Derrick Williams Rumors | Hoops Rumors

T-Wolves Rumors: Batum, Crawford, Gasol, Hill

July 2nd, 2012 at 8:11pm CST by Luke Adams

The Timberwolves are off to an aggressive start in free agency, having reportedly made a "serious offer" to restricted free agent Nicolas Batum. According to Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld, sources believe the Trail Blazers' willingness to match a big offer for Batum will depend on whether they're able to land Roy Hibbert. Here are a few more updates on the T-Wolves' targets in free agency and trades:

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com updates an earlier story to say that Batum has narrowed his options to the Blazers, with whom he's meeting later this week, and the Wolves, and has postponed visits to other teams.

Earlier updates:

Bobcats Turned Down Derrick Williams Trade

June 28th, 2012 at 11:25am CST by Luke Adams

The Bobcats reportedly have five offers for the No. 2 pick on the table, but there's at least one proposal from the Timberwolves that isn't being considered. According to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com (Twitter link), the T-Wolves offered Derrick Williams for the second overall pick and were quickly turned down by Charlotte.

Timberwolves Notes: Williams, Adelman, Tolliver

April 21st, 2012 at 8:29pm CST by Daniel Seco

With their highest win total since the 2006/2007 season, the Timberwolves can look forward to next season with a sense of optimism thanks to an improving core of young players featuring Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams. Starting center Nikola Pekovic has also emerged as a solid contributor to a team that looks a few pieces away from being a legitimate playoff contender in the coming seasons. Let's head to Minnesota to check up on the latest news from the Timberwolves.

Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press says Williams wants to use the offseason to get into outstanding shape like Love did last year. Williams, a power forward by trade, would like to get down to 225-230 pounds so that he could potentially play either of the forward positions. Love is currently the starting power forward for the Timberwolves while Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson have split time at small forward.
Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman has been tracking the Jazz's chances for making the playoffs given how Utah's fate will determine if the T-Wolves will have a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft, writes Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. If the Jazz make the playoffs, the Timberwolves will receive Utah's first-round draft pick (expected to be in the mid- to late teens), but the team would be left without a selection in the first round if the Jazz fail to make the playoffs. "We're certainly following it," Adelman said. "That'll add more excitement to the draft for us."
Zgoda spoke with backup center Anthony Tolliver, who said that his agent has had informal talks with the Timberwoles about a contract extension this offseason. Tolliver, an unrestricted free agent who has expressed interest in staying in Minneapolis, cannot receive a formal contract offer from the team until July 1. "There have been talks, but you never know on something like that," Tolliver said. "I'd love to stay, but so much can happen between now and then."

Timberwolves Notes: Love, Rubio

February 25th, 2012 at 6:29pm CST by Jesse Blanchard

While everyone seems eager to marry large markets and larger than life superstars, Minnesota Timberwolves teammates Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio are proving stardom can be achieved just as readily by performance on the court. The Timberwolves duo, along with rookie Derrick Williams, represent the greatest contingent of talent Minnesota has sent to All-Star weekend festivities since Kevin Garnett, Tom Gugliotta, and Stephon Marbury in 1997. Some notes on the Timberwolves this All-Star weekend:

Timberwolves general manager David Kahn took a risk by signing Kevin Love to a four-year extension with an opt-out after three years instead of the five-year maximum. But with Minnesota at 17-17, Love is buying into the Timberwolves, writes Hoops World's Stephen Litel.
A big reason behind the Timberwolves success is the play of rookie point guard Ricky Rubio, who Suns rookie Markieff Morris said has "dimes for days," in comparing Rubio to Suns point guard Steve Nash (via Stefan Swiat at Suns.com)
Magic Johnson sees some of his game in Rubi o as well, as he tells the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Lost in all the Timberwolves relative success are the New Orleans Hornets, whose acquired first-round pick from the Timberwolves (via the Clippers) is being devalued with each passing day, writes Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times' Off the Dribble blog.
Also from Hoffman's piece is mention of the Timberwolves overcrowded front court situation, with Love set in the rotation and Michael Beasley, Derrick Williams, Nikola Pekovic, Darko Milicic, and Anthony Randolph all vying for minutes. Those are some interesting trade pieces for the Timberwolves to use in building a solid supporting cast.

Pau Gasol Rumors: Tuesday

February 21st, 2012 at 1:54pm CST by Luke Adams

While Pau Gasol appeared a little more at ease last night with the trade rumors swirling around Los Angeles, relations between Kobe Bryant and GM Mitch Kupchak still seem tense. After Kupchak released a statement that essentially said he wasn't going to give in to Kobe's request for the team to make a decision quickly on Gasol, Bryant told reporters, "I already said what I had to say. I'm done."

Kobe's public frustration may be a result of the team's lack of private communication with him, says Ken Berger of CBS Sports.

"Kobe's exploding, and he should," a source with ties to the Lakers told Berger. "Your lead player, you should always have communication with him let him know what's going on. There's no communication, and that's ridiculous."

As drama continues to surround the Lakers, here are today's updates on Gasol, with the newest items up top:

Los Angeles won't send Gasol to Minnesota if Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio are off-limits, according to Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld. Pincus says the Lakers may have trouble finding a two-team deal for Gasol, though the Rockets and Timberwolves make some sense in three-team deals.
The Lakers have resolved not to trade Gasol unless they get a "young star" in return, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
Peter Vecsey of the New York Post explains why the Knicks should deal Carmelo Anthony for Pau Gasol. Not sure I can get behind that argument.
Vecsey also hears that the Timberwolves and Lakers haven't discussed any deals in two months, including anything involving Gasol and Derrick Williams.
Bryant's public rant hurts the Lakers and Gasol, says T.J. Simers of the L.A. Times.

Timberwolves Pursuing Pau Gasol

February 16th, 2012 at 8:19am CST by Luke Adams

The Rockets aren't the only club still trying to pry Pau Gasol from the Lakers. The Timberwolves are pursuing a deal for Gasol, dangling rookie Derrick Williams and draft picks, a source tells Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida.

According to Tomasson, the Timberwolves view Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio as their only untouchable players, and would be willing to part with their second overall pick from the 2011 draft if it meant pairing Gasol with fellow Spaniard Rubio. Given the difference in salaries between Gasol ($18.71MM) and Williams ($4.6MM), the T-Wolves would have to include other pieces as well. While Minnesota could build an intriguing package, it's hard to imagine the Lakers moving Gasol unless it nets them a starting point guard or a star at another position, like Dwight Howard.

In December, the Lakers thought they had finalized a deal that would send Gasol to the Rockets, but it was ultimately nixed by the league. Since then, Houston has maintained interest in Gasol, who has also been linked to trade rumors involving Howard and Rajon Rondo, among others.