Category: Minnesota T-Wolves Blog

Six months after the Vikings stadium deal paved the way for a public/private renovation of Target Center, Minneapolis’ chief negotiator says the Timberwolves and the arena’s operator still won’t say how much they will pay.

The “implementation committee” for the estimated $100 million renovation of the city-owned building has already met twice. But the city’s lead official on the project, Jeremy Hanson Willis, expressed frustration Tuesday night that there wasn’t a deal.

“We’ve said that we need to have significant private contribution in order for us to do this renovation,” Hanson Willis said after a meeting of the committee. “And we don’t yet have confirmation about to what degree the private sector is going to contribute to this.”

— Reported by Eric Roper of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Brandon Roy underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today on his right knee. The surgery was performed by Timberwolves team orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Fischer at the TRIA Orthopaedic Center in Bloomington, Minn.  Roy is expected to be out approximately one month.

“Brandon had been experiencing some right knee pain, dating back to Oct. 26, when he banged knees with a Milwaukee Bucks player in a preseason game,” said Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn. “The pain became more pronounced on Nov. 9 during our game against Indiana. We fully support Brandon’s decision to have today’s arthroscopic procedure, and look forward to his return when he feels ready to play.”

Roy has played in five games this season, averaging 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Roy was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Wolves on July 31, 2012.

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived Will Conroy. With today’s move, the Wolves’ roster now stands at 14 players.

Conroy, a 6-2 guard, appeared in four games this season with Minnesota, totaling one point and one rebound in 20 minutes.

Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn met with coach Rick Adelman and his staff Wednesday, Nov. 14, regarding the possibility of adding a player to help relieve the team’s mounting injury concerns, but Kahn said no decisions were made.

“It’s not feasible to do anything right now,” Kahn said before the Timberwolves’ game against the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night at Target Center. “It’s harder this time of the season to get a player. Certain players can’t be traded until after December 15 if they signed in the summer.”

Kahn indicated the most likely scenario for the Timberwolves would be to sign a free agent, but the team is at the 15-player roster limit and would have to release someone to make room.

— Reported by Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Chase Budinger underwent successful surgery today to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Budinger’s injury occurred at the 6:00 mark of the fourth quarter in Minnesota’s game at Chicago on Nov. 10.

Budinger is expected to be out approximately 3-4 months.

Budinger is averaging 11.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in six games for the Wolves this season. He was acquired by Minnesota in a trade with Houston on June 26, 2012.

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that forward Chase Budinger suffered a lateral meniscus tear of his left knee during yesterday’s game at Chicago. Budinger suffered the injury at the 6:00 mark of the fourth quarter in Minnesota’s 87-80 loss to the Bulls. Surgery will be scheduled later this week. A timetable for his return will be determined after the surgery.

Budinger is averaging 11.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in six games for the Wolves this season. He was acquired by Minnesota in a trade with Houston on June 26, 2012.

Believe it or not, but he was among the first two NBA players to receive a warning under the league’s new flopping fine policy.

He got a warning for flailing his arms but not falling Friday night on a play when Sacramento’s Jimmer Fredette gave him a stiff arm and got called for the offensive foul for driving into him.

The NBA considered that some over-acting by Barea.

Barea expressed surprise — almost bordering on pride — that he received a warning, even though he claimed the league hadn’t yet told him.

— Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that the team has picked up the third-year options on guard Ricky Rubio and forward Derrick Williams.

Rubio, a second-year guard from Spain, finished as runner-up in the NBA’s Rookie of the Year voting last season. He appeared in 41 games, averaging 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 8.2 assists. Rubio finished sixth in the NBA, and first among rookies, in assists last year. He finished with 12 point/assist double-doubles.

Williams, the second overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Arizona, appeared in all 66 games for the Wolves as a rookie, averaging 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He finished fifth among rookies in rebounding and seventh in scoring. In 15 starts, Williams averaged 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 30.0 minutes per game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that the team has waived forward Mike Harris and center Chris Johnson. The Wolves roster now stands at 15 players.

Harris appeared in five preseason games, totaling six points, seven rebounds, one assist and four steals in 30 minutes.

In three preseason contests with Minnesota, Johnson registered six points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 15 minutes.