Myron P Medcalf/Star Tribune on Friday’s Tubby’s Tipoff at Williams Arena:
Junior college transfer Devron Bostick showed off his jumping ability, when he threw the ball over the backboard, turned 180 degrees and slammed.
That dunk was judged the best of the competition by Timberwolves Mark Madsen and Kevin Love, assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff and broadcaster Jim Petersen.
Steve Aschburner/SI.com on the Heat, Hornets, Magic and Timberwolves celebrating their 20th anniversary.
As 2008-09 begins, though, all four teams bring optimism. The Hornets were the No. 2 seed in the West last spring and, in preseason picks, are neck-and-neck with the Lakers to reach the Finals come June. Orlando won 52 games with Dwight Howard turning 22; what might he do at a post-Olympian 23? The Wolves and Heat have intriguing rookies, Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, respectively, and young veterans (Al Jefferson in Minnesota; Dwyane Wade in Miami) dedicated to fixing what’s broken.
In eight days, the Timberwolves must submit their regular-season roster to the NBA office. Barring a late personnel move, their decision on the team’s third point guard couldn’t offer more disparate choices.
Kevin Ollie, steady and defensively dependable, is 35 and an 11-year veteran now playing for his 11th NBA team. Blake Ahearn, a playmaker and an NCAA record-setting shooter, is 24 and played 12 NBA games with Miami late season after starting with the Dakota Wizards in the NBA Developmental League.
Aaron Seehusen/Timberwolves site sits down for a Q&A with Jason Collins.
TW.COM: What were your first thoughts when you received the news that you were going to be headed here?
Collins: Haha. Oddly enough, I was already here. My fiancée was born and raised here in Minnesota and we were here for one of her cousin’s weddings. When I got the news I was like, well that’s funny because I’m already here. All kidding aside, it’s a great opportunity to come to a new team that has a couple of players that I’m very familiar with in Mike Miller and Brian Cardinal from Memphis. I’m looking forward to having a good year this year.
OUTLOOK: With good inside-outside balance and an emerging star in Jefferson, the Timberwolves would have hopes of competing for a playoff spot if they played in the East. Instead, they’ll have to settle for trying to be competitive against the West powers and continue building for the future.
From USA Today:
THIS SEASON, PREDICTED: 36-46 (4th in the Northwest Division)
POSSIBLE CHANGES, PREDICTED: Randy Foye, an explosive scorer in a point guard’s body, begins the season as the team’s starter, but Sebastian Telfair’s ability to run a team could eventually create a change. Randy Wittman’s job security is threatened if the Wolves don’t show significant improvement.
Minnesota GM Kevin McHale, a former Celtic teammate, is an Ainge friend. But Ainge contends that dealing with him was hardly an advantage. “We’re really close friends and yet we’re very competitive people,” said Ainge. “Kevin McHale had never given me any indication that Garnett was tradable.”
So Ainge went with his gut.
“I confronted Kevin McHale,” he said. “I called him” — and liked the response. “He indicated it might be something they’d explore.”
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