Minnesota Timberwolves News

Wolves nowhere near 'top, top shape'
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March 13
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"He still has 16 games to play this season, and it's a commitment that Al Jefferson takes seriously. But it's understandable, too, that the Timberwolves' most visible player has already begun thinking about the summer -- and, believe it or not, next season. "I'm going to try to bring my game to another level," Jefferson said before the Wolves' eighth straight loss, 103-85 to the Spurs. Jefferson, whose 13 points Friday weren't enough to prevent Minnesota from falling for the 14th time in 15 games, hopes to do that with the help of Idan Ravin, a trainer who works with some of the NBA's elite players. Ravin spent much of this homestand meeting the Wolves, at the request of team president for ..."
Love sits out with sprained foot as Timberwolves lose eighth straight
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March 13
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Manu Ginobili played only 28 minutes, Tim Duncan only 25 and Tony Parker not at all. Yet the San Antonio Spurs were still way too much for the Timberwolves, who seem to sink lower and lower each time they take the court. Richard Jefferson had 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists in his first start in seven games to help the Spurs to a 103-85 victory over the Timberwolves on Friday night at Target Center. George Hill had 19 points and eight assists and Duncan had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs, who have won six of their last seven games, including two of three without the injured Parker. "We're right in the mix of things, and we're trying to move up and try to jockey for ..."
Jefferson breaks out, sparks Spurs
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March 13
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Hours before his team took the floor at the Target Center for tipoff of Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich announced plans to use his 23rd different starting lineup of the season. Richard Jefferson, admittedly shaken after his first scoreless game in six years, would replace Keith Bogans at small forward. Popovich's rationale? "Because I want to," he said. In fact, the decision was anything but frivolous. Rather, it was reasoned and nuanced, and after Jefferson's 19 points and nine rebounds helped the Spurs score an easy 103-85 victory, the veteran coach looked like a psychological genius. The Spurs' collective psyche was in fine shape after their ..."
Timberwolves' Hollins says two-game suspension is a lesson learned
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March 12
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Timberwolves center Ryan Hollins does not give the impression of being a physically imposing player under the basket. His boyish face and slender, 7-foot frame make him one of the least likely candidates to be disciplined by the NBA for too much rough stuff. Hollins insists he's not a "dirty player or anything like that," but he still was given a two-game suspension Wednesday by Stu Jackson, the league's executive vice president of basketball operations, for striking Dallas guard DeShawn Stevenson during Monday night's game at Target Center. "I understand the suspension," Hollins said after Thursday's practice. "They said my fist was closed when it happened. That's a league rule. I have to ..."
Frustration is expected, resilience is demanded
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March 12
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"On the day after Kevin Love wondered out loud about his team's unconventional offense and his role in it, the Timberwolves went back to work. On their defense. The Wolves spent most of a 75-minute film session before Thursday's practice concentrating on defensive principles. The night before, Love suggested his team's unconventional passing offense "has been easy to run, but hard to figure out." His exasperation came minutes after a loss to Denver -- the team's seventh consecutive defeat and its 13th in the past 14 games -- and two nights after he played only 12 minutes (none in the fourth quarter) against Dallas. "I think it's frustration," Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said after Thursday's ..."
For Love, this season can't be over too soon
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March 11
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"It's not easy being Kevin Love these days. His team is forlorn and woebegone, but still five weeks removed from the end of a wretched season. He is no longer a starter, and while he insists he doesn't feel like he has been demoted, he also feels less and less certain of his place in the team's offense. "This offense has been easy to run," Love said Wednesday after the Timberwolves' seventh consecutive loss, "but hard to figure out." Lots of things were hard for Love to figure out during Denver's 110-102 victory in Target Center -- like the brief stretch where coach Kurt Rambis assigned him to guard Carmelo Anthony, the league's third-leading scorer. "I said, 'Are you sure?'" Love said. He ..."
Timberwolves make Nuggets work for win
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March 11
Denver Post
 
"The Nuggets were as flat as Mike Tyson singing "In The Air Tonight." Lifeless Denver trailed Minnesota by five points at halftime Wednesday night, making one wonder if the Nuggets would blow yet another game to the lowly Timberwolves. But they Clark Kent-ed it into the locker room, and out came a pair of super heroes — Birdman and J.R. Swish. In the Nuggets' 110-102 victory at the Target Center, Chris "Birdman" Andersen soared around the paint for three second-half blocks, while J.R. Smith hit a trio of 3-pointers in the third quarter and dunked a how-is-that-possible, 360-alley-oop. The Nuggets (43-21) outscored the Wolves 62-49 in the second half. But on a night when Memphis brutalized ..."
Wolves' Hollins suspended two games for altercation
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March 11
NBA.com
 
"Ryan Hollins of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been suspended without pay for two games for punching DeShawn Stevenson and striking Dirk Nowitzki, both of the Dallas Mavericks, on Monday, March 8. The suspension was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations."
Timberwolves say 'No' to playing out the string
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March 10
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"With 18 games remaining and the NBA playoffs out of reach, Timberwolves players and coaches could start a countdown to the end of a difficult season. But no one is ready to look ahead just yet. Despite a six-game losing streak and recent breakdowns in ball handling — the Wolves are averaging 20.5 turnovers in their past four games — the team remains committed to a strong finish. "This is not the time to lay down and count the days," forward Al Jefferson said. "We still have a job to do. We want to finish the season off right, and all the guys are on the same page and are willing to do that." The Wolves (14-50) have not won since Feb. 23 at Miami. Monday's home loss to Dallas featured 25 ..."
Timberwolves glad to have Al Jefferson back after two-game suspension
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March 9
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis commended forward Al Jefferson on his workout regimen to prepare for his return to the lineup for Monday night's game against Dallas at Target Center. Jefferson went through a rigorous conditioning and drills program while serving his two-game suspension without pay for his DWI arrest on Feb. 28 near downtown Minneapolis. "Al has done everything as accurately and correctly as you could possibly ask somebody to do, under the circumstances," Rambis said of Jefferson, who had 36 points and 13 rebounds in the Wolves' 125-112 loss to Dallas. "He's handled the situation very well. I'm proud of him as a ballplayer and as a man. He owned up to his mistake, apologized ..."
Al Jefferson returns with a vengeance, but sloppy Timberwolves fall at home to Mavericks
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March 9
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"On a night when Al Jefferson had a season-high 36 points and 13 rebounds, the Timberwolves had too many ball-handling issues and defensive breakdowns to cause concern for the high-flying Dallas Mavericks. The Wolves' 125-112 loss Monday night at Target Center generated some unflattering numbers that almost overshadowed Jefferson's return from his two-game suspension for a Feb. 28 DWI arrest near downtown Minneapolis. How unflattering? Try 25 turnovers, including eight by point guard Jonny Flynn, and 4-of-22 shooting on three-pointers. Wolves coach Kurt Rambis didn't have much to say about the three-point shooting. It was the turnovers that led to 32 points for Dallas that bothered him — ..."
Jefferson's return is just not enough
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March 9
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Timberwolves center Al Jefferson turned philosophical after Monday's contentious 125-112 loss to Dallas at Target Center. Back on the court after a nine-day absence following his drunken-driving arrest and two-game team suspension, Jefferson scored 36 points on a night when his team threw the basketball -- and in at least one situation, their arms -- all over the place. The Mavericks beat the Wolves for the second time in five days and won their 12 consecutive game while delivering the home team its 12th loss in 13 games, including six in a row. The most glaring numbers Monday were not the length of those winning or losing streaks, but rather a 26-to-9 turnover disparity that never gave ..."
Ryan Hollins ejected for flagrant foult penalty two
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March 9
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 (scroll down)
"Not that there wasn't drama. With 3:48 to go former Maverick Ryan Hollins was ejected for a flagrant foul, penalty 2 when he hit Nowitzki in the face. It was the second time this season Hollins has been tossed from a game with the Mavs."
Love revels at any chance to throw the long ball
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March 8
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Kevin Love flashed back Saturday to his UCLA days. Or maybe even earlier. "My parents never let me play football," the Wolves forward said, "and I always wanted to be a quarterback." It shows. Love, who built a reputation with the Bruins for length-of-the-floor outlet passes, had not displayed his unusual skill much this season -- until Saturday. Love fired five passes of 50 feet or longer from under the Wolves basket and completed three of them for easy scores, a success rate that Brett Favre would appreciate. "I've told the coaches, I've told the front office, that we need to engage that a little more," said Love, who made long connections with Ryan Hollins and Damien Wilkins for ..."
Struggling Rockets get well at Timberwolves' expense
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March 7
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Just when the Houston Rockets were getting really desperate, along came the Timberwolves. Luis Scola had 25 points and a career-high 21 rebounds and the struggling Rockets righted themselves with a 112-98 victory over the Timberwolves on Saturday night at Target Center. "We're at the point where we have to get wins where we can," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. Kevin Martin had 30 points and Aaron Brooks added 25 points and nine assists for the Rockets. The game against Minnesota couldn't have come at a better time for Houston, which had lost five of seven to fall to 10th place in the West since acquiring Martin in a trade with Sacramento. But the Rockets hit 11 three-pointers and ..."
The Wolves' other big men can't quite replace the suspended Al Jefferson
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March 7
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Ryan Hollins made all seven of his shots. Kevin Love led the Timberwolves in scoring, rebounding, blocks and nearly assists. Darko Milicic grabbed a season-high number of rebounds. Yes, give the Wolves' big men credit for trying to compensate for Al Jefferson's sizable absence. But realistically, how likely is it that a 14-49 team can win without its central offensive force? "Well, you know it's not going to be easy," forward Ryan Gomes understated. "I guess we knew that." Nobody knows it better than Luis Scola. The Rockets forward, without Jefferson to wrestle for position under the basket, erupted for 25 points and a career-high 21 rebounds Saturday as the Rockets throttled the Wolves ..."
Corey Brewer: Shooting down his detractors
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March 7
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Timberwolves are planning a campaign later this month to promote Corey Brewer for the NBA's Most Improved Player award -- which is as close as they can find to the trophy he really deserves. Too bad there's no recognition for "Most Surprising Player," because Brewer might win it unanimously. His season, Brewer admits, has shocked him, too. "Coming off [knee] surgery, I knew I was going to be rusty," said the third-year guard, who turned 23 on Friday. "But I was surprised. My explosiveness came back. I'm feeling a lot more confident." It shows most of all in his shooting, where Brewer has transformed himself from an avert-your-eyes disaster to a record-setting marksman. "Brewer might be ..."
Rambis figures if you 'get wins,' fans will follow
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March 5
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis suggested favorable matchups explain how his team in a month's span won once in Dallas and took a Mavericks team that had won eight consecutive games down to the final seconds before losing. Wolves center Ryan Hollins and rookie guard Jonny Flynn credited a full house at American Airlines Center and some actual crowd noise. "It's a great environment," Hollins said. "It takes you back to your college days." For Flynn, that's a whole year removed. "It's a great arena, great fans, great energy," Flynn said. "They bring out the best in us, I guess." The Wolves lost 112-109 to the Mavs on Wednesday, five days after they got clobbered in front of a loud, sellout ..."
Wolves' Ellington has bad sprained ankle, doubtful to play before Monday
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March 4
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 (scroll down)
"Ellington and Nathan Jawai also stayed home after each sprained an ankle within 10 minutes of each other in Monday's practice. Don't expect either to be ready to play until Monday at the earliest."
Wolves push red-hot Dallas to the end
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March 4
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Dallas Mavericks for their own reasons obligingly countered the absence of suspended Timberwolves star Al Jefferson by resting All-Star Jason Kidd on Wednesday night during their 112-109 victory at American Airlines Center. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle called it a preventative decision that shouldn't be misconstrued as disrespect for the night's opponent. Yeah, right, tell the Wolves that. Kidd watched on a night his team persevered and extended its winning streak to nine games -- longest currently in the NBA -- because the Mavericks had just played five games in seven days and nine in the last 15 and Carlisle wanted to give Kidd's 36-year-old legs a break. Before the game, someone ..."
Minutes continue to pile up for Darko
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March 3
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Not that long ago, Darko Milicic ate hamburgers in the locker room before games because he knew there wasn't a prayer he'd play for the New York Knicks that night. Wednesday night, he is expected to start at center for the Timberwolves at Dallas while starter Al Jefferson serves a two-game team suspension because of his drunken-driving arrest last weekend. "That's what happens in this league," Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said. Milicic wore the black starter's jersey in practice Monday and Tuesday while Jefferson ran with the second unit because he will not play again until Monday's rematch with the Mavericks at Target Center. "I'm kind of leaning that way," Rambis said of starting Milicic in ..."
Remorseful Timberwolves star Al Jefferson vows DUI arrest won't happen again
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March 2
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Al Jefferson is regarded as the hard-working, no-nonsense leader of the Timberwolves. The six-year NBA veteran demonstrated that leadership in a big way Monday, expressing sincere remorse for his DUI arrest early Sunday morning, including an admission that he was "glad" a state highway patrolman pulled him over on Interstate 394 just outside downtown Minneapolis. "I know now to never do that again," Jefferson said after Monday's practice at Target Center. "I didn't realize the danger I put myself and innocent people (in). I could have hurt myself. I could have hurt someone else. I know I wouldn't be able to live with that. I'm so upset with myself." Jefferson, the Wolves' leading scorer ..."
Al Jefferson vows no repeat offense
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March 2
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"A day after the team released a contrite statement from him, Timberwolves star center Al Jefferson spoke at length about his weekend drunken-driving arrest. He apologized after practice Monday to his family, his team, his teammates, his fans for what he alternately called a "major mistake" and a "stupid choice." "In a way I'm glad it happened, because now I know and I know I'll never do it again," he said. "I could have hurt myself. I could have hurt someone else. I'm so upset with myself. I'm sorry for the embarrassment I caused my family, my teammates, myself, my fans. I'm a good person. I just make a mistake. I promise it'll never happen again."
Sources: Wolves to waive Blount
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March 1
ESPN.com
 
"The Minnesota Timberwolves will waive veteran center Mark Blount on Monday, according to NBA front office sources. Securing his release before Monday's midnight deadline means Blount will be able to play for someone else in the playoffs, if he can find a new job. Players currently on NBA rosters must be released by midnight in order to retain their playoff eligibility for another team. Blount and the Timberwolves mutually agreed during the preseason that he would not join the team -- after being reacquired in an August deal with Miami for Quentin Richardson -- while Minnesota attempted to find a new home for Blount via trade."
Warriors are sheep when it comes to Wolves' accountability
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March 1
Oakland Tribune
 columnist Monte Poole
"In what has been the Year of the Apology - from Canada's women's hockey team to the Chicago Bears to Tiger Woods to Toyota - a relatively disappointing NBA team has decided its apology is only the beginning. If only that team were the Warriors. The Minnesota Timberwolves last week acknowledged their wretched season and had the courage to take action. They bought a full-page ad in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, seeking continued support, and offered fans a letter of apology signed by David Kahn, the team's president of basketball operations. To validate their profound sincerity, the Wolves also announced they were cutting season-ticket prices - by half. To clarify, lower-bowl season tickets ..."
Timberwolves' Al Jefferson suspended for two games after traffic arrest
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March 1
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Timberwolves power forward Al Jefferson will sit out the next two games without pay following Sunday's arrest for allegedly driving drunk, team officials said. Jefferson was arrested by the State Patrol just outside downtown Minneapolis, hours after his team's loss to the Portland Trailblazers on Saturday night at Target Center. Jefferson, 25, was booked into Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of fourth-degree driving while impaired about 2:15 a.m. and released about an hour later, State Patrol spokesman Lt. Eric Roeske said. Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn announced the team suspension in a statement released Sunday. He said the organization was "disappointed that Al ..."
Wolves suspend Jefferson after arrest
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March 1
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Timberwolves accepted center Al Jefferson's apology on Sunday for alleged drunken driving after Saturday night's loss to Portland, but they suspended their leading scorer for the next two games as punishment. Jefferson was arrested on Interstate 394 just outside downtown Minneapolis at 1:08 a.m. Sunday, a little more than three hours after he scored 19 points in the Wolves' 110-91 loss, and booked into jail on a charge of fourth-degree driving while impaired, said State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske. "I made a very poor decision and I am truly sorry for that," Jefferson said in a written apology to Wolves owner Glen Taylor, his teammates, coaches and "Wolves fans everywhere." David Kahn, the ..."
Timberwolves' Al Jefferson arrested on supsicion of DWI
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February 28
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player Al Jefferson was arrested and booked into jail early this morning for allegedly driving drunk, according to jail records. Jefferson, a center-forward, was arrested by the State Patrol and was brought to the Hennepin County Jail at 2:12 a.m., the jail records show. He was arrested on a charge of fourth degree driving while impaired, according to the log. He was released at 3:19 a.m. He is scheduled for a court appearance on April 23."
Wolves end a 3-9 month in all-too-familiar style
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February 28
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"A month that opened with noticeably renewed optimism for the Timberwolves reached its caustic conclusion Saturday with few of those warm feelings remaining. The best that can be said for a 3-9 February, which began with Minnesota riding its hottest "streak" of the season? Well, the Wolves weren't mathematically eliminated. That playoff-race formality figures to come by the end of the week. But nearly seven weeks remain in this pockmark of a season, 21 more games following Portland's 110-91 plundering of Target Center on Saturday. And as his 14-47 team approaches the NBA's traditional glide-path to summer vacation for also-rans, Kurt Rambis swears the Wolves will be different. "We're not ..."
Russell Westbrook leads the way in win over Minnesota
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February 27
The Oklahoman
 
"With his first steal, a slashing, sneaky swipe two minutes in, Russell Westbrook had set the tone. But it was the Thunder guard's second pilfer, a pick-pocket four minutes later, which provided the momentum that would put the game away.The Thunder notched a wire-to-wire 109-92 victory over Minnesota on Friday night to snap a two-game losing streak. Oklahoma City reverted to its winning ways by buckling down on the defensive end, and it was Westbrook who captained the charge.With 10:09 left in the first quarter, Westbrook swooped in and stole an outlet pass by Wolves forward Ryan Gomes and converted an uncontested layup to push the Thunder's lead to 6-2. And when the Western ..."
Nick Collison, Serge Ibaka to play tonight for Oklahoma City Thunder against Minnesota
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February 27
The Oklahoman
 
"Reserve big men Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka both sat out the Thunder's game Wednesday with minor injuries but will play tonight against Minnesota. Collison suffered a sprained right knee early in the second half Tuesday night against Phoenix. Earlier this season Collison missed four games with a sprained knee but this time there wasn't any swelling. "I think I kind of hyperextended it, a little sprain," Collison said. "It was sore the next day in San Antonio. The day off in San Antonio and the day off (Thursday) helped. I'll be able to play." Ibaka missed Wednesday's game with back spasms but coach Scott Brooks said the rookie power forward is ready to return after receiving treatment on ..."
Westbrook leaves Timberwolves Thunder-struck as Oklahoma City rolls
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February 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Russell Westbrook's first season in the NBA was a trial by fire in trying to play a mostly new position at the highest level. And it showed. As the Oklahoma City Thunder go through perhaps the league's most remarkable turnaround this season, none of their players embodies it more than their second-year point guard. Westbrook scored 18 points, matched his franchise record with 15 assists and narrowly missed his second triple-double against the Timberwolves in less than a week as the Thunder cruised to a 109-92 victory Friday night. "He's been like an MVP," said teammate Kevin Durant, who finished with 25 points. "A lot of people talk about me myself, but I think he's been the best player on ..."
Jefferson back for key minutes of close loss
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February 25
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"A night after he watched all but one of the final 15 minutes from the sideline, Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson was back on the floor down the stretch in a 98-92 loss at Atlanta. Afterward, Wolves coach Kurt Rambis generously praised Jefferson, not for his offense but for his defense. In Tuesday's victory in Miami over a Heat team missing superstar Dwyane Wade, Rambis mostly stuck with a unit that included newly acquired Darko Milicic's length and defense from the third quarter's final four minutes until the final buzzer. On Wednesday, Milicic watched the entire fourth quarter and Rambis paired Jefferson with Kevin Love and Ryan Hollins on a night when the Wolves trailed by 16 late in ..."
Wolves seize opportunity, prevail on road
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February 24
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The particulars of the Timberwolves' resilient 91-88 victory at Miami on Tuesday night soon will be forgotten, probably by the time the final buzzer sounds 24 hours later in Atlanta. What should be remembered as the Wolves head toward summer with as many as three first-round draft picks and conceivably more than $12 million to spend is this: Newly acquired Darko Milicic hadn't played a game in three months until Sunday, but for the second time in three days he provided the defensive presence that kept coach Kurt Rambis from taking him off the floor, even when he needed a breather. The Wolves ended a six-game losing streak against a Heat team missing injured superstar Dwyane Wade and ..."
Brisk networking night is far from a loss for Wolves
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February 23
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Timberwolves devoted Sunday night's game to interacting with their fans, and the diehards obliged. With less than four minutes remaining, several dozen in Target Center began chanting, "We want Darko! We want Darko!" How 20th Century, huh? These days, the Wolves, like just about every professional team and many colleges, encourage their partisans to tweet them with suggestions, to post reactions on their Facebook wall, to IM their demands for a lineup change, and blog about it later. Cheering is great, but the broadband revolution is expanding game-night participation far outside the walls of the arena. "We discovered, like everyone utilizing these new platforms, that there is a real ..."
Trial run begins for Milicic
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February 22
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Out of shape but no longer out of sight, Darko Milicic made his Timberwolves debut Sunday evening and played his first NBA game in more than three months. It was the start of a 26-game audition that, unless something remarkably unexpected happens, will end April 14 against Detroit, the team that drafted him second overall in 2003. Stung that the New York Knicks traded him to the Wolves last week rather than buy out the remaining weeks of his $7.5 million contract so he can return home to Serbia, Milicic spoke publicly after the team's Sunday morning shootaround. He was asked if he can envision himself playing in the NBA next fall after seven unfulfilling seasons. "Hard, really hard, to see ..."
Boost from new arrival isn't enough
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February 22
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Timberwolves' 109-107 loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday night at Target Center delivered both the predictable and the sublimely unexpected. The rolling Thunder won its ninth consecutive game -- the franchise's longest winning streak since it played in Seattle as the SuperSonics -- while the Wolves lost their sixth in a row. Oklahoma City superstar-in-waiting Kevin Durant got his 32 points -- exactly his scoring average since Christmas -- and extended his streak of 25-plus point games to 28. That much you could have figured. But this? "We want Darko." That's what a smattering of fans chanted late in the game, a demand Wolves coach Kurt Rambis heard on the same night he once again lamented ..."
Darko Milicic is silver lining in Timberwolves' loss to Thunder
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February 22
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The Timberwolves lost another game Sunday night, but something special happened at Target Center: A new hero emerged for Wolves fans, a guy who many fans had never heard of before last Wednesday — a guy who hadn't played in an NBA game in three months. Darko Milicic even had fans chanting his name — "We want Darko! We want Darko!" — during a timeout with 3:54 left in the fourth quarter. Fans urged Wolves coach Kurt Rambis to put the 7-foot center back in the game, and Rambis obliged. Milicic, playing in his debut game with the Wolves, almost shared in a dramatic win. The Oklahoma City Thunder held on for a 109-107 victory before an appreciative crowd of 14,202, but Milicic gave the Wolves ..."
Darko Milicic accepts his share of blame for NBA struggles
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February 22
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Newly acquired Timberwolves center Darko Milicic, stung by limited playing time with four NBA teams in his seven-year career, accepted some of the blame for his lack of productivity after being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 draft. The 7-foot native of Serbia-Montenegro has averaged 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in his career with Detroit, Orlando, Memphis and New York. "I can't just complain about things and say it's somebody else's fault," Milicic said before the Wolves' 109-107 loss to Oklahoma City at Target Center. "Talking about people screwing me up and letting me down, it's my fault, too." Milicic, 24, took an impressive step toward redemption in his Wolves debut with eight ..."
Love's minutes down this month
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February 21
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"In a January interrupted by illness, Timberwolves forward Kevin Love played 30 or more minutes in nine of 14 games and delivered double-double games in all but three of those 14. In February, he has reached that 30-minute mark once in seven games and has three double-doubles. So ... what's the deal? Wolves coach Kurt Rambis calls the disparity mainly a matter of circumstance, a combination of factors that include nights such as Friday's loss to Chicago when Love hasn't played well and others like Tuesday in Detroit when a blowout loss caused Rambis to save Love's legs for the next night's game at Washington."
Owner Glen Taylor says Timberwolves positioned to chase talent this summer
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February 21
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Charley Walters
"Owner Glen Taylor, whose Timberwolves are expected to have nearly $14 million in salary cap room available to sign free agents this summer, expects his team to compete for top talent. "Money always seems to be the main thing," Taylor said. "Other things may have to do with the coach. Some players like a coach's style, so we have to find a player who believes in our coaches and (thinks) they'll be a better player under our coaches than they presently are." Taylor said his patience for rebuilding the team "has been better than I thought. I was hoping we would be making more progress than we have, but after talking to (the coaches), I have a lot of confidence in what they're doing. I know ..."
T'wolves offer Darko Milicic last shot
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February 21
Memphis Commercial Appeal
 columnist Ron Tillery
"Darko Milicic (right), acquired by Minnesota in a trade last week, says he's headed to Europe next season, but the T'wolves are hopeful his best NBA days could be ahead. When Minnesota Timberwolves basketball boss David Kahn promised he would not do anything dramatic at the NBA's trade deadline he sure delivered. He sent Brian Cardinal to the New York Knicks for Darko Milicic in a dead-on-arrival deal of former Grizzlies. The Timberwolves insist they're happy about the deal. They may be the only ones. Minnesota dealt one expiring contract (Cardinal) for another (Milicic), so it could theoretically get a free 27-game look at a player who has been in the league seven seasons and is just 24. ..."
Newcomer Milicic makes a good first impression on Timberwolves
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February 21
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"There was a common perception among Timberwolves coaches and players about Darko Milicic after his first full day of practice with the team: The guy can actually play. Three months have passed since Milicic, acquired Wednesday in a trade with the New York Knicks, appeared in an NBA game. The 7-foot native of Serbia struggled with his conditioning Saturday but showed enough potential to help the Wolves (13-43) once he gets in shape. "He was scoring on all of us in the post," Wolves forward Kevin Love said of Milicic. "When he didn't score a couple of times, he got upset. That's the kind of thing you like to see." Milicic's motivation to perform might have been the key evaluation point for ..."
New-look Bulls remain confident
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February 20
Daily Southtown
 
"After getting a look at his new teammates during the Friday morning shootaround, Derrick Rose was asked if the Bulls - following a pair of salary-cap clearing trades - were still a playoff team this season. "Definitely," Rose said quickly. "With the guys that we have, they're just gonna help us. They don't have any attitude problems or anything like that. They're coming in and they just want to play ball." Despite the unfamiliarity of the newcomers, the new-look Bulls got off to a good start by using a solid defensive effort in the second half to rally for a 100-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bulls (28-26) won for the third straight time since the All-Star break and are ..."
Rambis does his part to motivate Milicic
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February 20
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The best-case scenario of the Timberwolves' trade on Wednesday, the wildly optimistic everything-goes-perfectly plot line, goes like this: Darko Milicic is transformed by two months in a Wolves uniform, becomes the elite NBA center he was projected to be once upon a time, and decides to live happily ever after in Minnesota. Kurt Rambis would love that, too. But right now, his goals for the Great Darko Experiment are much more modest. "I want him to have a positive experience here. That's all," the Wolves coach said Friday after spending the afternoon outlining his offense for Milicic. "I want him to feel good about this environment, this franchise. Feel good about his abilities on the ..."
'Easy' ones prove to be not so easy for Wolves
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February 20
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Al Jefferson took an entry pass Friday, dribbled once, spun to the basket and tried a little one-handed semi-hook from 3 feet away, the sort of automatic bank shot that has made him a multimillionaire. Moments later, he stared at his open palms, wondering why those huge hands had betrayed him. "I've never seen nothing like that," Jefferson said after the Timberwolves were undone by an inexplicable fourth-quarter scoring drought, and a night-long series of missed layups, in a 100-94 loss to the Chicago Bulls. "Missing shots like that, it's pretty hard to win." Well, it's never exactly easy for the Wolves, who have followed up their optimism-building four-game winning streak with five ..."
Timberwolves' Nathan Jawai sent to D-League affiliate for two games
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February 20
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Timberwolves forward Nathan Jawai, who has played in only two of the past 12 games, was sent to the club's NBA Developmental League affiliate for a two-game assignment this weekend. Jawai, a 6-foot-10 center-forward from Australia, will play in home games for the Sioux Falls Skyforce tonight and Saturday against the Dakota Wizards. The two-year veteran, in his first season with the Wolves, will rejoin the team for Sunday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. "This will provide an opportunity for Nate to play 30 minutes per game on back-to-back nights and be the focal point of an offense," David Kahn, Wolves president of basketball operations, said in a statement. "It will help us ..."
Milicic's Timberwolves debut could come Sunday
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February 20
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis isn't sure when newly acquired backup center Darko Milicic will make his debut with the team. Sunday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder is a possibility, if Milicic has a good practice today. Rambis appears to have a more pressing issue with Milicic than when he'll get on the floor. "I just want him to have a positive experience ... that's all," Rambis said before Friday's 100-94 loss to Chicago at Target Center. "I want him to feel good about this environment and this franchise. I want him to feel good about basketball again and have fun again." Milicic, acquired Wednesday night in a trade with the New York Knicks, has not played since a Nov. 13 ..."
Cold spell kills Timberwolves as Bulls hand them fifth straight loss
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February 20
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"For one of the few times this season, Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis couldn't find much fault with his team's defense. Rambis didn't even bring up "lack of energy and effort," his signature phrase that has followed many of the Wolves' 43 defeats this season. What Rambis and his staff couldn't comprehend Friday night against the Chicago Bulls was a fourth-quarter shooting slump — from the floor and free-throw line — that led to the Wolves' fifth straight loss. Chicago sneaked out of Target Center with a 100-94 win in front of 18,183 fans after the Wolves stumbled through the fourth quarter, missing 12 shots from the floor and eight free throws, including four by Corey Brewer. Do the quick ..."
The Darko Milicic shuffle is unending
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February 20
Detroit Free Press
 
"Darko Milicic was at the Target Center on Friday night, and the Timberwolves insisted they were happy about that. For the moment, they might be the only ones. Team president David Kahn met with Milicic and his agent, Marc Cornstein, on Thursday in New York and tried to convince one of the most notorious flops in NBA draft history that being traded to the Timberwolves is an opportunity, not an aggravation. It wasn't easy. "I don't think you can understate how traumatized he is -- it's not a stretch to say 'distraught' -- about how his NBA career has played out," Kahn said, one day after obtaining the seldom-used Knicks center for forward Brian Cardinal in an exchange of former Pistons. "You ..."