2019 Minnesota Timberwolves Off-Season Thread

STrib: Faith is the guiding force in the life of Wolves top draft pick Jarrett Culver

On the drive last Sunday from the Thomas and Mack Center to the Wynn Hotel, Jarrett Culver got religious in Sin City.

Along the route were the trappings of excess and avarice — the casinos, the strip clubs, the luxury boutiques.

But here was the Timberwolves’ top draft pick in the back seat of a courtesy van, bracing himself on each turn by grabbing hold of the ceiling handle to the right of his head, discussing how faith plays an integral role in his basketball career.

“God gave me a talent,” Culver said. “I see it as his gift to me, and I want to use it for him and his glory. I try to maximize my gift, my talents and that gift that God gave me. There’s a lot of people watching me now, looking up to me. I want to let them know that I couldn’t get here without God, and hopefully it gives them something, that hope to lead that way.”

Faith runs deep in Culver’s family. His father, Hiawatha, runs Rising Star Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, where Jarrett grew up and stayed to attend Texas Tech for two years.

Hiawatha Culver, a man whose first name is peculiar but nonetheless familiar to people in the Twin Cities, said he and his wife, Regina, told their son “to just lean on his faith in good times, in bad times. Wherever you go, I just believe that’s where God wants you to be.”

Faith alone can’t put a basketball through a hoop or complete a dribble between your legs. And it can’t teach you how to become a premier defender, as Culver was in leading Texas Tech to the national championship game in Minneapolis a few months ago. But for Culver it is omnipresent.

Culver doesn’t want to be the man from the gospels who took his talent and buried it. He wants to, as he said, “maximize it.” That has driven Culver from an early age to do things not many his age are willing to endure.

There were early-morning workouts at Coronado High School, where he honed a work ethic that would make him like no other at Texas Tech. He became a leader, often using few words to get his point across, and he became the ultimate coach’s player, a sponge who wouldn’t get mad at constructive criticism, instead using it, internalizing it toward that end goal.

“Faith in God …” Culver said. “That’s one of the core values I have.

“That’s my everything right there.”

http://www.startribune.com/faith-is...lves-top-draft-pick-jarrett-culver/512689652/

Howl Wolves!!
 

We got a chance at a championship tonight!!!
 

Granted Garnett kept improving, but If KAT does as well they are pretty similar players.

When you look at Garnett's and KAT's first 4 years in the league, its a pretty close comparison. Garnett is much better on defense. KAT scores a ton more efficiently, especially from 3. Garnett gets more assists. Garnett didn't become a monster on the boards until later on. KAT may be better in today's NBA as Garnett shot lots of long 2's but didn't quite have 3pt range.
 

Last night before the Summer League Championship game, the ESPN sideline reporter asked Brandon Clarke "you played in a lot of big games in college, how does the NBA Summer League championship game compare to those games?" The look on Clarke's face was priceless, like "are you f'n kidding me" but he was diplomatic in his response as to not embarrass the reporter.

Howl Wolves!!
 

Granted Garnett kept improving, but If KAT does as well they are pretty similar players.

When you look at Garnett's and KAT's first 4 years in the league, its a pretty close comparison. Garnett is much better on defense. KAT scores a ton more efficiently, especially from 3. Garnett gets more assists. Garnett didn't become a monster on the boards until later on. KAT may be better in today's NBA as Garnett shot lots of long 2's but didn't quite have 3pt range.

Wow. I couldn't believe this until I read it in the comments section after a Wolves article in The Athletic and had to look it up on the net to verify it. Andrew Wiggins is the second leading scorer in Wolves franchise history. That is just absolutely crazy.
 


per Shooter:

New Timberwolves President Gersson Rosas said last week that Andrew Wiggins, 24, whose salary this season will be $27.5 million, has been working out in Los Angeles.

“To be fair to him, he has had multiple head coaches in multiple systems,” Rosas said last week. “We want to put him in a position where he can be successful. And that’s on us, the style we play offensively, the style we play defensively.

“We’re going to challenge him to be the best he can be. We’re going to put him in a position to have success, a position where he can be comfortable doing what he does best.”

https://www.twincities.com/2019/07/20/charley-walters-twins-weigh-options-as-trade-deadline-nears/

Howl Wolves!!
 

per Shooter:

Ex-Gopher Jordan Murphy averaged 4.9 rebounds during seven summer league games for the Timberwolves, who are interested in finding a way to retain his rights.

Meanwhile, the Wolves, who on June 14 were 100-to-1 odds to win next season’s NBA championship, now are 200-to-1, according to BetOnLine.ag.

That was Timberwolves top draft pick Jarrett Culver, who shot 30.4 percent from three-point range for Texas Tech last season, working on three-point shooting at 6 a.m. in Minneapolis last Thursday.

https://www.twincities.com/2019/07/20/charley-walters-twins-weigh-options-as-trade-deadline-nears/

Win Twins!!
 

Shama: Wolves Owner Sees ‘Building Year’ Ahead

With a new president of basketball operations, revised coaching staff and roster shakeup since last spring, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor expressed optimism about his franchise during an interview Tuesday with Sports Headliners, but he said it will be a challenge to make the playoffs.

“It’s going to be difficult, but that’s our goal (the playoffs),” said Taylor, who also thinks it’s unlikely his club will add an impact player in the coming months through free agency or trade.

The Timberwolves finished 36-46 last season and didn’t qualify for the playoffs after doing so a year earlier. It was a disappointing season for a franchise that has qualified for the postseason just once since 2004. Last summer the team was anticipating the season with Tom Thibodeau and Jimmy Butler being two centerpieces of the franchise but both are long gone.

Gersson Rosas replaced Thibodeau as president of basketball operations and Ryan Saunders took over Thibs’ coaching duties. The team’s perceived leader is no longer the outspoken Butler, with a mellower dude in Karl-Anthony Towns auditioning for the role much of last season and going into this one.

Gone are about half the players who were on the roster when the season opened last October, including personnel who were either starters or regular contributors off the bench. The roster now is shaping up as younger, less experienced and trending toward a more inexpensive payroll.

“I know that this is going to be a building year because we’re going to have young people, but I am optimistic just because I know that we have potentially a lot of young players who could play really a lot better,” Taylor said. “Now if we can just do that, (and) get confidence and not be injured, I think we could really have a fun year. I think they’re going to be a fun team to watch because (coach) Ryan (Saunders) is going to move that ball up and down the court really fast.”

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Howl Wolves!!
 

Wow. I couldn't believe this until I read it in the comments section after a Wolves article in The Athletic and had to look it up on the net to verify it. Andrew Wiggins is the second leading scorer in Wolves franchise history. That is just absolutely crazy.

Wow. I would have never had guessed that either.

per Shooter:

New Timberwolves President Gersson Rosas said last week that Andrew Wiggins, 24, whose salary this season will be $27.5 million, has been working out in Los Angeles.

“To be fair to him, he has had multiple head coaches in multiple systems,” Rosas said last week. “We want to put him in a position where he can be successful. And that’s on us, the style we play offensively, the style we play defensively.

“We’re going to challenge him to be the best he can be. We’re going to put him in a position to have success, a position where he can be comfortable doing what he does best.”

https://www.twincities.com/2019/07/20/charley-walters-twins-weigh-options-as-trade-deadline-nears/

Howl Wolves!!

I feel like Wiggins should be older than 24 by this point now. Makes you wonder if there is still some untapped potential somewhere in there.
 



STrib: Wolves in talks to bring aboard Kevin Hanson to Ryan Saunders' staff

The Timberwolves are close to making an addition to Ryan Saunders’ staff for the upcoming season, as the team is in talks to bring in New Orleans assistant Kevin Hanson, sources told the Star Tribune.

Hanson spent the last four season on the Pelicans staff and according to the Pelicans’ website, Hanson worked “extensively” with All-Star Anthony Davis when Davis was in New Orleans.

Hanson’s potential hiring would come after the Wolves brought in David Vanterpool from Portland to be Saunders’ associate head coach, Pablo Prigioni from Brooklyn to be an assistant and Bryan Gates for his second stint as an assistant with the Wolves.

http://www.startribune.com/wolves-i...evin-hanson-to-ryan-saunders-staff/513052682/

Howl Wolves!!
 

Sid: Duke coaching great Mike Krzyzewski sings the praises of new Wolves President Gersson Rosas

When Mike Krzyzewski was preparing for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, his final event as the head coach of the USA men’s national basketball team, he was joined by Gersson Rosas, new Timberwolves president of basketball operations. Rosas was hired by Jerry Colangelo, the USA Basketball chairman, to be the international player personnel scout.

Krzyzewski, the longtime Duke coach, said the relationship he has built with Rosas leaves him no doubt that Rosas can not only run the Timberwolves, but that he can change the direction of a club that has only one playoff appearance in 15 seasons.

“He’s a completely trustworthy guy. When you’re building a winning culture, one of the main things you need is trust,” Krzyzewski said recently. “You have to believe a person. You can believe him in an instant. If he says it, it is going to happen.”

http://www.startribune.com/duke-coa...new-wolves-president-gersson-rosas/516760632/

Howl Wolves!!
 

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Howl Wolves!!
 

Andrew Wiggins reportedly has shoes, luggage burglarized in Los Angeles

Like many NBA players, Andrew Wiggins is in Los Angeles this summer working out, practicing against other elite talent, and generally enjoying the summer in the unofficial off-season destination for NBA players.

Wiggins, however, got burglarized — including having his rented SUV stolen. TMZ had the story.

Former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins was burglarized in Los Angeles … and TMZ Sports has learned the thieves made off with the NBA star’s shoes and luggage…

But, we’re told cops described the scene as “amateur hour” … because the burglars left jewelry and other valuables in the heist, and only took about $1,000 worth of the stuff instead.

We’re told the thieves stole a pair of Wiggins’ casual Nikes and his luggage — and also made off with his rental SUV Escalade. But, we’re told authorities were able to locate the vehicle a short time later.

While the car was found, his shoes and luggage have not been, and there have yet to be any arrests. As anyone who has been burglarized can tell you (*raises hand*) the items stolen are rarely recovered and returned, that stuff tends to be in the wind.

https://sports.yahoo.com/andrew-wiggins-reportedly-had-shoes-121250330.html

Howl Wolves!!
 



per STrib:

Timberwolves President Gersson Rosas hasn’t shied away from questions regarding Andrew Wiggins’ inconsistent play. And as he made the media rounds at his first Minnesota State Fair on Thursday, almost every outlet Rosas stopped by asked him how he planned to unlock the potential Wiggins has, potential he doesn’t show on a nightly basis.

“Andrew in particular with his talent and physical abilities, the potential he’s shows, we’ve got to get that on a more consistent basis,” Rosas said at the Star Tribune stage. “He’s focused on it as well. In order for us to have the success we want to have, he’s got to be a main contributor. He understands that, we understand that.”

To Rosas, some factors that contribute to this inconsistency has been out of Wiggins’ control, like the number of coaches he has had during his young career. Rosas is hopeful having Ryan Saunders as his head coach, along with the changes the Wolves are making in terms of player development, will remove that uncertainty from the equation.

“To be fair to him, he needs some continuity in terms of coaching, philosophy, strategy and style of play,” Rosas said. “We think he’s going to be one of the better beneficiaries of this style of play. His physical tools, talent and skill. We do feel there’s a lot of upside for him. He’s worked very hard this summer. He’s been committed to everything that we’ve done.”

Wiggins and the rest of the Wolves open camp on October 1.

Not done signing?

Rosas said the Wolves may not be done adding to the roster, and it’s possible the Wolves may sign more than 15 guaranteed contracts to their roster, meaning they would have to trade or buyout a deal when making final roster decisions before the regular season.

They would do that, he said, in the name of competition.

“If we have to eat a contract, we’ll eat a contract,” Rosas said. “But we want to create depth, competitiveness in camp and sometimes you end up eating or trading a contract you need to. At the end of the day you want to emphasize competition and a guy beats another guy out, we have the flexibility to do that.”

Covington, Teague on track

Rosas said two injured Wolves from last season, Robert Covington and Jeff Teague, are on track to begin training camp without restriction. Covington had an arthoscopic procedure done in April as he was recovering from a right knee bone bruise that caused him to miss 47 games last season. Teague had a left ankle debridement procedure in April that was meant to clean up fragments or other pain-causing issues.

http://www.startribune.com/timberwo...the-rounds-at-minnesota-state-fair/557929522/

Howl Wolves!!
 

over/under on games played for Teague this year........I'll say he doesn't play more than 50.
 

STrib: Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders pleased with team's bonding efforts in offseason

If you follow the Timberwolves on social media, you might notice the team has been getting some sun — and singing a few tunes.

Several players and staff were in the Bahamas recently as part of a team-bonding trip that Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Robert Covington helped organize, coach Ryan Saunders said Friday at the State Fair.

Saunders was also down there and said while there were basketball workouts, the main purpose of the trip was team bonding in an effort to establish a positive culture around the organization.

“You see it a lot from the teams that have those ultimate goals of competing for a championships this year or down the line. They understand the importance of building camaraderie and building that bond … ” Saunders said. “It’s just good for guys to bond, get to know each other, especially being such a new team. So we look forward to that being something we can point to, if not this year but down the line in terms of something that helps turn the corner for us.”

It’s a lot different from the vibe around the team last summer, when most players went their separate ways and did not come back together until training camp.

One part of the trip included a visit to a jazz lounge that Wiggins helped arrange. At the venue multiple players got up and sang, including rookie Jarrett Culver, who gave an impassioned — if off-key — version of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.” It’s moments like this that Saunders hopes will help the Wolves build a reputation as a player-friendly organization.

“Our hope would be obviously that on the court performance is what makes guys want to be a part of this, but until we feel we’re in a good place with that, these things are going to continue to be important,” Saunders said. “And they’ll continue to be important as long as we’re building this thing the right way.”

http://www.startribune.com/timberwo...eam-s-bonding-efforts-in-offseason/558874572/

Win Twins!!
 



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Howl Wolves!!
 

In case anyone is wondering, we are at the "Wiggins worked really hard this offseason" part of the offseason.

Shama: Wolves Owner Praises Wiggins Effort

For many observers the Minnesota Timberwolves player to watch in preseason and beyond this fall will be enigmatic 24-year-old forward-guard Andrew Wiggins. The franchise opens training camp October 1, and in this town the five-year veteran’s name is synonymous with unfulfilled potential.

So flashy his nicknames have included Junior Jordan, Wiggins can prompt gasps from spectators because of his athleticism. He has a career scoring average of 19.4 and that is exceptional by NBA standards. The rest of his stat line, though, is pretty blah and his numbers in categories like assists (2.2 per game) and rebounding (4.3) hint at Wiggins not being a player who makes teammates more productive. His many critics see a high potential player who lacks the focus and intensity to be a star on both offense and defense.

Waiting on Wiggins to consistently perform at a high level seems like part of the franchise DNA. This season he gets a fresh start with new instructors, a revised coaching staff led by Ryan Saunders in his first full season as head coach. Directing from the top is Gersson Rosas, the new president of basketball operations.

How Wiggins prepared for this season may provide a clue as to things could go in the coming months. Team owner Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners he likes the approach of Wiggins who he rewarded with a five-year contract in 2017 that reportedly approaches $150 million. He said Wiggins has invested more effort this offseason than in at least a couple of years.

“Everything has really been positive,” Taylor said. “He’s stayed around (Minneapolis and) worked. Done everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s working on the things that we thought were important.

“If he has a tough year (in 2020), or a good year…he has put in the effort. That was the first big step. If he didn’t put in the effort we would really be concerned. Now we’ve gotta see, does that effort translate into results?”

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Howl Wolves!!
 





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