Timberwolves Trade Rumors

"Despite the grind of a difficult season, vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale didn't sound at all like a man who might be contemplating retirement a day after the Wolves finished the season 22-60, their fourth consecutive year out of the playoffs. Although McHale didn't say he would be around for years to come — it has been his standard stance to say he re-evaluates his desire to return on an annual basis — he said the players on this team make his job fun. There's a belief among those close to the Wolves that it would be difficult for McHale to walk away from the team in its current state. "

"Wolves swingman Kirk Snyder said he's open to returning to the team after the season ends. He will become a restricted free agent if the Wolves make him a qualifying offer for next season by July 1. "

"Walker has said he would like to be traded this summer to a team for whom he could play significant minutes. He's a veteran on a team trying to develop young players. But Wittman isn't ruling out a role for Walker with the Wolves next season. "

"Wittman said he hasn't spoken with officials at Indiana University to express his opinion regarding a possible coaching hire. A report Saturday indicated that the Hoosiers might hire a successor to Kelvin Sampson within a week."

"Antoine Walker is being paid some $8.5 million this season to watch the Timberwolves from the bench, and according to club owner Glen Taylor, the team doesn't have any plans on of buying out this season or next on the veteran's contract. And coach Randy Wittman said the present plans are not to play Walker unless somebody gets hurt."

"Sebastian Telfair as the Knick point guard next year? It's not so farfetched. Telfair, a free agent July 1, harbored the same dreams as his older cousin Stephon Marbury growing up in Brooklyn - to become the Knick point guard. "

"Almost no one believes Stephon Marbury will be back as the Knicks' point guard next season, outside of Marbury, of course. With Marbury no longer here, the Knicks will be looking for a point guard this offseason and Marbury's cousin, Sebastian Telfair, didn't rule out the possibility of another hometown product taking over: himself."

"Forward Antoine Walker continues to try to work out a buyout with the Wolves, but center Michael Doleac, who came to the Wolves in the same trade with Miami, wants to finish the season here and hasn't decided whether he will play after this year."

"Don't anybody tell Oliver Stone: The clock ticked Saturday toward a late-night deadline with Antoine Walker still a Timberwolf, even if he was not at practice or a game for the fourth consecutive day."

"Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman says Antoine Walker hasn't given him any reason to believe he won't continue to be professional the rest of the season. Walker, who missed Saturday's practice because of the flu, apparently will remain with the Wolves for the rest of this season, if not longer, now that an important deadline has passed. "

"Ratliff left Cleveland before Wolves' game Friday and is expected to sign with the Detroit Pistons if he clears waivers. Players must be waived by 11 tonight to be eligible for another team's playoff roster... Antoine Walker also is seeking a buyout agreement by tonight's deadline and a chance at a fresh start. But considering the Wolves already made an offer that was rejected, don't count on Walker getting his wish. "

"It looks like the Pistons will indeed fill their 15th roster spot with a familiar face. Only it won't be Dale Davis. The Minnesota Timberwolves placed veteran center Theo Ratliff on waivers Thursday night after agreeing to a buyout settlement on the remainder of his $11.6 million contract. "

"The Pistons expect to sign center Theo Ratliff for a prorated portion of the $1.3 million veteran's minimum after he clears waivers Saturday. He can then sign early next week."

"Veteran center Theo Ratliff and the Timberwolves might be on the verge of a contract buyout, two people close to the situation said Thursday. Ratliff told one of the people that he could end up with the Detroit Pistons after the buyout is completed. "

"The word from the Wolves was that they wanted to keep Theo Ratliff around to work with Al Jefferson, but owner Glen Taylor said the team worked out a buyout with Ratliff on Thursday and he will be in another uniform soon."

"Antoine Walker did not accompany the Timberwolves to Toronto for Wednesday's game, an absence Wolves coach Randy Wittman attributed to a "passport problem" and not to Walker's desire to leave the team for a playoff contender by a Saturday league deadline."

"Reserve forward Antoine Walker did not make the trip here for Wednesday night's game because of a problem with his passport, Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said. It's the latest twist in Walker's issues. The 11-year NBA veteran is hoping to reach an agreement on a contract buyout with the Wolves by Saturday so that he can catch on with a team headed to the playoffs."

"Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said because the team has to pay millions of dollars to players whose contracts were bought out such as Troy Hudson and Juwan Howard, there won't be a lot of money available to sign big-money free agents for the 2008-09 season. For next season, the team will have to improve by experience of the current squad and the draft."

"Saturday is the next big day for player movement in the league. Not for trades, but for a view of what players think of your franchise. Players have to be released by March 1 to be eligible for the playoffs with a new team. So teams will be watching what the Clippers do with Sam Cassell and the Timberwolves with Antoine Walker."

"Unfortunately for Walker, it appears he will be watching a lot more than playing down the stretch, unless he and the Wolves can agree on a buyout in time to get him with another team. For Walker to land on a playoff team, he would have to agree to a buyout, then clear waivers by March 1. That seems unlikely."

"Wittman was interested in the Indiana job before Sampson was hired in March 2006. At the time, Wittman was an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic. He said he still has close friends at the school. Asked if he would consider coaching in college, Wittman said Friday: "I don't know. No. Right now, I'd rather stay here. I like this level." "

"The Wolves bought the contract of veteran Juwan Howard before the season when they couldn't trade him to a contender. McHale said a buyout of Walker's contract is unlikely and Walker said, "I'm not willing to give up a lot of money.""

"When asked before the game about not being traded Thursday, Walker said, "Yeah, I'm disappointed, because I'm not going to play here. I'm not part of the future here." Walker said he's not interested in a contract buyout — he's making more than $8 million this season and $9 million next — because he doesn't want to "give up a lot of money." "

"Word at Indiana is that the Hoosiers might be willing to offer Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman $10 million over five years to return to his alma mater. Wittman has two years left on his Wolves contract, but the second year is his option, not the team's."

"Racing the 2 p.m. trade deadline, the Rockets were in talks to acquire Minnesota guard Gerald Green, the former NBA dunk champion from Gulf Shores Academy, in exchange for guard Kirk Snyder, a person with knowledge of the talks said."

"Antoine Walker isn't happy in his first season as a Timberwolf. He's a veteran player stuck on a young team with no hope of making the playoffs. What's just as bad, from his perspective, is that he's not playing nearly as many minutes as he'd like. "

"Ratliff's expiring salary slot is the most valuable resource McHale has to dangle with tonight's 2 p.m. trading deadline fast approaching. But he said Wednesday he expects to hang onto it for future use. Veteran forward Antoine Walker has said he'd welcome a trade to a contender, and the agent for young guard Gerald Green, an unrestricted free agent this summer not expected to return to the team, wants the Wolves to trade his client."

"The Wolves' options are limited with the trade deadline almost here. Their most attractive negotiating piece is injured center Theo Ratliff's expiring $11.6 million salary slot. Veteran forward Antoine Walker is a proven shooter who won an NBA title with Miami two seasons ago, but his limited game and his $8.5 million salary makes him difficult to trade."

"With the departure of Indiana University men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson appearing imminent, Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman, who was a popular player for the Hoosiers, surely will get mentioned as a candidate. A little birdie says Wittman has two years after this season on his Wolves contract but that the last season is his option, not the team's."

"Veteran forward Antoine Walker already has said he would welcome either a trade to a contender or a bigger role in the Wolves' rebuilding plans. The Wolves have too many young wing players, including young reserve Gerald Green, and five veterans, including injured center Theo Ratliff -- a player with an expiring $11.6 million salary slot -- who conceivably could be packaged in some sort of deal, and they have considered the possibility as the deadline approaches."

"Timberwolves guard Gerald Green rather unexpectedly entered Friday's game against his former Boston Celtics team with 2.6 seconds left in the first quarter of their 87-86 loss and stuck around to deliver a 15-minute, nine-point performance that hinted once again at the player he could become... Green, who celebrated his 22nd birthday Saturday, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and his agent told the Boston Globe on Friday that he has asked the Wolves to trade his client because Green is not part of their long-term plans."

"The agent for the Timberwolves' seldom-used swingman, Gerald Green, an ex-Celtic, hopes to get his client a better playing opportunity in another NBA uniform. Green's agent, Byron Irvin, told the Globe yesterday that he asked Wolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale and general manager Jim Stack in early January if they would trade his client. "

"A few NBA predictions for 2008... McGrady becomes the latest superstar to demand a trade... Chicago trades for Pau Gasol at February trading deadline... Thomas trades for Ron Artest in July... Kevin McHale steps down in Minnesota, lands in Boston as Danny Ainge's right-hand man."

" Skiles isn't perfect, but has a better future than all of them. His reputation isn't damaged by this dismissal; it is merely a steppingstone to a legacy that will mark him as one of the league's best coaches before his time is done. The Minnesota and Philly jobs will probably open one of these days. He might even have a shot in Miami if Pat Riley gives it up. Maybe even Cleveland, if the Cavs can't get their act together."

"The thing is, there's a wide-spread belief around the league that the Bulls never had a chance. Garnett was either staying in Minnesota or going to Boston, because Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale played for the Celtics and wanted to hook up his good friend, Boston boss Danny Ainge."

"So this is all a pipe dream, but a player such as Seattle's Wally Szczerbiak would look good atop the Bulls' wish list...Another logical candidate is the Clippers' Corey Maggette, a Chicago native... Minnesota's Antoine Walker is expensive and plays the wrong position. Washington's Antonio Daniels would be tougher to acquire and has three years left on his contract."

"Getting the injury exception gives the Magic a significantly greater amount of money to throw at Chris Webber or P.J. Brown, the two best power forwards available on the free-agent market... Some power forwards or centers who the Magic might have interest in trading for include: Michael Doleac, Mark Madsen, Wayne Simien, Robert Swift, Saer Sene, Calvin Booth, Lorenzen Wright, Earl Barron, Melvin Ely, Johan Petro, Jarron Collins, Aaron Williams and Brian Skinner."

"The Timberwolves discussed a contract extension with point guard Sebastian Telfair before the NBA's Oct. 31 deadline, but the parties agreed to wait until next summer to talk about Telfair's future with the team, his agent said. Telfair will become a restricted free agent after the season. He was eligible to receive an extension last month. Telfair's agent, Andy Miller, said Tuesday he had substantive talks with the Wolves about an extension. "

"Monday's roster deadline is only this week's second-most important one if you're talking about the Timberwolves' long-term health. They have until midnight tonight to sign fourth-year forward Al Jefferson — the centerpiece of last summer's Kevin Garnett trade — to a contract extension. If they don't, they can't sign him until July, when he will be a restricted free agent. The Wolves will retain the right to match any other team's offer."

"Wolves coach Randy Wittman said Tuesday that the team won't go looking for another point guard now that Foye is out indefinitely. "We have 15 guys, we've already gone through that part," Wittman said. "It doesn't make any sense to make a move now and then have to make another move in a couple of weeks. ... This our team. We'll go into Friday with this group.""

"Ask Kevin McHale about his future, and he often shies away from making a long-term commitment. He did it again Monday, days away from his 13th season opener in charge of the Timberwolves' basketball department. "

"Kevin McHale, the Timberwolves' vice president of basketball operations, is no stranger to criticism. But he remains at the helm, the point man leading the Wolves' rebuilding effort. In an interview with the Pioneer Press, Wolves owner Glen Taylor candidly discussed why he supports McHale. "

"Veteran forward Juwan Howard wants to be traded. Also, the Wolves likely would trade Walker and Marko Jaric in an instant if they could find a taker for their salaries. NBA rules prohibit trading Walker for 60 days unless it's a 1-for-1 swap."

"I don't believe the Wolves would have made this deal unless they had another trade in place for Walker. After all, Ricky Davis, the key player in the trade for Miami, is in the last year of his contract. "

"If the Timberwolves can make it from the locker room to the basketball court without falling face first into a big pile, they might receive a standing ovation. Let's just say the bar is set very low. "

"The Heat will trade Antoine Walker Wednesday to the Minnesota Timberwolves for swingman Ricky Davis, two NBA league sources said. In the deal, Heat reserve center Michael Doleac and reserve power forward Wayne Simien will be swapped for Minnesota center Mark Blount. The Heat will also send a conditional first round pick. The trade is awaiting league approval and an announcement is expected later Wednesday afternoon."