From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
The Wolves need to reduce their roster by Oct. 29 and have limited
options other than buying at least one player out of his contract and
making a two-for-one player trade, a difficult prospect at best. With
the roster already loaded with forwards, Richard could be sent to the
NBA development league if it becomes clear he won’t play regularly to
start the season.
options other than buying at least one player out of his contract and
making a two-for-one player trade, a difficult prospect at best. With
the roster already loaded with forwards, Richard could be sent to the
NBA development league if it becomes clear he won’t play regularly to
start the season.
"A lot of different things can happen," Wittman said, hinting that the
team could make other decisions to clear space for Richard. "We like
Chris. But if it’s obvious he’s not going to be part of an eight- or
nine-man rotation, then it’s going to be important for him to play."
team could make other decisions to clear space for Richard. "We like
Chris. But if it’s obvious he’s not going to be part of an eight- or
nine-man rotation, then it’s going to be important for him to play."
Wittman said he won’t hesitate to recommend sending
players to the Development League this season if warranted, as a tool
to learn or regroup from injuries. That includes Richard, if the staff
believes the second-round pick would be better off there at times this
season.
players to the Development League this season if warranted, as a tool
to learn or regroup from injuries. That includes Richard, if the staff
believes the second-round pick would be better off there at times this
season.
Wittman said that, in retrospect, the Wolves
probably should have sent Rashad McCants to the D-League last season
after he returned from knee surgery.
probably should have sent Rashad McCants to the D-League last season
after he returned from knee surgery.
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune on Theo Ratliff:
It looks as if he’ll be the regular-season starting center on nights when Wittman doesn’t go to a small lineup and starts Al Jefferson instead.
"I’m doing great, but I’m still in the recovery," said Ratliff, who has
averaged 6.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, and 18.7 minutes in
three exhibition contests…
From J.A. Adande/ESPN:
But there was this quote from Garnett in Slam magazine: "I think
[Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor’s] loyalty is to Kevin McHale, and I
had to swallow that. So that’s what it was. I was kind of hurt by it,
but he’s known Kevin long enough, he’s believed in Kevin, so that’s
what it is."
Timberwolves fans should be furious that the incompetent McHale means more to Taylor than Garnett.
Former Celtics assistant coach and current Bucks assistant Tony Brown on Al Jefferson:
"Hopefully he can get to the point where he gets all-star status,"
Brown said. "We wouldn’t want to put that pressure on him right now.
But he definitely has that ability."
From Dime Magazine:
Ricky Davis went for 19 points, 9 boards and 7 assists in a
double-OT win over Indiana. When it became apparent Ricky was within
triple-double range, everyone had to have been scrutinizing his moves
to see if he was trying too hard for the stats…
Sekou Smith/Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Al Jefferson and others in the class of 2004 who are "expected to sign deals in the $30 million to $60 million range."