Wolves / NBA:

[Six Hole]

They should trade what they can for first rounders next year, and try to be as terrible as possible in 2010 when there's a draft studded with players with actual talent. No one should be too excited by the Wolves acquiring top picks this year; it's an awful draft with no superstar talent required to field a championship contender. Teams are eager to dump their picks (see the Wizards).

[Bushwood Gopher]

They should trade what they can for first rounders next year, and try to be as terrible as possible in 2010 when there's a draft studded with players with actual talent. No one should be too excited by the Wolves acquiring top picks this year; it's an awful draft with no superstar talent required to field a championship contender. Teams are eager to dump their picks (see the Wizards).

I agree. Though it does provide good Wolves humor that in one of the least talent laden drafts in recent memory, we have somehow managed to acquire 4 first round picks....

[Hammy]

This may not be the draft in which they land a couple of stars since there are no Kobe Bryant types but I see it as a draft they can build a new team with. Put them in the lineup, let them learn on the job, and build for the future.

I know the NBA is a star driven league but it certainly helps your chances when you have good pieces filling in the other areas. Seems like this is a decent chance to do that.

[a-Rap22]

I agree. Though it does provide good Wolves humor that in one of the least talent laden drafts in recent memory, we have somehow managed to acquire 4 first round picks....

I made the same point to my buddies. It's almost comical actually. At least it appears we're trying to do things and maybe we can hit with one of the picks this year.

Hopefully there is a sound plan in place and they're not just flying by the seat of their pants waiting for offers. No one on the current roster is a must keep. I like Jefferson, but coming off knee surgery the right deal wouldn't make me sad to see him leave. It's at least refreshing with the Wolves and Wild that they seem to be starting something new.

[Bushwood Gopher]

So I'm going to venture a wild guess and predict that whoever is taken with the #4 pick winds up being one of the best players from this draft class. And if it's Tyreke Evans, which now looks possible, I'd lay money on it. It's going to be a real buzzkill if we can't somehow land Rubio or Evans.

[Border Gopher]

Uh oh! Rubio could be coming to 'Sota!

[Border Gopher]

Booyah! Rubio to the Wolves. Hopefully he signs! lol

[Dances With Gophers]

Why didn't we take Curry with that next pick?

Gawd. They almost had me caring again! Grrrr.....

[Border Gopher]

Gah! They had better not trade Ricky.

[Border Gopher]

I want the Wolves to select Stephen Curry's mom! MILF!!

[Dances With Gophers]

Johnny Flynn interviewed immediately after being drafted by the T-Pups:

Q: what did that 6 OT game vs. CT do for your career?

A: "It really propelled it. Before, only the East Coast had heard of Johnny Flynn. But that game allowed the West Coast, Mid-Coast people to see me."

Mid-Coast?

[Zwak]

The NBA is my least favorite of the major sports leagues. IMO they do a couple things right though; Quick draft picks and slotted salaries for the first round.

Ricky Rubio might make we watch Timberwolves highlights on the news.

[Maize]

Johnny Flynn interviewed immediately after being drafted by the T-Pups:

Q: what did that 6 OT game vs. CT do for your career?

A: "It really propelled it. Before, only the East Coast had heard of Johnny Flynn. But that game allowed the West Coast, Mid-Coast people to see me."

Mid-Coast?

He's huge in Silver Bay.

The reaction immediately after Lawson was announced is my favorite(ok, only) Timberwolves memory ever.

[Chris83]

Wolves get Wayne Ellington from NC at #28; not a bad pick that far down in the first round.

[Elm Grove Gopher]

Having slept on it, the Lawson trade has that "Mario Chalmers" feel to it. While not an All world stud, I think he'll be a player, and I personally might have kept him and traded Flynn. Maybe...


We'll see.

[g_manpucker]

I saw a clip of Ricky Rubio talking to the media last night and he made the statement that "My mother doesn't like the cold, it's cold up there right?" I feel a contract hold-out for a trade with this kid. I would have felt better with Curry and Flynn than Ricky Menudo!

[Zwak]

I saw a clip of Ricky Rubio talking to the media last night and he made the statement that "My mother doesn't like the cold, it's cold up there right?" I feel a contract hold-out for a trade with this kid. I would have felt better with Curry and Flynn than Ricky Menudo!

I agree that Rubio sounds less than enthused about playing here. The big problem is that he has a $6 million buy out that he must pay to get out of his Spanish contract. By NBA rules, the Wolves are only allowed to pay $500,000 of it.

I was really impressed with Jonny Flynn's interview. That said, he and Jhonny Peralta of the Cleveland Indians need to go to name spelling school.

[Dances With Gophers]

Listened to Kahn this a.m. (Mike & Mike) on the way into work. He sounds like he knows what he's doing. Admitted that we still have 3-4 years to go before we're a championship-contending team, defended picking PG's back-to-back so high in the draft. And even IF Rubio decides to stay out for one - or even TWO - years, the kid is only 18 years old...he'll be 20. Still a little too early to throw in the towel and declare the kid a bust.

Afterwards, M&M speculated what some already here posted; that perhaps one of these guys are, in the back of Kahn's mind even though he can't (obviously) say so in public, merely trade bait for future deals.

[Greyeagle]

Listened to Kahn this a.m. (Mike & Mike) on the way into work. He sounds like he knows what he's doing. Admitted that we still have 3-4 years to go before we're a championship-contending team, defended picking PG's back-to-back so high in the draft. And even IF Rubio decides to stay out for one - or even TWO - years, the kid is only 18 years old...he'll be 20. Still a little too early to throw in the towel and declare the kid a bust.

Afterwards, M&M speculated what some already here posted; that perhaps one of these guys are, in the back of Kahn's mind even though he can't (obviously) say so in public, merely trade bait for future deals.

Sounds almost verbatim to Kahn's interview with Reusse & Korzo on AM1500.

[Border Gopher]

Zgoda just blogged that the Timberwolves are to introduce their draft picks at Target Center today. AND Ricky Rubio will not be there.

[Maize]

AND Ricky Rubio will not be there.

It's all good. They've still got like 8 other point guards to go with.

[Border Gopher]

AND Ricky Rubio will not be there.

It's all good. They've still got like 8 other point guards to go with.

Uh, Telfair and Flynn. Who else?

[Border Gopher]

Zgoda added more to his last post.

A Wolves spokesman said there’s “no conspiracy here” and said Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan, decided not to have his client come to town because of the uncertainty over Rubio’s unresolved contract buyout with his Spanish team.

He said Rubio is not balking at playing for the Wolves.

David Kahn will address matters this afternoon at 3 p.m.

[Bushwood Gopher]

My initial shock of taking a bunch of point guards is over. I actually think Kahn handled this draft fairly shrewdly. They got the best point guard in the draft with Rubio. Then they take the guy they believe is 2nd best in Flynn. The reality is the Wolves org is either going to convince Rubio that this is the place for him, or Rubio and his agent are going to convince the Wolves that they should ship him somewhere else. And with this particular draft class, my guess is if they do wind up trading Rubio (personally, I think the odds he ever steps onto Target Center wearing a Wolves jersey are about 1 in 10), they will be able to acquire more value than if they had just drafted someone else altogether. And most thought to get Rubio the Wolves would have to give up their 5 and 6 picks to move up to the #2 slot overall.

[monty]

What the Wolves should have done is trade Love and the 6th pick for the second pick and took Thabeet. Then draft Rubio or Flynn with the 5th pick. I am not a big Kevin Love fan.

[Bushwood Gopher]

What the Wolves should have done is trade Love and the 6th pick for the second pick and took Thabeet. Then draft Rubio or Flynn with the 5th pick. I am not a big Kevin Love fan.

Well, trade scenarios always imply that the trade was in fact possible. There's no indication that anyone picking before us would have wanted Love. I wasn't a fan of Love at all when we drafted him. However, he surpassed my expectations of what he would do in his rookie season, and I think he can still get a lot better. There's no denying Thabeet's defensive and shotblocking abilities, but he is a very big question mark on offense. Much more of an offensive question mark than Love was entering the league.

[Elm Grove Gopher]

I was so happy when Thabeet went 2nd just so the Wolves couldn't get him.

yes..he can block shots. That's it. He might have the worst offensive game of ANYONE drafted number 2.

[Chris83]

I was so happy when Thabeet went 2nd just so the Wolves couldn't get him.

yes..he can block shots. That's it. He might have the worst offensive game of ANYONE drafted number 2.

I'm not a terribly shrewd judge of college BB talent, but a close friend who lives and breathes it feels the same way you do. He was praying the Wolves wouldn't end up with Thabeet.

[Slap Shot]

Booyah! Rubio to the Wolves. Hopefully he signs! lol

Why? He can't defend and he can't shoot. The Wolves have plenty of that already and there were plenty of PGs in the draft. I hated the Rubio idea from day 1 and it will never pan out.

[jallengarry]

I don't know there are a lot of guys I'd write off at 18 years of age that have shown some success on an international level. And other than the Olympics where he shined, do you have the Spanish league basketball package or something cause that' s a rather strong take for likely hardly seeing the guy play a lick. Time will tell...

[Slap Shot]

I don't know there are a lot of guys I'd write off at 18 years of age that have shown some success on an international level. And other than the Olympics where he shined, do you have the Spanish league basketball package or something cause that' s a rather strong take for likely hardly seeing the guy play a lick. Time will tell...

I read enough and heard enough to suggest both are legitimate concerns. Never mind the prospect he'll never agree to play here, which will cause his trade value to drop.

[gopherguy06]

Rubio has left his team in Spain. No word yet on what is going on with the Wolves, but still a good sign.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4348398

[Zwak]

Kurt Rambis to be named Wolves coach.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4386466

Us old guys will always think of him as the guy with the glasses that McHale clotheslined.

[Iceburg]

Kurt Rambis to be named Wolves coach.

Hopefully he can live up to the fond memories that Minnesota sports fans have of the original "Big Man with Glasses"

[Elm Grove Gopher]

I would love to see him coach just once in the old on court glasses..do it for a fund raiser or something.

[Slap Shot]

First demoted to coach, then fired and finally replaced by a former rival. Ouch, McHale.

[Elm Grove Gopher]

Wow...this thread was dead and buried!

While I frankly don't give a hoot about the NBA, I read this on FoxSports.com and was stunned. It appears as if the NBA is going to be MORE lenient with traveling calls this season. How is that possible? And they wonder why basketball fans long ago left the NBA...

I think the NBA will next add those trampolines around the hoops. Geez. (My son has watched that on TV but I have forgotten the name...)

From the article:

"The aforementioned traveling rule will make it legal for players to gather on the catch and take two steps before dribbling the ball."

[ScoobyDoo]

I think the NBA will next add those trampolines around the hoops. Geez. (My son has watched that on TV but I have forgotten the name...)

Slam Ball I think it's called.

[dxmnkd316]

I think the NBA will next add those trampolines around the hoops. Geez. (My son has watched that on TV but I have forgotten the name...)

Slam Ball I think it's called.

Correct. I watched it a few times waaaay back when it was actually on tv. Entertaining for a while (which is something the NBA has wet dreams about achieving someday...)

[bonesaw]

Excerpts from "Blowing the Whistle" by Tim Donaghy (the ref fired for betting on games):

http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-fr ... ou-to-read

[Sioux/Bucky Hater]

The kids and I went to the home opener last night. It had been a couple years since I was at Target Center. Not much has changed. Bad basketball. Not many people(even for the opener). A lot of hotties and suits in the expensive seats. Lot's of wierd gimmicks from the promotion staff. One such gimmick was for the crowd to vote (by cheering) on the best dressed (of only three, thank goodness) Wolves walking the Red Carpet pregame sponsored of course by Entourage. Oddly enough, Brian Cardinal won the voting. Hey, I thought he still played for Purdue. The stadium was half full in my estimation. After the game on the radio they said it was a "near sell-out". I went to the wolves new and improved website, which was mentioned several times during the game, yesterday to see what tickets were still available. There were a lot. A guy at work gave me 4 tix his wife got free from a Target store. I suppose all those seats were included in the near sell-out quote. I cannot believe they still charge that kind of $$$. As much as $1700 a seat per game. WOW!!! Anyway, the game was pretty much a downer. Same old, same old. Bad defense and not very good shooting. With 7 minutes left in the fourth we were down 16. I pretty much had it and was ready to go. It was a school night ya know. The Lumberpuppies turned it on at that point. 12-0 run. Great D. I think we had steals on three straight possessions. Tie game with 20 ticks left. Timeout (way too many of those down the stretch). Rambis and Laimbeer set up a play for Johnny Flynn to stay out top and drive as time was ticking down. Can you believe Rambis and Laibbeer are on the same bench? Much less, our bench? Johnny, who had a pretty good game, missed. Something called Damien Wilkins got the rebound and put it in as the horn sounded. Sweet finish. It was actually exciting. Late night for the kids. I'm glad we went and stayed though. I wonder how many people will actually read this entire post.

[Don Adams Wheel of Justice]

After last nights big win my only question is this: Has an NBA team ever finished the season 82 - 0? We're comin', we're comin'!!!

[Sioux/Bucky Hater]

After last nights big win my only question is this: Has an NBA team ever finished the season 82 - 0? We're comin', we're comin'!!!

I believe the Bulls hold the record at 72-10. I'm pretty sure that record is safe. I would bet the Woofies end up closer to 10-72.

[Sioux/Bucky Hater]

Excerpts from "Blowing the Whistle" by Tim Donaghy (the ref fired for betting on games):

http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-fr ... ou-to-read

Interesting read. If half of that stuff is true the NBA really won't want anyone reading that book.

[Six Hole]

Where's Bert when you need him?

[Hobey Baker]

The kids and I went to the home opener last night. It had been a couple years since I was at Target Center. Not much has changed. Bad basketball. Not many people(even for the opener). A lot of hotties and suits in the expensive seats. Lot's of wierd gimmicks from the promotion staff. One such gimmick was for the crowd to vote (by cheering) on the best dressed (of only three, thank goodness) Wolves walking the Red Carpet pregame sponsored of course by Entourage. Oddly enough, Brian Cardinal won the voting. Hey, I thought he still played for Purdue. The stadium was half full in my estimation. After the game on the radio they said it was a "near sell-out". I went to the wolves new and improved website, which was mentioned several times during the game, yesterday to see what tickets were still available. There were a lot. A guy at work gave me 4 tix his wife got free from a Target store. I suppose all those seats were included in the near sell-out quote. I cannot believe they still charge that kind of $$$. As much as $1700 a seat per game. WOW!!! Anyway, the game was pretty much a downer. Same old, same old. Bad defense and not very good shooting. With 7 minutes left in the fourth we were down 16. I pretty much had it and was ready to go. It was a school night ya know. The Lumberpuppies turned it on at that point. 12-0 run. Great D. I think we had steals on three straight possessions. Tie game with 20 ticks left. Timeout (way too many of those down the stretch). Rambis and Laimbeer set up a play for Johnny Flynn to stay out top and drive as time was ticking down. Can you believe Rambis and Laibbeer are on the same bench? Much less, our bench? Johnny, who had a pretty good game, missed. Something called Damien Wilkins got the rebound and put it in as the horn sounded. Sweet finish. It was actually exciting. Late night for the kids. I'm glad we went and stayed though. I wonder how many people will actually read this entire post.

I Tivo'ed it. It was absolutely horrible for 3 quarters!

We really have some bad winter sports teams right now!!!! Go Vikes!

[trixR4kids]

Excerpts from "Blowing the Whistle" by Tim Donaghy (the ref fired for betting on games):

http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-fr ... ou-to-read

Interesting read. If half of that stuff is true the NBA really won't want anyone reading that book.

I have a feeling this guy is just an attention prostitute and little if any of that is actually true. However it very well could be.

[Slap Shot]

I just noticed that Steve Nash looks like Kelly Leak.