[外電] Timberwolves are eyeing free-agent market -- but when

[wisdom8002 (Blood、Sweat、Tears。)]

7/2/2007 9:43:36 AM

By Kent Youngblood

McClatchy Newspapers

MINNEAPOLIS -- Patience, Kevin McHale said.

McHale, the Timberwolves' vice president of basketball operations, had just
made the second of two draft picks Thursday night. In a few hours the Wolves
had added two University of Florida teammates: Corey Brewer -- the quick,
athletic perimeter defender -- and Chris Richard, a muscular inside banger.

So, with two needs addressed, naturally McHale is going to roll up his
sleeves, take a gander at the free agent market and . . .

Wait?

Wait a while, actually, he said.

Sunday was when NBA free agents and teams could officially start talking.
Agreements can be reached but can't be signed until July 11, when the league
and the players' association announce the new salary cap figure.

The Timberwolves enter free agency with two salary cap exceptions: a biannual
and the mid-level. Last year those were worth $1.75 million and $5.215
million, respectively. So no, the Wolves don't have a lot of money to play
with. But as McHale noted, neither do most of the other NBA teams.

So expect McHale to wait before augmenting his roster through free agency.
There are other priorities to deal with.

Such as trades. While McHale continues to say Kevin Garnett will be a part of
his team, he hinted strongly that the Wolves roster will continue to be
restructured through trades.

"We've had a lot of different talks with a lot of different teams," he said.
"So I think there is probably a few deals we're pretty far down the road on.
But again -- there is a rhythm to the league. Deals you talk about at the
trade deadline usually start happening now. And deals you talk a lot about at
this time happen after the draft, after everyone knows who they've picked and
at what position. So now my first priority will probably be to pursue a few
trades."

So if McHale is serious about not trading Garnett, who are the most likely to
be moved?

Trenton Hassell is a name that will be mentioned, seeing as Brewer's strength
is also Hassell's -- perimeter defense. Hassell has three years left on his
contract -- the third being a player option -- at $4.35 million annually.

Ricky Davis would be a tradable asset, given his ability to score and the
fact that his $6.82 million deal will be wiped off the books after the coming
season.

The agent for guard Troy Hudson has asked for a trade, but it seems unlikely
the Wolves would be able to find a team willing to take on three years at
nearly $19 million in salary.

Marko Jaric is another player on the Wolves' guard-heavy roster who has a lot
of time (four years) and money ($27.35 million) left on his deal.

McHale will have a far better idea of what he needs after he finds out how
much he can change his roster with trades.

That said, given their relative lack of money to spend, the Wolves aren't
going to be in the market for the likes of Rashard Lewis, Chauncey Billups or
Gerald Wallace.

But with patience a talented free-agent field might come back to the team
later, and the Wolves might be able to fill a key need. Or needs.

"I anticipate us still being very active, in terms of what we're trying to do
and the pieces we're trying to add," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said.
"Whether through free agency or making more (trades). We have a lot of work
still ahead of us."

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