Griffin to Remain Starting Center

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey has made his first change in the starting lineup.

Eddie Griffin will remain the starting center for the "foreseeable future," Casey said after Thursday's practice.

Griffin displaces Michael Olowokandi, the starter all season until he missed three games last week because of a sore right elbow. Now Olowokandi is relegated to coming off the bench, at least for the time being, during the final season of his contract with the team.

Olowokandi's name continues to swirl in the rumor mill as a possible trade candidate for Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest. And now he has a new role as a reserve.

"We're going to keep Eddie in the starting lineup," Casey said. "I think Mike is going to have a lot of good matchups coming off the bench. He's going to have some smaller centers to go against. I'm looking for him to be our post-up option and also controlling the paint defensively with the second unit. It's not locked in, in blood, but right now I like the way Eddie's coming in, giving us a little energy with shot blocking and running the floor."

Olowokandi is averaging 6.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in his third season with the Wolves. He came off the bench the past two games after the layoff. He said his elbow isn't a problem anymore, which means he could have returned to the starting lineup.

"I'll take and accept whatever role I get," Olowokandi said. "I'll play defense and set screens. They told me that's my job."
Olowokandi kept an even tone as he discussed his situation.

"At the end of the day, I'm employed by the team," he said. "If they want to bring me off the bench, they'll bring me off the bench. If they want me to set screens, rebound, play defense ? essentially that's what they've told me I should do, so I take it that's what I'm being paid for. I'm capable of doing more, but if that's what they want me to do, that's what I'll do."

Olowokandi said he doesn't worry about things he can't control, including the trade speculation, and that he has no idea whether Minnesota will try to re-sign him during next summer's free agency period.</div>

Source