From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
Green, who celebrated his 22nd birthday Saturday, will be an
unrestricted free agent this summer and his agent told the Boston Globe
on Friday that he has asked the Wolves to trade his client because
Green is not part of their long-term plans.
unrestricted free agent this summer and his agent told the Boston Globe
on Friday that he has asked the Wolves to trade his client because
Green is not part of their long-term plans.
"I can’t predict the future," Green said Friday. "It is going to be a
big summer for me, but we’ve still got half of a season left. I might
be a Minnesota Timberwolf, I might not."
big summer for me, but we’ve still got half of a season left. I might
be a Minnesota Timberwolf, I might not."
For the most part, Green has only been able to watch. While Gomes has
started most of Minnesota’s games, Green has only played in 22 of them.
Eight times in the last four weeks, he sat the entire night. Only four
times this season has he reached double figures in scoring.
started most of Minnesota’s games, Green has only played in 22 of them.
Eight times in the last four weeks, he sat the entire night. Only four
times this season has he reached double figures in scoring.
When he scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds in 15 minutes of
Friday’s 87-86 loss to Boston, it was one of his highlight games of the
year.
Friday’s 87-86 loss to Boston, it was one of his highlight games of the
year.
The Timberwolves didn’t pick up Green’s option for next year, so he’ll be a free agent.
“I was pretty surprised,” Green said. “I’d just like
to show these people I deserve to be in this league, and I’m waiting on
my chance to show them.”
Previews of this evening’s game against the Nets:
Click here for the forum’s game thread
I missed two straight home games and my first game back into the mix
was Wednesday’s against Phoenix. As I drove to Target Center, I was
curious to see if locker room dynamics had changed from the last time I
had been there. They hadn’t. Actually, if anything, this team is closer
through all the losing than they were at the beginning of the season.
was Wednesday’s against Phoenix. As I drove to Target Center, I was
curious to see if locker room dynamics had changed from the last time I
had been there. They hadn’t. Actually, if anything, this team is closer
through all the losing than they were at the beginning of the season.
In the Minnesota dressing room at the TD
Banknorth Garden, the press corps flocked around a stall that,
previously, was never a place where Boston sports headlines were made.
Banknorth Garden, the press corps flocked around a stall that,
previously, was never a place where Boston sports headlines were made.
The mob gravitated to Gomes. The question
that amused him the most was also the one asked most often: When you
become a free agent after this season, where will you go? Would you
come back to Boston?
that amused him the most was also the one asked most often: When you
become a free agent after this season, where will you go? Would you
come back to Boston?
"I can’t say," he said, smiling, though
trying not to smile. "I will play the last 40 games for the
Timberwolves, and talk to my agent, and see what the best scenario is
after the season. I can’t rule anything out. There are 29 teams out
there. The Timberwolves have seen me the most, so maybe they will have
the most interest."
trying not to smile. "I will play the last 40 games for the
Timberwolves, and talk to my agent, and see what the best scenario is
after the season. I can’t rule anything out. There are 29 teams out
there. The Timberwolves have seen me the most, so maybe they will have
the most interest."
Jefferson came in averaging 20.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game with 31 double-doubles – second in the league behind Orlando’s Dwight Howard. He says he’s been working out with Wolves President Kevin McHale, which has paid benefits. ‘‘He works with me on a lot of stuff,’’ Jefferson said of the onetime Celtic great. ‘‘That’s good because he played the position.’’
If the T-Wolves were to play, say, the University of Memphis in a game
bound by collegiate rules, the pros would win by at least 20 points. In
an NBA-style contest, the T-Wolves would triumph by 30-plus points.
bound by collegiate rules, the pros would win by at least 20 points. In
an NBA-style contest, the T-Wolves would triumph by 30-plus points.
The Wolves would likewise trounce an all-NBA rookie squad that might
include Kevin Durant, Arron Afflalo, Aaron Brooks, Mike Conley, Daequan
Cook, Javaris Crittenton, Glen Davis, Jared Dudley, Aaron Gray, Jeff
Green, Spencer Hawes, Al Horford, Acie Law, Joakim Noah, Gabe Pruitt,
Jason Smith, Rodney Stuckey, Al Thornton, Nick Young, Marcus Williams
and Thaddeus Young. Take your pick.
include Kevin Durant, Arron Afflalo, Aaron Brooks, Mike Conley, Daequan
Cook, Javaris Crittenton, Glen Davis, Jared Dudley, Aaron Gray, Jeff
Green, Spencer Hawes, Al Horford, Acie Law, Joakim Noah, Gabe Pruitt,
Jason Smith, Rodney Stuckey, Al Thornton, Nick Young, Marcus Williams
and Thaddeus Young. Take your pick.
And just maybe you would rather be the T’Wolves than the New Jersey Nets, too.
The issue here is knowing when to blow it up and start over. The Timberwolves gave up on the Kevin Garnett era, shipping him to Boston, essentially for Al Jefferson and future salary-cap relief. Garnett might lead the Celtics to the NBA Finals. Jefferson might end up the NBA’s most improved player.
I’d say that’s a win-win transaction.
Here’s what I found out by researching old PI stories from that
pre-draft time: The Sonics looked at both Smith and Mississippi high
school center Al Jefferson during their pre-draft workouts and were
impressed.
pre-draft time: The Sonics looked at both Smith and Mississippi high
school center Al Jefferson during their pre-draft workouts and were
impressed.
From Sid Hartman:
The Wolves have played four consecutive great games even though they won only twice.
Things are looking much better for Randy Wittman’s team.
I wouldn’t trade one Al Jefferson of the Timberwolves for two Kevin Garnetts of the Boston Celtics.
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