I don't know the veracity of Adrian Wojnarowski's  sources, but if these stories are anything close to factual, the Timberwolves look to be even more dysfunctional than ever.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wojnarowski_rick_adelman_twolves_091211

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There has been a few stat heads batting around the "adjusted plus ; minus" metric here.  Brian Tung (a respected Lakers fan, etc., etc.) recently looked into the concept closely and shares his observations here:

http://thenullhypodermic.blogspot.com/2009/10/adjusted-plus-or-minus-more-or-less.html

I'm to busy at the moment to look into how his thoughts might alter my perception of a few key Timberwolves, particularly Jefferson and Love, but I thought I'd "share".

Well, actually, I don't think that Kurt Rambis gets full credit for what the Lakers used last year.  And until we get a few games on tape, we won't know if the Timberwolves will be using this system.  But (mostly because I just ran across the link again) here is a nice explanation by Kevin Pelton of what Kurt had the Lakers doing last season on defense.

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=438

The key is that a help defender is positioned on the strong (i.e. ball side) side of the key, providing immediate help against penetrating point guards.  Note that the Lakers started Derek Fisher, who at this point in his career is not known for keeping anyone in front of him.

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Our compatriot, "LoveTo" wondered what a list of "NBA players who would be the most fun to play pickup with" would look like.   He nominated Brian Cardinal.  "TheH" opted for Kevin Love.  "Boss10" picks Steve Nash.  And sure, why not?  So I decided to fire up a FanPost...here we go.  Let's keep it to currently active players.

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Amidst all the "excitement" of trades, drafting Rubio, firing and hiring a coach, etc., have you been keeping an eye on the money?

In an earlier comment re the Richardson for Blount trade, I put together an overview of what the Kahn trades have resulted in, financially, and a few Canis Hoopers added some details.

The "company line" regarding all this trading activity has been about creating roster and salary cap flexibility.  When I look at the results (below the jump) I really don't see too much: 

   1) The 2009 salary commitments are almost exactly the same
   2) The number of roster slots stayed the same.
   3) The 2010 salary commitments increased
   4) A 2009 1st round draft choice was converted to a 2010 draft choice (non-lottery)
   5) Gave up their 2nd own round pick, will have one that's likely worse
   6) Picked up a little cash in the draft choice dealings.

What do you think?

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Ric Bucher tweeted the question...

What do Kevin McHale and Kurt Rambis have in common, other than the obvious employment link?

   http://twitter.com/RicBucher/status/3277227349

The answer is:

 ...both were college teammates of superagent Bill Duffy, who played with McHale @ Minn, then transferred 2 Santa Clara + joined Rambis.

   http://twitter.com/RicBucher/status/3282460023

Uh oh!   The noted agent for many of our most, ahem, unforgettable and least productive Timberwolves.

Note to David Kahn:  If Kurt brings you a trade idea involving a BDA Sports Management client,  play Nancy Reagan and just say NO!

According to the Orange County Register, the four finalists for the TWolves' head coach are Kurt Rambis, Mark Jackson, Elston Turner, and Monty Williams.

     http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2009/07/24/rambis-makes-the-final-cut/20945/

Supposedly, interviewing begins this weekend.

Anybody seen Mr. Kahn?  I'm sure he's a bit frustrated from his trip to Spain.  Did he come back?  Or did he stay to bolster the efforts of the NBA rep said to be crossing the Atlantic in hopes of freeing Ricky?

As some here have mentioned, the Star Tribune's senior sports columnist Sid Hartman, seems to have a beef with David Kahn.

Hartman did warm up enough to note in his Monday column that Wayne Ellington "has been a surprise" for the Wolves in Summer League play.  I think Sid was surprised that the Kahn-led Wolves would actually make a  good pick. 

In the same column, Sid notes that Ty Lawson, "who was drafted by the Wolves and traded to Denver for a future No. 1 draft choice" played well.  I find it interesting that Hartman would spend ink on noting the performance of a player whose only connection to Minnesota and the Wolves was that the Wolves drafted him on instructions by Dallas.  Sure, Sid often wastes a lot of ink -- that's not news.

But what about Jonny Flynn's achievements and awards in Vegas?

Nary a word.

Maybe Flynn (and by extension, Kahn) has left old Sid apoplectic.

From the "Wizards Insider" Michael Lee's blog:

Pecherov is also wearing No. 4 for the Timberwolves. Pesh wore No. 14 with the Wizards because the number he really wanted (41, in honor of his favorite player, Dirk Nowitzki) is retired for some guy named Wes Unseld. I wondered why he didn't get 41 in Minnesota, then I saw that the last player to wear that number for the Timberwolves was Eddie Griffin, who died in a tragic automobile accident two years ago.

...and...

I happened to check out some highlights of the Timberwolves on NBATV to see what former Wizards Oleksiy Pecherov has been up to. I noticed that Pecherov is starting at center for the Timberwolves. Last night during a 96-91 loss to that powerhouse known as the D-League Select team, Pecherov had 15 points (on 5 of 11 shooting, 3 of 4 from three-point range) with 10 rebounds, one blocked shot and ... you guess it, zero assists. He gets buckets, son. Through the first two games, Pesh is averaging 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2009/07/taking_a_short_break.html