The Pioneer Press has up the second part of Rick Alonzo’s interview with owner Glen Taylor.
On making Wittman the team’s permanent coach.
I don’t know if we could have made those
changes with K.G. here. I don’t know that Randy would have made any
difference if K.G. was here. I think without K.G., with new guys, it
might work with Randy.
changes with K.G. here. I don’t know that Randy would have made any
difference if K.G. was here. I think without K.G., with new guys, it
might work with Randy.
It has more to do with K.G., and K.G. not liking
Mike James, and Marko (Jaric), and he didn’t like Mark Blount. Heavens,
half the starting team. And Ricky (Davis) didn’t listen to (Wittman).
So it was kind of like, holy gripes. But I don’t know who I could have
brought in. I know I would have had to bring in a really experienced
guy. There weren’t too many guys available.
Mike James, and Marko (Jaric), and he didn’t like Mark Blount. Heavens,
half the starting team. And Ricky (Davis) didn’t listen to (Wittman).
So it was kind of like, holy gripes. But I don’t know who I could have
brought in. I know I would have had to bring in a really experienced
guy. There weren’t too many guys available.
On what was pushing him to trade Garnett.
I think there was a lot of stuff going on
that we just couldn’t talk about publicly. K.G. wanted Trenton
(Hassell, forward) around. K.G. wanted Troy (Hudson, guard) around. And
those guys took advantage of the situation, and it drove me nuts. I
thought both of those guys could have been better players. But somehow
because K.G. stuck up for them, they probably would have both been
better players this year without K.G. But they had gone down the rope
so far…
that we just couldn’t talk about publicly. K.G. wanted Trenton
(Hassell, forward) around. K.G. wanted Troy (Hudson, guard) around. And
those guys took advantage of the situation, and it drove me nuts. I
thought both of those guys could have been better players. But somehow
because K.G. stuck up for them, they probably would have both been
better players this year without K.G. But they had gone down the rope
so far…
From Krista Jahnke/Detroit Free Press, Chauncey Billiups and Flip Saunders comment on Part 1 of Alonzo’s interview with Taylor.
"I guess the most amazing thing is, it’s been three years," Saunders
said. "At some point you’ve got to let it go. I guess if I was running
for president, I’d say, ‘Are you better off today than you were three
years ago?’ If you are, then it’s a smart decision. If you aren’t, then
maybe there were other factors."
said. "At some point you’ve got to let it go. I guess if I was running
for president, I’d say, ‘Are you better off today than you were three
years ago?’ If you are, then it’s a smart decision. If you aren’t, then
maybe there were other factors."
Britt Robson/On The Ball looks at the team’s preseason plus/minus total.
On Saturday, Walker was asked if he might be a candidate for a contract buyout.
"Not right now, that’s not been discussed with me," he said. "I just
got here. I want to see if it can work. I want to play basketball.
Everywhere I go, I try to make a home for myself and play to the best
of my ability and hopefully I can be a part of this team. I don’t know
what role that will be yet, but hopefully a good one."
got here. I want to see if it can work. I want to play basketball.
Everywhere I go, I try to make a home for myself and play to the best
of my ability and hopefully I can be a part of this team. I don’t know
what role that will be yet, but hopefully a good one."
Bob Finnan/The Morning Journal on Juwan Howard:
Published reports say the Cavs could be interested in signing him once he’s bought out.
Look for the Bulls to be among the teams to express interest in Juwan Howard, especially in connection with a possible Bryant trade. The Timberwolves are expected to buy out Howard this week and Howard has talked about joining Kevin Garnett in Boston. Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio, Miami and Phoenix also have been mentioned as possible destinations.
Stephen Litel/Downtown Journal on Randy Foye’s cover shoot for the paper.
Bob Sansevere/Pioneer Press talks to Theo Ratliff. On what he wants his epitaph to say, the player’s response is:
Here lies Theo Ratliff, who was a Christian man, a
family-oriented man, a man with conviction about being a part of
charities, and a man who helped a lot of other people.
family-oriented man, a man with conviction about being a part of
charities, and a man who helped a lot of other people.
“Minnesota probably just wanted to move personalities and give the team to the young guys,” the Celtics coach said.
Mitch Lawrence/NY Daily News predicts the team will finish tied for third in the Northwest division with a record of 32-50.
In his preseason predictions, Mike Kahn/Fox Sports lists Antoine Walker as the league’s worst defender and Al Jefferson as the season’s most improved player.
When he reflects on his life sometime down the road, you can be sure Antoine Walker won’t look back fondly on 2007…
WD/Canis Hoopus on the team’s offseason moves.
Stephen Litel/Hoopsworld on news the team was finalizing Juwan Howard’s buyout.
Gary Giombetti/Hibbing Daily Tribune on the team’s recent trade with the Heat.
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