Training camp updates, Rambis says Ridnour likely to be starting PG til Flynn's return, Kahn says Flynn to play again in November, players talk about Pekovic's size, Taylor wants to build championship team "relatively quickly" and more
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
Michael Beasley participated fully in practice this morning after he hurt his left shooting hand late in Sunday night's scrimmage.
Beasley played with his hand taped but otherwise didn't seem affected by it.
"Just a little sore," he said. "I honestly don't know what I did to it. I think big Pek (Nikola Pekovic) set a screen on me, but he got everybody so I can't really cry. I still got full range of motion. A little sore, I'll get through it."
From Jonah Ballow's twitter account:
#Twolves team dinner at Mr.Taylor's house in Mankato -- some great lasagna & apple pie
From Ray Richardson/Pioneer Press:
Luke Ridnour was signed by the Timberwolves as a free agent with the specific purpose of backing up point guard Jonny Flynn and being his mentor.
The situation has been reversed, with Flynn recovering from hip surgery and not expected to play until at least the first week of the regular season. Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said Ridnour, a seven-year NBA veteran, likely will be the team's starting point guard until Flynn is healthy.
"Luke's been doing a tremendous job pushing the ball and seeing the floor," Rambis said.
Ridnour and six-year veteran Sebastian Telfair have been splitting time running the offense while Flynn observes from the sideline. Flynn has been helpful to both newcomers in deciphering Rambis' triangle offense.
From Ray Richardson/Pioneer Press:
Beasley's outgoing personality has been apparent in training camp. He jokes with teammates and shouts encouragement.
Wolves forward Kevin Love, also known for his bubbly personality, said Beasley balances his emotions well.
"When it's time to get serious, he's down to business," Love said.
On the advice of former Heat star Alonzo Mourning, Beasley got into golf to help give him peace of mind.
With the help of golf and 16-month-old daughter Mikaiya, Beasley is confident he'll keep moving in the right direction.
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
Two months ago, 7-foot center Kosta Koufos was little more than a salary-cap contract exchanged in Al Jefferson's trade to Utah.
So far in training camp, he has been a living, breathing, energetic big man who'll bang and can shoot it with some range.
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
Wolves basketball boss David Kahn hopes Flynn can return to running and the court after an Oct. 18 checkup in Colorado and says the second-year point guard will play a game again sometime in November, which would preclude the Oct. 27 season opener against Sacramento.
"We don't really have an etched-in-stone timetable, anything can happen," Flynn said. "We're just going to take our time to make sure I get out there healthy. If that's the first game of the regular season, so be it. If that's the middle of November, so be it. But whenever I'm healthy and feel I can go out there and play 100 percent, that's when I'll be out there."
Until then, Flynn rehabilitates in a swimming pool -- he increased his "running" in one Sunday -- and observes his healthy teammates, encouraging and advising as needed. He can shoot and dribble right now, but can't jump (so no jump shots) or run yet until he gets approval from Dr. Marc Philippon next month. He'll stay behind to get treatment when the team leaves next week for preseason games in London and Paris.
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
I'm making him my new best friend," Wolves guard Wayne Ellington said. To hear assistant general manager Tony Ronzone tell it, Pekovic's 6-10, 290-pound body is made as much from tungsten carbide as bone and flesh.
And don't forget the no-nonsense haircut and bicep tattoo that displays a sworded warrior standing upon a bed of skulls.
"I don't think nobody has the guts to challenge Pek to a fight, nobody," forward Michael Beasley said. "Pek is 300 pounds, he's 6-10 and he's from Serbia. I don't think nobody wants to challenge him."
From the Associated Press:
Yet even in arguably the darkest days of his 16 years of ownership, a period that has seen the team free-fall to the bottom of the league, Taylor says he is as determined as ever to get it turned around. He told The Associated Press on Monday that he has the money and the wherewithal to see the scars from the latest franchise face lift heal in hopes that things will start to look better very soon.
And at 69 years old, Taylor wants all of that to happen soon.
"I want to bring a really good team to Minnesota that has a chance to win a championship," Taylor said. "My age would be consistent with that. I'm old enough that I want to do it relatively quickly."
From Stephen Litel/SLAM Online: TWolves ‘10-11 Preview
From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
As part of the Timberwolves' new corporate sponsorship with Life Time Fitness, Wolves players will be assigned a personal trainer in addition to working with the team's regular training staff.