Just last year the Timberwolves weren’t sure about what they had in Kevin Love, but he’s now proven his worth. He’s greatly valued by the franchise and they don’t want to see him donning another team’s uniform any time soon. His name continues to pop up in trade rumors Continue reading →

The young Minnesota Timberwolves need a leader. Why not Kevin Love? Yes, the power forward is just a third-year man. But with averages this season of 20.8 points and 15.5 rebounds, he’s earned respect throughout the NBA. Love is just 22, but this is a team with just one player older than 25 and nobody in their 30s. Continue reading →

The willingness of Wolves Johnny Flynn deciding to test out his hip in the D-League, despite being an established NBA player (albeit not nearly as established as Paul Pierce) could open up talks in this summer’s collective bargaining negotiations that might make the player’s association more amenable to veterans being assigned to the D-League for a quick rehab stint before returning full bore in the NBA. The key may be that the veteran is given the option to play in the D-League as opposed to being forced to go down for a rehab stint, like the Flynn assignment — but even then it would open up new opportunities. For NBA clubs, it would offer a chance for players to be sure that they are healthy before being thrust into an actual game that matters to the team’s record.  — Fanhouse

The T’Wolves’ swift decision to lock him up and the prospect of steady playing time has altered Darko Milicic’s outlook    “The only reason I said I want to go back to Europe is because I really didn’t think anybody was going to give me a chance to play,” Milicic told HOOPSWORLD. “Don’t play for three years, play for one year, and not play for half year is tough. It’s just tough when you play and then don’t play. That’s why I said it (about going back to Europe). It wasn’t like I was mad at the league or wanted to leave the league. It wasn’t about that. It was just that the only chance I’d have (to play) would be in Europe.” … Milicic’s shooting woes early in the season (29 percent from the floor) are cause for concern after connecting on 49 percent of his attempts in 2010. But Milicic is confident his shooting stroke will reemerge. “I just got to keep shooting,” explained Milicic to HOOPSWORLD. “Those are my shots. If I can’t make those shots, then I can go fishing. I’m working on those shots and I’m going to start making them soon.” — Hoops World

With Luke Ridnour sidelined (hamstring), a little birdie says former San Antonio Spurs-New Orleans Hornets point guard Curtis Jerrells will get a workout with the Timberwolves today in Sacramento, Calif. — Pioneer Press

Wolves center Darko Milicic, having major problems with his shooting, was upset with himself after Wednesday’s loss, a game in which he failed to make a field goal for the second consecutive night. Milicic was 0 for 6 against Orlando and 0 for 5 at Miami. In three of the Wolves’ five games, he has gone scoreless from the floor. The 7-foot Serbian is shooting 14.3 percent (4 of 28). “It’s really frustrating to be going through this,” Milicic said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with my shot. I can’t throw it in the ocean. I’m struggling bad the last few games. This is not going to get us anywhere.” Rambis admitted before Wednesday’s game that Milicic is having confidence issues. “He still looks to me like he’s not secure with himself,” Rambis said. “I want him to get to a point where he’s comfortable. Some of it is confidence. Some of it is technique.” Milicic has been misfiring on his left-handed hook shot. Most of the shots have been short.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said his team’s fans need not worry about something that probably is negotiating posture and concept for now. “I can say that Minnesota is not one of the teams that would be contracted, nor do we expect that in the future,” Taylor said, sounding somewhat surprised at the question. — Star Tribune

Look for former Timberwolves assistant-NBA head coach Eric Musselman, whose father, Bill, worked his way to the NBA by coaching in the Continental Basketball Association, on Thursday to be named coach of the Reno Bighorns in the NBA Development League. — Pioneer Press

Kurt Rambis had no problem with the players’ effort. But he needed players who played his style, which is passing and defense. So immediately after the season, he went to president of basketball operations David Kahn and requested a different type of player. Kahn obliged and continues to do so. Team owner Glen Taylor got involved, too, after seeking reasons for Rambis’ request for more athletic players. “Kurt said they were really good kids, but that he just couldn’t get them to play the defense he wanted,” Taylor said Tuesday night. So Kahn and Rambis and Taylor are trying something else. “We talked about what I would call taking some risks,” Taylor said. “The idea is, you bring in these young guys and some of them probably have the potential. We’ve just got to coach them better, or differently, or maybe give them a second chance. I think what we have to do as a team to get up there faster is take some risks.” That means getting more out of some players than other coaches could. For instance: 6-foot-10 forward Michael Beasley and 7-foot center Darko Milicic. “Michael Beasley was drafted No. 2 overall, went down to Miami and hasn’t performed to the level that they expected, for a lot of reasons,” Taylor said. “The same thing with Darko. Darko was drafted No. 2 (by Detroit in 2003).
“I met with Darko last year, and I said, ‘Darko, this may be the first time in your life that a coach has selected you instead of a general manager.’ There’s a huge difference when the general manager selects you but the coach doesn’t select you.” Taylor told Milicic it was Rambis who encouraged Kahn to get Milicic from New York, that Rambis is a guy who will give Milicic a chance.” — Pioneer Press

How many point guards will Luke Ridnour have to compete against for playing time with the Timberwolves? Ridnour was unsure about that while signing a four-year, $16 million contract Wednesday, and so was Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn. Ridnour, who signed with the Wolves as a free agent after two seasons in Milwaukee, gives the Wolves three point guards, along with Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions. Ricky Rubio raises the number to four if the Spanish phenom joins the Wolves in 2011-12 and Ridnour, Flynn and Sessions are still on the roster. That scenario seems highly unlikely. The crowd at point guard is forcing Kahn to prepare Wolves fans for more moves in a busy offseason, perhaps as soon as the club learns the extent of Flynn’s left hip flexor, which forced him to cut back his participation in last week’s summer league in Las Vegas. “It’s not my intent to have three healthy point guards on the roster, and I was very clear with Luke about that,” Kahn said. “I recognize that we have to alleviate the situation.” — Pioneer Press