Rumors on Wolves targets, Love on Coach Wooden and more
From Ronald Tillery/Commercial Appeal:
One team that will make a strong run at Gay is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Team owner Glen Taylor and president of basketball operations David Kahn have already targeted Gay as an attainable player to uplift the struggling franchise.
Griz owner Michael Heisley continues to insist that Gay will be a Grizzly next season. Memphis (namely Heisley) has the right to match any offer sheet that is presented to Gay from another team.
From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, asked if his team, which has the No. 4 overall pick plus two others in the first round of the NBA draft on June 24, will try to trade up: "It's really difficult to move up. But it doesn't mean you don't try."
From Kevin Travis/Washington Daily News:
It’s time for Washington to return some love to Damien Wilkins.
Wilkins, a Washington native, is playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Instead of Wilkins holding his annual basketball camp and Fun Day, the city can help thank Wilkins for all his hard work and dedication. A dinner will be held June 19 to honor Wilkins.
From Hoopsworld:
Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn was the subject of a lot of criticism after going point guard crazy in the first round of last year's draft. Minnesota had back-to-back picks and with Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings on the board they went with two other lead guards in Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio. It was a tough decision and right now it looks like Kahn made the wrong choice. His job won't be any easier come draft night this year because they're in a position where they will have plenty of options.
If they want to go big they'll likely have their choice at DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Cole Aldrich and Patrick Patterson. There are two quality wings that should be available as well in Al Farouq Aminu and Wesley Johnson.
Then of course there's the option to bring in some talent that could contribute immediately via trade.
From Marcus Thompson II/Mercury News:
If Randolph is gone, a spot would open up for another small forward. Reports have surfaced about the Warriors talking to Minnesota about a trade involving Randolph, the Timberwolves' No. 4 pick and maybe one of Minnesota's big men, Al Jefferson or Kevin Love.
General manager Larry Riley would not confirm or deny trade rumors, per team policy.
"My position all along on Randolph is that we aren't trading him unless there is a really good player on the other end," Riley said. "Every time my phone starts ringing, people start asking about him. What does that tell you? I'm not rushing to make any rash decisions. But it's my job to listen."
From The Wages Of Wins Journal: Minnesota Discovers it Needs More than Love
From Marca.com (link and translation via HoopsHype):
Uros Tripkovic will travel to the United States to work out with the Knicks, Lakers, Timberwolves and Suns.
From David Wharton and Chris Foster/Los Angeles Times: John Wooden's words live on in the hearts of his admirers
Former player Kevin Love, now with the Minnesota Timberwolves, said Wooden had a way of attracting followers. Love recalled visiting Wooden's San Fernando Valley condominium and noticing a space cut out of the front steps to make room for the volume of letters that arrived.
"One thing that stuck with me was all the mail," Love said. "I remember thinking what a special person you have to be to get all that mail."