Kevin Garnett has a future with the Timberwolves as a player if he wants it, but owner Glen Taylor said he can’t talk about the idea that Garnett will one day own the team, writes Sid Hartman of The Star Tribune. Taylor stressed that the team is not for sale, although there is speculation that he and other owners are waiting to see what price the Hawks fetch before going forward with sale plans. The Wolves were valued at $625MM in a recent list by Forbes Magazine. Taylor said he hopes Garnett’s playing career doesn’t end this season. “I feel like if he feels healthy and strong and wants to, I would like to have him come back next year and play with this team,” the owner said. “I just think he would be a great asset.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- The arrival of March 1 means no playoffs for Gary Neal, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders has rejected all buyout attempts by Neal’s representatives, Wolfson reports. Players must be waived by today in order to sign with another team and be eligible for this year’s playoffs. Neal was traded from the Hornets to the Wolves last month in exchange for Mo Williams and Troy Daniels.
- Keeping the Nuggets focused through the remainder of a lost season is the biggest challenge facing coach Brian Shaw, according to Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post. Shaw was searching for answers after Friday’s 22-point loss to the Jazz. “I’m frustrated in myself because I feel that I need to figure out a way to do a better job at trying to get that out of us, get that hustle and those kinds of plays and to play with more of a sense of urgency, play with more tenacity,” he said.
- Alec Burks can’t play or practice with the Jazz, but that hasn’t prevented him from staying part of the team, reports Jody Genessy of The Deseret News. Burks, sidelined with a shoulder injury, accompanied the Jazz on a recent trip to Denver and is helping the team prepare for games. “It’s really good that he’s here, that he’s with us,” coach Quin Snyder said. “He wants to be with us. He’s in the film sessions.”