The Memphis Commercial Appeal has a timeline of the pre-trade conversations between Wolves owner Glen Taylor and Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley.
Mike Procopio,
who conducted pre-draft workouts for Mayo in Chicago the past two
months, recognized the possibility for a trade last week after separate
conversations with general managers Chris Wallace of Memphis and Kevin
McHale of Minnesota.
who conducted pre-draft workouts for Mayo in Chicago the past two
months, recognized the possibility for a trade last week after separate
conversations with general managers Chris Wallace of Memphis and Kevin
McHale of Minnesota.
The former
Celtics scout served as a go-between for the two franchises,
facilitating Thursday night’s eight-player deal that sent USC’s Mayo to
the Timberwolves and UCLA’s Love to the Grizzlies.
Celtics scout served as a go-between for the two franchises,
facilitating Thursday night’s eight-player deal that sent USC’s Mayo to
the Timberwolves and UCLA’s Love to the Grizzlies.
"When they started talking about including Miller in
the deal, we said, ‘Let’s make it happen,’ " McHale said. "Getting Mike
will make Al’s job a lot easier. When your players have more space to
operate, they can really shine."
the deal, we said, ‘Let’s make it happen,’ " McHale said. "Getting Mike
will make Al’s job a lot easier. When your players have more space to
operate, they can really shine."
By trading guard Marko Jaric and forwards Greg
Buckner and Antoine Walker, the Wolves unloaded $20.05 million in
salary, including $21.2 million over the next three years for Jaric’s contract, a major trade objective for the Wolves.
Buckner and Antoine Walker, the Wolves unloaded $20.05 million in
salary, including $21.2 million over the next three years for Jaric’s contract, a major trade objective for the Wolves.
Relief from Jaric’s contract and Walker’s $9.3
million salary for 2008-09 is expected to make the Wolves bidders
during free agency this year and next.
From the Argus Leader:
The Timberwolves feel they got the better end of the deal.
"You’re starting to see the core take place," said vice president for
basketball operations Kevin McHale, who signed off on the eight-player
deal to send Mayo to Memphis when the Grizzlies offered Miller, a
sharp-shooting guard.
basketball operations Kevin McHale, who signed off on the eight-player
deal to send Mayo to Memphis when the Grizzlies offered Miller, a
sharp-shooting guard.
"I think that’s the exciting thing."
Days before, the Wolves days settled on choosing with the first pick in
the second round (31st overall) European center Nikola Pekovic, a 6-11
brute who won’t arrive in Minnesota until 2010 at the earliest because
he just signed a rich contract with a Greek team.
the second round (31st overall) European center Nikola Pekovic, a 6-11
brute who won’t arrive in Minnesota until 2010 at the earliest because
he just signed a rich contract with a Greek team.
NBA teams lit up the Wolves’ phones with offers that included big cash
and future protected first-round picks for the chance to take Pekovic,
a lottery-type talent who every NBA team pegged as the second round’s
first pick because of his contract status.
and future protected first-round picks for the chance to take Pekovic,
a lottery-type talent who every NBA team pegged as the second round’s
first pick because of his contract status.
Before Wallace’s call came, the Wolves agreed to trade Miami their fourth pick in the second round (34th overall)…
So they accepted from Miami $2 million and two second-round picks in
the 2009 draft, when they also potentially will have three first-round
picks.
the 2009 draft, when they also potentially will have three first-round
picks.
It might be a while before Kevin Love duplicates the numbers
he had in the last game he played at the Target Center, but
he should get plenty of chances to try.
he had in the last game he played at the Target Center, but
he should get plenty of chances to try.
Less than a year and a half ago, Love had 41 points, 14
rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots while
playing for Lake Oswego High School in a win over Osseo of
Minnesota in the Gatorade Timberwolves Shootout.
rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots while
playing for Lake Oswego High School in a win over Osseo of
Minnesota in the Gatorade Timberwolves Shootout.
"The minute we made that trade, I thought that the locker room became a great NBA locker room," McHale said.
Greg Buckner was simply a spare part, but the other two veterans, Marko
Jaric and Antoine Walker, sent to Memphis in the deal could accurately
have been called malcontents after their playing time on a young team
dwindled.
Jaric and Antoine Walker, sent to Memphis in the deal could accurately
have been called malcontents after their playing time on a young team
dwindled.
Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins, the two others acquired from the
Grizzlies, don’t figure to add much to coach Randy Wittman’s rotation.
But they, like fellow backup big man Mark Madsen, are considered
quality teammates to have around.
Grizzlies, don’t figure to add much to coach Randy Wittman’s rotation.
But they, like fellow backup big man Mark Madsen, are considered
quality teammates to have around.
Though Love is only a rookie, that concept of strong chemistry seems to start with him…
Bryce Taylor, the undrafted member of the Oregon Ducks’
trio of seniors, agreed Friday to play for the Minnesota
Timberwolves in the NBA summer league.
trio of seniors, agreed Friday to play for the Minnesota
Timberwolves in the NBA summer league.
Taylor, who watched as former teammates Malik Hairston (48th
overall by Phoenix, then traded to San Antonio) and Maarty
Leunen (54th by Houston) were selected in the second round
Thursday, picked a team clearly in need of a shooting guard.
overall by Phoenix, then traded to San Antonio) and Maarty
Leunen (54th by Houston) were selected in the second round
Thursday, picked a team clearly in need of a shooting guard.
Brewer and some of the area’s top coaches and players came together to
hold the inaugural Corey Brewer Basketball Camp, teaching 122 campers
some of the fundamentals of the game.
hold the inaugural Corey Brewer Basketball Camp, teaching 122 campers
some of the fundamentals of the game.
“I think too many kids are staying inside and playing video games and
not getting out on the courts to play the game for real,” said Brewer,
who recently completed his rookie season with the NBA’s Minnesota
Timberwolves. “What I wanted to do is to come back home and get more
kids involved in the actual game, and hopefully in doing so we’ll get
Portland back to where they were when I was here.”