Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press talks to team owner Glen Taylor about why he continues to support Kevin McHale. Taylor says he doesn’t think he has any "special loyalty" to McHale. He also says that some of moves McHale is criticized for, such as Chauncey Billups leaving the Wolves, were actually things Flip Saunders did.
That’s not to say Kevin hasn’t done some things
wrong that I got kind of ticked at him for. But they’re kind of other
things, some of the trades, some of this type of stuff that he probably
should have looked at more, checked into the character of guys more,
done more work on them. So, then I go back and say, well, is it because
I didn’t give him enough support? I don’t always just shoot a guy down
like that. Maybe I didn’t give him enough help.
wrong that I got kind of ticked at him for. But they’re kind of other
things, some of the trades, some of this type of stuff that he probably
should have looked at more, checked into the character of guys more,
done more work on them. So, then I go back and say, well, is it because
I didn’t give him enough support? I don’t always just shoot a guy down
like that. Maybe I didn’t give him enough help.
I can assure you he holds nothing over me. I can
tell you that Fred Hoiberg isn’t ready yet. But Kevin wouldn’t have any
problem stepping down if, say, Fred was ready.
tell you that Fred Hoiberg isn’t ready yet. But Kevin wouldn’t have any
problem stepping down if, say, Fred was ready.
On KG blaming McHale:
I’m just saying, a lot of the guys that left here,
K.G. (Kevin Garnett) kind of points out that it was Kevin. I say, K.G.,
you even know better. You were here on the gosh-darn team. K.G. says,
well, I really liked it when Flip was here; when we got rid of Flip,
that’s what made it bad for me. I says, well, K.G., where were you when
I asked you, do you want Flip? You didn’t want Flip. He says (he wanted
him) now.
K.G. (Kevin Garnett) kind of points out that it was Kevin. I say, K.G.,
you even know better. You were here on the gosh-darn team. K.G. says,
well, I really liked it when Flip was here; when we got rid of Flip,
that’s what made it bad for me. I says, well, K.G., where were you when
I asked you, do you want Flip? You didn’t want Flip. He says (he wanted
him) now.
Antoine Walker’s reaction to the team working on a buyout for Juwan Howard:
"I’m disappointed," said Walker, who, at age 31, is three years younger
than Howard. "I was looking forward to it. Me and Juwan grew up as kids
together. He was in high school when I was in elementary school. He was
a big star in Chicago. I know he’s thinking of trying to play for a
championship, so hopefully best of luck to him."
than Howard. "I was looking forward to it. Me and Juwan grew up as kids
together. He was in high school when I was in elementary school. He was
a big star in Chicago. I know he’s thinking of trying to play for a
championship, so hopefully best of luck to him."
Wolves forward Chris Richard’s contract is not fully guaranteed, but he made the team anyway. That shows how much the
staff likes him.
staff likes him.
Also from Alonzo, Walker on yesterday’s scrimmage:
"I felt good," Walker said. "I was a little confused
about some of the plays. But it was great getting out there with the
guys. They’ve welcomed me with open arms. It’s going to be a fun group
to play with. We’re a lot more talented than people think."
about some of the plays. But it was great getting out there with the
guys. They’ve welcomed me with open arms. It’s going to be a fun group
to play with. We’re a lot more talented than people think."
Ricky Davis, while a Timberwolf, initiated a dinner for Tuesday in downtown Minneapolis to honor first responders’ rescue efforts during the Interstate 35W bridge collapse. Davis won’t be able to attend because he has been traded to Miami, but the recognition benefit will be held.