The Celticsblog NBA Carousel of previews continues with the team that helped make it all happen, the Timberwolves. A new coach and new GM are charting a new course for the young, ‘filled with potential’ roster.
Here is a portion of Canis Hoopus’ take on the state of team:
Enter David Kahn.
While I think it is safe to say that most Wolves fans who were paying attention at the time of his hiring (all 1,700 of us) were upset that the team seemed to have bumbled its way through its most important new addition in years (Kahn seemed to be a secondary choice and candidates from the Blazers and Spurs appear to have walked away from the position), The Demolition Man quickly and confidently made a series of moves that have placed the Wolves in a position to win.
- He turned Kevin McHale, Jerry Sichting, and Dean Cooper into Kurt Rambis, Reggie Theus, Bill Laimbeer, and Dave Wohl.
- He turned two moderate-sized expiring contracts into Ricky Rubio.
- He turned a Sebastian Telfair/Kevin Ollie point guard rotation into a Jonny Flynn/Ramon Sessions one.
- He picked up an athletic big who can play the reserve 4/5.
- He drafted the 2nd best shooter in the draft late in the 1st round.
- He cleared (probably) between $13-15 milion in 2010 cap space.
- He picked up another 2010 first round pick.
Best of all, Kahn has made the Wolves interesting again.
Here is a portion from emptythebench.com…
What are Minnesota’s biggest strengths?
Al Jefferson, rebounding, and a fresh start. Jefferson is one of the brightest young stars in basketball. He’s an All-Star caliber player with fantastic work ethic and post moves. Honestly, he may have the best low-post footwork in the NBA and his shooting touch is coming along. And while he’s miscast as a center, Jefferson can also clean the glass very well on both ends. Kevin Love will miss the first 6-8 weeks of the season with a broken hand, but when he’s in the game he’s one of the top five rebounders in the NBA already. Hopefully these two can learn to play defense together.
And last but not least: twolvesblog.com
Basketball wise, perimeter shooting is going to be a huge problem. Not from a general situational issue, but our shooting is so atrocious that it is going to make things much harder for others who try to play to their strengths. Who is Jefferson going to kick it out to when he is triple teamed in the post? How is Jonny Flynn going to penetrate when he draws the defense into the lane completely and turns it over? It is going to be a challenge.
So…will Al Jefferson have to endure yet another year of rebuilding?
As the eight ball would say…better not tell you now.
