Minnesota Timberwolves Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Celtics Notes: Memphis Pick, Brown, Poirier, Walker

January 12th, 2020 at 12:03pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Grizzlies‘ first-rounder that the Celtics own is a volatile asset heading into this year’s trade deadline, Sean Deveney writes for Forbes. The pick is top-six protected and becomes unprotected in 2021 if it doesn’t convey this year. Memphis is currently eighth in the West, but only three-and-a-half games ahead of the 14th-place Pelicans.

“(The Celtics) have been active in terms of seeing what is out there,” a general manager told Deveney. “I don’t think they want to sit on their hands. I am not sure how much they can realistically get done, though, because the Memphis pick is such a wild card. They can’t do anything significant unless they move that pick.”

Deveney identifies the Wizards‘ Davis Bertans and the Timberwolves‘ Robert Covington as possible trade targets. He states that Bertans is probably available for the Memphis pick, along with Enes Kanter and Semi Ojeleye. However, Bertans is entering free agency and Boston probably can’t afford to re-sign him with Jayson Tatum due for an extension. Covington is under contract for two more seasons and Deveney suggests the Celtics could get him for Kanter, Daniel Theis and the Bucks‘ 2020 first-rounder, allowing them to keep the Grizzlies’ pick.

There’s more out of Boston:

Jaylen Brown doesn’t believe Brandon Ingram was referring to him when he talked about being surprised that certain players received rookie scale extensions, relays Tom Westerholm of MassLive. “When we talked about the extension, of course, I’m human,” Ingram said in a recent interview with ESPN’s Andrew Lopez. “When I look at other guys, I’m like, ‘This (expletive) got an extension? Oh my god. Man, we can lace up right now and play one-on-one to 15 and this (expletive) won’t score.’ That’s how I looked at it as a competitor.” Asked about the comments after last night’s game against the Pelicans, Brown, who received a four-year, $115MM extension, responded, “I don’t feel any type of way, because I don’t feel like they apply to me.”
Vincent Poirier could soon provide some depth at center, coach Brad Stevens tells Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Poirier is nearing a return after being sidelined since December 17 with a broken finger.
The Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak last night, but the recent downturn wasn’t alarming for Kemba Walker, who brings an outsider’s perspective after his years with the Hornets, writes John Karalis of MassLive. “I’ve lost so many more than three games in a row throughout the course of my career,” Walker said. “Plenty of times, so this is nothing to me personally. It’s just about getting back on track at this point.”

Wolves Trying To Find Upgrades; Covington In Play?

January 10th, 2020 at 8:15am CST by Luke Adams

The Timberwolves are trying to find upgrades, one general manager tells Amick, who points to Robert Covington as the most logical trade chip to help Minnesota land that upgrade.

[SOURCE LINK]

Towns Not Playing Tonight, But Close To Return

January 9th, 2020 at 8:10pm CST by Luke Adams

Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders indicated during Thursday’s shootaround that Karl-Anthony Towns could be back in the lineup tonight, as Chris Hine of The Star Tribune relays. However, Saunders said during warmups that Towns’ return will be postponed by at least one more game since the club wants to make sure he’s fully ready (Twitter link via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic).

Towns, who is dealing with a left knee injury, hasn’t suited up for the Timberwolves since December 13 after putting up some of the league’s best numbers in his first 23 games. While Minnesota initially struggled without its star, the team has won four of its last seven contests to remain in the playoff hunt.

With the 16-20 Spurs holding the No. 8 seed, the 14-22 Timberwolves are just two games back, and will look to make a push once Towns returns. Based on Saunders’ comments, it sounds like there’s a decent chance that could happen on Saturday in Houston.

Devine: Wolves May Be Among Deadline Sellers

January 7th, 2020 at 11:26am CST by Luke Adams

Dan Devine of The Ringer identifies 11 teams that may be sellers at next month’s trade deadline, including obvious candidates like the Knicks and Cavaliers, as well as teams that will be more reluctant to sell, such as the Kings and Timberwolves.

Marks, Pelton Believe Lakers Should Be Targeting Covington

January 7th, 2020 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

While ESPN’s duo offers a few ideas for potential targets, Pelton and Marks agree that Timberwolves forward Robert Covington should be “Option A” for L.A in that scenario. According to Marks, Minnesota will likely have the ability to create a bidding war for Covington if he’s shopped leading up to the deadline, so the Lakers’ package wouldn’t necessarily be enough — especially since the Wolves may prioritize acquiring a point guard.

[SOURCE LINK]

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/3/20

January 3rd, 2020 at 7:38pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Here are Friday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA G League:

The Timberwolves assigned rookie guard Jaylen Nowell to the Iowa Wolves, according to a team press release. In 15 games with Iowa, the second-round pick has averaged 21.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 3.4 APG.
The Bucks assigned forward Dragan Bender to the Wisconsin Herd for their game against the Windy City Bulls, the team tweets. In seven starts with the Herd, Bender is averaging 19.7 PPG and 9.1 RPG while shooting 50.0% from the field.

Kerr Impressed With T-Wolves' Youth

January 3rd, 2020 at 5:27pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has been impressed with the Timberwolves’ unheralded young players, as he told reporters including Kent Youngblood of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “What I see with the Wolves is similar to what I see with our team, in that suddenly a bunch of young guys get their chance, and they play hard,” Kerr said. “For Minnesota to go to Milwaukee, play the best team in the league down the wire, without (Karl-Anthony) Towns and (Andrew) Wiggins, it shows you what a young team is capable of, just competing.”

Timberwolves Recall Jaylen Nowell

January 1st, 2020 at 7:52pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Timberwolves have recalled rookie shooting guard Jaylen Nowell from their G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, according to a team press release. Nowell was drafted by the Wolves with the No. 43 pick this summer. The 6’4″ guard out of Washington has appeared in five games for Minnesota. In 15 games for Iowa, Nowell is logging impressive averages of 21.3 PPG on 50% shooting from the floor, 5.3 RPG and 3.4 APG.

Stein’s Latest: KAT, Paul, Zion, Predictions

December 31st, 2019 at 6:19pm CST by Arthur Hill

Reports surfaced this week that the Knicks and Warriors are among the teams monitoring Karl-Anthony Towns‘ situation in Minnesota, but the Timberwolves have no interest in trading their star center, Marc Stein of The New York Times writes in this week’s newsletter. Stein adds that team officials have told him repeatedly that they are building “everything” around Towns, and a trade is the last thing the organization is considering.

The Wolves have tumbled into 12th place in the West after a 10-8 start, and Towns’ injury is part of the reason for the slide. He is in the first season of a five-year, $190MM extension and there’s a new front office team in place run by Gersson Rosas, so there’s no hurry to make major changes.

Executives around the league expect Rosas to be active around the trade deadline, but that’s mostly because of his background with the traditionally aggressive Rockets. Stein notes that teams continue to express interest in acquiring swingman Robert Covington.

There’s more from Stein’s latest piece:

Stein has been skeptical that the Russell Westbrook–James Harden pairing could work, but states that the Rockets were forced to make a move because their relationship with Chris Paul was “irretrievably broken” after last season’s playoff ouster. Westbrook was one of the few available options whose contract matched up well with Paul’s.
Stein predicts the Pelicans will give serious consideration to keeping Zion Williamson sidelined for the entire season if he’s not healthy enough to return in January. There have been encouraging signs that he might be ready to suit up soon, and New Orleans would like to see how he fits alongside Jrue Holiday and Brandon Ingram before making long-term decisions on both players. However, Stein states that if Williamson goes another month without playing, the safest option may be to skip his entire first season and make sure he’s ready for training camp.
Among other 2020 predictions, Stein expects the Pacers‘ Malcolm Brogdon and the Nets‘ Spencer Dinwiddie to be first-time All-Stars, the Bucks to fall short of 70 wins, the NBA Board of Governors to approve an in-season tournament as well as a play-in tourney for the final two playoff spots in each conference and Gregg Popovich to retire after coaching the U.S. Olympic team.

Teague: Prigioni Is Wild And Crazy Guy

December 30th, 2019 at 9:24pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Assistant coach and former NBA player Pablo Prigioni has made his mark with Timberwolves players due to his frenetic style, as Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes. “He takes Red Bull out there or something,” guard Jeff Teague told Hine. “He’s always up and at it, running around. He can run all day, doesn’t get tired. … He’s crazy.”