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Year-Round News & Updates on the Minnesota Timberwolves
UPDATE: According to sources close to the situation--there's been a report that a one-year deal is done for Pekovic, as he'll head to Serbia once again. The one-year deal does have an NBA out-clause. The Minnesota Timberwolves backup center: Nikola Pekovic--may be heading back overseas to play during the NBA Lockout. Pekovic is in negotiations Partizan Belgrade's manager: Dragan Todoric. The Serbian team has secured a contract with another fellow NBA player: Acie Law (currently a backup guard for the Golden State Warriors). There's no doubt that Pek is very interested in returning to Partizan as the negotiations are ongoing. Nikola Pekovic is known as one of the best European centers who will again dominate in the black & white colors of Partizan. Pek may be one of the most dominant centers in Europe--however those skills have yet to translate to the NBA. A backup last season to Darko Milicic, the 6-11 big man has a lot of work to do if he wants to become a solid NBA center. His defensive game is the biggest issue as he can never seem to stay on the floor for very long because of foul trouble. Pek is definitely a very physical center and hopefully he'll put in the work to become a key cog in the Timberwolves roster. That's all for now, Thanks for reading and remember to check back daily for TWolves news, information & updates all year round. GO WOLVES!
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The Minnesota Timberwolves currently have a list of seven different head coaching candidates to replace Kurt Rambis. They include: Terry Porter, Mike Woodson, Bernie Bickerstaff, Don Nelson, Rick Adelman, Larry Brown and Sam Mitchell. There has also been talk that former NBA head coach: Mike Fratello may get an interview as well. Obviously, after all of these candidates have had their interviews (Larry Brown & Sam Mitchell are slated for interviews later this week), the Wolves will again have to start narrowing down the candidates to just a few, for likely, another round of interviews. The big questions are: Who'll be a part of that second round? and alternatively: Who deserves to be a part of that second round? Well let's get the obvious candidates who will be moving into the next tier out of the way. The only sure candidate to be a lock will be Rick Adelman and of course depending on whether or not Adelman even wants to be a head coach again--or rather just a head coach again with the Wolves still remains to be seen. Along with Adelman some that are likely to be moved on to the second round will likely include Bernie Bickerstaff & Don Nelson. Beyond those three, no one seems like a lock. However, do I think those three candidates are the most deserving? Absolutely not! It's just who I think David Kahn & Glen Taylor will likely choose for another round of interviews. Then of course comes the question: Who do we think deserves another interview with the Wolves front office? Well unlike David Kahn, I don't think a fast-break coach is a necessity. Sure, we can be a faster team, however a team that was dead last in points allowed per game: 107.7ppg, should obviously be more focused on the defensive end--than anything else. So, who do I want to get another interview? I'd like to obviously see the dream candidate--Rick Adelman. Beyond that obvious choice, the other two I want to get a second interview are former TWolves player & Coach of the Year: Sam Mitchell & Defensive dynamo: Mike Woodson. To me, if we can't get Adelman, I'd love to see Sam Mitchell courtside. Who do you think should move on--are there any candidates that should've gotten interviews that didn't? Leave a comment below!! Thanks for reading and remember to check back daily for TWolves news, information & updates all year round!! NO LOCKOUT ON WEEBLYWOLVES! GO WOLVES! What's that? Michael Beasley is in trouble again? No kidding!! From marijuana to speeding tickets and now an altercation with a fan during a game at the Dyckman Tournament in Washington Heights, Michael Beasley can't seem to stay out of the spotlight--for all the wrong reasons! This time, he got in an argument with a fan during the game which ended up delaying it 10 minutes. Beasley began jawing at a group of heckling fans during a free throw, before walking over and shoving him in the face--which can be seen in the video below. Afterwards he went over to shake the fans hand, but the situation again escalated and security had to step in once more--not seen in the video. Beasley's immaturity is the biggest obstacle in him stepping up to the next level, until he grows up a bit, we'll continue to hear stories like these. It could take a while too--just look at Memphis' Zach Randolph--he's 29 and his maturity he's developed--FINALLY was a big reason for this! The Timberwolves are nearing the end of their first round of the head coaching search. Minnesota has interviewed: Terry Porter, Mike Woodson, Bernie Bickerstaff, Don Nelson, and Rick Adelman. They also have two more interviews set up for later this week with Larry Brown & Sam Mitchell. According to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities another potential candidate may be added to the candidate list. Mike Fratello who has head coaching experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks & Memphis Grizzlies. Fratello has known David Kahn since 1990 when they worked together at NBC. It's simply a report by Wolfson and Fratello isn't a candidate at this point and it has been reported that Sam Mitchell & Larry Brown will be the last candidates interviewed. Nonetheless--something to keep an eye on. Thanks for reading. This story will also be featured under the Coach Search tab on this site. GO WOLVES! The Minnesota Timberwolves have two starting-capable small forwards on their roster--with last summer's acquisition: Michael Beasley & their 2011 pick: Derrick Williams. David Kahn has been adamant that neither Michael Beasley or Derrick Williams will be traded--however that could of course change.
Michael Beasley had stated just hours after the Timberwolves selected Williams with the #2 pick in June's draft--that he was happy with the pick and was excited to have Derrick join the team. He may be happy, but can these two really co-exist? Michael Beasley is a player that demands the ball in his hands and tries to take over the scoring game after game, the majority of the time he takes far too many shots--whether they're falling or not. I didn't catch too many of Derrick's games in Arizona last season. But he's a solid scorer 19ppg and a guy who can bang on the block, but also take it outside and knock down outside shots. They have similar skill sets, their about the same size, they play the same position. However, in the differences is what will determine whether they can co-exist or whether one will be on the trading block in the future. It's pretty clear that it'll stunt the development of one if not both if they stay together for too long (on the same team). Derrick Williams is obviously a bit younger (just 20 years old) whereas Beas is a bit older: 22 years old. A lot will depend on who the TWolves peg as their next/new head coach as to how the future of these forwards plays out next year and down the road. Beasley & Rambis were good buddies and too often, when Beas was chucking up balls at the hoop over and over, he stayed in the game--1.) because there were no other options to come off the bench & 2.) beyond Love, Beasley was their best scorer. However, unlike last season, Rambis won't be at the helm and if Beas is cold, D-Will will be able to come off the bench to replace him... It will be an interesting season for both of these guys and it's definitely a situation we'll keep an eye on, if/when the '11-'12 season begins. Thanks for reading and remember to check back daily for updates all year round and all your news & information. GO WOLVES! The Minnesota Timberwolves have gone through the interviewing process with five candidates thus far and two more are reportedly going to be added to the mix--Larry Brown of course will interview sometime this week and our latest name: Sam Mitchell.
Sam Mitchell has certainly been the fans choice for the next Timberwolves head coach and of course his ties to the TWolves certainly helps. Mitchell was with Minnesota from 1995-2002. Mitchell certainly has head coaching experience, he coached the Raptors from 2005-2009. In 345 games h accumulated a 156-189 record (a .452 winning percentage)--in comparison Rambis in his 2 years with Minnesota as a head coach has accumulated a 32-132 record which translates to a .195 winning percentage. During the 2006-07 season Mitchell was awarded the NBA's Coach of the Year. As the fans would say--"Bring Sam-I-Am Home"! Sam Mitchell is certainly qualified and would be a relatively inexpensive option for the Timberwolves. Along with the Coach of the Year hardware, Mitchell has made the playoffs twice with the Raptors (losing in the first round both times) and was fired early in the '08-'09 season when the Raptors began the year 8-9. We'll have more for you following his interview later this week. Until then, thanks for reading and remember to check our site daily for all your up-to-date TWolves news, information & updates. This story and information on all the Timberwolves head coaching candidates can be found under our Coach Search tab on this website. Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES! Mike Woodson (the former Atlanta Hawks head coach) is currently a candidate that has interviewed for the TWolves head coaching job. However, that's not the only offer he's received this summer.
Woodson of course was the Hawks coach from 2004-2010, he was fired a year ago and replaced by Larry Drew. This summer, he was a candidate for the Detroit Pistons job (one of the final two candidates)--the job inevitably ended up going to former Nets coach Lawrence Frank who received a four-year deal with the team. Then of course, he's a strong candidate for the TWolves position--Kahn likely won't choose him, however with his defensive mindset and knowledge of the game, he'd be a fit for these young Wolves. As a defensive dynamo--he's also garnered some interest from teams looking for a D-coordinator: the Boston Celtics (who are looking to replace lead assistant--Lawrence Frank (Larry Brown is also being considered) and the New York Knicks, looking for a defensive assistant to complement Mike D'Antoni). Former TWolves head coach Randy Wittman has reportedly put in a good word with owner Glen Taylor about Mike Woodson as their possible next head coach. Wittman has known Woodson since 1979. An Woodson had reportedly impressed more than a few in his short time (interview) here. If Mike Woodson doesn't get the TWolves head coaching gig, or if he doesn't even want it, there is plenty of interest around the League for a guy with a great defensive approach to the game. That's all for now, this story will also be featured in the 'Coach Search' section of the site, thanks for reading and remember to check back daily and browse through everything WeeblyWolves has to offer as we bring you the up-to-date TWolves news, information & updates all year round. GO WOLVES! Rick Adelman, formerly the Houston Rockets head coach, stated recently in an interview with the Statesmen Journal Newspaper in Salem, Oregon--that he has no plans to return to coaching, at this time for next season, that he doesn't plan on doing anything in the next NBA season--other than taking a break from coaching.
"Right now, I don't plan on doing anything, just taking some time off." Adelman also dismissed the notion that there's been mutual interest between himself and the Timberwolves with the head coaching vacancy. “They had me interviewing a couple places that I never even went to,” he said. “It’s all part of it now. If you don’t have a job and you’ve coached in the league, the first thing that happens if a job opens up, they throw the same names out there."Adelman will likely return to the NBA at some point, though in the past after leaving or getting fired from one coaching job, he's taken a year off, before returning to head coaching duties (Portland, Golden State, Sacramento). Adelman has been David Kahn's dream candidate and at this point in time, it looks like he can keep dreaming. It'll take a lot of schmoozing or a hefty paycheck to convince Adelman to take on the task of the Minnesota Timberwolves head coach. The Timberwolves haven't interviewed anyone since Don Nelson over two weeks ago. They're still looking at interviewing former Charlotte Bobcats: Larry Brown. After Larry Brown is interviewed--this week, the TWolves have one or two other candidates to sit down with. That's all for now, thanks for reading and remember to check back daily for all your up-to-date TWolves news, information & updates all year round. GO WOLVES! |
Cody AndersonA TWolves fan, bringing you the daily updates. News Archives
August 2017
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