NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Ok, forget the five players involved in the trade. Randy Foye, so what. Mike Miller, likes to shoot. Etan Thomas, can rebound a little. Think more on the picks. Minnesota now has both the 5th and 6th pick in the upcoming NBA draft 2009. Think about the possibilities.

For the Timberwolves, they now own both the fifth and sixth picks in Thursday’s draft. With Foye now on his way to D.C., it’s safe to assume Minnesota will likely draft a point guard with at least one of those two selections.

Multiple sources have indicated that Wolves are very high on combo guard Tyreke Evans. However, there have been questions as to whether or not Evans will be a true point guard in the NBA. With the fifth pick now in their back pocket, the Wolves could now potentially draft Evans along with another “true” point guard should they so desire. The Wolves could also package the fifth and sixth picks in an attempt to try and move up in the draft, possibly as high as #2 if the Grizzlies are willing to pull the trigger.
source

Will Ricky Rubio be a Timberwolf?

Timberwolf fans have to be loving the new GM David Kahn. He has put the team in position to land two great rookies or even trade up and get a possible franchise player like Rubio or Thabeet. This was an excellent trade.
Image: Zuma Press

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NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

One shining night Kevin McHale put up 56 points on my beloved Detroit Pistons. Well, it was one shining moment for Kevin and the Celtics. The man was unstoppable. He had a step under move that was brilliant and a turn and fade that could not be blocked and with Big Chief Parrish and Bird surrounding him up front, you could not double him.

The Pistons know this to be true, because on that night they tripled him. Did not matter. 56 big ones.

Kevin McHale was one of the greatest power forwards to play in the NBA

Kevin went from success on the hard court as a player to not much success as a General Manager of the T-Wolves. He just never could get the players he wanted and could never get a major superstar to move to Minnesota. Finally the T-Wolves have had enough.

McHale said the two in their meetings discussed the team’s roster, which McHale had re-assembled after he traded superstar Kevin Garnett away two summers ago, and began making calls to former NBA head coaches to find McHale a No. 1 assistant coach, but never received a job offer.

“We were talking about me coming back and at some point you’d think a contract (offer) would be made,” McHale said. “It was very noncommittal on everything.”
source

Kevin leaves a team with minor star Al Jefferson and not much else. Good Luck, Timberwolves!

Photo source Newscom

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Kevin McHale long ago traded in the short shorts for the suit and tie. He was better in short shorts.

Kevin McHale fired Coach Randy Wittman and hired Kevin McHale. My, it is good to be the boss.

Why was Randy Wittman fired? Kevin says the team was off to a slow start and the team was not delivering on defense, as was pledged.

Uhh, what? Are you kidding me?

The young team is 4-15 and has not responded to Wittman’s demands for tough defense and consistent effort. The Timberwolves are in the midst of a five-game losing streak in which the average margin of defeat has been nearly 17 points.

“There were certain goals and expectations that we had for this team at the start of the season, and we have not lived up to them,” Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said in a statement.

“I am disappointed in our record and believe that we have more talent than our record indicates. A change had to be made and with three-fourths of the season remaining, there is still time to make substantial progress this year,” he added.

source

Ok, ok, just let me stop laughing here and make a comment.

Here is the starting lineup: Foye, Miller, Gomes, Jefferson, and Collins

Now let’s remove Al Jefferson, whom most people don’t know anyway and what do you have? Maybe a top flight CBA team?

So if Kevin McHale was in charge of getting the players and he did not get any beside big Al, shouldn’t Kevin be fired?

Photo source Newscom

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Tony Parker is unstoppable

With no Manu and the San Antonio Spurs slumping, somebody had to do something. Well, Tony Parker did more than just something. Tony did everything.

The San Antonio Spurs needed every last layup and feathery jumper from the fast-moving Frenchman, whose unstoppable performance was just enough to fuel their first win.

Parker scored a career-high 55 points, including a 20-footer at the buzzer to force a second overtime, in San Antonio’s 129-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

source

It was only the Timberwolves, but the Spurs needed this win!

Photo source Newscom

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Why is it we all think of the NBA as a league full of pot smokers?

We don’t seem to worry too much about performance enhancing drugs, just weed.

Anyway, it has happened again. Players got caught. Rookies. Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were caught at the rookie transition program.

Chalmers, who sank the game-tying, buzzer-beating 3-pointer that forced overtime in Kansas’ 75-68 championship victory over Memphis, was drafted 34th by Minnesota. He was quickly traded to Miami, where he is expected to vie for the starting point guard position after playing well during summer league. Chalmers played three seasons for the Jayhawks.

Arthur, also an early-entry candidate who played two years at Kansas, was a sympathetic figure on draft night. Roundly believed to have lottery-type talent, Arthur sank to the 27th spot after erroneous rumors of a health problem circulated throughout the league.

Then, after being selected by New Orleans, the 6-foot-9 forward was traded to Portland, then Houston, before finally settling in Memphis.

source

Talk about making the transition!

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O.J. Mayo was traded for big Kevin Love

Image details: 2008 NBA Draft served by picapp.com

Hold on to your hats. There has been a trade between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ok, wake up, there may be some important stuff happening here.

O.J. Mayo was traded in an 8 person deal.

That’s good because Mayo didn’t come cheap. In addition to parting with the draft rights to forward Kevin Love, the No. 5 pick, Memphis gave up Mike Miller, a sharp-shooting guard who is extremely valued around the league. The Grizzlies were able to dump the remaining two years and $13 million on Brian Cardinal’s contract while also sending center Jason Collins, whose contract expires after the upcoming season, to Minnesota. In return, the Timberwolves unloaded Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner.

The contracts of Walker and Buckner aren’t guaranteed past the upcoming season, but Jaric has three years and $21.3 million left. Getting rid of Jaric gives Minnesota the potential to be a significant player in the bountiful free-agent summer of 2010.

source

Ok, what just happened here?

Opinions were divided. Love has the potential to be a long time starter and solid player. Mayo has the potential to be a star.

Minnesota wanted Mike Miller for his shooting and wanted to get under the cap for the 2010 free agents. They got that.

Memphis wanted some star power.

Both teams have a history of mucking up the trade wars. One needs only to look at the two NBA finals teams. Pau Gasol came from Memphis to the Los Angeles Lakers. Kevin Garnett came from the Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics. This left what? Memphis - 0 Minnesota - young Al Jefferson. Of course, don’t forget the Brandon Roy for Foye Minnesota trade. Who is Foye? Who knows, but Minnesota wanted him.

So O.J. Mayo ends up playing for the Memphis Grizzlies for now and Kevin Love plays for Minnesota for now. For now being the key words.

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While perusing the USA Today over my mid afternoon, really my morning, but your mid afternoon coffee, some surprising stats popped up.

Scoring Average: While no surprise that LeBron James leads with 30 and Kobe Bryant is second with 28.4, there are some surprises. Did you know that Denver has the next two with Iverson and Carmelo don’t smell my breath Anthony? Did you know Al Jefferson is averaging a pretty heady 23 points a game for Minnesota? He is the forgotten man in the Kevin Garnett trade. Kevin Garnett is not on the list.

Kevin Garnett not in the NBA stats for scoring average and Al Jefferson is

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Field Goal Percentage: Beidrins of Golden State is the leader at .623. Who? That is what came out of my mouth too. He is the Center for the Golden State Warriors and averages 10 points and almost 10 rebounds per game. This is Andris Beidrins 4th year and he really upped his stats.

Three Point field goal percentage: This one took me really by surprise. Toronto has the leader and two others on a list of the top ten. The leader is Kapono. Oh, not that deadly “Who?” again? It is Jason Kopono from UCLA. Oh, that Kapono. Like we know a whole bunch of Kapono’s.

Toronto also checks in with Jose Calderon and Parker. Not Tony Parker, but Anthony Parker. Which is kind of like Tony Parker, isn’t it? But not the one from the San Antonio Spurs with the cute girlfriend. Not that Anthony Parker may not have a cute girlfriend, but…arrrgghh. The Toronto Parker, leave it at that.

Better end this now, it is getting too confusing.

NBA Basketball special comment Don’t you love the NBA stats?

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Kevin asks: Al Who?

A friend of mine asked me the other day what the Celtics gave up for Kevin Garnett? Yes, your intrepid author has friends.

Before my friend could hear my answer, he exclaimed that Boston got Garnett for nothing. They just gave up a bunch of junk.

He asked me again, so who did Boston give up?

My reply was Al Jefferson.

Who?

Al Jefferson, he is a young player and is going to be a great player in this league for years. Believe me, Boston did not want to give him up.

The original trade reads like this:

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have acquired 10-time All-Star and 2004 MVP Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a 2009 first round draft pick (top three protected) and a return of Minnesota’s conditional first round draft pick previously obtained in the Ricky Davis-Wally Szczerbiak trade. Minnesota also receives cash considerations in the deal. source

Who?

The conversation kind of ended right there, but now Al Jefferson has a chance to get voted on to the All Star team and deserves it.

Al Jefferson, Minnesota
Averages: 20.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.5 APG; Total PRA: 34.1
Breakdown: Replacing Kevin Garnett is no easy task, but Big Al is working hard in Minnesota. Taking advantage of a post-centric offense, Jefferson’s averaging more than 20 points per game for the first time in his career, and rebounding at a rate that proves he’s hungry like a (Timber)wolf. source

Only one problem for Al Jefferson. He has to beat out Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, and Dirk Nowitzki.

There is no Who with any of those guys.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will you be casting a sympathy vote for Al Jefferson?

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And he shall come from the East and lead them…

Denver is all set up to win the Northwest.

Think about this division. Greg Oden is out for the season at Portland and they let their other big man, Zach Randolph, go to the Knicks.

Seattle is playing for the future with young Rookie of the Year front runner Kevin Durant. They are young and inexperienced.

The Timberwolves are starting the Al Jefferson show and Read more

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

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Ben Gordon shooting the lights out!

The NBA draft class of 2004 has their contracts coming up for renewal.

In the NBA, this is the first of the great Promises, like a strong spring breeze after a long cold winter; it brings with it many new riches.

This time period, 3 years after your initial contract, is the reason that so many undernourished, undereducated, immature lanky, talented basketball players leave College early to go to the Pros.

You see, it is not the NBA come calling, it is the after 3 years free agent or renegotiate that they hear so loudly.

The class of 2004, including Ben Gordon, may face Read more