The Wolves continue to negotiate with restricted free-agent forward
Ryan Gomes and unrestricted free-agent point guard Sebastian Telfair.
The team also is pursuing trade talks for a point guard, a position at
which only Randy Foye is under contract.
 

"We want to get them back," McHale said. "I told Craig I’m happy to
have him back here, not only as a player but as a person. I feel the
same way about Bassy and Ryan. They’re just a joy to have around. You
never know until you re-sign them. We’re having meaningful
conversations with both of them. We’ll try to get something done, but
it’s a process." 

 
 
 
The Timberwolves made a qualifying offer to Smith on
June 30, which allowed them to match any offer made to him by another
team. Smith said he had talked with other teams but didn’t receive any
other offers.
 
"I decided to go back to Minnesota and talk it out with them. That’s where I wanted to be," he said.
 
Although Smith has been in Los Angeles during the
offseason, he has been keeping tabs on the team during its summer
league games in Las Vegas, and he has been impressed with Kevin Love.
 
 

 

Assistant general manager Rob Babcock, who saw
Neitzel play in college, noted that Neitzel had good court sense,
fundamentals and shooting ability. Babcock added, though, that his
height is "a little bit of a weakness" and that Neitzel doesn’t possess
"blinding quickness."
 
That, coupled with a Telfair signing or another
free-agent acquisition, could dampen Neitzel’s hope of landing in
Minnesota. But by show of the depth chart, Neitzel could get an
extended look in the fall.
 
"There’s certainly a chance," Babcock said. "That’s why he’s here — to compete for that spot."
 

 

 
"He’s a heck of a coach and a great guy," Sichting said, "and he’s got a good future."
 
Skyforce head coach Nate Tibbetts has two games remaining in his stint
as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves at the NBA Summer
League in Las Vegas