I have long been a supporter of Wolves owner Glen Taylor, who,
especially compared to the likes of Pohlad, Wilf, and the Wild crew,
has been willing to step up in a dramatic fashion to invest in his
franchise. Taylor’s loyalty to Kevin McHale and Randy Wittman is
another matter, and a can of worms I’m not opening here. No, what
perplexes me is how and why Taylor stood by while two of his division
rivals–Portland and Seattle–have stockpiled assets from a Phoenix
Suns franchise that abhors the luxury tax, has abandoned any pretense
of building for the future and is doing everything possible to win now…
 
 
 
Twenty minutes after the loss, the Wolves
locker room was filled with New Year’s wishes and laughter that was
only interrupted when veteran Greg Buckner reminded his younger
teammates that they just got their butts whipped.
 
 
 
Days after he arrived in Minnesota via a trade from
Miami, Antoine Walker participated in a Timberwolves team meeting with
local law enforcement officials regarding personal safety.
 
Walker wasn’t familiar with the Twin Cities, and
after having been robbed at gunpoint at his Chicago home last summer,
he paid close attention during the 90-minute session, which was
arranged by the NBA working with local law enforcement in October.
 
 
 
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune on the loss to the Clippers:
Afterward, Wittman vowed to find guards who will guide his team to victory in the fourth quarter.
 
"We had no direction, no leadership," he said. "It was just error after error after error." 
 
 
 
Ira Winderman/Hoopsworld on the Wolves trade with Miami:

The pick is the key, and that makes the ‘Wolves the winners.
 

Davis again has lottery-ized his team, while Blount remains a no-show in the middle.
 

As it turns out, Doleac has had some value for the injury-depleted
‘Wolves and Walker has taught Sebastian Telfair how to shimmy, an
important life lesson.
 
 
 
 
Timberwolves Today has posted the latest installment of Kissing Marney Gellner podcast.
 
 
 

The Timberwolves, who currently have about a 25 percent chance of
getting the first overall pick in June’s NBA draft, would be expected
to choose 6-foot-4 freshman point guard Derrick Rose of Memphis if they
were to pick No. 1. 

 

 
 
Previews of tonight’s game against Portland:
 
Click here for the forum’s game thread.