To the best of my knowledge, the T-Wolves have not added one name in the off-season. The Wolves were stellar last season, but did show that they had specific needs (more rebounding help for Kev, etc) that have not been addressed. I know that Malone may be available, but to just sit and wait for his decision is foolish. There are rumors here and there, but nothings been done. There were a number of bargain names out there that are being picked up left and right. The Big 3 can't play the way they did last season. Troy COULD be helpful for C-A-Dub S-E-Dub L, but thay seems to be the only "upgrade". Maybe butter legs Kandi can pick up his game, I don't know, and don't feel confidant that he will.
Kandi's performance last year was unacceptable. He was the weak link, and why you lost to the Lakers. I forget which series it was, but he only had like one bucket the whole time.
I mean there was no need to add any players just for the simple fact of adding a player. You only want to add players that will improve the make up of the team. And forfill specific needs of the wolves, which mainly was a bigman who could be a pressence down low & on the backboards. And to be honest their wasnt much out their to fill that need in the 04' Free Agent market. And what was available the Dampier's, the Mark Blount's, the Etan Thomas' etc all got vastly over paid imo. Due to the lack of quality bigs out there. So it is better from that standpoint that the wolves didnt over pay to pursue any of those guys. It would have been nice for the Wolves to add a Karl Malone or even a guy like Googs for minutes off the bench. But Karl Malone seem to still be recovering from his Knee problems, thats why his decision on what he going to do, hasnt really surfaced yet. And Googs took the money instead of a chance at a championship. So the Wolves just have to move on, Kandiman clearly has to step it up. And I think you will see KG, Spree & Sam put that pressure & focus on him, to force him to step it up. And the Wolves did get 2 new additions to the team a healthy Wally & a healthy Hudson, something they didnt have all year last year, with those guys consistently in & out of the lineup. Those guys healthy takes some pressure off the big three, which will keep the big three alot fresher going into the playoffs. The Wolves did the three main things they needed to do this offseason 1) re-sign Hassell, as the key to the wolves perimeter defense 2) bring back hudson as relief for Sammy 3) re-sign Hoiberg, to help with the shooting depth and a guy who clearly prove he can step up into big minute role if someone on the perimeter goes down.
There's a rule: Dont fix what isnt broken. The T wolves lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. However the Lakers have fallen apart. There was no need to risk any big changes as they are probably heading to the Western Conference Finals again and wont be stopped by the Lakers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">There's a rule: Dont fix what isnt broken. The T wolves lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. However the Lakers have fallen apart. There was no need to risk any big changes as they are probably heading to the Western Conference Finals again and wont be stopped by the Lakers.</div> Yeah, but the Spurs have improved. Why are people constantly focused on on the Lakers?
How did the Spurs improve? They lost a shooter in Turkgolu and gained another in Brent Barry. Same old Spurs. My point was that the T wolves are already an excellent team they dont need to make a big move. Cant wait till the season opener. See how my Knicks fare against the Wolves.
Brent Barry can run the point, and is coachable. In the past, Manu ran back-up point. Whenever he didn't feel like listening to Pop he would simply pretend that he didn't understand. Besides, Barry is better than Turkoglu.
Does a team have to make moves in the off season to become successful? Is it really a dissapointment when they don't make moves? Honestly you should be happy with the team that you have. Yes they do have some holes, but IMO they couldn't address those holes in the offseason with any kind of signings or trades.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Brent Barry can run the point, and is coachable. In the past, Manu ran back-up point. Whenever he didn't feel like listening to Pop he would simply pretend that he didn't understand. Besides, Barry is better than Turkoglu.</div> Yeah, the Barry addition was a solid one for the Spurs but I dont think that addition is enuff to seperate them from the wolves come playoff time. The thing that killed the Spurs last year in the Lakers series was they didnt have anybody to step it up going down the stretch of the 4th quarters in those big games. Nobody to make perimeter shots to take the pressure off duncan, a Stephen Jackson type player. And I still dont think they have acguired that big shot maker this year. Barry is a great shooter, no doubt but being a big shot maker takes more then that...It only comes from gaining expereince & heart to take & make those big shots. Barry despite being a 9 year vet, hasnt really ever been put in those type of situations in the playoffs. I think that the Spurs needed to added a 4th quarter playoff difference maker, outside of Duncan. And they didnt do that. So right now the only edge I see the Spurs having vs the Wolves right now is production at the 5 spot. The Spurs are more stable at the Center position. Also the Spurs are a better defense team then the Wolves. But the Wolves are a very good defensive team as a whole as well,just not as good as San Antonio
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">Does a team have to make moves in the off season to become successful? Is it really a dissapointment when they don't make moves? Honestly you should be happy with the team that you have. Yes they do have some holes, but IMO they couldn't address those holes in the offseason with any kind of signings or trades.</div> Even If you win the NBA championship you need to add pieces to the roster. Staying the same by bringing back the same core works but when other teams also improve you need to counter that. Wolves have re-signed Hudson but they didn't really improve their roster. Cassell and Sprewell are a year older and depending on them so much is not always the best way to go. Wolves still need to trade for a decent center If they are to win the NBA title. It's a position in the NBA that needs to be at least decent If you want to win It all. Proof of that is the last two NBA champions both having very good centers who make an impact on defense and lets not forget the guy who led his team to 3 straight titles before hand
^As I stated before I do not see any trades or FA signings that Minny can make to further improve their team. Yes they can try to get Malone but he is a question mark in terms of health. I don't see them getting that serviceable Centre on their team unless they make an offer that would gut their core team. It's not easy to trade for one of those in the NBA these days. In response to the actual thread topic: A team doesn't make a trade or FA signing just because they haven't done so yet in the offseason. IMO they are getting back two important pieces to their team in Szeraslfjasjdf and Hudson. Other than having a solid centre they do have a championship calibre team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">^In response to the actual thread topic: A team doesn't make a trade or FA signing just because they haven't done so yet in the offseason. IMO they are getting back two important pieces to their team in Szeraslfjasjdf and Hudson. Other than having a solid centre they do have a championship calibre team.</div> The point that I'm trying to make is that the Grizzlies, Nuggets, Spurs, Mavs, and Jazz have all made changes for the better (either by trades, off-season play-like Ginobli, or free-agency). The Wolves have had to worry about signing peices that should want to stay due to how close they got to a ring, now we don't have much room to move. The only reason that I would keep Kandi is because he's already on the roster. All I hear is "Give Kandi a full season when he's healthy" and I still wonder how well he would be and if that could happen. He doesn't even seem to care.
The Timberwolves might not have added any new players but they accomplished their priorities in resigning Troy, Hassell and Hoiberg. They weren't at full strengh last year and if the team is healthy, then they will be a improved team from last year even if Cassell, Sprewell and Ervin is older. It not that easy to add good players to the team. Making a trade would mean having to trade a core player and that wouldn't improve the team. They still are a championship caliber team, even without a reliable center. They don't have a good center but they still have one of the best big men called Kevin Garnett. Olowokandi is a bust because he hasn't lived up to being a first overall pick but he is capable of putting up decent numbers. He will be starting since Ervin is getting too old and will be getting enough minutes to be productive.
