Timberwolves Trade Rumors

"As distasteful as it may seem for many local basketball fans, Seattle officials can learn a lot from Clay Bennett as they attempt to lure an NBA team. "If you're going to play this game and win, you must have commitments from three places: the private sector, the public sector and the NBA," said Marc Ganis, president of Sportscorp Ltd., a Chicago-based sports-industry consulting firm. "Oklahoma City had all three." Now that the dust has settled from the surprising July 2 settlement between the city of Seattle and Bennett, which allowed him to pay $45 million and immediately move the team, local officials face the cold realization that securing another franchise is no slam dunk. In ..."

"The 76ers are close to trading forward Rodney Carney and a future No. 1 pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a deal that clears salary cap space for Philadelphia to make a stronger push for free agents, a person in the NBA told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet been completed and the NBA trade moratorium is not lifted until Wednesday. The 76ers will throw in reserve forward Calvin Booth, but are working out the particulars of what they will get back from Minnesota."

"On the first day of free agency, the Mavericks reached agreement with a player they hope will be the next Brandon Bass. They also said goodbye to one of their longest-tenured employees. According to an NBA source, the Mavericks struck a deal with Gerald Green, a slender, 6-8 guard who has been in the league three seasons. It is believed to be a one-year contract. Meanwhile, Del Harris, who served as assistant coach to Don Nelson and Avery Johnson over a nine-year stay with the organization, is expected to sign a contract today to be an assistant in Chicago for new Bulls' coach Vinny Del Negro, a source said."

"The Timberwolves extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith and Chris Richard on Monday and chose to let Sebastian Telfair and Kirk Snyder become unrestricted free agents. The moves were a formality with the start of the free-agent bidding beginning today. By qualifying the three players, the Wolves retained their right of matching any offer they receive from another team."

"The Wolves extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith and Chris Richard and declined to do so to Sebastian Telfair and Kirk Snyder. But Telfair's agent said Monday "all indications" suggest the Wolves will try seriously to re-sign his client. "And Sebastian is interested in listening, but I'm fully confident he will have other offers," agent Andy Miller said. "We're going to take the offer that is best in the short- and long-term interest of Sebastian." Wolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale said he would still like to work out a new deal with Telfair, one of five players acquired last summer from Boston in the Kevin Garnett ..."

"The Grizzlies fell short of moving up to No. 2 and grabbing Michael Beasley in the NBA draft so they did the next best thing. Memphis grabbed the consensus third-best player in the draft, USC's O.J Mayo. The Grizzlies, who selected UCLA's Kevin Love with the fifth pick, were completing a deal late Thursday night that will bring them Mayo (taken third by Minnesota), Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner for Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins. The deal still needed NBA approval, according to two league sources."

"The Timberwolves have O.J. Mayo and they aren't about to let him go. Assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg made that official after addressing fans at the team's draft party. "We picked him for us," Hoiberg said of Mayo, the Southern California guard Minnesota took with the third overall selection. "This means we're keeping him.""

"The Timberwolves will have a tough choice tonight, when they are scheduled to make the third pick in the first round of the NBA draft. I believe that if assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg is a good salesman and if the Wolves don't make a trade, they will take Southern California guard O.J. Mayo. Hoiberg played for Southern California coach Tim Floyd at Iowa State, and they are close. Floyd also coached in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls from 1999-2002, so he has a good idea how Mayo will fit in as a pro player. I believe Floyd has sold Hoiberg on Mayo. The one negative is the Wolves already have a Mayo-type player in Randy Foye, but Hoiberg said he believes they could play ..."

"To trade or not to trade? That is the question for the Timberwolves, who own the third selection in Thursday's NBA draft but remain open to the possibility of moving down in the first round. "If we can address a need and still get the guy that we feel like is our guy, we absolutely have to look at that," general manager Jim Stack said Tuesday. "Whether or not we're able to do that remains to be seen, but I am encouraged by some of the conversations I've had with some of the different teams." To this point, the Wolves don't have any offers that would cause them to move out of the third spot, where they could have the opportunity to draft Southern California guard O.J. Mayo, but ..."

"Timberwolves executives interviewed West Virginia forward Joe Alexander by telephone Tuesday as they continue to investigate trading their third overall pick to move down in Thursday's NBA draft. Alexander declined an invitation to work out at Target Center to concentrate on working out with teams -- New York at No. 6 and Milwaukee at No. 8 among them -- more likely to draft him. "You'd like to see everybody," Wolves assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg said, "but it usually works out that you just can't." The Wolves also want to talk by phone with Kansas State forward Michael Beasley -- just in case they can somehow grasp him on draft night -- but likely will be denied by ..."

"The Knicks have polled NBA personnel the past few days, trying to figure out the chances of USC combo guard O.J. Mayo falling to them at six. With the chances slim, Knick president Donnie Walsh is exploring ways of swapping picks with Memphis at No. 5 or Minnesota at No. 3, according to a league source, with their goal of drafting Mayo. Walsh believes Mayo can play point guard and has deemed him the best player after Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley. According ESPN.com, the Knicks even discussed a trade with Memphis about acquiring the fifth pick altogether, in dealing popular David Lee and Malik Rose for Brian Cardinal, who has two years left on his pact."

"The Timberwolves held their final pre-draft workouts Monday, looking at three prospects, including a pair of projected top-10 guards in Arizona's Jerryd Bayless and Indiana's Eric Gordon. Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale, in his last media session before Thursday's NBA draft, said he expects trade offers for the Wolves' third overall selection to heat up between now and then. "Up until now, there's been a lot of people who have just kind of thrown some stuff out there," McHale said. "They'll get more serious starting (Monday) and (Tuesday) and on Thursday you'll get a good offer. The teams you talk to, you say, 'Will I do this?' And they say, 'Will I do that?' ..."

"So much can happen between now and when Commissioner David Stern steps to the podium Thursday night at Madison Square Garden to announce the Timberwolves' selection in the NBA draft. Will the Wolves trade down from the third pick a couple slots to acquire an extra player or draft pick and still hope they canUCLA forward Kevin Love, Stanford center Brook Lopez, Italian forward Danilo Gallinari or Indiana guard Eric Gordon? Will they package their two second-round picks -- two of the first four in that round -- to acquire another first-round pick? If the Wolves keep the pick, will O.J. Mayo be your next Timberwolf? Wolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale watched ..."

"Donnie Walsh's long-range plan is to make a play for LeBron James when the James becomes a free agent in two years. In the interim, the Knicks' president is trying to clear salary cap space and assemble a few pieces that would make New York more appealing to James. One such player is USC guard O.J. Mayo, who could go as high as third in Thursday's draft. The Minnesota Timberwolves own the pick and the club is open to trading it. The Knicks, whosixth, are looking to move up and are intrigued by Mayo, who like coach Mike D'Antonio hails from West Virginia. The fact that Mayo, regarded as the top combo guard in the draft, is good friends with James doesn't hurt. There was a report ..."

"The Timberwolves said they had some questions for O.J. Mayo, and the Southern California guard apparently had all the right answers Saturday. So, does that mean he can be penciled in to Minnesota with the third pick in Thursday's NBA draft? "I wish it was that easy," Wolves general manager Jim Stack said after Mayo's five-team workout in Chicago. "You know, we've got some kids coming in next week, obviously. ... We want to make sure we're real diligent and thorough with the whole process. But O.J.'s certainly a guy that we're considering and probably among four or five guys that we're still kind of wading through.""

"While the Heat has deployed its cone of silence when it comes to its No. 2 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, the Timberwolves, who select at No. 3, have been far more open. Foremost, if the Heat should bypass on Michael Beasley, Minnesota apparently would be more than willing to pounce. "Nothing is more overrated, in my opinion, than your height," Timberwolves Vice President Kevin McHale said, with others expressing concern that Beasley measured in 2 inches shorter than his previously listed 6 feet 10. As for the quality of trade proposals, McHale told the St. Paul Pioneer Press, "I would tell you there's not an offer I'd do today." He said he might reconsider closer to the draft, ..."

"Kevin Love was the headliner of the four-man band that auditioned for the Timberwolves on Tuesday, and the UCLA power forward/center lived up to his billing. Reviews should be taken with a grain of salt at this time of year, but Love apparently did enough during a 90-minute workout to be included on the short list of players the Wolves would consider with the third selection of the June 26 NBA draft. "I thought he was very good," assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg said. "He's just such a smart player who's got a high basketball IQ. He's a tremendous passer, and he can space the court with his shooting. I thought he was very impressive.""

"The calendar and the weather may suggest otherwise, but the NBA climate has the feel of February. Much like the frenzy and wild speculation that serve as a prelude to the league's trade deadline, caution must be observed and logic exercised. With so many teams looking to improve and so many names being bandied about, it wouldn't surprise any one if one or two roster-altering moves are completed, perhaps more. Until the NBA final runs its course, no deal will be announced in an environment where there's no shortage of possibilities, some that appear to have merit."

"Chuck Person, Dwane Casey and Vinny Del Negro have been told a decision on the Bulls' coaching job is imminent, according to sources close to all three candidates. Those three interviewed last week—Person and Casey for the second time—as general manager John Paxson prepared for what he likely sensed was inevitable: the mutual decision of Doug Collins and Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to end Collins' candidacy. Sources said the Bulls talked with Del Negro on Saturday, and there were some indications the Suns' assistant general manager had emerged as the front-runner despite owning no previous coaching experience...The Bulls have given no indications they will wait for Celtics assistant Tom ..."

"Doug Collins wants to coach the Bulls—and only the Bulls—and his old franchise has enough interest that it is expected to offer its former coach the unlikeliest of second chances. That isn't stopping general manager John Paxson and team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf from continuing their due diligence, close to seven weeks into this interminable coach search. Kings assistant Chuck Person, in town on Tuesday, interviewed a second time for the position. And sources said former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey would follow with his second solo interview on Wednesday or Thursday."

"The Bulls' coaching search might not be at the finish line, but it appears to be heading into the home stretch. General manager John Paxson said Wednesday he has talked during the NBA's predraft camp for a second time to some of the candidates he previously interviewed...Paxson met last week in Los Angeles with Lakers assistants Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw. Jazz assistants Tyrone Corbin and Jeff Hornacek, Kings assistant Chuck Person and former Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey also interviewed last week."

"Chicago-area newspapers are reporting University of Colorado men's basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik is on a list of potential candidates for the Chicago Bulls' head coaching job and could be interviewed by Bulls general manager John Paxson this week at the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla. According to the Chicago Sun-Times and the suburban-based Daily Herald, Bzdelik is among several candidates. The exhaustive list also includes recently fired Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey, Utah Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin, Houston assistant Elston Turner, former NBA head coach John Lucas and parttime Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek."

"If I were Kevin McHale ... I'd quit. But that would make for a really short column. So let's try a more complex hypothetical. What would I do if I were Timberwolves exec Kevin McHale, I held the third pick in the 2008 NBA draft, my team was generating TV ratings that read like windchills, and my roster held exactly one potential star-quality player? I'd take a good look in the mirror, see Kevin McHale, and deduce the following: • If I take a player with the third pick, he's probably going to remind me of Christian Laettner. And not in a good way. Hold it -- is there a good way? • I'm not just trying to add new players, but I'm also trying to get rid of old mistakes."

"Even if the Bulls make the pick, trades would come into play because Beasley would create a logjam with Drew Gooden and Tyrus Thomas and Rose would flood a backcourt that's already crowded. Ben Gordon is a restricted free agent this summer. "It's looking around the league and seeing that maybe there's a way to address one of our needs through a trade and then addressing the other through this pick," Paxson said. "That's part of the next five weeks." So is hiring a coach, with Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin, Kings assistant Chuck Person, former Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey and former player Jeff Hornacek interviewing this week. Paxson will interview other candidates next week in ..."

"Before Tuesday night, it appeared the Bulls' coaching vacancy would be filled by someone without NBA head-coaching experience. But coming away with the top pick in the draft lottery might change that. Big-name coaches Avery Johnson and Jeff Van Gundy, both of whom seemed content not to coach next season, might have a renewed interest in the Bulls' job now. So how will the Bulls having the top pick affect the coaching search? ''That's a good question,'' general manager John Paxson said. ''I'm not sure how it does, quite honestly...A few candidates are expected to visit the Berto Center this week, including Utah Jazz assistant and former DePaul star Tyrone Corbin, former Minnesota ..."

"Despite the grind of a difficult season, vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale didn't sound at all like a man who might be contemplating retirement a day after the Wolves finished the season 22-60, their fourth consecutive year out of the playoffs. Although McHale didn't say he would be around for years to come — it has been his standard stance to say he re-evaluates his desire to return on an annual basis — he said the players on this team make his job fun. There's a belief among those close to the Wolves that it would be difficult for McHale to walk away from the team in its current state."

"Wolves swingman Kirk Snyder said he's open to returning to the team after the season ends. He will become a restricted free agent if the Wolves make him a qualifying offer for next season by July 1."

"Walker has said he would like to be traded this summer to a team for whom he could play significant minutes. He's a veteran on a team trying to develop young players. But Wittman isn't ruling out a role for Walker with the Wolves next season."

"Wittman said he hasn't spoken with officials at Indiana University to express his opinion regarding a possible coaching hire. A report Saturday indicated that the Hoosiers might hire a successor to Kelvin Sampson within a week."

"Antoine Walker is being paid some $8.5 million this season to watch the Timberwolves from the bench, and according to club owner Glen Taylor, the team doesn't have any plans on of buying out this season or next on the veteran's contract. And coach Randy Wittman said the present plans are not to play Walker unless somebody gets hurt."

"Sebastian Telfair as the Knick point guard next year? It's not so farfetched. Telfair, a free agent July 1, harbored the same dreams as his older cousin Stephon Marbury growing up in Brooklyn - to become the Knick point guard."

"Almost no one believes Stephon Marbury will be back as the Knicks' point guard next season, outside of Marbury, of course. With Marbury no longer here, the Knicks will be looking for a point guard this offseason and Marbury's cousin, Sebastian Telfair, didn't rule out the possibility of another hometown product taking over: himself."

"Forward Antoine Walker continues to try to work out a buyout with the Wolves, but center Michael Doleac, who came to the Wolves in the same trade with Miami, wants to finish the season here and hasn't decided whether he will play after this year."

"Don't anybody tell Oliver Stone: The clock ticked Saturday toward a late-night deadline with Antoine Walker still a Timberwolf, even if he was not at practice or a game for the fourth consecutive day."

"Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman says Antoine Walker hasn't given him any reason to believe he won't continue to be professional the rest of the season. Walker, who missed Saturday's practice because of the flu, apparently will remain with the Wolves for the rest of this season, if not longer, now that an important deadline has passed."

"Ratliff left Cleveland before Wolves' game Friday and is expected to sign with the Detroit Pistons if he clears waivers. Players must be waived by 11 tonight to be eligible for another team's playoff roster... Antoine Walker also is seeking a buyout agreement by tonight's deadline and a chance at a fresh start. But considering the Wolves already made an offer that was rejected, don't count on Walker getting his wish."

"It looks like the Pistons will indeed fill their 15th roster spot with a familiar face. Only it won't be Dale Davis. The Minnesota Timberwolves placed veteran center Theo Ratliff on waivers Thursday night after agreeing to a buyout settlement on the remainder of his $11.6 million contract."

"The Pistons expect to sign center Theo Ratliff for a prorated portion of the $1.3 million veteran's minimum after he clears waivers Saturday. He can then sign early next week."

"Veteran center Theo Ratliff and the Timberwolves might be on the verge of a contract buyout, two people close to the situation said Thursday. Ratliff told one of the people that he could end up with the Detroit Pistons after the buyout is completed."

"The word from the Wolves was that they wanted to keep Theo Ratliff around to work with Al Jefferson, but owner Glen Taylor said the team worked out a buyout with Ratliff on Thursday and he will be in another uniform soon."

"Antoine Walker did not accompany the Timberwolves to Toronto for Wednesday's game, an absence Wolves coach Randy Wittman attributed to a "passport problem" and not to Walker's desire to leave the team for a playoff contender by a Saturday league deadline."

"Reserve forward Antoine Walker did not make the trip here for Wednesday night's game because of a problem with his passport, Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said. It's the latest twist in Walker's issues. The 11-year NBA veteran is hoping to reach an agreement on a contract buyout with the Wolves by Saturday so that he can catch on with a team headed to the playoffs."

"Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said because the team has to pay millions of dollars to players whose contracts were bought out such as Troy Hudson and Juwan Howard, there won't be a lot of money available to sign big-money free agents for the 2008-09 season. For next season, the team will have to improve by experience of the current squad and the draft."

"Saturday is the next big day for player movement in the league. Not for trades, but for a view of what players think of your franchise. Players have to be released by March 1 to be eligible for the playoffs with a new team. So teams will be watching what the Clippers do with Sam Cassell and the Timberwolves with Antoine Walker."

"Unfortunately for Walker, it appears he will be watching a lot more than playing down the stretch, unless he and the Wolves can agree on a buyout in time to get him with another team. For Walker to land on a playoff team, he would have to agree to a buyout, then clear waivers by March 1. That seems unlikely."

"Wittman was interested in the Indiana job before Sampson was hired in March 2006. At the time, Wittman was an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic. He said he still has close friends at the school. Asked if he would consider coaching in college, Wittman said Friday: "I don't know. No. Right now, I'd rather stay here. I like this level.""

"The Wolves bought the contract of veteran Juwan Howard before the season when they couldn't trade him to a contender. McHale said a buyout of Walker's contract is unlikely and Walker said, "I'm not willing to give up a lot of money.""

"When asked before the game about not being traded Thursday, Walker said, "Yeah, I'm disappointed, because I'm not going to play here. I'm not part of the future here." Walker said he's not interested in a contract buyout — he's making more than $8 million this season and $9 million next — because he doesn't want to "give up a lot of money.""

"Word at Indiana is that the Hoosiers might be willing to offer Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman $10 million over five years to return to his alma mater. Wittman has two years left on his Wolves contract, but the second year is his option, not the team's."

"Racing the 2 p.m. trade deadline, the Rockets were in talks to acquire Minnesota guard Gerald Green, the former NBA dunk champion from Gulf Shores Academy, in exchange for guard Kirk Snyder, a person with knowledge of the talks said."