Jonah Ballow/Timberwolves site posts a scouting report for tonight’s game against Indiana.
The Timberwolves are likely to be without their two newest players for tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers, but they could get veteran guard Kevin Ollie back.
Coach Kevin McHale said after today’s morning shootaround that forward Shelden Williams and guard Bobby Brown, the two players acquired in Thursday’s trade with Sacramento, were still in transit.
“They’ve got to take physicals; our guys have got to take physicals,” McHale said. “I would anticipate them not playing tonight, but you never know. We’ll see.”
This trade does fulfill some short term needs for the Wolves: namely, their need for another serviceable big man to fill in for Al Jefferson and their need for a point guard to push/back up Sebastian Telfair. Mostly, though, this was about getting McCants, and all the seriously bad vibes he represents, out of town.
How does Jefferson utilize the time off the court productively for both his individual game and, more importantly, for the progression of his young team heading into the ‘09-10 season?
“Well, that’s what we have to figure out,” said McHale. “How are we going to use this? We have to use this to the betterment of Al and that will be a bit of a struggle. We’re just going to support him and he has to use this time to grow in his film-watching, team-watching and some other stuff, but he’s not going to be able to be on the floor. He’s going to have to grow without being on the floor, so we’re going to have to figure out some things that we want him to do. We’ll figure out a way to make it work for him.”
Sources said Minnesota pursued Kirk Hinrich hard but wouldn’t offer all expiring contracts.
Minnesota acquires Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown; loses Rashad McCants, Calvin Booth
Grade: B-
Adding the minus if only for Brown’s salary next year, even if it is under $800k. He’s no good, and not worth it. And he’s not some diamond in the rough, check his rookie stats compared to others his age.
Williams, working his way into shape, could turn into something almost approaching average under Kevin McHale’s tutelage, even if it’s only for two more months.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
