son, J.B. Bickerstaff, while coaching the team for the next couple of years. Houston really shot this plan down when they hired J.B. Bickerstaff to become a part of their staff. Bickerstaff is still interviewing the job today, regardless of his son.

This would be an absolutely terrible hire for the Wolves. I don't ever even want J.B. Bickerstaff ever coaching this team. This guy has enough experience as a head coach that we just know that he is terrible. First of all, he is 67. He is 415-517 in 13 seasons. This isn't a small sample size of a guy who has had some unlucky breaks. There is very clear evidence that he is not a successful NBA coach. Thankfully, there is a report that former Sacramento Kings head coach Rick Adelman will interview with the team on Saturday. Adelman led the Sacramento Kings to the Western Conference Finals in 2002.

Timberwolves New Schedule Released

2011-07-21T13:04:00.004-06:00

The NBA released schedules recently. I gotta say, I'm liking the Wolves schedule for next season! First things first, I love that we open up at home. That place will be packed to see the debuts of Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams, so I could really see us starting the season off with a win. Also we start out the season against Atlanta, at Phillie, then home games vs. Phoenix, Toronto and Sacramento. We could easily win the first game against Atlanta because of the crowd and everything. We'll probably lose at Philadelphia but I could see us taking at least two out of three in those last three home games. That means a 4-1 or 3-2 start is a very real possibility for the Wolves. Here are three games I'm really looking forward too.

November 25th vs. Houston Rockets: No, I don't care about Kevin McHale's return, I just am excited because it will be on ESPN.

December 23rd vs. Dallas Mavericks - Who doesn't want to see the Wolves take on the champs!? Plus the Mavs have Rudy Fernandez from Spain, Ricky vs. Rudy Part one. I can't wait.

February 6th at Memphis - Nothing special here. I just think the Grizz are a really cool team and I want to watch them steam roll the Wolves.

Here's a link to the full schedule

Mike Woodson and Terry Porter are First to Interview for Head Coaching Position

2011-07-20T11:42:00.004-06:00

David Kahn and the basketball operations staff began interviewing candidates for the head coaching vacancy early this week. The first two candidates to come in were Mike Woodson and Terry Porter. Both of these choices really puzzled me, but I feel like Kahn is trying to get as many big names in as possible to interview, just to excite the fan base. I like the Woodson interview just because he has been through this before. He took a Hawks team that won 13 games in his first season to 3 consecutive playoff births after his 6th season. The puzzling part for me is that he is a defensive minded coach and his teams have played at the slowest paces while he was a coach for the Hawks.

The Terry Porter interview really doesn't make sense to me. The only thing that makes sense about it is that he was a successful NBA point guard who could mentor Ricky Rubio. Here's a guy who went to the Phoenix Suns and slowed down the fastest team in the NBA. Kahn, this is literally exactly the opposite of what you want. He has already slowed down one team, you probably don't share the same beliefs as him, so this would have a terrible ending. If you want up tempo, look at Don Nelson or Rick Adelman.

List of Possible New Coaches for the Timberwolves

2011-07-14T09:11:00.003-06:00

Jerry Zgoda wrote a list today of all the possible candidates for the Minnesota Timberwolves head coaching position. Here's the list:

Rick Adelman - Has his teams play with the free moving ball movement that Kahn desires and is a proven winner. Kevin Love might even sign an extension if Adelman is hired as Love and Adelman's son played high school basketball together.

Don Nelson - Has his teams play the up tempo style that Kahn craves and has the most wins in NBA history. Is reportedly interested in the job and intrigued by Rubio and Love.

Dave Joerger - Coached Memphis's much improved defense last season and almost got the top assistant job for Kevin McHale.

Bryan Gates - Worked with Kahn in the D League and is an assistant for New Orleans

Sam Mitchell - Has ties to the franchise as a former player.

Larry Brown - Coached NBA championship team in 2003-2004 Pistons

Mike Fratello - Former Grizzlies coach and has connections with Kahn.

Lorenzo Romar - Known for his up tempo style of play at the University of Washington.

My suggestion? Lawrence Frank. He was an excellent coach at New Jersey until they depleted his roster. Also, he has been the defensive coordinator for the Boston Celtics defense which was one of the best defenses in the league even after trading center Kendrick Perkins. He also probably picked up a ton of experience last season while working under Doc Rivers.

Minnesota Timberwolves Reputation

2011-07-14T08:36:00.004-06:00

So the Timberwolves just got done with their firing of head coach Kurt Rambis. This honestly was one of the most ridiculous processes I have ever witnessed from a pro sports franchise. Never before in my life has it taken a full three weeks for a team to hire a coach after an ESPN report has been leaked. Not only did the firing get leaked and was full blown news, but there were also reports that Kahn was already asking other coaches to come interview for the job, while Rambis was still technically hired. Here comes the knee slapper, he asks Rambis to join the front office in a pity attempt to clear up his image. So the reason you want to fire this guy is because he doesn't share the same basketball ideologies as you, but then you want to pick his brain for personal decisions? Clearly a public relations move.

Luckily for Kahn, he has a large vocabulary and makes some sense when he talks. He uses twisted - delusional logic to justify each of his actions. For example, he said that the reason he took so long to fire Rambis is that he wanted to make absolutely sure that he was making the right decision. How long does it take to make the absolute right decision? Why didn't you fire him before the draft so you knew what kind of team to build? I think it's because he wanted to draft this team all by himself without Rambis. He didn't even let Rambis be apart of the draft process, which is a messed up situation. If you don't want him apart of that, how can you expect him to coach the team, just fire him already.

For the Timberwolves, all this is a huge blow for the franchise. What Kahn needs to understand is that even if he thought he needed that much time to make that decsision, which he didn't, (who needs three months to decide whether to fire someone or not?) it's his reputation that matters too. Everyone in the league thinks he's an idiot whose running the team into the ground so no one will want to work for him. For example, when he wants to find a new coach, he probably will have a hard time doing so after what he did to Rambis. Also, free agents. Whose going to want to sign with a team run by this guy? Not me and not anyone.

Kurt Rambis has Been Fired!

2011-07-13T09:29:00.004-06:00

I feel like I wrote this a long time ago, but Kurt Rambis was officially fired by the Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday following a David Kahn press conference. Everyone and their mother saw this one coming. There was an ESPN report right before the NBA draft that the Wolves had decided to fire Rambis. Then there were rumors of David Kahn reaching out to other coaches even though he hadn't fired Rambis yet. Okay, so this was all done in the most unprofessional manner possible, but let's explore the Timberwolves options.

Let's discuss the parameters of someone who ends up coaching the Wolves. This person has to know how to teach defense and teach it well. The Wolves were ranked near the bottom in all defensive categories last season. Ideally, this coach would also be young so that they could grow with the team. The problem here is that Kahn never mentions defense and only wants to play up tempo and push the ball so you can scratch what I said above. Kahn wants someone he can control. He couldn't control Rambis, who believed that winning basketball teams don't play up tempo, so he fired him.

David Kahn, can you name a past NBA champion that played up tempo? neither can I. Sure, Phoenix got close, but they had Steve Nash running the show and I don't see a Steve Nash on this team, Ricky Rubio needs to average more than 3 points for me to even consider him.

Hopefully Kahn hires someone who is just a flat out stud of a coach, but this isn't likely. There's a big problem here, who on earth wants to work with David Kahn. All the high profile coaches just witnessed what he did to Kurt Rambis and how he left him in limbo for weeks only to embarrass him and then fire him. That's why I would cross out names such as Rick Adelman and Jeff Van Gundy.

That leaves us with Kahn either finding a desperate coach who will do whatever he says or a young coach who will do whatever he says. Either way, I don't see this working out for the Wolves because Kahn's philosophies are pretty flawed.

There was an ESPN report that Don Nelson, the NBA's all time winning coach is intrigued by the Wolves roster. This would be a great hire as he has a history of being a very good up tempo coach. The only problem is that he is 71. Still, it would be a better hire than any other hire Kahn would likely make. Adelman would be the best hire, but I can't see him wanting to coach this team.

Michael Beasely Cited for Speeding, Pot

2011-07-07T09:08:00.003-06:00

Welcome to the NBA Lockout Michael Beasley! You get to do whatever you want since no one in the front office or League can do anything about it! Just kidding...

Michael Beasley was driving 85 mph in a 65 mph zone on Highway 12 just west of his home in Orono, Minnesota. When officers pulled over him over, they smelt marijuana and found just over a half ounce in the passenger seat of his car.

Beasley was not under the influence and claimed that the marijuana was his friends who he had just dropped off.

Beasley checked into drug rehab in 2009 for marijuana use and when David Kahn was asked why he didn't succeed in Miami he said this:

"he smoked too much marijuana."

Timberwolves, get this bum off our team. He's a pothead off the court and a black hole on the court. Championship teams are not built around Michael Beasley, try and get an established veteran in a trade for him. Oh wait... no one wants him.

Teams Hurt the Least by the Lockout

2011-07-06T09:01:00.005-06:00

Okay, so no team in the NBA isn't hurt by the lockout, but there are some teams that will be hurt a lot less than others. These are established, young teams that don't have any aging members of their core. The really young teams (Wolves, Wizards, Cavs etc.) aren't in good shape because the only way they can improve is by playing games.

Memphis Grizzlies: This of course hinges on their ability to resign Marc Gasol, but the Grizzlie's core of Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, Gasol, and Randolph should hold up through an off season.

Chicago Bulls: I know what you might be thinking, earlier in the article I said that teams shouldn't have aging members of their core. Well I don't consider Carlos Boozer apart of their core. In fact, I don't really count Luol Deng or Joakim Noah as part of their core. Their core is Derrick Rose who is a stud and will be great for years to come.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Lastly, team I believe is least hurt by the lockout. An established team that is only lacking playoff experience. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are extremely young and proven talents. Maybe most importantly, their competition gets older. Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Antonio all have aging rosters, which means OKC can catapult those teams to dominate the West.

Teams Who Will be Hurt Most if There is No Season

2011-07-05T11:29:00.004-06:00

If there is a loss of the 2011-2012 season, some team's futures will really be crushed. Not only do they not get to compete, but the players who were signed through that season lose that year on their contract, meaning that's one less year of Kevin Love, Rubio, etc. Their contracts don't just stall and wait for the season, the contracts act as if that season happened for 0 dollars. Obviously, this will really hurt a lot of teams, but these teams will be hurt the most specifically.

The New Jersey Nets: The Nets desperately need Deron Williams to stay with the team. How to do that? Well, he is been pretty adamant that he wants to see this team improve. How does he see this team improve if there are no games? Yeah, they'll be screwed if there is no season, he walks, and they are left with another rebuilding project.

New Orleans Hornets: Replace everything that says Deron Williams with Chris Paul

Orlando Magic: Replace everything in the Nets paragraph that says Deron Williams with Dwight Howard.

Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers: These teams are aging and if they have any shot at getting another title, they'll have to get them sooner rather than later. The Bulls, Heat, and Thunder are only going to get better so these teams really need this season to exist.

The Lockout and the Minnesota Timberwolves

2011-07-04T21:02:00.002-06:00

Seriously, the Wolves have some exciting things going on and the lockout takes place. This is a HUGE blow to the Minnesota Timberwolves. For the first time in quite some time, people might actually want to come to the Target Center and watch this team. Derrick Williams is a really cool player who a lot of people want to see and this team is another year older, which could be really good for them.

The biggest reason this is a crushing blow for the Wolves is that Ricky Rubio is coming to town and that is a huge attraction. Not only does that make the Timberwolves a local attraction, he makes them a national attraction. Everyone wants to see this kid play, but there is no way of seeing him if there aren't any games being played.

This was the last thing this team needed. If the lockout continues, the NBA will lose a lot of casual fans and people will forget all about the buzz and lure of Ricky Rubio and this young wolves team. Hopefully they figure this one out fast, or the Wolves will seriously pay for it.

NBA Locks Out Its Players on July 1st What it Means for Wolves

2011-07-01T09:46:00.004-06:00

The NBA locked out its players last night and it looks like we might be in for a long lock out. David Stern spoke to the media yesterday after negotiations broke off yesterday afternoon. He said that he is worried about the damage that this can do to the league, but believes that the system is extremely broken.

The players love the system and don't want it to change at all. They have an average salary of 5 million dollars and have the power to change teams whenever they want. They are also getting 57% of the revenue.

The reason this is going to take so long is because they are so far apart on these issues. The players want to continue receiving 57% of the revenue, while the owners want it completely flipped so that they are the ones receiving 60% of the revenue. They also want a harder salary cap with less guaranteed contracts so that they aren't wasting money.

Everyone knows that the owners aren't making money so the owners have a lot to gain from this. 22 of the 30 teams are profitable and you can bet the Wolves are one of the teams.

Who to root for Wolves fans? Root for the owners here. They're trying to make a harder cap so that teams like the Mavericks can't just out spend the smaller teams. They want to make the league more competitive so that each team feels like it has a chance to win a title, something the Wolves aren't feeling at all. Hopefully they share the revenue more evenly among teams and have a harder cap to stop these super teams from forming. That's how the Wolves can benefit from this.

Bill Simmons Interviews David Kahn and He Discusses Ricky Rubio, Derrick Williams and More

2011-06-28T11:20:00.006-06:00

If you haven't already heard it, I highly recommend you listen to Bill Simmon's B.S. report where he interviews David Kahn. If you haven't listened to it yet, you can find it online (just click on the one titled "The B.S. Report: 6/24 Part 1" or you can listen to it on iTunes. Just go to iTunes and search Bill Simmons B.S. report and you can download the podcast for free.

It's an amazing interview that anyone Wolf fans should listen to you because Bill Simmons ask all the tough questions that Kahn usually never answers. Kahn is great in an interview and found a way to get out of most of the tough questions by giving really long answers and explaining the history of the team. Kahn explains the selections of Jonny Flynn, Ricky Rubio, Wes Johnson and Derrick Williams in full length. Thank Bill Simmons for asking all the right questions.

Favorite part of the interview is when Kahn goes into length about how not to panic about Ricky Rubio not playing well in Spain the last few years and that he is only twenty years old and that you have to be patient with these young kids. Only for Bill Simmons to turn it around and say "wait you just did that with Jonny Flynn" Haha, classic Kahn with his twisted, backwards logic.

2011 NBA Draft Recap Timberwolves Draft Grade

2011-06-24T09:17:00.005-06:00

Wow, David Kahn blew me away last night. For the first time ever, and when say I ever, I really mean ever, his decisions really made a lot of sense. First of all bravo for drafting Derrick Williams. We needed to draft the best player available even if it wasn't a great fit. More importantly, Kahn said after the draft that he plans on keeping Williams and that Williams will be a Timberwolf next year.

Here's why I like Williams. He can get his own shot whenever he wants, but he takes good shots. For the first time since Kevin Garnett (I don't feel like counting Al Jefferson because he was a liability in so many other areas) we have a legitimate go to scorer. Just watching him against Duke, you know he's going to be able to score points in the NBA. He's not going to be like Beasely who gets at the elbow, does a couple of jab steps, and shoots. Williams is going be really efficient and make others around him better. He's a winner. His play in the NCAA Tournament proved that. Beasely is pretty indifferent to defense and winning in general so Williams represents a huge upgrade over him. Leading to my next point.

Please trade Michael Beasely. Package him with Anthony Randolph or something and try to get a veteran on this team (if you want to save your job, David Kahn). This team won't win with Beasely. I know Kahn wants to prove to the world that he stole Beasely from Miami and turned him into an All Star, but I don't think that's possible. He just isn't driven or smart enough to figure it out. The next few weeks will be telling because the Wolves will begin to reshape this roster. They can't and better not go into next season with 7 forwards. They need to pave way for Williams so he can get serious minutes his rookie season.

For the draft grade, I got to give the Wolves an A-. They would have gotten an A or A+ if they had gotten rid of some of their forwards for a veteran, but beggars can't be choosers. Of course if they trade Williams this grade is immediately reduced to at least B- but it depends on who they get back(I never trust the Wolves when it comes to trades). That's it for the week I'll be back on Monday.

2011 NBA Draft Preview: How and Why David Kahn will Screw This Up

2011-06-23T08:06:00.007-06:00

Alright Wolves fans we've got a to talk about this morning. Today is Draft Day and we're only a few hours away from the 2011 NBA Draft. The Wolves have the number 2 pick in what is widely believed to be a 2 person draft. Of course, news has leaked that David Kahn is firing Kurt Rambis after the draft, adding plenty of unnecessary distractions for the Wolves. I could start by talking about how ridiculously this situation was handled but I want to talk about the draft because that is a lot more exciting. Here's my draft preview and I'm mostly going to focus on how and why David Kahn is going to screw this thing up in a couple of hours.

The obvious choice here at number 2 is Derrick Williams. Naturally, there are reports that the Wolves might be picking Turkish Center Enes Kanter. This is classic Minnesota Timberwolves thinking, pick for need over talent. They are forcing themselves to believe that Kanter is the better player when really Williams is the far more accomplished player. Of course the Wolves don't understand that they aren't a mediocre center from competing. Wolves don't overthink this, you need to take the best player available. You screwed it up last year by taking Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins, please don't do it again. This team needs talent because it clearly lacks it in a bad way. This is the first way in which Kahn can screw this up. Don't worry Wolves fans, even if he doesn't make this pick he will definitely still screw this up.

Here's what Wolves fans don't understand: the NBA Draft likely won't have any effect on the team. The reason behind this, David Kahn's idea of who the core of this team is going forward. Here in lies the biggest problem for the Wolves. Rather than drafting the vastly superior Derrick Williams and trading the black hole that is Michael Beasely, Kahn has his heart set on trading Williams. Derrick Williams and Michael Beasely do a lot of the same things but there is one HUGE difference between the two: Derrick Williams understands the game of basketball and Beasely doesn't. Playoff teams aren't led by guys like Beasely, who has no understanding of the game. Beasely is lazy, and in no way, shape, or form is he someone you would dare consider a core piece to your team. Derrick Williams bring all the same things on the basketball court, while bringing a solid work ethic and a winning attitude to the team. Beasely clearly does not bring any of this to the table. Beasely's flaws bring me to our next important thing.

No one wants any Wolves except for the Kevin Love and the Number 2 pick, Derrick Williams. That's the problem with what Kahn is doing. He's collecting a ton of young talent so that he can trade some of it for an established veteren, but no one wants any of his players. He can't trade Kevin Love because this team will be the worst team in basketball history without him so he's left trading Williams. Is this team in position to trade it's second most talented player (potentially most talented, anyone who watched Williams this year knows he's really, really good)? Absolutely not so why is Kahn doing this?

Kahn's doing this because he knows he's toast. If he doesn't produce a team that can't produce 30 wins he is absolutely going to be fired. Worse than that, if this team is a bottom feeder again, you can guarantee that the Los Angeles Clippers will be drafting somewhere in the top 5 with this Wolves pick (remember, Kevin Mchale wisely traded a future first round pick for Marko Jaric that is a ticking time bomb). This team needs to win next year in the worst way, but Kahn has no idea how to do it because no teams want any of his players. Which leads me to our most likely outcome.

Kahn will most likely trade Williams for a slightly above average center or shooting guard, the teams two greatest needs. Kahn might not even trade for a center because he somehow thinks that Darko Millic is an NBA player. Rather than keeping Williams, a potential All Star, Kahn will trade him in hopes of reaching 30 wins next year so that he can save his job. Glen Taylor will fall for this ploy and David Kahn will continue running this team into the ground. Kahn has no idea what he is doing and needs to be fired if the Wolves ever want to make the playoffs. Before you defend Kahn, let me end with a quote from him following the 2009 NBA Draft after he drafted Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio. "We truly believe these kids can play together." This is when we should have realized what we're getting ourselves into.

Ricky Rubio is Bringing Out the Best in David Kahn and I Love It

2011-06-22T15:07:00.004-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves recently introduced Ricky Rubio and David Kahn really flexed his muscles at the press conference. David Kahn was able to show off his prized jewel from the 2009 draft. Here's why this brought out the best in Kahn: it showed exactly how delusional this guy is and I think it's downright hilarious. Here's a guy who is placing the fate of a franchise into the hands of a 20 year old Spanish kid who averaged about five points per game in Spain. Not only did he only average five points per game, he didn't even start on his own team.

Alright so what else made this so great? Not only has Kahn tied his own fate to Rubio, he has done it in the worst way possible. He has put all the pressure in the world on Rubio's shoulders. He's gone out of his way to say that Rubio has the "it" factor. Practically calling him the second coming of Garnett before he has even played a minute in an NBA game. To make matters worse, he knows that Rubio hasn't been playing good basketball lately and is doing this just to get fans excited.

Look, I want Rubio to succeed just as much as the next guy, but he and Kahn's fate are forever tied. If Rubio fails Kahn will be fired.

Another funny things is that I love is that Kahn truly thinks that Rubio is the missing piece. He thinks that all these players that he has will now form in to some super team with Rubio point guarding it. He's too stuck up to realize that the players he's acquired just flat out aren't very good.

Tomorrow is the NBA Draft and I will have plenty of stuff to preview that in my next post. It will mostly feature me trying to guess at how Kahn will screw this up. That's all for now.

Ricky Rubio Coming or Not Coming? Here's Why He had to Sign

2011-06-16T08:21:00.007-06:00

No fear everyone, Ricky Rubio indeed is going to be a Minnesota Timberwolf. There have been multiple reports that he already signed his contract to be with the Wolves. Rubio's Spanish club won the ACB championship Tuesday, after which Rubio said:

"We are talking with Barcelona and we will soon see."

The media some how read this as Rubio saying that he didn't want to be a Wolf. All he was saying is that he needs to negotiate the buyout with his Spanish team.

Here's why you can put the kibosh on the speculation of him not signing. Rubio needs to sign with the Wolves because of the uncertain NBA future. He might not get as much money with his rookie deal and he also doesn't know if the new CBA will allow for the Wolves to help pay his buyout. Also, Rubio has been trying to force his way out of Minnesota ever since we drafted him, but his performance in the Spanish League has forced his stock to plummet. The Wolves would not get nearly as much in return for him, so it makes sense for them to roll the dice with him. Rubio better turn out to be a stud because the future of the Wolves depends on it. Also, David Kahn's future depends on the success of Rubio. If Rubio is great and the Wolves make the playoffs in a year or two, Kahn will be hansomely rewarded. If not, he will definitely be fired.

NBA Finals and What it Means for the Wolves

2011-06-14T09:02:00.005-06:00

There isn't much going on in Wolves Nation, so I'm going to blog about the NBA Finals and the beginning of the offseason.

The NBA Finals wrapped up on Sunday night just as the clock struck 10 central time and what a Final it was. I, personally, was rooting for the Mavs, not just because I hate the Heat. Sure, I hate the Heat. Everyone hates the Heat and I would have been heart broken if LeBron had won the championship after telling everyone he would. There are no short cuts to a championship LeBron. You clearly were not ready for this moment. There is no other way to explain your shortcomings in these playoffs. His 7 point differential between the Finals and the regular season is the largest in history. Maybe next year, LeChoke.

Don't blame the Heat for losing this series because the Mavs won the series. They won it with their grit, ability to play zone defense, and abilities to make huge plays down the stretch. Don't forget coach Rick Carlisles ability to make all the right decisions. He knew exactly when to play the zone and made a critical decision by making JJ Barea the starter in game 4, which forever shifted the series. His dribble penetration gave the starters a much needed boost in the first quarters. Dirk Nowitzki made every single big play down the stretch, with one back breaking fadeaway after another. Dirk stepped on the Heat's throats in the fourth quarter, and that's why they are champions.

What does this mean for the Wolves? In an era of "Super teams" where players are all buddys and teaming together to try to win championships, the Mavs proved you could win a championship with one true superstar and a bunch of high quality players. This is great news for the Wolves since they're never going to be able to lure a ton of big time free agents to this frozen tundra, but if they build a team the right way, they might have a shot at this thing. The big key will be finding that super star, and then putting high quality pieces around him. I think we have some high quality pieces, but I'm not sure we have the super star yet. Hopefully Love, Rubio, or Williams (we better draft him) can provide that.

Blake Hoffarber and Paul Carter Workout with Wolves

2011-06-08T11:14:00.003-06:00

Blake Hoffarber and Paul Carter, two former Minnesota Gophers basketball players were among six other NBA prospects working out for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Hoffarber, a Minnesota native, performed well and genuinely seemed happy to be at the facility. He was grateful for the chance to workout with his hometown team. How Minnesota-nice. Not so Minnesota-nice and so scandalous and/or questionable is his apartment purchase in Las Vegas. What is the deal with that? What kind of fresh-from-college person has the money to buy an apartment in Vegas? Buy an apartment, sure, but real estate in Vegas is not cheap. I'd like to investigate further.

Paul Carter was grilled about his decision to transfer and firmly stated that he didn't believe the departure from Minnesota after graduation to play his last season of eligibility in Illinois was detrimental to his future career. I must say I agree with him, I don't think it matters much.

While the two are unlikely to be drafted, Ronzone said the team will evaluate several prospects ultimately deciding who will land on its draft board.

Ricky Rubio Big Time Marketer

2011-06-08T10:55:00.003-06:00

Minnesota is home to Adrian Peterson and Joe Mauer, who are arguably the finest in their respective sports, but are seen minimally in the national marketing scene. Joe Mauer, an MVP and three-time batting champ, pitches milk locally for Kemps while I can't recall a Peterson promo, but Ricky Rubio... now he may be a money maker.

European, talented and the spotlight for European fans... Ricky Rubio could quickly pile up advertising deals in short order. For the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rubio could become the face of the organization, giving it the spark we haven't had since the days of Garnett. On the national, and perhaps the international scene, Rubio has the interest of marketers. The NBA sees him as a gold mine and will hardly want him to be anything else.

I see Rubio featured in the Wolves' marketing efforts as well as the league's. No question there. There is the question as to whether or not he deserves it?

Sure, Rubio has played at the high level internationally for a long time and won a silver medal on Spain's 2008 Olympic basketball team, but as a European pro, he usually only scores about 10 points per game and dishes out about four assists. These are numbers that, would not only not turn any heads in the NBA, but may even put fans to sleep. (This, of course is assuming he shows up on our shores.)

I'll give Rubio my time and attention as he develops, but I will also remain hesitant as the NBA attempts to, potentially, force-feed America a diet full of Ricky Rubio.

Rubio may overtake the advertising attention granted to Joe Mauer and Adrian Peterson... but let's just see if he can manage to match their playing level first.

The Impact of Ricky Rubio

2011-06-03T10:07:00.001-06:00

Timberwolves’ fans you are not dreaming, our Timberpups are actually making headlines and drawing in the publics attention for the right reasons. That is correct, for a couple days now the Timberpups have created a genuine interest in the franchise. And can you believe it is not because of some joke the President of Operations said that pissed off a bunch of humorless ‘so called’ journalists that are complete idiots?!

As I speak we are already seeing the impact of Ricky Rubio. His signing single handedly put the Timberwolves ahead of the Twins and the Minnesota Vikings in the local and national media. Locally speaking: yesterday it wasn’t the news that Joe Mauer was playing in a rehab game in the minors, or the news that some big named Vikings veterans no showed Ponder’s mini-camp that were atop Star Tribune Sports Online, rather it was the Timberwolves that were the first story on the page. Can someone even name the last time the Timberwolves drew more attention than the Vikings and Twins when the T-Pups weren’t even playing. In the past right now the Strib would be reporting on the Vikings offseason and Sid Hartman would be talking about how God like Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are. The last thing they would ever report on is the T-Pups. But thanks to Rubio and the interest and curiosity he manufactures, they are on the front page for everyone to see. Meanwhile, nationally, the T-Wolves were on the front page of ESPN for the first time since K-Love had that 30-30 game - which I am convinced ESPN only decided to put on the front page because they knew they could make some puny headline to advertise there 30 for 30 series.

As it has been shown in just two short days, Rubio’s impact off the court has been significant. But what kind of impact will he have on the court?

The only reason why people compare him to Pistol Pete is because of his hair. Pistol was known for being an outstanding scorer. And Rubio is everything but a scorer. Attention everyone: Rubio won’t be like Pistol Pete, in the best case scenario I see him being more like Jason Kidd in the early stages of his career minus the rebounding ability and bleached blonde hair. Like Kidd early on his career, Rubio can’t shoot and isn’t an athletic freak -both have above average speed and athletic ability. However, Rubio makes up for those lost abilities with a plethora of other talents such as outstanding court vision, an insane amount of basketball awareness both on the defensive and offensive ends of the floor and perfect height for an NBA point guard (Rubio is 6-4, the same height as Kidd).

Meanwhile the worst case scenario is that Rubio is a bust. But let’s not think about that scenario. In the meantime let’s think about this: We draft Derrick Williams and play Michael Beasley off the bench - in doing so we have one of the most talented players coming off the bench and an instant offensive boost if we need one. (I talked about this earlier). In having Williams we have one of the premier swing man in the game- think a less quicker but stronger Rudy Gay that plays defense and drives to the hoop with authority. We have a deadly three point shooter in Martel Webster, or as I like to think an ‘extremely poor man’s recently released from rehab but still messed up Ray Allen’. Wes Johnson who is just a flat out good player you want on your team, as he can play the two guard well and the three spot very well. Kevin Love to play the four spot is awesome. And Anthony Randolph who has so much potential to be great you don’t even know what to compare him to for a best case scenario. (Worst case scenario I see him being like Jonathan Bender.) Meanwhile at the center position it would be awesome if we had a Javalee McGee type center - someone who runs the floor really well for a big man. Nonetheless, we can worry about that later. In the meantime I am going to be thinking about Rubio running the fast break with Johnson to his right, Williams to his left, and K-Love trailing behind.

We got him: Ricky Rubio signs with the Timberwolves

2011-06-02T11:40:00.001-06:00

Late last night Ricky Rubio signed with the Timberwolves. Oh, how could I of lost faith in Master Kahn? Through my post below, my membership in Cult Kahn has been severely damaged. Nonetheless, the best way I can get back into the good graces of him (and my bosses) is if you buy Timberwolves Tickets through Ticket King!!

Now that we have Rubio our future seems set, with K-Love holding it down in the post and the Spanish phenom running the offense, the future is bright!

Timberwolves’ National Signing Day

2011-06-01T09:24:00.001-06:00

The Timberwolves and the Golden Gophers Football Team have a lot in common, besides being in complete shambles; the two are utter failures when it comes to national signing day and signing their top recruit.

Now you are probably wondering, “What do you mean national signing day? The NBA doesn’t have a national signing day.”

And while that is true, due to circumstances at the moment in the NBA, yesterday was the last day Rubio could sign a contract with the Timberwolves under the current collective bargaining agreement, and ensure that his deal will fall under the existing rookie wage scale.

Thus, in a weird way yesterday was Kahn and Company’s National Signing Day, and they were unable to land there top prospect: Ricky Rubio.

So what does this mean for the Timberwolves?

While in the past I have expressed my support for David Kahn (call me crazy, which I probably am), by not signing Rubio, all that this is doing for the Kahn naysayer is giving them more ammunition to fire back at the Kahn Believers (that is starting to sound like a cult) like myself. (On a side note, I think I just really like Kahn because everyone else hates him.)

But even worse, by not signing Rubio, they have become a laughing stock inside and outside Minnesota. While I am a fan and believe in the Timberwolves (another weird side note: I am actually starting to think becoming a Timberwolves fan is like joining a cult) there are many that don’t, and by not signing Rubio or trading him, to the casual fan that doesn’t realize how difficult it can be at times to sign international draft picks - for example Manu Ginobili was drafted by the Spurs in 1999 and didn’t show up until 2003 - the franchise continues to look helpless, confused and lost.

What about the 20th pick?

2011-05-27T10:19:00.002-06:00

So everyone’s attention has been on the number 2 pick. Who are the T-Wolves going to take? Kanter or Williams? Will the Cavs be stupid enough not to take Irving? Is the mad scientist known as Dr. Kahn going to trade the pick? Those are the questions everyone seems to be asking. It also seems like everyone is forgetting about the 20th pick in the Draft.
It is not a bad place to pick, take a look at some of the notables players taken with the 20th overall pick in the past four decades:

1970’s: Former two time NBA All-Star and member of the 1982 All-NBA First Team Gus Williams was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 20th overall pick in 1975.

1980’s: Basketball Legend Larry Nance was taken with the 20th pick in 1981 by the Phoenix Suns.

1990’s: Zydrunas Ilgauskas was taken with the 20th pick in the 1996 Draft by the Cavs. Big Z would go onto a quality NBA career and be a two time all-star.

2000’s: Jameer Nelson was taken with the 20th pick in 2004. Nelson would go onto to be a starting point guard and key player on the Orlando Magic team that made it to the NBA Finals in 2009.

So now the question remains, will the Timberwolves have the notable player selected with the 20th overall pick in the upcoming decade?

Hypothetically speaking and we draft Derrick Williams; the T-Wolves are set at the 3 spot. Not only are we set, but we are loaded with young athletic talent with Williams, Beasley, Randolph and Johnson. We are also set at the 4 sport with K-Love, Randolph (who can play both the 3 and 4) and Toliverand. That means center, point guard and shooting guard are the positions we need to worry about. That being said, with the possibility of Rubio coming to play for us, we are kind of set at the 1 spot and therefore we don’t need to draft a point guard with the 20th overall pick. Besides I wouldn’t mind another season with the White Shadow, Luke Ridenhour. Meanwhile at the center spot we have Darko and Pek. They aren’t bad, but I always look back at the 2008 draft and say the T-Wolves should of drafted DeAndre Jordan instead of Pek. Nonetheless, there is no one at the center who will be available that is good enough to take with the 20th overall pick. That means we are looking for a 2 guard. While Wes Johnson can play two guard, it is not his natural position. And Webster is always hurt and when he isn’t hurt he is just a three point specialist. And while many are predicting we take the defensive minded swingman from Florida State, Chris Singleton, as you can see our need is at 2 guard not at the 3. Thus, that is why I propose the T-Wolves take a 2 guard with the 20th overall pick. Here is a look at two potential 2 guard candidates I would like to see taken at the 20th overall pick

Alec Burks: If we are lucky and drops to us, the 6-6 shooting guard has the athleticism and potential to be great in the NBA. The University of Colorado standout has been compared to Brandon Roy before the injuries by draftexpress.com. Currently scouts say the key area of his game he needs to work is his outside shot. Now don’t kill me for saying this, but facts are facts: That is the exact same thing they said about MJ coming out of college. He needs to work on his outside. Now obviously Burks ain’t gonna be MJ, but when scouts say the one thing you need to work on is your outside shot, that is a plus in my book. You can’t teach height. You can’t teach athleticism. But you can teach someone how to shoot. I don’t know about you but I would love Burks on the T-Wolves. That being aid it is highly unlikely he drops all the way to 20, but hey crazier things have happened.

Marshon Brooks. Unlike Burks there is a high probability is available with the 20th overall pick. The senior from Providence, while shorter than Burks, coming in at height of 6-5 is an absolute freak of nature with a 7-1 wingspan. That is absolutely crazy for a 2 guard. And the best part about it is Brooks used his wingspan to his advantage on both the offensive and defensive end of the court, where he averaged 24.6 points per game and 7 rebounds per game. His best part about his game, is also what Scouts pick on the most. An unbelievable and creative driver to the basket, Brooks has been labeled a blind bite who doesn’t look for his teammates. Listen, when you are on a crappy team like Providence was last year, they only had 8 wins and lost more than 20 times, there is no one to pass to, so I don’t by that. Brooks has a good attitude plays tough D, and crashes the boards. With adequate speed, and above average handles he is extremely creative with his shot selection. So creative in fact he has been compared to Kobe Bryant by many analysts and his trainer Tim Grover, who just so happens to be Kobe Bryant’s trainer as well.

What a laugh : The Top 25 Minnesota Timberwolves of All-Time

2011-05-26T08:32:00.004-06:00

While I was scavenging around the interwebz for material and information to use in future blog posts, my curious eyes stumbled upon the following link http://bleacherreport.com/articles/700484-nba-power-rankings-the-25-greatest-minnesota-timberwolves-of-all-time

When you look at it you realize how big of a joke this organization really is.

Anyway there is just one big problem I have with this list:

WHAT THE %^%^* IS WALLY SZCZERBIAK doing in at Number 2!

He shouldn't even be in the top 5! Also what is Al Jefferson doing in it ahead of Kevin Love? Did he ever make an NBA All-Star like K-Love? Did he ever break any double double records like K-Love? NO!!!!

Listen, the creator of the list can have whatever opinion he wants and so can I, thus I am now creating my own list. However I am not going to rank 25 guys because all that it does is show how embarrassing this franchise really, so I am just going to rank 10.

10.Wally Szczerbiak
9. Kevin Love
8. Malik Sealy
7. Isiah Rider
6. Stephon Marbury
5. Sam Cassell
4. Doug West (My All-Time favorite, and first ever jersey I ever got)
3. Tom Gugliotta
2. Sam Mitchell
1. Kevin Garnett

Wondering why Big Al isn't on the list? Because I don't think he deserves it. He was a good player on a bad team that put up amazing stats because everyone else around him sucked. Now you are probably wondering what makes K-Love different? Well then I will tell you: K-Love made absolute history.

Agree, disagree tell me what you think.

What about Enes Kanter?

2011-05-24T12:23:00.002-06:00

As much as I am in love with Derrick Williams and believe he will be an NBA All-Star, after watching the Memphis Grizzlies reinforce how potent it can be to have two really good offensive scoring big men I have been wondering about this kid named Enes Kanter.

Check out this scouting report from the T-Wolves:

He possesses NBA size and length, powerful moves in the paint, and terrific touch around the rim. As seen at the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit, Kanter fluidly maneuvers around heavy traffic while often stepping outside to 16 feet for a smooth jumper. From all accounts, Kanter is extremely coachable and prepared to improve his game in order to make a big splash in the NBA this upcoming season.

Doesn’t that just make your mouth water in excitement?

How awesome would it be to have Kenter play alongside Love?!

Besides, Williams and Beasley play the same position. We can take another year with Beasley and see if he matures and develops into a consistent INTELLIGENT scorer.

More and more I am starting to think we should draft Kenter. What do you think?

We support David Kahn

2011-05-19T08:58:00.001-06:00

David Kahn is awesome because he is doing what I always wanted to do if I ever became a NBA GM: see if the perfect video game line basketball line up would work in real life. I know it is not working so far, but what he has done is what I always do when I am playing a basketball video game. Start a bunch of athletic swing man, and have a power foreword with three point range and a point guard that passes the ball. I love it! And now that we can draft Derrick Williams with he second overall pick that is even better. Read more about on my T-Wolves blog, shown the sidebar to the right (which also shows all the Minnesota sports oriented blogs I post in. And if you are wondering everything written since May 9th has been done by me on all those blogs.). Last but not least, Kahn is just awesome, a lot of people hate him and think he is a deranged mad scientist that has no idea what he is doing. But me, I love David Kahn and think he is mad scientist that knows EXACTLY what he is doing. He also makes awesome quotes, and I couldn’t agree more with what he said about the Gilbert kid and the draft being rigged. And if you think his quote was out of line, get a sense of humor and wake up: THE NBA DRAFT LOTTERY IS FIXED. IT IS PRE-DETERMINED LIKE A PRO WRESTLING MATCH!!!

It is a good thing we got the 2nd pick

2011-05-18T08:19:00.002-06:00

Of course we didn’t win the lottery, but thankfully we ended up with the number two pick. That obviously means we end up with SF Derrick Williams which I am rather excited about because in my opinion, Michael Beasley is absolutely PERFECT coming off the bench. As I talked about with my friend the other day, you know what kind of game Beasley is going to have after his first five shots. If he misses those shots, he is going to be awful; if he makes the majority of them he has the ability to score 30+ plus points in the game. That is perfect off the bench! Struggling offensively? Put Beasley in and see how does. Makes his shots, keep him in. If he misses them, then take him out ASAP! Last year we didn’t have the players to do that, by taking Williams we will. Williams is a far more consistent player because he doesn’t have drastic mood swings like a pregnant women, which Beasley has. The line up of Ricky Rubio (figures crossed), Wes Johnson, Derrick Williams, Kevin Love and Darko sounds really good and with having Beasley coming off the bench to give you a boost in the offensive game as well as the potential Anthony Randolph posses, means the Timberwolves do have a bright future.

Also this is what I had to say about the Cavs getting the first overall pick on my personal blog, which you can read here: http://smithysports.blogspot.com/

Cleveland can be as happy as they want to be, but once reality sets in they will realize they are Drafting Kyrie Irving-An above average point guard who will NEVER make an All-Star because the NBA is stacked with talent at that position. (At the best he will be the 8th best point guard in the league, but he will probably be somewhere between the 12th and 10th best) Anyway, congrats Cavs Fans, you went from having Lebron James to drafting a player who will never make an All-Star game with the first overall pick.

Of course we would win the lottery when the draft stinks

2011-05-16T11:47:00.005-06:00

With NBA draft lottery tomorrow I have stocked up on a boatload Kleenexes and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. I am expecting we drop as low as we can and end up getting the fourth overall pick. However let’s say everything goes according to plan and we win the draft. How fitting is that? The first time we win the lottery it is with one of the weakest draft classes ever.

Weird Analogy Time!

If we win, every T-Wolves fan is happier than a kid receiving a shiny red bike on Christmas. However soon realization sets in for the kid, the bike is a cheap knockoff made out of crappy metal. After one week, it breaks down and falls apart.

That red bike is Kyrie Irving. And the kid is Timberwolves fans. I firmly believe in thinking twice before drafting a Duke Player in the lottery. Look at the amount busts: Mike Donleavy Jr, Sheldon Williams and even more. And sure there are a few that work out, but the best they end up being is a really good role player (Shane Battier and Grant Hill in his late career) or an all star for a couple of years (Elton Brand and Grant Hill with the Pistons early on in his career before his injury). While you should be wary before drafting a Duke Player in the lottery, there is one position you should never pick a Duke Player in the lottery. And that position is point guard.

There is just something bad about Duke Point guards. They either end up stinking (William Avery) or getting into an accident due to a motor vehicle (Bobby Hurley and Jay Williams).

Sure hopefully Kyrie Irving can break the Duke curse. I’d go against my own rules too and draft Irving with the first pick also, but I’d also create a clause in his contract that doesn’t allow him to be 50 feet within a motorized vehicle.

Former Coach Dwane Casey potentially the new Warriors Head Coach

2011-05-11T11:42:00.002-06:00

As reported by Marc Stein of ESPN, former T-Wolves head coach Dwane Casey and current assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks, is a potential candidate for the open head coaching job for the Golden State Warriors.

The 54-year-old Casey has been waiting for second shot at a top job since being dismissed by the Minnesota Timberwolves with a record of 20-20 during the 2006-07 season.

Were the Timberwolves to go 20-20 now, it would be looked at as a success!

I feel happy for Casey. He got a bad wrap here in Minnesota. He was the coach during the Eddie Griffin tragedy and during the whole “we don’t know if we want to contend or not” phase when we had KG. He definitely deserves another head coaching job and I hope he gets it.

You deserve it Casey! Good Luck!

Bynum deserves more

2011-05-11T10:43:00.002-06:00

Lakers Center Andrew Bynum is getting suspended 5 games, fined 25,000 and will lose out on a grand total of $702,272 for his violent hit on Mavericks guard JJ Barea.

However 5 games just aren’t enough when you consider Bynum’s history and what he did our guy and T-Wolf Michael Beasley.

I mean when you watch his hit on Beasley and then on Barea they are eerily similar and belong in a WWE ring rather than on a basketball court.

Also what is 702,272 dollars to someone making almost 14 million dollars over the next three years? To quote Edwin Star (the guy who wrote that famous war song), “absolutely nothin’!”

For what Mike Tirico called “one of the worst bush league plays I have ever seen,” Bynum certainly isn’t getting punished enough for it.

One entertaining and educational season

2011-05-09T12:46:00.005-06:00

With Michael Beasley always treating us T-Wolves fans to a lip synch concert that outperformed Ashley Simpsons on SNL from a few years back, and Kevin Love inking his name his name in the history books, not since the Timberwolves were good and had Latrell “He might choke the coach” Sprewell, Sam “The first ever basketball player from area 51” Cassel and Kevin “I am really worried he will be go into the hall of fame as a Celtic” Garnett, was a season as fun to watch as this past season. However, this season was equally entreating as it was educational.
Here are five things we learned:

1.Johnny Flynn’s future as an NBA point guard might be over, but his future as a star on the And1 Mixtape Tour is bright.
2.If we pretend Wesley Johnson is really 22 years old and not actually 25, he looks a lot better than as good as he already is.
3.Before this year we thought every trade or transaction Kevin McHale made was bad. In hindsight he had one good one when he traded OJ Mayo for Kevin Love.
4.Darko Millicic might not be a bust????
5.Kevin Love is really really good.

Here are five things that entertained us:
1.Michael Beasley and his awesome lip synching.

2.Kevin Love and his Numb#rs video. Checkout in the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2OkK2jupU8

3.The Timberwolves in house DJ ‘DJ Mad Mardigan’ and his horrible disk jockey skills that reached a new level of unintentional comedy. Check out below in the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTF4LauCknc

4.David Kahn. As highlighted by what he said about Michael Beasley.
5.Kurt Rambis and his coaching. While he probably is getting fired, his facial expressions after John Flynn threw a ball out of bounds were always entertaining.

Would We Trade #1 Pick?

2011-05-06T11:39:00.002-06:00

According to the beat writer for the Minnesota Timberwolves as well as Star Tribune, Jerry Zgoda: "I'm fairly certain the Wolves brass consider Rubio a better prospect than Irving and no matter what they might say should they somehow get the No. 1 pick, I'd expect them to fully try to trade the pick to the highest bidder."

Would the Minnesota Timberwolves pass on Kyrie Irving? Would they trade the #1 pick? I believe you have to take Irving if you are at the #1 spot. He is the best prospect and you need to take as much value as possible. What do you think?

David Kahn Makes Trip To Spain To Court Ricky Rubio

2011-05-06T11:25:00.002-06:00

David Kahn is on the move again. He is traveling to Barcelona, Spain to apparently court Ricky Rubio into signing a contract. The hope is that Rubio will be signed to a deal "within a month," the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes. The potential NBA lockout kind of complicates the situation. If Ricky signs now, he may make more than what could be the new collective bargaining agreement for rookies. However, it has been a long process since we drafted Ricky Rubio in the 2009 Draft, so it's hard to know how successful this trip will be.

Is Bismack Biyombo A Possibility for the Minnesota Timberwolves?

2011-04-27T09:59:00.003-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves are guaranteed a Top Four Pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The top two players appear to be Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams. After that, there is definitely some debate. One player that continues to gain talk is Bismack Biyombo. Never heard of him? Not everyone has.

Bismack Biyombo hails from Congo, Africa. He is currently rated the #6 prospect for the 2011 NBA Draft. He is currently playing in the Spanish ACB League. He has a 7’7’’ wingspan and dominated at the Nike Hoop Summit Tournament, posting a triple-double. Could he be the next Dikembe Mutombo? Or could he be the next Hasheem Thabeet? All I know is the kid has potential at this point.

Would he be a reach at the #3 or #4 pick? Do you think the Minnesota Timberwolves should trade down and get him between the 5-10 pick?

Kevin Love Wins Most Improved Player Award

2011-04-27T09:54:00.002-06:00

Kevin Love has been awarded the NBA's Most Improved Player Award. He averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds this season, a remarkable feat. He has improved tremendously each season for the Minnesota Timberwolves and he should be very proud of his accomplishments. He was an NBA All-Star this season and his ceiling is very high. He should only continue to improve. Congratulations to Kevin Love!

Harrison Barnes and Perry Jones Staying In School

2011-04-18T11:22:00.002-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves have the greatest odds to win the NBA Lottery for the 1st Overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft. They were hit with some bad news. Harrison Barnes of North Carolina and Perry Jones of Baylor elected to stay in school. They are both freshman who probably have the most potential, had they entered the draft. Now they will roll the dice and return for their sophomore seasons. The consensus top two picks almost have to be Kyrie Irving of Duke and Derrick Williams of Arizona. The Timberwolves are guaranteed to have at worst the 4th pick. Here are my choices:

1-Kyrie Irving - Duke

2-Derrick Williams - Arizona

3-Enes Kanter - Supposed to be Kentucky, ruled ineligible

4-Brandon Knight - Kentucky

Last Home Game of the Season

2011-04-11T10:34:00.003-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves are playing the Phoenix Suns tonight in Phoenix, Arizona. It is their last road game of the season. The final game of the season comes on Wednesday, April 13th against the Houston Rockets at the Target Center. It was another rough season for Minnesota Timberwolves fans, as the season draws to a close. With that being said, I at least applaud the players for grinding out the season and closing out the year. Hopefully we can finally secure a Top Pick in the 2011 NBA Draft (first or second for a change) and change our fortune around. Use Ticket King for any Minnesota Timberwolves tickets!

The Revenge of Ty Lawson

2011-04-11T10:26:00.002-06:00

Remeber Ty Lawson? Well we kind of do. He was drafted with the #18 pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Denver Nuggets. He scored 37 points and hit 10 3-point shots against the T'pups in a 130-106 blowout. In hindsight, it was a rough draft. After owning the #5, the #6, and #18 picks, General Manager David Kahn did not get the value he could have gotten. #6 pick Jonny Flynn has struggled in his second season and many with basketball knowledge believe he is on his way out this offseason. The revenge of Ty Lawson.

Ricky Rubio Joining the Minnesota Timberwolves Next Season?

2011-04-08T13:52:00.002-06:00

Multiple outlets across the internet are reporting that Ricky Rubio may be joining the Minnesota Timberwolves next season. Of course it really is just rumors until it can be confirmed, but for Minnesota Timberwolves fans, this is great news. Rubio was drafted #5 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. He has been playing in Spain ever since he was drafted and remains that prospect that we've been waiting to see. We never really knew if he would ever join us or not, that "will he or won't he" type feeling. It sounds like he finally could be heading this way. Stay Tuned.

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Updated Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Draft Prospects

2011-04-08T13:44:00.004-06:00

Take it for what it's worth. The Minnesota Timberwolves are now 17-62 with 3 games remaining in the season. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 17-61 with 4 games remaining. Does having the worst record directly mean you will win the NBA Draft Lottery? No, it does not. However, it does increase your chances. As we all know, the NBA Draft Lottery has not been kind to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Maybe this year, with perhaps the highest chance of securing the #1 pick, that misfortune finally changes? Tune in to the last week of action and find out how it all plays out for probability in the NBA Draft.

April Fool's Day: Miami Heat Visit the Target Center

2011-03-30T09:13:00.003-06:00

On Friday, March 31st, the Miami Heat will make their sole appearance at the Target Center. It just so happens to fall on April Fool's Day, kind of ironic you could say. The Miami Heat boast of course perhaps the greatest super team ever assembled - D'Wayne Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. All 3 are All-Stars and Olympians. They currently boast a 51-23 record, just 2 1/2 games behind Chicago.

If you want to see three of the best players in the NBA, then it would be worth getting tickets for this game. LeBron James, D'Wayne Wade, and Chris Bosh is a good enough reason to head to this game, aka the "Miami Thrice".

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Wednesday, March 30th vs. Chicago Bulls

2011-03-30T09:04:00.002-06:00

The Chicago Bulls are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now with a 53-20 record. They boast possible MVP in Derek Rose, who according to Stan Van Gundy, has "already won the MVP Award." The Chicago Bulls are atop the Eastern Conference right now, 2 games ahead of the Boston Celtics and 2 1/2 games ahead of the Miami Heat. The Chicago Bulls could be making a run for the NBA Title in June and many experts would not be surprised based on their play this season. Carlos Boozer has been a huge addition to the team.

The two teams will meet tonight at 7 PM Central Time at the Target Center. Purchase your Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves tickets today!

Minnesota Timberwolves Lottery Update

2011-03-30T08:53:00.005-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves are closing in on the end of the season. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Timberwolves will miss the playoffs. With that being said, the Minnesota Timberwolves will have a lottery selection for the 2011 NBA Draft. Being a lifelong Timberwolves fan, we are aware of the ridicolous "bad luck" we have endured in the NBA Draft. Here is the NBA Lottery Update in terms of odds of securing the #1 pick:

Cleveland Cavaliers 15-58

Minnesota Timberwolves 17-57

Washington Wizards 18-55

Toronto Raptors 20-53

Sacramento Kings 21-52

New Jersey Nets 23-50

Detroit Pistons 26-47

Will the Minnesota Timberwolves finally, just maybe, get some luck this year and snag the #1 or #2 spot? It would be nice. Also, keep in mind that Washington and Cleveland play eachother twice down the home stretch before the season concludes.

Minnesota Timberwolves Deflated by Sacramento Kings

2011-03-21T08:29:00.003-06:00

The Sacramento Kings defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-95 at the Target Center on Sunday night. The Kings have a record of 17-51, while the Timberwolves have a record of 17-54. It has been a frustrating season and this score adds to the high level of disappointment. On Friday night, the Timberwolves were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers 106-98, although leading most of the game. Wesley Johnson scored a career high 29 points in the game. Against the Kings, Luke Ridnour scored 22 points for a team high. The Timberwolves now own the 2nd worst record in the NBA (wins wise), as they are tied with the Kings and the Wizards at 17. The Cleveland Cavaliers have 13 wins.

Friday at Los Angeles Lakers

2011-03-18T13:14:00.004-06:00

On Friday, the Minnesota Timberwolves will visit Los Angeles to take on the Lakers, you know, the team that used to play in Minneapolis. Gametime is 9:30 Central Time. The Los Angeles Lakers have certainly had the Minnesota Timberwolves number so it would be great to steal a win sometime. The Lakers boast one of the best players in the world in Kobe Bryant. He has a nice supporting cast with Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, and Andrew Bynum.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day, Will This Year Bring Us Luck?

2011-03-18T13:08:00.002-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves still have remaining games on the schedule. Unfortunately, these games are for pride since we have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. With a current 17-52 record, we are headed for another NBA Draft Lottery. Simply put, the Minnesota Timberwolves need some luck. We need to get a top draft pick. We have never moved up in the draft lottery, only the same or down. Can this be the year we finally get some luck? Let's hope so!

Kevin Love's Streak Comes to an End

2011-03-14T09:50:00.002-06:00

The Kevin Love Double-Double streak came to an end on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. The streak reached 53 games, the highest streak in the last 40 years. Klove should be proud of himself for reaching such a high accomplishment even with the team struggling this season. In the game that his streak was snapped, the Timberwolves fell to the Warriors by a score of 100-77. It was an ugly 2nd half for the Timberwolves, as a close game got blown wide open. The Timberwolves were on a 2 game winning streak before the Warriors snapped it. Next up is at the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

Utah Jazz vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview

2011-03-11T14:11:00.002-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves will host the Utah Jazz on Friday, March 11th at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Utah Jazz are 34-31 on the season and of course have former Minnesota Timberwolf, Al Jefferson. The Utah Jazz no longer have Deron Williams, as he was traded to the New Jersey Nets at the trade deadline. The Utah Jazz will have to rely on a nucleus of Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and Paul Mislap. The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off of a 101-75 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, as well as a 52 game double-double streak by Kevin Love. Purchase your Minnesota Timberwolves tickets with Ticket King!

Kevin Love Reaches 50 Straight Double-Doubles

2011-03-07T11:03:00.002-06:00

Kevin Love continues to stack up the double-doubles. He now has 50 straight double-doubles, 1 shy of the record Moses Malone accumulated in the 1978-1979 season. Not to mention that Klove has several 20/20 games, including a 20/20 performance on Saturday against the Washington Wizards. He has been as reliable as they come. Overall, Kevin Love has 59 double-doubles in a possible 74 games. Kevin Love is truly a machine. Come watch him against the Dallas Mavericks and see if he can tie Moses Malone's mark of 51 straight double-doubles!

Minnesota Timberwolves Host Dallas Mavericks on Monday, March 7th

2011-03-07T10:55:00.003-06:00

The Dallas Mavericks are visiting the Target Center on Monday, March 7th to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Dallas Mavericks are currently 45-17 and 2nd in the Western Conference. Dirk Nowitzki continues to lead the way for the Mavericks. The Dallas Mavericks keep on doing their best Charlie Sheen reference, and that's "winning." Mark Cuban has built together a solid team that has competed in 9 straight playoff appearances. The Minnesota Timberwolves will need to bring their "A" Game. Purchase your Minnesota Timberwolves tickets with Ticket King!

Anthony Randolph's Potential

2011-03-04T15:01:00.004-06:00

Anthony Randolph played 25 minutes against the Detroit Pistons as a power forward/center, receiving more minutes since Darko Milicic missed the game for a family matter. Randolph didn't disappoint, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. It's a performance like this that makes us fans wonder if he can play up to his potential. He has the talent to play at a high level in this league. I hope he receives more playing time in these upcoming games so we can see just how high he can perform.

Minnesota Timberwolves Trounce Detroit Pistons 116-105

2011-03-04T14:50:00.002-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves kept up their winning ways, taking down the Detroit Pistons in Detroit on Wednesday night 116-105. Kevin Love, of course, put up his 48th consecutive double-double and scored 20 points, as well as 20 rebounds. Starting point guard Luke Ridnour scored 15 points and didn't miss a shot, and backup Jonny Flynn had eight points and a career-high 14 assists. New Timberwolf Anthony Randolph scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. It was a great all around game for the T'pups and let's hope it continues at the Philadelphia 76ers.