The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has hired Dean
Cooper as an assistant coach. Cooper will join assistant coaches Jerry
Sichting, J.B. Bickerstaff, Ed Pinckney and Brent Haskins on Randy
Wittman’s staff. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed…


Cooper joins the Wolves after spending the previous nine seasons with
the Houston Rockets, most recently in the role of Vice President of
Player Personnel. His responsibilities included the evaluation of draft
prospects, free agents and potential trade acquisitions, and the
coordination of the team’s national and international scouting. 
 
 
 
Numbers aside, Love immediately proved that he makes other players
better, which is perhaps the highest compliment to be paid at this
level. The other really good news out of Vegas is that Love thinks the
game so well, he’s often a step or two ahead of most other players on
the court, effectively making up for any lack of overall athleticism.
Plus, he’s much quicker in small spaces than one might think. There
wasn’t one scout, coach or player in Las Vegas who wasn’t very
impressed with Love’s game. Now in terms of numbers … Al Jefferson,
Mike Miller and Ryan Gomes are all very good rebounders, but if Love’s
on the floor, he is flat out cleaning glass. He won’t average 13.5, but
don’t be surprised to see him around 10. He quite literally goes after
every rebound on both ends, and is great at using his body for
positioning. In terms of scoring, Love was often the primary focal
point on offense in Vegas, but won’t be with Jefferson in the regular
season, so his point production should fall a bit as well. That,
however, should coincide with his assist numbers rising, not just with
Jefferson finishing in the high-low game, but with Corey Brewer, Rashad
McCants, Rodney Carney and Miller running up and down the wings.
Basically, Love has so many skills that he will find a way to be
productive when he’s on the floor, whether it’s by scoring, boarding or
passing.
 
 
 
Players Corey
Brewer and Ryan Gomes, assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff and television
analyst Jim Peterson presented a free 75-minute youth basketball clinic
last week at the Mankato YMCA as part of the U.S. Bank/Minnesota
Timberwolves Summer Caravan…
  
Hoiberg, one of
the better outside shooters in Timberwolves history, showed how to
shoot from a lay-up to midcourt. He missed only one shot in stopping
along the way and shooting a half dozen times. Also a good shooter,
Gomes showed what Hoiberg called, a perfect jump shooting style.
 
Brewer led a
defensive demonstration on how to stand low with your arms spread out
wide and keep your eyes on the chest of your opponent and he’ll never
get away.
 
 
 
Former Michigan State guard Drew Neitzel has signed his first
professional contract with the Artland Dragons in Germany, according to
the club’s website.
 
Neitzel, who was not selected in either round of the NBA draft but
played on the Minnesota Timberwolves summer league team, will attempt
to follow in the footsteps of Charlie Bell.