Minnesota Timberwolves Thread

[CKR13]

Minnesota Timberwolves 113 New Orleans Hornets 98

Both teams playing on the second game of a back-to-back schedule, but the Timberwolves showed more energy and resilience as a team, lead by Michael Beasley who scored 30 points, adding 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Rookie Wesley Johnson scored a career high 24 points on shooting for 8-12 from the field including 6-8 from the three point area.

Kevin Love managed 16 points and 11 rebounds.

[CKR13]

Sundiata Gaines waived; Anthony Tolliver amy return

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guard Sundiata Gaines on whom they signed last November 12, 2010.


Forward / Center Anthony Tolliver confirmed that his right knee has fully recovered and head coach Kurt Rambis said that Tolliver may play this Friday.

[CKR13]

Kevin Love free agency

Kevin Love in an interview with Sports Illustrated was honest in his contemplation of either signing a contract extension for summer or opt for the free agency market after the 2011-2012 season if he does not accept the qualifying offer.

Love said:

"We'll see what happens with what David Kahn and the front office want to do. If it's right, it's right. If it's not, it's not. I could end up somewhere else. I just want to play for a team that wants to win at this point. At this point, I just want to win now."

It is like a kind of ultimatum for the front office to make the young Timberwolves into a contender perhaps in two years time or Love could be entertaining offers from other teams. I think Love should be paid like that of Al Horford and Joakim Noah, where a 5 year contract worth roughly around $60 Million.

[Lebron23]

I am a huge fan of Kevin Love. The kid is really an amazing rebounder, and good scorer.

[CKR13]

Michael Beasley is questionable for Tuesday's game against the San Antonio Spurs due to a sprained right ankle and have caused him to missed yesterday's practice. Beasley's status is listed as day to day.

[CKR13]

The Minnesota Timberwolves winning tonight against the Washington Wizards 109-97 lead by Kevin Love who scored a game high 35 points and adding 11 rebounds to his total.

[CKR13]

Ricky Rubio

Don't expect to see Ricky Rubio in the NBA any time soon

Ricky Rubio wants nothing to do with the Minnesota Timberwolves. And the Timberwolves, owners of perhaps the league's worst one-two point-guard duo in Luke Ridnour and Jonny Flynn, might still be better served without Rubio coming stateside. It's a sad state of affairs, for both states.

Rubio was drafted by the Timberwolves back in 2009, in a move that never seemed like a good idea. It was a stretch even then, with Rubio's stock at an all-time high, that the Spanish point guard would come to the NBA at such a young age. And when you throw in the rebuilding process the Timberwolves were under, and the (I'm sorry) less-than-marquee setting of Minnesota home games (in relative terms, to a kid thinking of New York or Los Angeles), it's no surprise that nearly two years later the Timberwolves are no closer to bringing Rubio over.

And a column in Sunday's New York Times isn't helping either side of this mess.

It paints a picture of a struggling youngster who is completely and utterly disinterested in all things NBA, and completely willing (as has been the case for a while) to wait out the three-year rookie scale term that the NBA places on draftees. Come 2012, Rubio could negotiate a deal with the Timberwolves for whatever amount they have under the cap, which would then make it easier for Rubio to put together a sign-and-trade for his services. Because, let's face it, he's never going to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Not that they should want him, anyway.

As quoted by Jonathan Givony:

Though 28 games in the 2010-11 season, Rubio has continued to struggle. He is shooting just 32 percent from the field, including 11 of 61 from beyond the arc, and his team has lost more games in the ACB and in the Euroleague than it did all of last season.

"I try to help the team," Rubio said. "It doesn't matter if you have to score 50 points or zero. If I help the team, I don't think of my stats."

Yeah, you probably should think of your stats. It might stop you from taking over two 3-pointers a game, when you only (on average) make one nearly every three games.

Rubio has long been a strange comp. His passing skills tend to excite, but he shoots in a way that would make even high-assist/poor-shooting point guards like Brevin Knight(notes) or Rajon Rondo(notes) blush. The fear in 2011 is the same that it was in 2009: Rubio can pass, sure, but what's the point when teams are going to play him for the pass, and back off of his terrible shot?

And then there's this:

"The bottom line is, why would he want to play in Minnesota?" a senior member of Rubio's camp said this month. "He'll continue to say all the diplomatic things, and Minnesota needs to keep his value up for trade purposes, but the family's preference is to be on the East Coast, specifically New York, Miami or Boston. He wouldn't be troubled if he has to stay another year."

Which is unfortunate, because Minnesota (as a city, at least, if not a franchise) has so much to offer. And that's not me being diplomatic.

A year and a half later, this is still a terrible move for the Timberwolves. They put themselves, and Rubio, into an awful situation. Youngsters with leverage and a paying gig in a league that they like aren't going to drop everything to nearly work pro bono (because Rubio would have to use his own money in a buyout package just to get out of his international contract) just to chase the NBA dream. And assuming that he was going to give it all up just for the right to play in the NBA was an incredibly naïve (and a little insulting) move by the Timberwolves. These aren't farmboys, wowed by the lights.

But that's what's to be expected from a team that chose both Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio two and five spots before Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings were selected.

-Kelly Dawyer of Yahoo!Sports

[CKR13]

Kahn: Rubio will play for the Timberwolves next season

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations, David Kahn responded about the reports that Spanish point guard Ricard Rubio is not interested playing for the Timberwolves in the NBA. In a brief interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Kahn responded with confidence that Rubio will play with the Timberwolves next season, after Rubio's contract becomes amenable with a buyout with his current team, Barcelona.

[dxjayrock2008]

The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Toronto Raptors, 103-87. Kevin Love leads the T-Wolves with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 1 assist.

[CKR13]

Target Center Renovation

The Target Center, home court of the Minnesota Timberwolves in which many observers noticed as outdated compared to other NBA Team Arenas, has unveiled a Renovation Proposal Worth $150 Million. The shouldering of the expenses are still being evaluated and discussed.

The proposals of renovation back in 1999 and 2007 did not push through.

[CKR13]

Minnesota Timberwolves 112 Houston Rockets 108

Kevin Love lead the way for the Timberwolves with a double double of 20 points and 14 rebounds.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves were partial participants of last nights' Carmelo Anthony Blockbuster trade. As the Timberwolves have shipped forward Corey Brewer to the Denver Nuggets as New York sent Anthony Randolph and center Eddy Curry.

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Anthony Randolph

The newly acquired wingman, Anthony Randolph did not play on last night's lost against the Memphis Grizzlies. But head coach Kurt Rambis is intrigued by his team's latest acquisition:

http://1500espn.com/sportswire/Anthony_Randolph_doesnt_get_off_the_bench_in_latest_Wolves_loss022311

I have seen flashes of potential when Randolph was still with the Golden State Warriors, but injuries hampered his growth and the early season with the New York Knicks, Randolph saw limited time. I know many are also intrigued on how Randolph will fit in on the Timberwolves rotation.

[dxjayrock2008]

Love has 37 and 23, T’Wolves beat Warriors 126-123



MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Kevin Love(notes) had 37 points and 23 rebounds to extend his NBA-leading double-double streak to 46 games, and the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a seven-game skid with a 126-123 victory over the struggling Golden State Warriors on Sunday.






Love had his fourth 30-point, 20-rebound game of the season as the Timberwolves overcame a 14-point deficit and avoided extending their longest losing streak of a frustrating season. The All-Star forward also went 18 for 23 from the free throw line to tie Minnesota’s franchise records for attempts and makes.
The Warriors, meanwhile, lost their third straight since the All-Star break. Stephen Curry(notes) led Golden State with 33 points while Dorell Wright(notes) added 26.

[CKR13]

The Minnesota Timberwolves and center Eddy Curry have agreed on a contract buyout.