Hungry Like the Wolf

[brutusbrutus]

The ownership team is not happy that the T-Wolves are two million past the cap, they are telling me that I need to be under the cap by two million next year or cut cap space now. I am really out of options for this year since the team is filled with guarenteed contracts.

J.J. Reddick's contract is up, what really hurts me is David West's massive contract that just gets more expensive, I will passively shop him for a productive PF with an expiring contract.

I am not too concerned about this issue I think I will have more leeway than the owners are letting on. They were thrilled about the extra revenue the playoffs brought in.

[brutusbrutus]

Team Summary

Starting PG: Tennell has performed well and become a leader in the locker room. He accepted a very low ball contract offer, this is likely because his next contract will undoubtedly be a much higher offer and he will force me to compete with the rest of the teams for his services and he is doing this without coming across as someone who is greedy. I respect what Tennell has done despite not having much athletic talent. I expect more of the same from Tennell about 30 productive minutes per night.

Per 36
PPG: 15.1
APG: 8.1
RPG: 2.4
TS% .583

Backup PG/SG: Ronald Sandler, Sandler is this teams answer to Steve Kerr, he is also the reason Anthony Morrow was expendable. Expect Sandler to play a larger role this year. He may even be Tennell's replacement at the PG position in the future.

Per 36

PPG: 16.5
APG: 7.8
RPG: 3.0
TS%: .598

3rd String PG: Donny Dunn will get some minutes, mostly junk minutes or minutes against miss matches. Dunn is the only PG on the roster that can really drive to the basket with consistency, Dunn is still turnover prone and not a great shooter yet.

ROOKIE

Starting SG: David McDermott, this will be a huge year for McDermott he is an all round scorer that now commands a double team. McDermott has had trouble being consistent and he seemed to hit a wall at the end of last year. Despite hitting a wall, he did everything he could to perform even when his shot wasn't falling. Most notably McDermott came through and shut down Tyreke Evans vs. Sacramento.

Per36

PPG: 21.3
APG: 2.7
RPG: 4.3
TS% .578

Backup SG: Theo Sefolosha will come in for defensive assignments, Ronald Sandler will also back up McDermott. Sefolosha is a defensive wiz, but he needs to have scorers placed around him as he doesn't have the ability to create his own shot and he almost never draws fouls.

Per36
PPG: 10.7
APG: 2.4
RPG: 4.6
TS%: .513

3rd String SG: J.J. Reddick played a very limited role last year for the Timberwolves last year really only coming in when the Wolves needed 3 point shooting options. Reddick is limited defensively and won't get many minutes this year, barring injury.

Starting SF: Shang-de Teoh played absolutely fantastically in the playoffs, proving that he is one of the premier defenders in the league. He gets over 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks every game. Shang-de Teoh has developed an effective offensive game that works with the teams style of play. Teoh is also developing much better handling and passing skills allowing the Wolves to use him as a point forward at times.

Per36
PPG: 12.5
APG: 4.0
RPG: 5.4
TS%: .525

Backup SF: Luc Richard Mbah a Mounte: Mounte is a backup with limited skill with a very limited offense, he is expected to play much more this year than last year. Mounte is a defensive wizard that can grab boards, something this team really needs in the limited minutes he gets.

Starting PF: David West had a great year last year coming up good in clutch situations. West is the team's premier veteran scorer. His contract is large and he isn't a huge rebounder, rumor has it that the Timberwolves are shopping him for an expiring contract rental PF who can defend and rebound better. This would be contingent on the progress of Teoh as a scorer and McDermott's continued progress in that area. West is an excellent passer for a big man. He can even slide to SF at times.

Per36 numbers

PPG: 16.8
APG: 3.1
RPG: 6.4
TS% .562

Backup PF: Craig Smith, Smith has proven to be a suitable backup, although he played most of the year last year in the D-League he made the d-league first team, he has played for the T-Wolves before and was fairly good in that role, Smith is hungry for some NBA minutes.

3rd String PF: Nick Collison played only 3 minutes per night for Sacramento last year, this is expected to be around his playing time for the Timberwolves.

Starting C: Joakim Noah, is the key to this team's success. Pekovic being injured really hurts this team, Noah is his replacement. Noah is a player that needs to revitalize his career, he became expendable in Chicago because of an off season, he wants to re-establish his value as a max contract Center. Noah is signed for two more years and this works out well for Minnesota as it allows for Pekovic's injury and recovery process, after two years Noah has little to no interest in re-signing with the Wolves. Noah is a among the best rebounders in the league this is very important to the Timberwolves.

Per36

PPG: 11.1
APG: 1.6
RPG: 11.8
TS%: .516

Backup Center: Przybilla is a fan favorite and local to Minnesota, he performed heroically against the number one seeded Sacramento Kings. Przybilla doesn't perform well against all teams however and despite a huge heart and a fierce loyalty to the Timberwolves he is not starting material. He provides size and defense in the post, he will get a lot of minutes this year. Pryzbilla always puts up good per 36 numbers, but that is because the coaching staff with the Timberwolves use him brilliantly in just the right situations. Many fans want Pryzbilla to start.

Per36

PPG: 13.8
APG: 1.1
RPG: 11.7
TS%: .570

3rd String C: Jevon Dixon, spent last year developing in the D-League where he made the all-star team. Dixon is talented but lacks a good defensive game or a post presence. Dixon will get his feet wet in the NBA this year.

Team weaknesses: Guard defense, rebounding, not as much bench depth as in the past.
Team Strengths: Scoring, defense in the post, young developing team.

Style: Fast pace team oriented basketball.

Projection: 3rd to 6th seed playoff contender.

[brutusbrutus]

The team went 13-4 to lead their division. December was a great month as most every player was playing at the top of his game. Ronald Sandler and Travis Tennell have been essentially splitting minutes at the point lately and after starting off playing great David McDermott was derailed by a minor injury. Joakim Noah is playing very well for the Timberwolves system and the Timberwolves have been routinely out rebounding their opponents for the first time in years.

[brutusbrutus]

The Timberwolves ended the month with a 24 and 8 record, the team is completely healthy and McDermott, Teoh and Sandler are all having stand out years the Wolves are getting a huge defensive effort out of Joakim Noah.

[brutusbrutus]

The Timberwolves are 31-15 after January, the Timberwolve's offense is the No. 1 offense in the entire league scoring 107.7 points per game. Also Pekovic may be back and ready to play some minutes in two months, this could be great for the team. I am expecting a strong playoff run by this team.

[brutusbrutus]

Jim Beasley wins the slam dunk contest with a one handed reverse over a large cake.

Mike Miller wins the 3pt contest

Ronald Sandler scored 30 in a sophomore win over the rookies in the futures game.

Again no Timberwolf made the all-star team. Monta Ellis won the MVP for the west as they won 137 to 130.

[brutusbrutus]

J.J. Reddick who was getting no playing time was traded to Atlanta for a 2nd round pick. This solves the bugetary issues for now. The owners are thrilled and the Timberwolves competitiveness has not been compromised.

[brutusbrutus]

Teoh heroically played through his first injury and is now healthy, McDermott is becoming an efficient 20 PPG scorer and Sandler continues to make a case as the 6th man of the league. Richard Luc Mbah a Mounte has been conically injured this year. Pekovic is well on his way to recovery as he has started practicing with the team. The team is on fire with a 43-17 record.

[brutusbrutus]

1 1/2 months is the time David West will be out with injury. In 20 days Pekovic will be able to play, at that point Pekovic will play the PF role and the team will have to slow down its pace. Until then the team is forced to play the even more awkward duo of Pryzbilla and Noah as the C and PF. The end of the year will be a trial for the Timberwolves.

[brutusbrutus]

At the end of the month the team has a record of 51 and 21. The team has changed since the start. Ronald Sandler has usurped Travis Tennell as the starting PG and Pekovic is now back in the lineup as the PF next to Noah. David West's recovery is going slowly, if he works hard he might make it back into the second round of the playoffs.