<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Glen Taylor, owner of the Wolves, said that the Kevin Garnett trade might have never developed had Garnett not come to Kevin McHale last spring and asked for a three-year contract extension. But Garnett, who was being paid $22 million a season, refused the suggestion of Taylor that KG take a cut in salary, so the decision was made to make the trade. Taylor said that the Chicago Bulls were interested in Garnett but not at the salary he demanded.</p> Taylor also revealed that he wanted to replace Dwane Casey as coach earlier than he did, but that Randy Wittman turned him down as a replacement the first time before deciding to accept the challenge on Jan. 24. And Wittman said he wasn't going to sign a multiyear contract as the permanent coach unless he was made some promises about improving the roster and keeping salaries competitive.</p> Jimmy Williams, the fomer Gophers assistant, is working with former NBA player and coach John Lucas to try to improve the play of a number of players, including Gerald Green, who came to the Wolves in the Garnett trade.</p> "He has tremendous upside," Williams said. "He's a terrific shooter. He's one of the best athletes in the NBA. He won the dunk contest his rookie year."</p> Williams did, however, add that Green does have to work some on his defense.</div></p> Source: Star Tribune</p>
Not that it matters, but Green won the dunk contest in his second year. And he needs to work a lot more than "some" on his defense.</p>
