Is stockpiling centers that don’t play–even after buying out Ratliff,
nearly half the Wolves’ seven-person bench is comprised of Richard,
Madsen and Doleac–while throwing your best player and lone true
cornerstone into a less natural and effective position, is that part of
last season’s "Blueprint" or this season’s "Build It"?
nearly half the Wolves’ seven-person bench is comprised of Richard,
Madsen and Doleac–while throwing your best player and lone true
cornerstone into a less natural and effective position, is that part of
last season’s "Blueprint" or this season’s "Build It"?
Sid Hartman talks to team owner Glen Taylor on the team’s "three-year plan to build the team":
The Wolves will have three draft picks this year, their first- and second-rounders and then Miami’s second.
"My thinking is that the most that we would carry is two of those
three,” Taylor said. ”So, one of them you might look at if we can get
two good ones we might push one back, trade it off to a year later, or
else there’s a possibility we’d draft what we would call a young
European player and have him stay over there a year and practice."
three,” Taylor said. ”So, one of them you might look at if we can get
two good ones we might push one back, trade it off to a year later, or
else there’s a possibility we’d draft what we would call a young
European player and have him stay over there a year and practice."
That brings us to our Timberwolves, the classic
“talented-but-inexperienced” bad team. Such teams often play well in
some stretches and then appallingly badly in others. They often seem to
be equally competitive against good teams and bad. They have a poor
feel for the rhythm of the game, often missing opportunities and
suddenly becoming listless and ragged at the most inopportune moments
(like, say, the last five minutes of the game). I’ve defended the
Wolves’ honor once or twice based on the fact that they are a likeable,
generally entertaining team with a ton of upside. And while I’d gladly
take this team over a few others with more wins (those disastrous Knicks,
or even the Sonics and Bobcats, this week’s results notwithstanding)
there’s absolutely no contesting the fact that they have lost 47 of
their 60 games…
“talented-but-inexperienced” bad team. Such teams often play well in
some stretches and then appallingly badly in others. They often seem to
be equally competitive against good teams and bad. They have a poor
feel for the rhythm of the game, often missing opportunities and
suddenly becoming listless and ragged at the most inopportune moments
(like, say, the last five minutes of the game). I’ve defended the
Wolves’ honor once or twice based on the fact that they are a likeable,
generally entertaining team with a ton of upside. And while I’d gladly
take this team over a few others with more wins (those disastrous Knicks,
or even the Sonics and Bobcats, this week’s results notwithstanding)
there’s absolutely no contesting the fact that they have lost 47 of
their 60 games…
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press on the team waiving Beno Udrih:
But the day after waiving Udrih, the Wolves
announced that Foye would be out for at least three weeks because of a
stress reaction in his kneecap. Foye’s injury actually was much worse,
and he missed the season’s first 43 games.
announced that Foye would be out for at least three weeks because of a
stress reaction in his kneecap. Foye’s injury actually was much worse,
and he missed the season’s first 43 games.
Wolves coach Randy Wittman said if the team had
known how serious Foye’s injury was, "I think we’d have looked at it
differently, I really do."
known how serious Foye’s injury was, "I think we’d have looked at it
differently, I really do."
Ironically, Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin
McHale told Minnesota media that his questions about Udrih’s durability
were a factor in his decision to cut the guard.
McHale told Minnesota media that his questions about Udrih’s durability
were a factor in his decision to cut the guard.
"When you do your investigation, I guess the biggest concern I had was
that (San Antonio) really felt that, injury-wise, he had been hurt
quite a bit," McHale said. "You’re (thinking), Well, we’ve got unknowns
right now (on the roster). I don’t think we were in a situation where
we were willing to bring in two unknowns. We already had Sebastian
here."
Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune with a progress report on the team’s young players.
Carissa Wyant/Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal on the Minnesotans on Forbes list of the world’s richest people:
Twin owner Carl Pohlad was ranked 358th, with $3.1 billion, while Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor was ranked 428th, with $2.7 billion.
KFAN midday talkers Paul Allen and Jeff Dubay will take their act to the television airwaves Saturday.
FSN North is planning to use the pair to host its doubleheader coverage
of the Gophers men’s hockey game against Minnesota Duluth and the
Timberwolves-Clippers matchup.
of the Gophers men’s hockey game against Minnesota Duluth and the
Timberwolves-Clippers matchup.