So tonight is the last game of the year for the Timberwolves and I thought I should hand out some team awards as well as give my predictions to the NBA Awards race. It's sad to see the season end.

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Most teams don't typically root for a divisional rival to make the playoffs. It is okay, however, when you get that team's first round pick for making the playoffs. In a very disappointing end to the season, the lone bright spot is the fact that our Wolves get either the 16th or 17th overall pick in the draft. Coincidentally, we also have a young and athletic forward who doesn't seem to have a place on this team anymore. That guy would be Michael Beasley.

Although there have been rumors that he won't be given a qualifying offer, Beasley has said he wants to stay in Minnesota. If David Kahn somehow ends up reading this on the toilet one day, he should definitely heed my advice and package that pick with a 1-year tendered Beasley in order to move up in the draft.

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Hey everybody! I will be at tonight's game against Phoenix. The game is on ESPN2 starting at 8pm for some odd reason. I will be trying to start a new trend in Minnesota basketball by showcasing my own Kevin Love rally beard! I'll be holding a bright green sign, so hopefully ESPN2 or FSN will catch this sign on camera and start a new craze in Minnesota! Additionally, I will be sitting in the lower level which will give lots of fans a good view of the sign. Who knows, maybe Skip Bayless will start raving about it on First Take the next morning...

Kevin Love for MVP!

In hindsight I am actually satisfied that our beloved Timberwolves didn't make a deal at the trade deadline. I also would like to thank Glen Taylor for not supposedly landing Derek Fisher and Jamal Crawford. I'm not the biggest fan of Crawford ever. At 32 he is bound to see his production decrease (he already has shown signs of it), and he isn't necessarily the best defensive player ever. Additionally, Crawford is also a head case and acts like a little bitch I like Derek Fisher as both a player and person, but I feel he it's not for his best favor to play for a team that isn't quite yet a contender. If I were anyone in the front office I would gladly welcome Fisher as an assistant coach/Adelman's successor, but he doesn't have enough in the tank to push the Wolves into the playoffs this season.

On to Beasley now. By keeping Beasley I believe we can put ourselves in a better position come draft time. I am secretly hoping Utah makes the playoffs as an 8-seed so we can get the 15th or 16th pick. Assuming Beasley plays at a level where teams can still see his potential as a top-10 scorer in this league I believe we have the leverage to trade our way into the lottery on draft night. This is also assuming we can perform a sign-and-trade with Beasley considering his FA status. For once I actually have faith the Kahn can get the most value possible out of him much like how Portland just straight up bamboozled the Nets out of their lottery pick by giving them an injury-prone and soon to be aging Gerald Wallace.

Just a different way to look at this whole situation. Agreeable?

In case you have been living under a rock, we all know that Golden State shooting guard Monta Ellis is on trading block. Teams from the Magic to the Celtics have shown interest in the dynamic scorer. With averages of 22 ppg and 6 apg Monta is having statistically his third best season of his career. Rumors have been swirling about a potential trade involving Ellis going to Minnesota in a deal centered around forward Michael Beasley. To most people this trade makes a lot of sense for both teams. Minnesota gets a high scoring shooting guard it has never had and rookie Derrick Williams would begin to see a lot more playing time in Beasley's absence. Golden State would clear up a log jam at guard. This would allow Stephen Curry to stay at point and increase playing time for rookie guard Klay Thompson. The Warriors also get a dynamic scoring forward to pair with big man David Lee down low.

via www.cheetahprinttattoos.com

This seems like a no-brainer for Minnesota fans, but there needs to be further analysis done in order to ensure this is the best thing for the Wolves to do. I will be comparing Ellis to two other shooting guards the team has inquired about. The guards are O.J. Mayo of Memphis and James Harden of Oklahoma City

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We all know that Wile E. Coyote is right when he stresses that by starting last year's lineup you get last year's results. He couldn't be anymore correct about that. Love, Darko, Beasley, Johnson, Ridnour? Looks pretty familiar doesn't it? It's also pretty clear that a coaching change can make a significant difference (thank you vjl110). A better bench with two rookies playing at good levels helps as well. This is why the Wolves have a .300 winning percentage only ten games into the season compared to a .207 percentage all of last year. So the progress is there, and the Wolves are now one of the most entertaining teams in the NBA. Only problem is that everyone knows there's a couple changes to be made, yet our POBO or coach have not seemed to address it very much. Here's a couple of the issues I am talking about.

Is Michael Beasley going to be traded or is Kahn just going to sit around and twiddle his thumbs?

Great question me! I bet most of you are all wondering if Beasley will ever be moved. Conventional wisdom says Derrick Williams is being groomed to play the 3 in the body of a small 4, and this must mean Beasley will be traded correct? Not so fast! While Beasley's offseason shenanigans landed him in the hot seat everybody seemed to shrug it off. It's also not helping that Beasley has turned in just one smart performance this season against San Antonio, and by smart I mean not taking 30 shots to get 24 points. His recent foot sprain also hasn't done him any favors. If I were Kahn I would be shopping him around and try to either flip him for a center who doesn't take hook shots. If not at least make an attempt to trade into the lottery. Thanks Clipperggeddon...

Residency Status: Pack your bags Beasley, welcome to (insert lottery team here)

Michael Beasley Pushes Fan In The Face @ Dyckman Game (2011) (via ThePowProduction)

When is Rubio finally going to start?

This is the one thing we all know will happen eventually. The unicorn himself will be announced as a starter at the Target Center (hopefully when I go to the Detroit game next Wednesday). It's quite obvious that the team performs better when Rubio steps onto the court. He's been getting starter minutes in his past couple games, but this team can't go much further until he is on the floor at tipoff. This year his +/- is +49, and has only gone as low as -5 in a single game. To simply state this, the team is much better with Rubio playing. I don't want to discredit the efforts of Luke Ridnour, but he is not the long term answer at the point in Minnesota.

via cache.deadspin.com

Depth Chart says: #1: Ricky Rubio, #2 Luke Ridnour by the Sacramento game (January 16th).

Why hasn't Darko gone back to Serbia?

This is a stupid question! Why on earth would the 'Manna from Heaven' sail back to eastern Europe? Is it because his PER is the lowest it's been in 5 years? Is it because his blocks per game has fallen to 0.8 per contest? Is it because he is the only player in the NBA you can count on air balling a layup or bricking on a dunk on a nightly basis? Have no fear the amnesty clause is here! In all seriousness this is a huge problem, and there is no Ridiculous Rhombus or Broken Biangle to blame this time. The new CBA has put a convenient solution in place, and right now seems like a good time to say goodbye.

David Kahn and the Wrath of - by request for Simmons (via didntdrawiron)

According to the Bleacher Report our fantastic Timberpups are preparing to offer Kevin Love the maximum contract. The link to the article is right here http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1015618-kevin-love-timberwolves-set-to-offer-superstar-max-extenstion

I would Love to see Love stay in Minnesota for his whole career. He is an entirely different player this season who seems ready to be the leader of this team. There also is a renowned dedication to better defensive play as well. It should be interesting to see how this all plays out.

In case you haven't noticed, there has been quite the chatter about DeMarcus Cousins going on lately. He was recently sent home by the Kings before their New Orleans road game because he doesn't like the direction this team is going in. Coach Paul Westphal even said that if he ever wants to mature as a person and player that "it's going to be somewhere else." This led me to think about whether or not the Wolves should go after the talented, yet troubled center. If we can find the right trade pieces to offer the Kings I'm sure they would be willing to listen. The Maloof brothers might even be desparate enough to the extent we can get him in the same manner the team acquired Michael Beasley from the Miami Heat. Maybe propose a 2nd round pick and a good role player like a Wayne Ellington or Anthony Tolliver? That would be a pittance to Sacramento fans, but it may just be enough to entice the front office to unload on Cousins.

Poll

Should the Wolves attempt a trade for DeMarcus Cousins?

36%

Yes

63 votes

63%

No

111 votes

174 votes | Poll has closed

Despite this season's lackluster 0-3 record, this is without a doubt the best Timberwolves squad in the post-Garnett era. This team is starting to be competitive night after night. Now we're only 3 games into the shortened season, but a lot has already been learned about this year's squad. Both good and bad. Here are 5 things I have noticed in particular that is different about the team:

1. Rick Adelman has finally brought coaching stability to this young and inexperienced team:

This is probably the most vital ingredient to the success of this team not only this season, but in the next couple of years. The infamous Marko Jaric trade has eventually left the Wolves without a good way to build through next year's draft, so Adelman must make due with what he has. His impact is very noticeable during games. This is the man who made Sacramento basketball relevant and led the Houston Rockets to a 22 game winning streak without its best players, so it's safe to say he knows what's going on. In the first three games alone I have noticed a much more disciplined team that makes smarter decisions and doesn't give up. Eventually his work combined with the experience this squad builds up together will translate to more wins, but that won't be too far off at this pace.

2. This team has more firepower than any other previous Wolves team:

No matter what combination of players is on the floor, there's a high chance on every possession there will be either points or a lot of second chances. This was pretty evident tonight with the performances of Kevin Love and Anthony Randolph. There are 9 players on this roster alone who can nail the 3-pointer with consistency, and we have 2 explosive and versatile scores in Williams and Beasley. There's also of course Ricky Rubio who doesn't hesitate to thread the ball to the open man. I have a feeling the Wolves will score anywhere from 100-110 points a game this year, which would put them high up in the scoring ranks. The question is if they can do it in an efficient manner based on pace of play, fastbreak points, true FG%, etc...

3. There is a "Rubio Factor" present in Minnesota:

We all know it's there. Once this man's name is announced the place just goes crazy. The fans were chanting his name tonight, and he made sure to not disappoint. In all likelihood Rubio will have the second most double-double games next to Kevin Love this season (assuming he is given enough minutes to score 10 points). As mentioned before he isn't afraid to pass the ball into those tight windows, but we all know that against elite defenders like LeBron or Battier this can backfire. I personally get more excited about Rubio than Skip Bayless does when he hears the name Tim Tebow. We're only 3 games in, but it's becoming more and more apparent that Rubio is the long term answer at point guard. I know there's glaring weaknesses in his game, but the most important thing about this kid is that he knows he doesn't have to score in order to be an effective basketball player. This is what separates him from the likes of Russell Westbrook and puts him in Jason Kidd/Rajon Rondo territory. Kidd's career PPG is 13.2, but will still be considered one of the best point guards of all time. Rondo has never been considered a scorer, but was most important player with exception to Paul Pierce in their title run.

4. The signing of J.J. Barea will be considered the best free agent pickup of the offseason:

This is a lot like Darren Sproles going from San Diego to New Orleans. Both aren't superstar caliber players by any means, but both have had/will have the biggest impact on their respective teams. Barea chose to come to Minnesota after winning his title in Dallas. Let's also not forget he played a huge role in the playoffs for Dallas, who was down one Roddy Beaubois. J.J. is a good leader and 6th man off of the bench. His ability and leadership will make it hard for Martell Webster and Malcom Lee to get minutes once they return from their injuries. Barea also brings more stability to the back court, and his fluency in the Spanish language also makes communication with Ricky Rubio much easier.

5. Michael Beasley needs to be traded while his trade value is still high:

A great talent with his head finally screwed on tightly with a newly discovered dedication to the game. A high usage player who takes way too many shots and also plays out of his natural position. Either of the two previous sentences could be used to describe Michael Beasley. The longer we hold on to him, the more likely it is that the latter of the two descriptions will come back to haunt this team. Going 11-27 to get only 24 points is very ineffective, and that's an understatement there. Then cut back to 6-13 for 15 points, and 2-6 for 4 points. 44% from the free throw line (The season is young but still horrendous). 2 assists in just 3 games. I know Beasley has the desire to be the clutch guy who closes out games, but it's not going to workout in Minnesota. I've been watching him since his Kansas State days and he reminds me a lot of Carmelo Anthony. We all know Carmelo is a primetime performer and can score at will, but what else can you say about him that makes him out to be an elite player? Well not a whole lot. Both are below average rebounders for their size and they sometimes shoot their teams out of games. There is something that separates the two, and that is Carmelo is way better in the clutch than Beasley. Take the Xmas day game for example. 2 free throws to take the lead against the Knicks and they win. Now fast forward to Monday against OKC. Tried to drive and got triple teamed, resulting in a poor shot attempt and a loss. The Wolves are better served trading him to a lottery team for their draft pick and a quality center or 2-guard.

There is much more that can be discussed, but I'll leave that for the comments.

Also, I found this picture and found it to be a good representation of tonight's matchup

via highbridnation.com

Poll

If you were David Kahn, what would you do with Michael Beasley?

65%

Trade him

50 votes

21%

Keep him and extend his contract

16 votes

1%

Draft a point guard

1 votes

11%

Give Darko a bonus because he is a nice guy

9 votes

76 votes | Poll has closed

I know I can find out on their website, but I am in a hurry. I live in Eau Claire,Wisconsin and I am wondering if there is any channel in that area where I can watch the preseason games? I don't have NBA TV, but I do have access to FSN North which also allows me to watch my Minnesota Wild dominate! To get to 75 words... Ricky Rubio Ricky Rubio Ricky Rubio Ricky Rubio

Where can I get one?  I have been searching online the past few days now, and I can't seem to stumble upon a Timberwolves jersey with his name on it.  None of this DFK Juventut or FC Barcelona/Spain crap.  My guess is that he doesn't officially have a number yet for the team despite signing his contract last week.  If you have any suggestions please comment so I can get my hands on one!

With the Miami Heat rallying to defeat the Bulls with a late 4th quarter onslaught, the matchup for this year's finals is now set.  Both the Dallas Mavericks and Miami come into the series with a lot of momentum from their conference finals.  The big question is who will be able to keep it going?  In a clash of these two unstoppable forces I will breakdown the matchups position by position, and predict a winner based on other factors as well.

 

via www.fantasybasketblog.net

Point Guard:  Mike Bibby/Mario Chalmers vs. Jason Kidd/J.J. Barea

Despite being among the oldest players on their respective teams, both the Heat and Mavericks have two quality veteran point guards running the show in Kidd and Bibby.  Kidd (on a side note a surefire hall of famer), however, has shown time and time again he can still make a huge impact without scoring the ball.  In order for Kidd to be neutralized Bibby must play good man to man defense, and LeBron James and Dwayne Wade must be ball hawks on the perimeter so Kidd doesn't dissect the Miami defense.  On the other hand, Bibby will try to not do too much with the ball.  He is a solid passer and can shoot the 3 if necessary.  The winner of this matchup goes to the Mavericks because of J.J. Barea.  He makes up for all of the scoring that Kidd doesn't do in addition to bringing more athleticism.  Barea is also playing the best basketball in his career, and he looks forward to keeping the momentum going.  Chalmers in my opinion is strictly an afterthought until he develops more as a player:

 

Winner:  Jason Kidd/J.J. Barea

 

Shooting Guard: Dwayne Wade vs. Deshawn Stevenson/Jason Terry

This group here can go bucket for bucket.  Deshawn is an athletic slasher while Terry brings the range, and both are dangerous when they get hot.  D-Wade gets the nod by a landslide though.  He is just too good to be brought down by the Mavs, something evidenced by his 2006 finals performance (it was a completely different roster, but the concept is the same).  I personally believe Wade is the best overall player on the Heat.  He may not possess the freakish athleticism of Lebron or the 3 point range of James Jones.  He is one of the smartest players I have ever seen to play the game.  The Mavs will have their hands full with Wade, and they will pull out all the stops to prevent him from getting to the free throw line.

 

Winner:  Dwayne Wade

via i.cdn.turner.com

 

Small Forward: LeBron James vs. Shawn Marion/Peja Stojakovic

Hands down LeBron wins out in this matchup.  Superior strength, length, size, and athleticism alone give him the nod over the aging Marion and Stojakovic.  In order for the Mavs to have ANY chance of containing LeBron, Marion must become The Matrix: Reloaded and play like he did in his glory days with the Suns.  Blocks, steals, forcing turnovers, and making him force difficult jump shots are key to stopping James.  All LeBron has to do is be LeBron, and make good decisions with the basketball and everything should be fine for him.

 

Winner: "King" James

 

Power Forward:  Chris Bosh vs. Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk is the clear winner here.  He has more range than Bosh, a better ability to get to the line, and superior mental toughness.  This is the best shot Nowitzki has at getting a ring, and he is going to make every opportunity count.  Bosh will most likely blend in with the crowd in this series. Dirk has more drive than any player on either team, and will be surely disappointed if he comes away empty.

 

Winner:  Dirka Dirka Nowitzki (maybe that could be his nickname after going all these years without one...)

 

Center:  Tyson Chandler/Brendan Haywood vs. Joel Anthony/Jamaal Magloire?

It may seem insignificant as neither team has an all star caliber player at this position, but these little matchups can make or break the series.  I am going with the Mavericks simply because they have better defensive awareness and stability along the front court.  Joel Anthony is the only center on Miami who will play solid minutes, and who knows if Magloire or Zydrunas Ilgauskas are even going to play at all?

 

Winner:  Chandler-Haywood

 

My Dark horse breakout player: Roddy Beaubois, Dallas guard.

Beaubois is instant offense off the bench and could be the key to starting a Mavericks run if Dirk or Barea are having trouble knocking down shots.  Also is a great penetrator and can get to the line with ease despite his smaller stature.

 

Prediction:  Mavericks in 7

My reasoning is that they are overall a more complete team than Miami.  I believe it could easily go to game 7, where the team who wants it more will win.  Kidd and Dirk both want rings to make their legacy never forgotten.  Dirk is a top 10 power forward of all time and Kidd is a top 10 point guard.  They would punch their tickets to the hall of fame if they win (even though they're both going there already).  As for the Heat, it will be a real test of how they perform as a team instead of having 2 superstars pulling the load.  In the end, the Mavericks will want it more, and that could very easily decide who will win the series.  Who wants it more?  I guess we'll have to wait and see.  

Dwyane Wade - 2006 Finals MVP (via KarlMalowned32)

Just for fun, let's take a look back.

Poll

Who will win the NBA Finals?

58%

Mavericks

34 votes

41%

Heat

24 votes

58 votes | Poll has closed

As proud owner of the worst record in the league, most would anticipate our beloved Timberpups winding up with the first overall pick in the 2011 draft.  Most fans envision us taking Duke point guard Kyrie Irving if they were able to land that first pick.  There have been, however, reports that the Wolves will not select Irving with the first pick in the draft.  Beat writer Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune has reported that David Kahn has already invested so much in Ricky Rubio that taking Irving would be somewhat trivial for the organization.  When I thought about it for awhile it actually does make sense if we don't select Irving, but this is all dependent on if Rubio comes here from overseas.  Another big thing factoring into this decision is the labor situation that is slowly creeping up on the league.  If a lockout were to happen, this may force Rubio to stay another year in Europe while the Wolves go into panic mode and select another combo forward.  This is now the part where I am going to suggest something most people would see as ludicrous and start trolling in this column.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait for it.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade the pick!!!

 

This seems like the only way the Wolves can get some talent at a position where they are very thin.  There's no shot blocking centers or dynamic shooting guards in this year's draft with the possible exception of Alec Burks.  There are plenty of those guys already playing in the league, and the Wolves have many potential suitors for that first pick, but one seems to stick out most to me.

 

The Los Angeles Lakers

Team Surplus:  Forwards/Centers

Team Needs:  Point guard of the future

Derek Fisher isn't getting any younger, and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has already voiced his desire to play for the Lakers when he becomes a free agent in 2012.  This leaves the Lakers with a few interesting choices to make as they try to get a couple more titles out of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.  One potential deal in mind is the first pick and a throw in player (Flynn?  Webster?) for center Andrew Bynum.  We all know he is immature at times and that some people just think he's an absolute punk, but this guy would bring defensive tenacity, size, and be a perfect compliment to Kevin Love and his developing shooting range.  When you get a chance to acquire a 7 foot, 285 pound beast with some nifty post moves, and can also average a double double in Minnesota, you do what you can to get him.

 

via mt.nesn.com

 

 He is still young and immature (and that's an understatement...), but if he can thrive in Minnesota as scoring option 2 (compared to #4 in LA) this will look like a huge win for the organization.  Both teams come out on top, with the Lakers drafting Kyrie Irving and signing Howard.  It will be an unstoppable force for years to come.

Poll

What would you do with the first pick in the draft?

85%

Take Kyrie Irving

143 votes

1%

Take someone else

2 votes

13%

Trade it

23 votes

168 votes | Poll has closed

Why is Nikola Pekovic being paid over $4 million a year? Why is Nikola Pekovic being paid over $4 million a year? Why is Nikola Pekovic being paid over $4 million a year? Why is Nikola Pekovic being paid over $4 million a year? Why is Nikola Pekovic being paid over $4 million a year? Why is Nikola Pekovic being paid over $4 million a year? Why is Nikola Pekovic being paid over $4 million a year? Why is Nikola Pekovic being paid over $4 million a year? 

Since these posts have started going around I thought I would make my own.

 

1.  Trade Ricky Rubio.  His trade value is higher than it ever may be again.  Ship him off to a place that could also use a point guard.  If Cleveland is willing to take him we could possibly get their first round pick.  This would allow us to potentially have the first 2 picks in the draft.

2.  With those first two picks, take some talented guys.  The first pick must be Kyrie Irving out of Duke.  Unlike Rubio, Irving can light up the scoreboard if needed.  His return to the NCAA Tournament showed us all what he could do despite not his recovering injury.  The second pick is more of a toss up.  There are players with great upside such as Perry Jones, Harrison Barnes, and Derrick Williams that can make a big impact no matter where they end up.  Personally I would take Williams over the other two.

3.  Buy out Darko Milicic.  This doesn't require much explanation...

4.  Sign a veteran center or trade for one.  Marc Gasol is about to be a free agent, but given Memphis' growing young core he may feel obligated to stay with that group.  He should only require $7 million a year to sign, leaving enough breathing room to bring in another player.

5.  Here is my shocker of this column.  Trade Kevin Love.  In all honesty, if he is traded it is easier than it would seem to be to replace him.  The team gets a huge boost defensively despite his mild improvement.  Anthony Randolph is an athlete, which certainly helps out more defensively.  He has much longer wingspan in addition to the extra couple inches he has on Love.  For now Randolph mostly relies on his athleticism to produce his offense, but still has an ok face up game.  His athleticism also gives him much more room to grow despite his below average basketball IQ.  Love could also be used as trade bait for a center/picks.

6.  Sign Aaron Afflalo.  I've always liked his game.  Defense first, with an ability to provide scoring when necessary.  Also seen as a good teammate in Denver.

7.  If unable to sign Gasol, take a flyer on Greg Oden.  Yes, yes, there's all the cursed and injured stuff.  When this guy is healthy he is 7 feet and 285 pounds of pure monster.  He has shown flashes of pure dominance with what little time he has played.  Before his injury last season he was averaging 11.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, and 2.3 bpg with a Hollinger PER of 23.14.  Tell me that's not worth trying to go out and get.  All Oden needs to do is to be healthy and we have the steal of a lifetime.

 

 

So If all of this goes to plan here's what it would shape out to be.

 

PG:  Kyrie Irving, Luke Ridnour

SG:  Wes Johnson, Aaron Afflalo, Wayne Ellington

SF:  Michael Beasley, Derrick Williams, Martell Webster

PF:  Anthony Randolph, Anthony Tolliver

C:  Greg Oden (or Gasol), Nikola Pekovic

To say that this season has been a disappointment is a just argument.  At the same time there are other reasons that one could say it hasn't been a complete disaster.  Coach Rambis has been unfairly judged and (in my opinion) has been getting too much of the blame for his team's underachieving record this year.  Give him credit for trying to teach one of the youngest teams in the league one of the most intricate offenses in the history of the game that requires flawless execution on every single play.  Yes, there have been demands for his firing, or to not get into it with your best players at the beginning of the year, but for the most part he is doing a good job given what has happened this year.
Injuries, trades, and shaky defense have been the main culprits for the record this year.  It started out with the Flynn and Webster injuries before the season started.  These were two guys who were expected to be key contributors this season, but neither has looked the same since returning to the lineup.  They should have been brought back along slowly than to throw the guys immediately into the mix of what the team has consistently had (see Duke: Kyrie Irving, who by the way would look very good in a Wolves jersey next year).  Next year should be better for both these guys if they stay healthy.  Beasley has tweaked his ankle almost every other game.  How can a team be dominant without their most versatile scorer playing at 100%?  Trading away our best perimeter defender in Corey Brewer also didn't help out our league worst 107 ppg allowed.  Although Randolph is an exciting player with way more upside than Brewer, it was devastating to lose a valuable player in Brewer.

On the bright side, we have learned some things about our team that can very well help us in the future.  Kevin Love has emerged as an All-Star in this league and has vastly improved his game by adding the 3 ball to his game.  He is a virtual lock for most improved player of the year award.  At the other forward spot, Michael Beasley has made leaps and bounds when healthy.  An overall improvement in scoring, rebounding, defense, and hustle this year has made him a fan favorite.  Beasley has also shown us that he can be 'that guy' in clutch situations after two uneventful seasons in Miami.  He was the steal of the off-season in my eyes.  Wes Johnson has had an up and down season, but there have been a few great moments for him.  From his first career basket to a 29 point showing against the Lakers (which was a competitive game).  He will be a good contributor for years to come.

Wesley Johnson With Thunderous Slam (via NBA)

 

 

It'll be interesting to see how things go down in the stretch.  It'd probably be a good time to see if players like Nikola Pekovic and Lazar Hayward are worth keeping on the roster.  One thing for sure though is that Rambis' job is not on the line here.  His style promotes defensive effort and growth of basketball IQ.  

Poll

Is Kurt Rambis doing a good job in Minnesota?

13%

Yes

5 votes

86%

No

33 votes

38 votes | Poll has closed

I was on the Timberwolves' team page on ESPN.com and saw some rather disturbing trends.

On a positive note, here's what we can be excited about:

14th in the league in points per game with 100.6

2nd in rebounding at 46.3 boards per contest

That's the good stuff, but here are the BAD rankings:

26th in assists per game at 18.4

30th (Dead last) in points allowed per game at 109.9

This worries me, but knowing Flynn/Ridnour will get assists up and the solid defense Webster displays provides a glimmer of hope.  Thoughts?

Well after today's demoralizing loss it's becoming pretty apparent that there's a lot more work to be done in order for this team to be competitive.  I won't go too in depth on these suggestions, so I'll leave it up to you guys to discuss.

1.  It's a pretty common phrase we've been hearing this season: "Fire Chilly."  His inability to lay down the iron fist on his players and let it be known that this is his team is costing us beyond the Brett Favre drama.

2.  Bring in a no nonsense coach a la Bill Cowher or Brian Billick.  The only man that fits the bill within the organization is Lesley Frazier.  Loved by the players and fans.  Would be a great option to replace Chilly if he is fired.

3.  Rebuild the offensive line.  Steve Hutchinson is the only player I would definitely want to stick around and maybe Phil Loadholt.  McKinnie, Sullivan, and the now done for the year Herrera have been underachieving and the chemistry with the line is sometimes non existent.

4.  Bring in some secondary help.  After today's roasting of Chris Cook and Asher Allen need I say more?  I know Cook is a rookie, but he isn't even ready to be a solid nickel back yet.  Maybe next year, but it was quite a disappointing performance.  Minnesota should also be putting tons of their healthcare dollars towards healing Cedric Griffin.  On a side note, Antoine Winfield isn't getting any younger despite his consistent play.

5.  This may be a touchy subject, but next Sunday needs to be the day where fans can hear Tavaris Jackson announced as the starting QB.  He may not light up the score board, but a change of pace will pay huge dividends to this team.  Just a reminder that in his last 5 starts (including the Philadelphia playoff debacle) he had 9 TD passes to 3 INTs.  The 58% completion wouldn't blow too many people away, but you have the give the man some credit for making progress.

6.  Test Joe Webb out in different game situations.  I'm pretty confident that he will never be a great NFL quarterback, but it would be nice to see what else he can do.  The Vikings could utilize him in a wildcat formation with Percy or Adrian in the backfield with him.  I also think it would be interesting to see what he can do in the return game.  He obviously wouldn't take Harvin's spot on kickoff returns, but I could see him dethroning Camarillo on punt returns.  He can be successful in this league, but most likely not as a full time quarterback.

I have always remained somewhat optimistic about this team coming into this season.  We're only on pace to win 25 games this season, but there have been many great signs of promise from this young squad.  Michael Beasley is finally showing the league why he was drafted #2 overall 3 years ago, averaging a career high 22 points and delivering some clutch play in the final minutes of the game.  Although his rebounding is free throw percentage is down (68% compared to a usual 78-80%) and his rebounding is below average, Beasley is still being productive in ways other than the scoring department.  Kevin Love does enough rebounding to make up for his numbers anyways.  Speaking of Love, he is also getting better and better as we go on.  He's currently posting career highs in scoring, rebounding, 3-pointer percentage, and free throw percentage.  These aren't just increases of 1 or 2 points or percentage points, but these are statistically significant rises.  It may not be evident in the assist column, but Love's ability to pass out of the post is crucial to the offense in Minnesota.  The added playing time by Rambis has been key for Love, and they have a great relationship.  

Love and Beasley have been the two VERY bright spots of this season so far.  The team overall still has a ways to go, but the progression has been nice.  Jonny Flynn and Martell Webster still have yet to hit the court this season due to injury issues, but when those two return I can see this team being able to squeeze out a couple more wins than the current lineup we have right now.  They both add more offense to the equation, and Webster is a very good defender with some 3 point range.  Flynn is a natural born leader, but still has to develop a feel for the offense and be more decisive and consistent.  Luke Ridnour is a great mentor for him and should be able to help mold him into a very efficient player.

Darko's play this year has been kinda blah, but his interior defense has been helpful.  Bassy Telfair has been pretty solid in his second run with the team, but I would prefer he provide a spark off the bench when Flynn returns.  Corey Brewer hasn't been very impressive in my opinion, but we have more depth from the likes of Webster, Ellington, and Wes Johnson.  Wes has been having a solid rookie season.  There's still room for improvement, but he has been progressing along nicely.

 These players have all been brought in by Kahn and Rambis.  This is the team that he has been envisioning for the past couple of years, and it will finally be "complete" in his eyes when a certain player from Spain finally comes to play for our team.  It could all play out soon, but for now this team has some room for improvement.  We will reach greatness someday, but for now it seems Kahn is starting to look like he's been right all along.  Post your thoughts and comments below!

Poll

David Kahn's vision of his team....

2%

Still does not make any sense

4 votes

55%

Showing small signs of life

80 votes

41%

Is now looking like a great one

59 votes

143 votes | Poll has closed

I am not a racist by any means, but playing the race card in a league where 76% of its athletes are African-American is just uncalled for.  As most of sports world knows by now, LeBron dealt that card when asked about the repercussions of his free agency antics.  So as I sit here in my African-American History class, I ponder why in the hell LeBron would blame racism for his stupid actions.   The following is an excerpt from the CNN interview held a couple days ago:

O'BRIEN (voice-over): According to industry insiders, James and Carter have done just fine, striking multi-million dollar deals with State Farm, Nike and McDonalds. But those deals were overshadowed by this summer's decision and negative headlines which seemed to tarnish LeBron James, the athlete, and the brand.

CARTER: It's just about control and not doing it the way it's always been done or not looking the way that it always looks.

O'BRIEN (on camera): Do you think there's a role that race plays in this.

JAMES: I think so at times. It's always, you know, a race factor.

CARTER: It definitely played a role in some of the stuff coming out of the media, things that were written for sure

 

At first I could not believe what I had just heard, but after reading this transcript I was just livid.  There's no need to take a dive into these types of issues when you are on the verge of becoming the world's second ever athlete-billionaire.  I'm sure if a good white player like Jason Kidd (in his prime, of course) were create to this type of uproar when he would test the free agent waters the same backlash might have resulted in his team's respected cities, and around the league would be considered disrespectful, arrogant, or dishonest.  As I started out I stated that 76% of the NBA's athletes are African-American while whites make up 20%, Latinos 3%, and Asian the last 1%.  The NBA is widely credited for being the most diversified league of the four major American sports.

 

 

via i.cdn.turner.com

 

To honor the title of my article I am now going to play my logic card versus LeBron's Race card.  He seems to think that race is always a factor when it comes to decisions like these, yet there are multiple reasons that LeBron should have thought twice about his comments.  Here is what I would say to Lebron in response to his antics.

1.  You are arguably the most physically imposing player in a league dominated by African-American athletes.  Your sport has a greater percentage of black fans compared to white fans.  Your talents serve as inspiration to young black teenagers hoping to make it in basketball some day.

2.  If this was all some stunt to gain more leverage, power, and money, you don't need to do anymore than you are doing now.  You're already on the verge of becoming the world's second billionaire-athlete.  Don't abuse your star power, or you will be the #1 most hated athlete quickly.  I would recommend seeking out advice from someone who has put himself in a similar predicament as far as legacy goes.  Mr. Tiger Woods

3.  Your team is probably going to the NBA finals anyways regardless of chemistry, so quit creating off the court distractions that may hinder your title hopes.

4.  Shut up and play.  I know Jalen Rose defends your comments, but he too thinks you should be more focused on the most important part of the game, winning.

5.  Lay low for awhile.  You are dangerously close to becoming a pariah throughout the whole league, not just in Cleveland.

6.  You won't ever do what Kobe did.  Although Kobe is still among the most hated athletes, he has at least earned my respect after his rape accusation and Shaq feud to win titles as the man.  

via static.foxsports.com

7.  You seem to be on a fast track to become like Mike.  Only problem is, it'll be more like Mike Tyson.

 

Right now it's damn near impossible for James to reverse what he has done to tarnish his image, legacy, and "brand."  There is no race factor involved at all.  In my opinion, basketball is the only sport of the four major American sports where the race card should not be allowed to be used.  Football, Baseball, and Hockey all have their stereotypes about black athletes.  Quarterbacks who can run like Vick, ballplayers who steal 100 bases, or hockey players who always get in fights.  Basketball seems to have the fewest actual problems regarding race, yet it seems the players create too many unnecessary controversies by blaming race.

Poll

Race issues in the NBA

1%

Are a huge problem and should be addressed immediately

1 votes

39%

Are inevitable, no matter how little sense it makes at times

32 votes

40%

Are non-existant, nothing is wrong

33 votes

18%

Should be looked into, but don't require emergency action

15 votes

81 votes | Poll has closed

Hey everybody.  I just made a video parody of the NBA: Where Amazing Happens commercials.  I just want to share it with all of you, and hopefully you get a small chuckle out of it.

 

The NBA: Where Amazing Happens (Parody) (via samlofquist)

ATTENTION:  I in no way have harmful intent by making and sharing this video.  It's all in the spirit of good fun.  I personally love the NBA, it is probably my favorite league out of the 4 major pro sports (MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA).

 

Enjoy!

This man annoys the hell out of me.  I consider him to be a huge crackpot that thinks that LeBron James is an 'average' NBA player or that Chris Paul is overrated.  His most recent mailbag response to a certain question was the final straw:

 

If you had the power to change the rules of the game, what would you do? — Evan Afaghi

 

All of the following:

• Reinstate hand-checking to put more defense in the game.

• Institute the international no-goaltending regulation that puts a ball up for grabs once it hits the rim. This would reduce the mayhem in the lane, make boxing out critical and reward hustle and athleticism.

• Put two refs on high chair (like tennis officials) and make them solely responsible for three-second calls, basket interference, lane violation on free throws and questionable ball-rim-contact when the shot clock goes off.

• Keep the basket where it is but make the court six feet longer and six feet wider. The bodies are much bigger than ever before and have outgrown the traditional dimensions of the court itself.

• Eliminate foul-outs by adding one free throw to the normal penalty whenever a player exceeds the six-foul limit. This would introduce another dramatic and controversial end-game strategy for coaches to consider.

• Require refs to make their calls when a violation occurs and not wait until an easy shot misses before tooting their tooters.

• Follow the NFL in allowing each coach to demand TV reviews of two plays per game. As in the NFL, a review that upholds a call costs the protesting team a timeout.

• Increase the minimum age at which a player can be drafted to 20.

• Reduce the regular season by 10 games and thereby eliminate back-to-back contests.

• Have the referees huddle and vote on all charge-flop calls.

• Give refs lie-detector tests after each game.

There is only one rule I am for sure ok with (hand checking) and one that I would be on edge about (no-goaltending).  Besides those, everything he would do would only slow down the pace of the game, cost the NBA money, and put too much pressure on referees to make the correct call all the time.  They're only human, and a lie detector test would only bring bad publicity to the league.  I don't know if it's just me that has a big problem with him, or if it really is him being so stupid, which is why I created the poll below.  Now I would like to hear your feedback, and what you think about Charley Rosen.

 

Poll

Do you like Charley Rosen?

31%

Yes

27 votes

68%

No

58 votes

85 votes | Poll has closed

I don't know about you, but I am eagerly awaiting the release of NBA 2K11 and NBA Elite 11.  I will most likely buy one of those games the week it comes out.  As we all probably know the Timberwolves will be a very low rated team, but it will be exciting to see how good or bad they made our guys.  Here's my predictions for the ratings.

 

PG:  Jonny Flynn and Luke Ridnour (74)

SG:  Martell Webster (72), Corey Brewer (70), Wayne Ellington (66)

SF:  Wesley Johnson (75), Lazar Hayward (65)

PF: Kevin Love (82), Michael Beasley (77)

C: Darko Milicic (70), Nikola Pekovic (67), Greg Stiemsma (58)

This is my roster assuming Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair are waived in addition to trading away Kosta Koufos.  If we end up keeping Koufos I would give him mid to lower 60's, and of course the game developers will find some way to include a player on the team that will never play (Bassy Telfair).  Again, this is simply my own prediction of what their ratings will be, so have at it.

Poll

Which NBA game will you most likely get?

57%

2K11

63 votes

8%

Elite 11

9 votes

1%

Both

2 votes

32%

Neither

35 votes

109 votes | Poll has closed

With Big Al and Ramon Sessions likely gone (and assuming we get Luke Ridnour, draft picks, and a huge trade exception in return), it looks like the team is finally rounding out its roster.  This is just what I think the depth chart will be for the regular season opener.

 

PG:  Jonny Flynn-Luke Ridnour

SG: Martell Webster-Wayne Ellington

SF: Wesley Johnson-Corey Brewer-Lazar Hayward

PF: Kevin Love-Michael Beasley

C: Darko Milicic-Nikola Pekovic-Patrick O'Bryant***

***my pick to make the roster from summer league

In the D-League will be Lawrence Westbrook, Greg Stiemsma, Cedric Simmons, Ryan Hollins, and whoever the hell else we have down there already.

Hey Wolves fans!  At least we don't have this guy!

Overall, I think this would be a very good roster to go into opening night with.  It's a good, young, and promising core with some good scoring off the bench.  I am sure that Kahn will find a way to make the roster not look like this, but what are your thoughts?

Doesn't this seem like a good idea?  Prokhorov wants to win a chamionship within 5 years, and Al will be able to step in and be a star right away for the Nets.  He is a good compliment to Brook Lopez, and gives Derrick Favors time to develop.  One asset we could gain in return is shooting guard Courtney Lee.  He is a young and promising player who played for the Magic the year they went to the finals.  Kahn could also try to pry Favors out of there as part of the deal.  Odds of this happening seem low, but what would you think?

I know I may be thinking ahead here, but this is what the Timberwolves may have to do just in case this summer's free agency pursuits turn out to be flops.  By flop I mean the team either overpays for an underachiever who had a good season (ex: Memphis and Rudy Gay), or that the team doesn't somehow acquire an impact player (ex: David Lee).  With a team trying to get the most value out of Al Jefferson in a trade as possible, there is one option they could use and get more cap space for to get a couple impact players next year, or to try and get one this year.

 

A trade rumor has been going around in which the Wolves would send Jefferson to the Mavericks for Erick Dampier and his non guarenteed $13 million contract.  A move like this would give the team much more cap space for this free agency period assuming Dampier is waived.  Kahn could use this extra cap space to go after David Lee, who is asking for around $10 million a year.  No offense to Lee, but I have a strong feeling Kahn would find a way to over pay him with around $12-$14 million per year range, thus giving the team very little breathing room for the next year's free agency period.

-Really Glen Taylor?  You must know something about Kahn that we don't...

via thebasketballoracle.files.wordpress.com 

This leads up to my proposed Plan B for the Timberwolves.  Take Dampier's Kahntract (no pun intended) and wait.  Why wait you ask?  Aren't most Timberwolves fans tired of waiting for something to happen?  It's been the main theme during Kahn's tenure with the team.  This has been the only time where waiting would be a good idea.  I know 2011 won't have the LeBrons or the Wades (except Carmelo, who will probably stay in Denver or go to New York), but there are going to be a wider variety of impact players and veterans who know how to win.  Depending on how the Wolves round out the last couple spots on the roster they would have approximately have between $13-$17 milion in cap space.  This would give the team money for 2 or possibly even 3 decent players that can come in and help us win.  Here is a list of notable restricted and unrestricted free agents coming into the 2011 offseason.

Restricted

 

1. Al Horford, C, Atlanta
2. Joakim Noah,  C, Chicago
3. Rodney Stuckey and Jonas Jerebko, Combo G and F, Detroit
4. Aaron Brooks, PG, Houston
5. Marc Gasol, C, Memphis
6. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, F, Milwaukee
7. Corey Brewer, F/G, Minnesota
8. Wilson Chandler, F/G, New York
9. Jeff Green, PF, OKC
10. Spencer Hawes and Thad Young, C and F, Philadelphia

Unrestricted

1. Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins, PF/C, Boston
2. Tyson Chandler, C, Charlotte
3. J.J. Barea, PG, Dallas
4. Tayshaun Prince, F, Detroit
5. Shane Battier and Yao Ming, F and C, Houston
6. Michael Redd, G, Milwaukee
7. Joel Pryzbilla, C, Portland
8. Carl Landry, PF, Sacremento
9. Andrei Kirilenko, F, Utah

J.J. Barea.  The poor man's Ricky Rubio, but has proved himself in the NBA.
I left out some players on purpose for multiple reasons.  Number one is I only selected players who could became free agents strictly through their contract expiring, which is why I did not list Tim Duncan, Mikael Pietrus, Leandro Barbosa, David West,  Carmelo Anthony, Nene, or Mo Williams as potentional additions. My second set of omissions included players who would not fit into Minnesota's future plans (if Rubio ever comes) like Jamal Crawford, Delonte West, Zach Randolph, Tony Parker, or anyone who plays for the Indiana Pacers.  Last of all, I eliminated known head cases around the NBA who could instantly poison the locker room.  Goodbye J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Sebastian Telfair, Eddy Curry, Marcus Banks, Daequan Cook, and back for an encore....Randolph and West.  Glen Davis was close to making this list, but when he is mentally focused on playing professional basketball he is a great contributor to any team despite his odd mannerisms.  
Next summer gives the Timberwolves even more options to choose from than this summer.  They could bring in a couple of bruisers like Perkins or Pryzbilla to block shots and grab rebounds.  There is also the possibility of bringing two forwards who have excellent all around skills and aid in the development of Wesley Johnson and Martell Webster.  Tayshaun Prince or Shane Battier would be a great choice in order to get this done, and if we end up trading Rubio we can always go after a J.J. Barea type to back up Jonny Flynn.  Any combination of signings will lead to good results.  Anything major that is done in this offseason I view as a little more risque even though getting Lee would be nice.  I'm a firm believer that the Wolves will become a better team next season with or without Lee, or Thomas, or whoever the hell Kahn's twisted heart desires.  It just depends if they would like to be a 45 win team after one more bumpy season, or prowl around in 30 win territory for the next five seasons.
Even though teams in the NBA depend on having 2 or more star players in order to win championships, it can still be done with 4 or 5 good players.  The thought of watching Jonny Flynn, Wes Johnson, and Kevin Love all playing together gets me really excited about the future of this team.  Besides, we won 15 games last season...meaning there's nowhere to go but up.

Poll

What should the Timberwolves do?

50%

Try to get a big name player like Lee this year.

40 votes

50%

Clear more cap space and wait for more options next year.

40 votes

80 votes | Poll has closed

In my first ever Canis Hoopus post I will discuss why the Timberwolves are infatuated with David Lee, and whether or not the team should find a way to bring him to the team via sing-and-trade.  I've noticed from other posts that T-Wolf nation seems to be divided on whether we need him or not.  

Poll

Is David Lee a good fit for the Timberwolves?

41%

Yes

281 votes

35%

No

237 votes

22%

Unsure

154 votes

672 votes | Poll has closed

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