Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 13

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Al Jefferson flew to Florida on Thursday morning, his mind on matters more important than an eight-game losing streak. The Wolves forward has been excused from the team's home game tonight against Dallas and Saturday's trip to Memphis to deal with a family member's illness. Jefferson will return to the 1-8 Wolves next week, the team announced. "He's got to take care of things, [and] we all just have to step up" in his absence, guard Jonny Flynn said. Replacing the sixth-year forward's team-high 15.1 points won't be easy, but "we've got Nathan Jawai, who's a pretty athletic post player. We've got Ryan Hollins and Oleksiy Pecherov, and those guys just have to combine to put up Al numbers as ..."

Big Al says 'no doubt' he'll play in opener

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October 27

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"When Al Jefferson takes the court Wednesday -- and he is determined to -- he will wear a black sleeve over his left lower leg to help loosen up a sore Achilles' tendon. The aching tendon kept him from practicing for about a week, but he scrimmaged Monday at Target Center with no problems. Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said the team will have to monitor Jefferson's injury into the season, which was relayed to Jefferson. "I guess so," he said. "I'm still playing on Wednesday, regardless." No doubt? "No doubt," he said. Wolves fans and NBA opponents haven't seen Jefferson's post prowess since Feb. 8, when he crumbled to the floor during the final minute of a loss to New Orleans because of a torn ..."

Injuries, leaves Timberwolves short on star power for season opener

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October 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Kurt Rambis was prepared for all sorts of challenges in his first year as the Timberwolves' new head coach. Piecing together a lineup was not expected to be high up on the list. With Wednesday night's regular-season debut against New Jersey at Target Center approaching, Rambis knows he won't have forward Kevin Love, who is out for at least two months with a broken bone in his left hand. But Rambis remains unsure about forward Al Jefferson's availability, and starting point guard Jonny Flynn missed Monday's practice with flu symptoms. If Flynn can't practice today, and Jefferson continues to be slowed by Achilles tendinitis, three projected starters could be out of the lineup for a team ..."

Hall of Famer McHale joins NBA TV as analyst

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October 22

NBA.com

"NBA Digital -- a partnership of the NBA and Turner Sports -- today announced extensive programming plans for the 2009-10 regular season, including 96 live games, exclusive studio shows, unique video content, news reporting and extensive online content. This season, fans will have complete access to more content than ever, including six days a week of live studio programming on NBA TV, original online content and more games than any other national network. Three-time NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Kevin McHale will join NBA TV's acclaimed Fan Night on Tuesday nights. Each week, McHale will be part of a team that features Emmy award-winning studio host Ernie Johnson and returning studio ..."

Ailing Jefferson to get some recuperative rest

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October 22

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Timberwolves on Wednesday sent Al Jefferson home to Minnesota, where he will recuperate for Wednesday's regular-season opener while his team plays its final two preseason games without him. Jefferson flew home from Detroit the morning after he wore a medical mask on the chartered flight from Denver after Tuesday's 129-100 loss there so he wouldn't further risk infecting his teammates. Jefferson stayed back at the team's hotel Tuesday night when the Wolves played the Nuggets without him or Kevin Love, who is in New York City awaiting an important checkup Friday following Tuesday's surgery to repair his fractured left hand. Jefferson came to the arena later in the evening and spread ..."

Wolves' injury situation worsens

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October 20

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Eight days before the Timberwolves kick off their 21st season at home against New Jersey, Minnesota tonight will play a preseason game in Denver with its two biggest pieces facing uncertain futures -- short and long term -- because of injuries. As expected, forward Kevin Love will undergo surgery today to repair the fractured fourth metacarpal bone in his left hand. He suffered the injury last weekend in Chicago and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. But in a surprising development Monday, Al Jefferson did not practice because of a sore Achilles' tendon that caused him to play less than six minutes in the second half Saturday at Milwaukee. Wolves coach Kurt Rambis, growing tired of ..."

Rambis sees Love's bad break as others' chance

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October 18

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Depending upon your view of the world, Timberwolves forward Kevin Love's fractured left hand either is a shimmering opportunity for his teammates or simply a tempting occasion to rationalize truly a bad break as such. Wolves coach Kurt Rambis knows how he'd vote. "Absolutely, it's opportunity," he said. "My entire career was based on Mitch Kupchak blowing his knee out, so why wouldn't I think that?" Rambis was a rookie forward from tiny Santa Clara University the season the NBA expanded its rosters from 11 men to 12 in 1981. That bit of serendipitous timing probably provided him a job with the Los Angeles Lakers that fall. Kupchak's serious knee injury early that season presented Rambis a ..."

Wolves' Love breaks hand

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October 17

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Kevin Love rose for an insignificant rebound in an insignificant preseason game Friday night at United Center and came down with a fractured left hand that's expected to sideline him until December. X-rays taken at the arena showed he broke the fourth metacarpal bone in that hand and the initial estimate is he will miss the next six to eight weeks. Love will see a hand specialist Monday to find out if the injury will require surgery. "Freak accident," he said as he sat at his locker stall following a 94-90 loss to the Chicago Bulls, his left hand heavily bandaged. Love went up to grab the rebound of Bulls center Brad Miller's missed free throw with 3:50 left in the third quarter. His right ..."

Jack McClinton released again, this time by Timberwolves

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October 7

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Jack McClinton's second chance didn't turn out to be much of a chance at all. Signed by Minnesota on the eve of training camp after being cut a week earlier by the San Antonio Spurs, the former University of Miami guard was released Tuesday by the Timberwolves. Selected at No. 51 in the second round of last June's NBA Draft by San Antonio, McClinton requested his release from the Spurs when it became apparent the team was looking for veteran depth. But after being held out of the Timberwolves' exhibition opener, McClinton was released along with guard Alonzo Gee, reducing Minnesota's roster to 16, one above the regular-season maximum."

Extension decisions nearing deadline for Brewer, Love

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October 2

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Timberwolves will use October to consider options for a third point guard. They also by month's end must make contract-extension decisions on youngsters Kevin Love, Corey Brewer and Oleksiy Pecherov. Extending Love a $3.6 million qualifying offer by the Oct. 31 deadline is what Wolves boss David Kahn calls a "no-brainer," but Pecherov is an unlikely keep. On Thursday, Kahn said he "can't fathom" not guaranteeing Brewer -- the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft -- a $3.7 million contract for the 2010-11 season. "I think I need to visit with the coaches and we need to watch Corey play this year," Kahn said. "It'd be hard for me to fathom as we speak today that we don't pick up Corey ..."

Daniels won't play for Wolves

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September 28

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Newly acquired Antonio Daniels won't play for the Timberwolves after all. As they also did this week with veteran center Mark Blount, the Wolves have given Daniels permission to find a trade that will allow him to play more elsewhere. If the Wolves can't trade Daniels, 34, for a contract similar to his $6.6 million deal, the two sides already have agreed to a contract buyout. Daniels is hopeful of signing one more sizable contract and didn't think he would play enough behind young point guards Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions to do so. Wolves boss David Kahn obtained Daniels from New Orleans for Bobby Brown and Darius Songaila in a Sept. 9 trade that was all about ridding the team of the ..."

Daniels won't play for Wolves

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September 26

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Newly acquired Antonio Daniels won't play for the Timberwolves after all. As they also did this week with veteran center Mark Blount, the Wolves have given Daniels permission to find a trade that will allow him to play more elsewhere. If the Wolves can't trade Daniels, 34, for a contract similar to his $6.6 million deal, the two sides already have agreed to a contract buyout. Daniels is hopeful of signing one more sizable contract and didn't think he would play enough behind young point guards Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions to do so. Wolves boss David Kahn obtained Daniels from New Orleans for Bobby Brown and Darius Songaila in a Sept. 9 trade that was all about ridding the team of the ..."

Deadline is today on offer to Sessions

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September 11

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Ramon Sessions could be headed to the Timberwolves today, if the Milwaukee Bucks do not match a four-year, $16.4 million offer sheet to the restricted free-agent guard. The Bucks are facing a deadline today on the 23-year-old Sessions, a two-year pro who played in 79 games and led the team in assists last season. Barring a last-minute deal to clear some salary space, the Bucks are not in position to sign Sessions and remain below the league's luxury tax level of $69.92 million. "We want to keep our options open until the last possible minute," Bucks General Manager John Hammond said Thursday. He indicated he was continuing talks with other teams about potential trades. The Wolves were thin ..."

J.R. Rider looks to play again, wants to hear from Wolves

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September 10

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"One of the baddest of bad boys in recent NBA history -- former Timberwolf J.R. Rider -- is negotiating a return to professional basketball in the United States at age 38. The owner of the first-year North Texas Fresh in the American Basketball Association said this morning that he is "in the process of getting it done" and bringing Rider on board. Owner Jay Bowdy said that Rider has another offer in play from a team overseas, where players can make more money. "We're waiting on that," Bowdy said. If that other offer falls through, then the 6-foot-5 guard "is coming to us." Rider's agent, Joe Lee, said this morning that Rider hasn't played organized ball since a 10-game pit stop with the ..."

Wolves get veteran guard Daniels from New Orleans

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September 10

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Timberwolves acquired guard Antonio Daniels and a 2014 second-round draft pick from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for guard Bobby Brown and forward Darius Songaila. "Antonio has the ability to play both guard positions and will provide a veteran presence and added flexibility to our backcourt," said David Kahn, Timberwolves president of basketball operations. "This trade also provides increased flexibility for personnel moves beginning next summer." Daniels, 34, has one year left on his contract, worth $6.6 million. Originally selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies with the fourth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, the 6-4 guard has appeared in 867 games during his 12-year career, ..."

Kings can't forget about Rubio

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September 6

Sacramento Bee

columnist Ailene Voisin

"Spanish sensation and one-time Kings draft prospect Ricky Rubio recently spurned the Minnesota Timberwolves for reasons that are thought to include any or all of the following: He hates cold weather. He hates competition. He hated the thought of relinquishing millions in a contractual buyout, although the New York Knicks would have been tempting and, from the beginning, Sacramento was his desired location. So what this tells the Kings is that Rubio is confused, is still a kid, and they need to be aggressive and alert. You know. As proactive and persistent as wounded T-wolves president David Kahn, but with the backroom panache of the San Antonio Spurs. There's plenty of time to plot. Rubio ..."

Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis adds a trio of assistants with aspirations and experience

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September 4

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Timberwolves haven't made the NBA playoffs in five years and they won only 24 games last season, yet new head coach Kurt Rambis was overwhelmed with phone calls and applications from people who wanted to be on his staff. One of the calls came from former Detroit Pistons "Bad Boy" Bill Laimbeer, who interviewed for the Wolves head coaching job before Rambis was hired in July. Laimbeer still wanted to be a part of the organization as Rambis' assistant. "People can clearly see the direction we're heading as a franchise," Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said. "The hope is that, three or four years down the road, this will be a special place to be." Kahn and Rambis ..."

Rubio will remain in Spain

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September 2

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Timberwolves basketball boss David Kahn returns from Spain today with his passport stamped there for the third time already this summer, but without Ricky Rubio -- just when he nearly had the elusive first-round draft pick secured. At dinner Saturday night, Kahn reached agreement with Rubio's DKV Joventut team on a complicated multimillion dollar contract buyout that would have put Rubio in a Timberwolves uniform this season. On Monday night, Rubio informed Kahn that he had changed his mind and wanted to remain at home with a new team in Barcelona rather than leave for Minnesota and the NBA, a course he charted for himself last spring when he declared himself eligible for the June draft. ..."

Laimbeer, Theus to join Wolves coaching staff

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August 31

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"New Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis will add former Detroit Pistons bad-boy center Bill Laimbeer and former Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus to his staff, according to a league source. Those two notable names will join Boston assistant general manager Dave Wohl, a former Los Angeles Lakers assistant and New Jersey Nets head coach in the 1980s who will become Rambis' No. 1 assistant. Laimbeer, 52, resigned as the Detroit Shock's head coach and general manager in June after winning three WNBA titles in seven seasons as its coach. He did so in a surprise move presumably to pursue a coaching career in the NBA, where he won two NBA titles with the Pistons displaying an agitating playing style ..."

Timberwolves' Kahn refutes latest Rubio deal report

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August 28

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Yet another Spanish newspaper has reported that Minnesota Timberwolves' top draft pick Ricky Rubio will play the next two seasons for the Regal Barcelona team. On Wednesday, the Barcelona Mundo Deportivo daily said the 18-year-old point guard would sign with Regal Barcelona after a tentative contract buyout for more than $5 million with his DKV Joventut team had been reached. Wolves president David Kahn promptly denied knowledge of any deal. In today's edition of El Periodico, the Spanish daily reports that DKV has accepted in principle a buyout of Rubio's contract for $5.3 million, and that Joventut's board of directors will meet Friday to ratify the deal. And this morning, Kahn wrote in ..."

Source: Rubio deal not done yet

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August 26

ESPN.com

"Although there remains a strong possibility that Ricky Rubio will play in Spain rather than Minneapolis next season, a Spanish media report Wednesday of his agreement to a six-year deal with FC Barcelona was overstated, a knowledgeable NBA source told ESPN.com. The Spanish newspaper Marca said Regal FC Barcelona had agreed to pay Rubio's former team, DKV Joventut, 3.7 million Euros ($5.28 million U.S.) for the rights to the 18-year-old playmaker who was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth pick of June's NBA draft. "Ricky Rubio hasn't signed anything. Joventut hasn't accepted anything. It's not over yet," said the source, who was briefed early Wednesday on the ever-changing ..."

Rambis agrees to four-year, $8 million deal to coach Minnesota

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August 9

L.A. Daily News

"Assistant coach Kurt Rambis will leave the Lakers to take over as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to an Internet report Saturday night. ESPN.com reported the Timberwolves will hire Rambis, who has spent the past 10 years as an assistant with the Lakers and served as interim head coach during the 1998-99 season. He went 24-13. According to reports from ESPN and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Rambis will receive a four-year deal worth $8 million. ESPN reported Rambis will be introduced as the Timberwolves' new coach at a Tuesday news conference. Rambis' hiring would be an irony of sorts in that he would be replacing Kevin McHale, with whom he had an altercation during the ..."

Timberwolves, Kurt Rambis negotiating terms of coaching job

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August 8

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Negotiations between the Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis are expected to continue over the weekend, and Minnesota hopes to complete a deal to make Rambis the head coach by Monday or Tuesday, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday. The Pioneer Press reported Thursday that, barring an unexpected snag, Rambis is expected to accept a four-year contract for about $8 million. He and his agent entered into negotiations with the Wolves on Thursday, a day after Rambis flew to the Twin Cities to meet with owner Glen Taylor and other team officials. Rambis is the only candidate to have met with Taylor, and there are no plans to bring in either of the other two ..."

Wolves' deal with Rambis still developing

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August 8

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Timberwolves' lengthy search for a new coach will stretch into another week before the team is expected to name Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis to replace Kevin McHale. Friday came and went without word of a news conference to announce Rambis, who turned down Sacramento's job offer in June and is believed to be seeking a four-year contract worth at least $2 million a year. If he receives those four years, it'd be one year longer than President of Basketball Operations David Kahn's contract. The two sides were believed to be close to agreement late Thursday night."

Rambis would bring sizzle to Wolves, but where's the steak?

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August 7

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Jim Souhan

"To damn him with faint praise, Kurt Rambis is certainly the best of the candidates interviewed by Big-Brained Basketball Boss David Kahn. Mark Jackson is known in NBA circles for backstabbing John Stockton in Utah and becoming a clubhouse lawyer in Indiana. Kahn being a lawyer inside and outside of clubhouses, maybe that was what made Jackson attractive to our BBBB. Elston Turner and the rest of the candidates might have had trouble landing CBA jobs, so they probably weren't ready to run an NBA team, even if the Timberwolves are an NBA team with CBA talent. If Rambis is indeed the Wolves' choice to become their next head coach, he certainly has a résumé that would impress most casual ..."

Timberwolves appear to be zeroing in on Kurt Rambis for coaching vacancy

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August 6

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Have the Timberwolves finally found their next coach? The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday night that Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis was seen boarding a plane that morning to meet again with Wolves officials, "a strong sign," the newspaper reported, that he will be hired as coach. Earlier, Yahoo! Sports reported that Rambis had emerged as the front-runner in a three-man race that also includes ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson and Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner. Citing a source close to Rambis, the report went on to say that he has not been offered the job but that "multiple people with knowledge of the search" say one is expected soon. Wolves president of basketball operations ..."

Report: Rambis near being named next Wolves coach

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August 6

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Seven weeks after Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale was let go, the Los Angeles Times reported late Wednesday that Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis traveled to meet with Wolves officials earlier that day and was on his way toward becoming the team's new coach. The newspaper said Rambis' travel and discussions with the Wolves were a "strong sign" he will replace the man who so famously clotheslined him in a 1984 NBA Finals game. A league source confirmed that Rambis traveled to meet with the Wolves, but it's believed that no contract offer had been made as of Wednesday night. Wolves basketball boss David Kahn last week said he hoped to have a contract offer firmed up with a ..."

Lakers assistant Rambis front-runner for Minnesota Timberwolves job

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August 6

L.A. Daily News

"Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis has emerged as the top candidate to fill the Minnesota Timberwolves' coaching vacancy, according to an Internet report Wednesday afternoon. Rambis was expected to be offered the job soon, Yahoo! Sports said. Rambis also interviewed with the Philadelphia 76 ers and the Sacramento Kings in June, while the Lakers were en route to winning the NBA title. The 76 ers hired Eddie Jordan. Rambis turned down an offer from the Kings, who then hired Paul Westphal. According to the Yahoo! Sports report, Rambis moved ahead of former NBA guard Mark Jackson and current Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner. Rambis had yet to meet with Minnesota owner Glen Taylor, according ..."

Wolves owner: Moves make Kevin McHale's exit clearer

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August 3

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"While Minnesota Timberwolves President David Kahn continues his methodical search for a new head coach, owner Glen Taylor says it now should be clear why it didn't work out with the old one. Taylor said on Sunday that the financially motivated trades Kahn has made this summer that have jettisoned veterans Mike Miller, Randy Foye, Mark Madsen, Craig Smith and Sebastian Telfair probably would not have sat well with former coach Kevin McHale, who brought all those players to Minnesota when he was the boss. Kahn told McHale in June that he would not return to coach next season, but he refused to divulge his reasons for making the decision in a news conference after it was announced. "It's ..."

Taylor: Search down to three

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August 1

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Glen Taylor doesn't know when or how Ricky Rubio's contract situation will be resolved, but the Timberwolves' owner hopes to have a new coach in place next week. President of basketball operations David Kahn said the same thing earlier this week and Taylor said Friday, "That's still the timetable." ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson long has been considered the favorite for the job, but Taylor insisted that the Wolves are still considering three finalists and haven't settled on a first choice. "No decision has been made that one candidate is better than the other two or anything like that," he said. "As far as I know, we are still looking at those three people." Taylor wouldn't discuss any ..."

Jackson, Rambis front-runners for coaching job

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July 27

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Now that he's back from four days in Spain that he termed "productive," David Kahn is embarking upon his second - and presumably final - round of interviews for a coach to replace Kevin McHale, a decision that presumably could come by the end of the week. Former NBA point guard Mark Jackson, Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis and Houston assistant Elston Turner are on the short list - with Jackson and Rambis clearly the frontrunners - in a search in which Kahn appears to have interviewed more than a dozen candidates, including Wolves assistant Jerry Sichting. League executives long have considered Jackson the favorite, but those in the know in the league think Rambis is getting strong ..."

Rubio has one foot out door in Spain

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July 23

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn remained in Spain on Wednesday involved in negotiations that likely will lead first-round pick Ricky Rubio away from his Spanish pro team and to the Wolves or another European team, perhaps in a matter of days. Rubio told the Associated Press in Spain that he expects to leave his DKV Joventut Badalona team and hopes to join a winning team. He could still up end with the Wolves, too. "I want to continue with the club but, after everything that's happened, I don't think they're too comfortable having me in their squad," Rubio was quoted as saying Wednesday. "I want to play in a winning team, on a team that can achieve many things." ..."

Rubio will play for Timberwolves if buyout resolved

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July 22

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Ricky Rubio, the Minnesota Timberwolves' top draft pick last month, told the team shortly after the draft in a private meeting in Minneapolis that he's prepared to play in Minnesota next season if he and his agent can change the buyout with his Spanish DKV Joventut team. That buyout has reportedly increased recently from $6.6 million to $7.7 million. The Wolves have no intention of trading Rubio, 18, who was the No. 5 overall pick in June's draft. One avenue for paying the buyout for Rubio is through commercial endorsements and a loan from a bank that would be paid back over several years from his NBA earnings."

Source: Clips to acquire three Wolves

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July 20

ESPN.com

"The Los Angeles Clippers agreed to trade Quentin Richardson to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Sebastian Telfair, Mark Madsen and Craig Smith, a league source told ESPN.com's Chad Ford on Monday. The trade is expected to be announced later Monday after the teams complete a trade call with the league. The trade will give the Clippers a solid backup point guard behind Baron Davis and give them some depth at the power forward position."

T'wolves GM to meet with Rubio's team

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July 16

Yahoo! Sports

"Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn is planning a trip to Spain to meet DKV Joventut officials about lowering the steep $6.6 million buyout clause in draft pick Ricky Rubio's contract, sources with knowledge of Kahn's plans told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday. Kahn will meet with Rubio and his family on the trip, the sources said, but the journey's primary objective is to work with the European team about finding a way to get Rubio to the T'wolves this season. It's expected Kahn will leave for Spain later this week from the NBA's summer league in Las Vegas. Rubio, 18, is the flashy Spanish point guard Minnesota picked fifth in the June draft. Rubio "is OK with playing in ..."

Sources: Wolves search narrows

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July 14

ESPN.com

"The Minnesota Timberwolves' deliberate coaching search will soon move into its next phase with ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis and Houston Rockets assistant coach Elston Turner expected to progress to the deciding round of interviews, according to NBA coaching sources. There might be others who advance -- it's believed that Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Terry Stotts could also be invited back for a second interview -- but the one certainty known Monday, according to one source familiar with the process, is that the next round will feature a much smaller number than the first. After his May 22 hiring, new Wolves president David Kahn made it ..."

Monty Williams might be a top candidate for Wolves

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July 4

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Sid Hartman

"New Timberwolves boss David Kahn has received permission from the Trail Blazers to talk to Portland assistant coach Monty Williams about his team's coaching vacancy, according to the Portland Oregonian. Williams, 37, has been an assistant coach with Portland for the past four years. "I'm flattered," Williams told the Oregonian on Wednesday. "I'm someone who wants to be a part of a rebuilding process. But at the same time, I'm still a Blazer. So, there's initial excitement, but in reality, nothing has changed. I'm looking forward to the process." He might be the top candidate; Kahn is from Portland and used to cover the team for the Oregonian back when he worked in newspapers. Kahn has made ..."

Timberwolves' draft pick Ricky Rubio reportedly will stay in Spain for two years

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July 2

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Minnesota Timberwolves' top draft pick, Ricky Rubio, 18, will remain in Spain to play for his DKV Joventut basketball team for the remaining two years of his contract rather than try to move to the NBA this season, El Periodico reported today. The Barcelona newspaper also says Rubio, who was paid $97,000 last season, plans to withdraw his contract lawsuit against DKV Joventut."

Wolves to interview Williams

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July 2

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Timberwolves' coaching search has its first confirmed candidate. Portland Trail Blazers assistant Monty Williams told The Oregonian on Wednesday that he will interview for the position, perhaps as early as this weekend. "I'm flattered," Williams said. "I'm someone who wants to be a part of a rebuilding process. But at the same time, I'm still a Blazer. So there's initial excitement, but in reality, nothing has changed. I'm looking forward to the process." Williams, 37, has been an assistant in Portland for the past four seasons and is widely credited with the development of Travis Outlaw and Nicolas Batum. Williams played 10 seasons as a forward for the New York Knicks and San ..."

After busy draft, Minnesota Timberwolves expect to cool it during free agency

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July 1

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"With the salary cap projected to stay about $58.7 million and teams saving their money for 2010, the NBA's free-agency period is expected to be a relatively low-key affair this summer, and the Timberwolves are no exception. They still have some holes to fill after last week's draft, but the Wolves aren't looking to be busy shoppers in free agency, which began at 11:01 p.m. CDT Tuesday. "I think it's secondary, just looking at the players that are out there and available," Wolves owner Glen Taylor said. "To me, we also have to look at trades to get the balance on our team that we need. We've got Ryan (Gomes) at the three position, but I don't think we have a backup there yet. You've either ..."

Rubio puzzle a taxing, twisted mess

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June 29

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Ricky Rubio situation is becoming mind-numbingly complicated. It's like peeling back an onion and finding layer upon layer of difficulty. Here's a little subplot going on overseas: The unemployment rate in Spain sits at 17 percent. Times are tough. In fact, Rubio's team, DKV Joventut, asked the Spanish version of the Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda) for permission to postpone a tax payment. In order to do that, the team had to put up collateral. Among that collateral was Rubio's contract. This is where it gets a bit unclear. The Spanish News Agency, EFE, reported June 10 that Rubio's contract was "sold" to Hacienda and that Rubio had filed a lawsuit because he hadn't been notified ..."

Where will Ricky play?

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June 29

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Ricky Rubio soap opera is just a few days into what could be a long summer run, but the Spanish point guard's options for this season aren't that complicated. In no particular order, they are: 1. Play for the Timberwolves. 2. Play for another NBA team that can work out a trade. 3. Return to Europe. At this early stage, it's impossible to say which it will be, or how and when it might end. Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn had no comment Sunday on a Pioneer Press report that Rubio and his father flew to Minneapolis the day before to discuss his NBA future. Kahn has said the Wolves would be willing to wait a year or even two for Rubio, if necessary, after making him ..."

Rubio Receives Overseas Offers

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June 28

New York Post

"A representative for Ricky Rubio's agency in Spain told The Post yesterday the 18-year-old flamboyant point-guard phenom is receiving offers this weekend to play for a club in Turkey and Real Madrid, which would decrease the likelihood of him playing in the NBA next season. Meanwhile, Knicks team president Donnie Walsh spoke to Timberwolves general manager David Kahn yesterday. According to a source, Kahn's being patient and is not interested in talking trade yet and is "trying to keep him." Tim Shea, the former Knicks European scout who is a consultant for Rubio's agency, Winners Factory, said he expects a formal offer from a Turkish club tomorrow. The offer would be about $1 million, ..."

Walsh says Knicks will reach out to Minnesota about Ricky Rubio

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June 27

New York Daily News

"The Knicks aren't giving up on Ricky Rubio just yet. Friday, team president Donnie Walsh contacted his one-time protÃ©gÃ©, Timberwolves GM David Kahn, after Rubio's father told a Spanish news agency that his 18-year-old son may opt to remain in Europe for one or possibly two more years. Rubio has not said publicly that he won't play for Minnesota, but on the day after the Spanish point guard was selected with the fifth pick in the NBA draft, there is a growing sense that Rubio wants to be traded, preferably to the Knicks. On Wednesday, Rubio joked that his mother is worried about him living in a cold-weather city. A person close to the family said Friday that the Rubio clan "doesn't even ..."

Knicks Hope To Pry Rubio From Wolves

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June 27

New York Post

"The Ricky Rubio sweepstakes is back on! Knicks president Donnie Walsh said yesterday he's calling Timberwolves general manager David Kahn to see if the Spanish point guard phenom can be had after Rubio's father told a Spanish Web site that Rubio likely will stay in Spain for the next two seasons instead of paying off a buyout. In another sign he wants nothing to do with Minnesota, Rubio, an 18-year-old, 6-foot-5 showman, was not at yesterday's introductory press conference in Minneapolis, preferring to relax in New York -- a good omen for Knicks fans. Kahn said he didn't ask him to attend. A Minnesota official said there's no timetable for Rubio to report. The T'wolves picked Rubio at No. ..."

Knicks Will Check On Rubio

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June 26

New York Post

"Knicks president Donnie Walsh said today he will call the Timberwolves to inquire about Rickey Rubio's availability in the wake of his father threatening the point-guard phenom would play in Spain the next two years. Walsh and Wolves GM David Kahn are friends, with Kahn having worked for Walsh in Indiana. "I haven't spoken to Minnesota; I will," Walsh said at the press conference to introduce draft picks Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas. "He (Kahn) took a lot of point guards. I want to ask him why he did that. I just want to find that out. "He (Rubio) was one of (our) top players," Walsh added. "I would never say never to anything. We're in the offseason. We'll be checking everything out." ..."

Minnesota's Plans

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June 25

SI.com

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"By acquiring more picks than any other NBA rival heading into Thursday night's talent fair -- four first-rounders and two second-rounders -- the Timberwolves just might be able to stumble into success in spite of their dreary draft history. And really, no one could blame David Kahn, the team's new president, if he had surveyed all he inherited when hired last month -- a 24-victory team, a roster with significant holes and overlaps, a five-year skid out of the playoffs -- and decided, like Roy Scheider in his most famous movie moment, "You're gonna need a bigger boat." So Kahn got the Wolves a bigger boat, acquiring the No. 5 pick to go with the Nos. 6, 18 and 28 that Minnesota already ..."

Kahn won't trade 5 and 6 for 2

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June 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Highlights from David Kahn's Wednesday news conference confirming Tuesday's trade that sends Randy Foye and Mike Miller to Washington for tonight's fifth pick and front-court players Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov: • He said he definitely will not trade the fifth and sixth picks for Memphis' No. 2. "I want to be really clear on this," he said. "We will not do that under no circumstances." • He said he's not selling the 28th pick to New York for $3 million. For now. He called it one of many options and offers and indicated many teams have called offering the maximum $3 million for a pick. • He said he has talked trade with Memphis the past several days. Asked if Glen ..."

Draft and Trade Buzz

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June 24

Yahoo! Sports

"As the Minnesota Timberwolves prepare to make a push for Memphis' pick at No. 2, it's become clear that they won't package the fifth and sixth picks to get there. The Wolves have made it clear to teams that are trying to pry their 18th pick that it isn't available. They want to use that in combination with one of the two higher picks to make a deal with Memphis. … The Utah Jazz are enamored with University of Pittsburgh tough guy Sam Young at No. 20, who is a perfect fit for head coach Jerry Sloan. … Golden State has long been enamored with Brandon Jennings at No. 7, but league sources say the Warriors are considering Wake Forest forward James Johnson there as well. Few teams would have ..."

Timberwolves Trade Rumors