Minnesota Timberwolves Rumors | Hoops Rumors

T-Wolves Want To Sign Pekovic By Start Of Camp

August 12th, 2013 at 5:04pm CST by Zachary Links

The Timberwolves have said repeatedly that they have every intention of retaining restricted free agent Nikola Pekovic. The saga has now dragged into mid-August without a pact between the two sides, but president of basketball operations Flip Saunders says that he has earmarked the start of training camp as the deadline for a deal, writes Tim Leighton of the Pioneer Press.

"I believe we are the best situation for him,'' Saunders said. "I do believe that Pek knows what we have brought in and that this is a positive place. I think we are moving in the right direction.''

The 6-foot-11, 290-pound big man earned $4.8MM last season and he can expect a sizable pay raise in his next deal. The question for Pekovic, who averaged 16.3 PPG and 8.8 RPG in 62 games, is how much of a bump he will get. The Wolves are dangling a four-year extension worth about $48MM plus incentives while the 27-year-old's agent is said to be seeking something with an average annual value of $15MM.

Odds & Ends: Collins, Irving, Wolves, Harrington

August 12th, 2013 at 2:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's check in on a few Monday odds and ends from around the Association:

A report over the weekend indicated that the Pistons have shown exploratory interest in Jason Collins, but Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News hears that the team is unlikely to actually sign him.
Although his friend John Wall recently inked a new long-term deal with the Wizards, Kyrie Irving won't be eligible for an extension until next summer, so he's not thinking about his contract situation yet, as he tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
Timberwolves president Flip Saunders spoke to reporters today, including Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune, and confirmed that the team expects Robbie Hummel, Lorenzo Brown, and Othyus Jeffers to be in training camp. Saunders also discussed Nikola Pekovic, Shabazz Muhammad, and Milt Newton.
While Al Harrington appears on track to land a deal with the Wizards, several other teams showed interest, including the Clippers, Kings, and Pelicans, tweets Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
Subbing in for David Aldridge at NBA.com, Steve Kerr presents some ideas for how to improve the NBA's draft lottery.

Timberwolves To Interview Milt Newton

August 12th, 2013 at 10:45am CST by Chuck Myron

MONDAY, 10:45am: According to Saunders, the Wolves have yet to formally interview Newton, but have asked for and received permission from the Wizards to speak to him. Saunders would like to talk to Newton about a front office job involving scouting and personnel (Twitter links via Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune).

SUNDAY, 8:56am: Wizards vice president of player personnel Milt Newton sat down this week for a formal interview with the Timberwolves for their GM position, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Stein first reported two and a half months ago that the team was considering Newton for the job. Minnesota president of basketball operations Flip Saunders wants to hire a pair of executives to assist him in the front office. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities reported early in July that Newton was likely to stay with the Wizards, but a week later, Wolfson said Newton was still in the mix to join the Wolves.

Wolves director of basketball operations Rob Babcock also appears to be a candidate for the GM job, though he could instead become the team's vice president of basketball operations, the other position Saunders is looking to fill. The Wolves also had their eyes on Tim Connelly before he became Nuggets GM.

Newton, who grew up in Washington, D.C., has spent the past decade in the Wizards organization. Before that, he served as an executive with the D-League, scouted for the Sixers, and worked for USA Basketball.

Northwest Notes: Nuggets, T’Wolves, Brown, Curry

August 11th, 2013 at 8:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Flip Saunders is the leading man in the Timberwolves' front office, but he's searching for two executives to help assist him in day-to-day operations. This morning, we learned that Wizards vice president of player personnel Milt Newton sat down with the T'Wolves to formally interview for the GM position while they could also promote former Raptors GM Rob Babcock from within. Here's the latest out of the Northwest Division..

The Northwest Division is the best example this offseason of the cyclical nature of the league, writes Royce Young of CBSSports.com. The Nuggets have slipped after losing their GM and failing to re-sign their top offseason target in Andre Iguodala. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves could take the divisional crown after making a few shrewd moves and getting Kevin Love back.
Bobby Brown has until August 15th to exercise his opt out clause with China's DongGuan Leopards and AJ Mitnick of Sheridan Hoops sees the Jazz as a good fit for the lighting quick point guard. Brown averaged 18.3 PPG in Euroleague last year and improved greatly as a true one-guard.
Seth Curry says that Timberwolves are among the teams that have extended a training camp invitation to him, writes Mark Berman of The Roanoke Times. The Warriors, Spurs, and Bobcats have also invited the undrafted Duke guard to camp.
Earlier today, we looked at the latest on the Thunder.

Odds & Ends: Olympics, Bibby, Cooley, Saunders

August 10th, 2013 at 4:58pm CST by Chuck Myron

The movement to prevent a 23-and-under age restriction for Olympic basketball may have taken a hit. The International Olympic Committee has rejected a proposal to increase the number of teams from 12 to 16 and shorten the length of the competition, USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt reports. Many NBA and pro basketball executives around the world believe the Olympics place too much of a strain on their stars, and some of them thought the proposal would have been an acceptable compromise. While we wait to see if the 2016 games are the last to feature rosters reminiscent of the Dream Team, here's the latest from around the NBA:

Mike Bibby didn't play in the NBA this past season, but the 35-year-old is still trying to get back in the league, as he tells Alex Kramers of Kings.com. Whenever Bibby decides to stop playing, he says he'd like to get into coaching.
Undrafted center Jack Cooley reportedly drew training camp invitations from more than 10 NBA teams after a strong showing in summer league, but he's decided to sign with Trabzonspor of Turkey, a source tells Sportando's Emiliano Carchia. It's a "substantial" deal, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (Twitter link).
Using the specter of a D-League assignment as a way to threaten first-round pick Shabazz Muhammad into proper behavior demonstrates how Wolves executive Flip Saunders holds an unsophisticated view of the D-League, opines Matt Moore of CBSSports.com.
Jeff Caplan of NBA.com examines how the Lakers can be better in 2013/14 than they were last season, even after losing Dwight Howard.

Poll: Which Summerlong Story Ends First?

August 10th, 2013 at 1:58pm CST by Chuck Myron

It seemed like we were finally on the verge of seeing the Sixers hire a head coach last night, when news broke that they'd offered the job to Brett Brown. Later we heard that people close to Brown were urging him to say no to GM Sam Hinkie and company, and as of this morning, there isn't a timetable for the Spurs assistant to give his answer to Philadelphia.

There was also movement yesterday on the Nikola Pekovic front, with Timberwolves executive Flip Saunders proclaiming that the team was progressing toward a deal with the restricted free agent on the heels of "positive talks" with the Pekovic camp. Of course, those kind of comments don't get at any specifics, and they present only one side of the story. The Wolves and agent Jeff Schwartz still appear to be going back and forth over money, with the team firm on a four-year, $48MM offer in response to Schwartz's opening gambit for a deal worth $15MM a year.

Pekovic is the top per-36-minute scorer still on the market, and recorded the fourth-best rebound rate among unsigned players, but even beyond those statistical measures, the burly 6'11" center is far and away the best talent without an NBA contract. He's a restricted free agent, and as he's watched comparable talent sop up most of the cap space around the league, the Wolves have emerged with plenty of leverage. The Sixers will enter their fifth month without a coach if they wait longer than another week, and though Brown seems like a rising star in the coaching ranks, there are only 30 NBA jobs, and there's no guarantee another opportunity will come around.

So, which of the two stories we've been tracking this summer will be resolved first? Cast your vote, and add your thoughts in the comments.

Odds & Ends: Pekovic, Paul, Ennis, Knicks

August 9th, 2013 at 11:12pm CST by Chuck Myron

NBA teams hit the hardwood again in October, but some of the news tonight concerns courts of a different nature. Cuttino Mobley dropped his lawsuit against the parent company of the Knicks in the hopes that doing so will make it easier for him to play again in the NBA, while lawyers for the former owners of the Kings have allegedly funded an effort to stymie Sacramento's arena plans. While we await more on those legal matters, here's the latest from around the NBA:

The Wolves and Nikola Pekovic's camp are making progress toward a deal, president of basketball ops Flip Saunders tells Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune (Twitter link).
Four NBA teams invited undrafted Illinois shooting guard Brandon Paul to camp, but he's signing to play in Russia instead, Paul reveals via Twitter (hat tip to Zgoda). Paul doesn't say which Russian team he's joining.
Scott Nichols, the agent for James Ennis, tells Shams Charania of RealGM.com that there's a good chance the Heat will sign his client at some point this season, allowing him to invoke the opt-out clause in his contract with an Australian club. Ennis turned down "a lot more money" from Russia's BC Nizhny Novgorod and "a little more" from France's Nantere to sign with the Perth Wildcats, Nichols says to Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida. A team from Germany also made a lucrative offer, according to Charania.
Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com chatted with readers today, dishing on possibilities for the final spot on the Knicks 15-man roster, and passing along word from a source that Jeremy Tyler's two-year deal makes it less likely that the team will sign Ivan Johnson.

Odds & Ends: Sixers, West, Gordon, Jamison

August 4th, 2013 at 11:13am CST by Chuck Myron

Trail Blazers assistant David Vanterpool appears to have become the leading candidate in the Sixers head coaching search, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Most reports have cited Brett Brown and Michael Curry as the front-runners, but it seems there are still several hopefuls who could emerge with the job. We passed along news from Washburn earlier today on the continuing possibility of a Rajon Rondo trade to the Pistons, and here's more from the Globe scribe as we round up the morning's news from around the NBA:

The Knicks and Grizzlies have reportedly been in talks with Delonte West, but the Knicks appear to be out, and according to Washburn, no team has shown serious interest.
The additions of Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans make for a crowded backcourt in New Orleans, but Eric Gordon is glad to have his new Pelicans teammates, he tells Washburn.
Clippers boss Doc Rivers didn't make an offer to Antawn Jamison when they met for dinner last night, but the Clippers and Jamison's reps plan to talk soon, reports Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
The Hawks waived DeShawn Stevenson on Friday, and in the likely event that he clears waivers and hits free agency, he'd like to sign with the Heat, according to a pair ofdispatches from his Twitter account.
Shelvin Mack appears in a tenuous position with the Hawks, since his contract is non-guaranteed and he plays the same position as Jeff Teague and first-round pick Dennis Schröder. If the Hawks waive Mack, he'll be the primary point guard target for Olimpia Milano of Italy, Enea Trapani of Sportando reports.
Elston Turner has reached an agreement to become an assistant coach for the Grizzlies, a source tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. The defensively minded Turner also spoke about joining the Timberwolves staff.
Stefhon Hannah has signed to play with Juve Caserta in Italy, the team announced (translation via Sportando's Emiliano Carchia). Hannah worked out for the Knicks this summer, and spent two weeks last fall in training camp with the Warriors.

Wolfson’s Latest: Pekovic, Aldridge, Redick

August 4th, 2013 at 9:56am CST by Chuck Myron

Agent Jeff Schwartz's initial asking price for Nikola Pekovic was around $15MM per year, a source tells Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, and Schwartz and the Timberwolves continue to haggle over the amount of money the restricted free agent center will get in his next contract. Schwartz knows he won't get $15MM a year from the team, Wolfson tweets. The Wolves are offering four years and $48MM, and though they're willing to add some incentives, it's "nearly ludicrous" to expect that they'll budge from the $12MM annual base salary, as Wolfson writes in his Scoops column. Wolfson has plenty more on Pekovic and other Timberwolves issues, so let's dive in:

It's possible that Pekovic could wind up with a fifth year in his deal, but it appears four years is more likely.
A trade that would send Pekovic and Derrick Williams to the Blazers for LaMarcus Aldridge is far-fetched. Minnesota would prefer Kevin Love instead, Wolfson tweets, but Love doesn't appear to be on the market. Schwartz represents Love as well as Pekovic.
J.J. Redick was five minutes away from heading to another team before talks revved up on the three-team trade that sent him to the Clippers, but that mystery team wasn't the Wolves. Redick met with Wolves brass and was prepared to sign with them, but talks never got that far.
Andrei Kirilenko's claim that Wolves president of basketball ops Flip Saunders didn't want to give him a long-term contract is incorrect, writes Wolfson, who hears from two people who say Minnesota offered a three-year, $21MM deal.
The Wolves have not invited Seth Curry to training camp, contrary to a report.
Lorenzo Brown, Robbie Hummel, Othyus Jeffers and another big man figure to be the contenders for the 15th spot on the Timberwolves opening-night roster.

Odds & Ends: Pekovic, Adelman, Johnson, Sixers

August 2nd, 2013 at 11:21pm CST by Chuck Myron

Timberwolves president of basketball ops Flip Saunders remains optimistic that the club will soon re-sign Nikola Pekovic, and tells Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune that he's trying to explain the thought process behind the team's offer to the big man and his camp. Saunders stopped short of confirming that coach Rick Adelman will be back for this coming season, but echoed owner Glen Taylor's comments from last month, saying that he's optimstic that Adelman will return. There's more from Minnesota and other NBA locales in tonight's roundup:

The Wolves reached out to Ivan Johnson's camp earlier this summer, but the team has since moved on, reports Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities (Twitter link).
The Sixers received permission last month to interview Bulls assistant coach Ed Pinckney, and the interview has indeed taken place, observes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who names David Vanterpool, Michael Curry, and Jay Larranaga as the other "serious candidates" behind front-runner Brett Brown.
A multitude of conflicting recent reports left it unclear whether 53rd overall pick Colton Iverson would play overseas or join the Celtics this season, but a source tells Jay King of MassLive.com that Iverson has signed his one-year deal with Besiktas of Turkey.
DeMarre Carroll indicated on Twitter tonight that he's inked his deal with the Hawks. The team is expected to make a formal announcement Saturday, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
LeBron James has "serious reservations" about whether he can take on the presidency of the union, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, who nonetheless supports the MVP's candidacy, even as sources describe James as unlikely to take the job.
The Magic didn't strike a buyout agreement before they waived Al Harrington today, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel confirms. That means the team is stuck paying the guaranteed portion of his contract, minus whatever it can recoup via set-off rights.
Pac 12 commissioner Larry Scott wants to see the end of the "one-and-done" rule for NBA draft eligibility, and Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com wonders if incoming NBA commissioner Adam Silver will make a push for change on that front.