Wolves are "Courting Malone" St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch has reported that: "The Timberwolves this week are making a serious effort to sign free-agent power forward Karl Malone. The Wolves plan to have the NBA's most valuable player, Kevin Garnett, fly to Los Angeles with coach Flip Saunders to try to persuade the 6-foot-9, 259-pound future hall of famer and two-time MVP to sign with Minnesota. The San Antonio Spurs are considered the Wolves' top competition for Malone, who's still seeking an NBA championship ring after 19 seasons." Not a bad idea.
Despite his age, Malone can still deliver. He would be a nice addition for any team, who would provide rebounding, scoring and experience. But I doubt he would go to Minnesota, he wanted to play with Shaq which is part of the reason he left Utah for LA. Now, I can only see him following Shaq to Miami, staying in LA or retiring. He wouldn't like playing behind Garnett very much either, he still wants to be a starter and he would find it hard adjusting to being a bench player.
Yeah, I don't see it happening either, but who knows. You might as well give it a try. Maybe he wants that ring bad enough that he'll take a minutes cut playing behind KG.
With the lack of Big Men in the NBA< Malone could also get minutes at the 5 and could be in a better position to win an NBA championship with MINNY
I think KG would be more inclined to play the 5 than Malone. Or KG could slide over to SF so Malone could get more minutes.
it could be only for the good but from the nedubi ebi side that i would like to get better, but if this move can bring them that much closer to become champs so be it ebi's going to be more patient with a ring on his finger
The Wolves really can't be worried about Ebi right now. If they want to win this season, they gotta do what they can to do it now.
I would love this to happen. He just gives us more options and if he wants to come off the bench, we would have the best depth in the NBA.
This would definately be a major move for the wolves, especially if they can keep the Spurs from acquiring Malone's services, because in last years playoffs Malone did an excellect job on both KG and Duncan, so which ever team gains his sevices that would definately give them an edge if they were to ever meet the other team down the road(i.e the western conference finals). So this would definately be a major move. But for another reason, I think that Malone still has alot more in the tank, then he displayed offensively last year with the Lakers. With the Lakers he was trapped in a role as a spot up shooter basically out of the high post area, around the free throw line, which really limited his offensive roll on the team. But I think with the Wolves, he can get back into more pick & roll offense which Malone is most successful in because Cassell loves the pick & roll. And also with the Wolves need for some low post back to the basket offense out of their bigmen, I can see Flip calling several plays a game to setup Karl deep in the post and run the offense thru those situations. So while Malone maybe a long shot, I think it would be a major move for the wolves.
Malone would be a great fit for this team. Cassell is very much a "Stockton-type" player when it comes to using screens, and Malone is the best Screener of all time. Malone could easily play the PF with Garnett at the C, and along with Cassell, and Spree they would probably have the best transition offence in the league. Malone can also pass the ball very well for a bigman. He could easily feed Hioberg, and Wally for trey after trey. Malone fits the Wolves better then he fits any other team
wouldnt KG just go back to spending time at the 3? doesnt make sense for malone to sign in mini and have either him or kg playing the 5 spot? at this point of his or KG's career, i cant see them making moves that would put either of them out of position.
We don't need a PF. Yes, Malone has got game, but for the last time, WE NEED A CENTER! I've been saying it forever and all of these rumors about getting a PG frusterates me. So we move Kg back to SF, where do the minutes come for Hassell? He sure as hell aint going to get a lot behind KG. And behind Spree, we already have Hoiberg, so no room for Hassell there. I'd only do this if Malone would be willing to be a backup.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J-Roc:</div><div class="quote_post">We don't need a PF. Yes, Malone has got game, but for the last time, WE NEED A CENTER! I've been saying it forever and all of these rumors about getting a PG frusterates me. So we move Kg back to SF, where do the minutes come for Hassell? He sure as hell aint going to get a lot behind KG. And behind Spree, we already have Hoiberg, so no room for Hassell there. I'd only do this if Malone would be willing to be a backup.</div> I think that Malone can handle a roll of playing some backup 4 & some back up 5. See in most cases I would agree that the wolves dont need another power forward at the 4 spot. But Karl Malone is a special case because I believe he can easily handle playing some minutes at the 5 due to his strenght & low post defense. A guy like Shareef wouldnt be able to handle any minutes at the 5 but the mailman can. So you can play KG & Karl on the frontline together, with Karl being the primary post defender. And he would be a stable big body(if healthy) to back up Kandiman, who sometimes looks lost.And to go a long with an elderly Ervin Johnson, who cant bring it every night, anymore. I think Karl would produce more as an undersized 5 then Mark Madsen did last year when he spent minutes at the position. The chances of the Wolves getting a legit center this late in the offseason is slim. The only center left on the free agent market that I think could help this team would be a guy like Keon Clark but I dont think Mchale has much interest in him due to the weak ankles. So it might be time to get creative and add a guy like Malone, who can bring something to the table no matter what position or roll you put him in to be honest. Malone is just that type of player.
Ya, malone is a good fit but i dont see how we can fit him in. PF will be KG, and malone will likely to stay behind that. SF, SG are all crowded and we are weak at PG and C. NOt to say Sam is bad, but his time will probably be limited. Right now i say we should acquire a good backup PG or a decent C, not some weaksauce Kandi where 80 years old EJ works better than him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ancientmtk:</div><div class="quote_post">Ya, malone is a good fit but i dont see how we can fit him in. PF will be KG, and malone will likely to stay behind that. SF, SG are all crowded and we are weak at PG and C. NOt to say Sam is bad, but his time will probably be limited. Right now i say we should acquire a good backup PG or a decent C, not some weaksauce Kandi where 80 years old EJ works better than him.</div> If your talking about Sam being limited due to his back/hip injury then I dont really think so, he has had these pop up back injuries since his days with the Rockets. And he bounces back every time with rest. Granted he is older which means that the healing time is slower. But I think after having all summer to heal, he should be 100% by the start of training camp.And I think Cassell will make it thru the regular season and entire playoffs, with Hudson healthy and backing him up. Hudson's pressence will help to limit Cassell from having to play 35+ minutes a night like he did a large part of last year. If the Wolves can keep Cassell's minutes to about 30 mpg game then I think Sammy will be fine all year. And much stronger going into the playoffs. Iam expecting a 17ppg and about 7.5-8apg season from Sammy this year. The pressence of Wally & Troy all season long will take away some of Sam's shot attempts. And effect his scoring average but I think that it will also show a slight raise in Sam's assist average from last season with more passing options. So the wolves pg situation will be fine with Cassell & Hudson heathly, the concern is the bigman spot.
I think the biggest part of signing him like Henacy mentioned was keeping him away from San Antiono... imagine whatever team gets Malone can have their star player concentrate on other tasks than gaurding Duncan or Garnett which Malone proved he can do. Not the biggest Malone fan but he would add such a great deminson to the Wolves team as a backup c-pf.
Rumors put to rest <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There is no truth to the rumor that Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders and league MVP Kevin Garnett are planning to fly to California to try to convince NBA veteran Karl Malone to sign with the Wolves. Garnett is headed to Europe on a vacation. And Saunders has a commitment to speak here today. "Malone doesn't even know if he wants to play anymore," said Kevin McHale, Wolves vice president of basketball operations and general manager. "If Malone decides he wants to play, we would love to try to work something out with him."</div> <div align="center">Link - but nothing more to read</div>
