Minnesota T-Wolves Blog – Page 84 – NBA Blog

Kings trade Shelden Williams, Bobby Brown to Wolves for Rashad McCants, Calvin Booth

The Sacramento Kings today acquired Rashad McCants and Calvin Booth from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

“We’re looking forward to having Rashad and Calvin join the team,” said Petrie. “Calvin is an experienced center and Rashad has had some terrific moments scoring the ball in the league. We also want to thank Shelden and Bobby for their contributions and wish them the very best.”

“Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown are both talented young players and we’re excited to get a better look at them,” Timberwolves General Manager Jim Stack said. “We’d like to thank Rashad and Calvin for their professionalism during their time with us and wish them all the best as they move forward with their careers.”

McCants, a 6-4, 215-pound guard, who is currently in his fourth NBA season, averaged 9.1 points (.360 FGs, .319 3FGs, .741 FTs) and 1.9 rebounds per game through 34 outings for the Timberwolves this season. A first round selection (14th pick overall) by Minnesota in the 2005 NBA Draft out of North Carolina, McCants has posted career averages of 9.9 points (.429 FGs, .369 3FGs, .735 FTs), 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game over 225 contests, of which he has started in 38.

Booth, a 6-11, 230-pound center, who is currently in his 10th NBA season, has played in only one game this season for the Timberwolves. He has amassed career averages of 3.3 points (.450 FGs, .222 3FGs, .748 FTs) and 2.8 rebounds per game through 359 outings, of which he has started in 83 for Washington, Dallas, Seattle, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Minnesota. Booth was a second round selection (33rd pick overall) by the Washington Wizards in the 1999 NBA Draft out of Penn State.

Williams, a 6-9, 250-pound forward/center, who is currently in his fourth NBA season, and second with the Kings, averaged 3.7 points (.449 FGs, .762 FTs) and 2.6 rebounds per game over 30 outings this season for Sacramento. The fifth overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks out of Duke, Williams has posted career averages of 4.6 points (.447 FGs, .250 3FGs, .732 FTs) and 4.1 rebounds per game through 175 contests with the Hawks and Kings.

Brown, a 6-2, 175-pound guard, who is currently in his rookie campaign, averaged 5.2 points (.381 FGs, .330 3FGs, .765 FTs) and 1.9 assists per game over 47 contests, of which he started in one. Upon a solid career at California State Fullerton, Brown was not drafted by an NBA team in the 2007 NBA Draft. He signed with the Kings as a free agent prior to the start of this season.

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Wolves spoil O’Neal’s debut, beat Heat 111-104

The AP reports: Sebastian Telfair had a career-high 30 points and eight assists, Ryan Gomes added 20 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves spoiled O’Neal’s debut in Miami by hitting a season-high 14 3-pointers and beating the Heat 111-104 on Wednesday night… Dwyane Wade finished with 37 points and 12 assists for Miami. Udonis Haslem added 17 points for the Heat, and O’Neal—who sustained a right eye injury in the third quarter and missed 13 minutes before returning late—had 13 in his first game since being acquired from Toronto last week… Kevin Love had 16 points and nine rebounds for Minnesota. Foye had 14 points for the Timberwolves, who also got seven points, nine rebounds and nine assists from Mike Miller and 10 rebounds off the bench from Brian Cardinal.

Al Jefferson has right knee surgery

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The procedure was performed this morning by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, N.Y. Jefferson suffered the injury during the Timberwolves Feb. 8 game at New Orleans and will be sidelined indefinitely as he begins rehabilitation.

Jefferson appeared in all 50 games for the Timberwolves this season prior to his injury, posting averages of 23.1 ppg (7th in NBA), 11.0 rpg (6th in NBA), and 1.7 bpg. The fifth-year center was one of just three players in the NBA (Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan) to post at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. Jefferson also ranked fifth in the NBA with 30 double-doubles at the time of his injury and was shooting 49.7% from the field and a career-best 73.8% from the free-throw line.

Jamison gets 29; Wizards beat Timberwolves 111-103

The AP reports: The Wizards avoided further embarrassment by pulling away in the final minute for a 111-103 victory Tuesday night in a game that guaranteed that at least one struggling team would start the season’s homestretch on a good note. “We couldn’t have lost this game,” said Mike James, who scored eight of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 70 seconds… Antawn Jamison had 29 points and 11 rebounds, leading six players in double figures for the Wizards. Caron Butler added 17 points, six assists and five rebounds before limping off to the locker room in the final minute. Butler fell to the court clutching a rebound and banged his left hip, near the joint where he had a small labral tear that cost him 19 games last season… Randy Foye scored 23 points, Mike Miller scored 18, and Kevin Love had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who overcame the big first-half deficit but blew a six-point fourth-quarter lead.

NBA to borrow $175 million

The Sports Business Journal (Daniel Kaplan and John Lombardo) reports: The NBA is set to borrow $175 million Feb. 26, marking one of the first league financings since the implosion of the credit markets last fall. The money, which will be available to 15 teams, supplements an existing $1.7 billion leaguewide credit facility that uses the NBA’s media contracts as collateral to secure loans for the clubs. The NBA surveyed its teams, and 15 responded they would like to tap into the new borrowing. While the league said it is pleased to borrow in an extremely illiquid credit market, the deal came at a cost, with interest rates up to 8.27 percent, hammering home the notion that the era of cheap money in sports is over. The 15 teams can use the money for any purpose, but covering operating losses may be high on the list.

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Timberwolves adjusting to life without Al Jefferson

The St. Paul Pioneer Press (Brian Murphy) reports: With star center Al Jefferson sidelined indefinitely because of a knee injury, the Timberwolves improvised an offensive scheme Tuesday that will be sketched in pencil the rest of the season. Rebounding savant Kevin Love absorbed more responsibilities as the 20-year-old rookie replaced Jefferson against the Toronto Raptors at Target Center. Sliding into Love’s power forward position was Ryan Gomes. That reopened a spot in the rotation for sharpshooter Mike Miller, who was plagued by a sprained ankle and shooting slump that forced him to come off the bench the previous 19 games… “We’re not dead. We’re not out. Everybody just needs to step up,” Love said. “We’ve all stepped up our game a little bit, but it’s going to have to be more. Different productivity from different players, including myself.”

Kapono steps up, Raptors beat Wolves 110-102

The AP reports: Jason Kapono is locked and loaded for another 3-point title. The two-time defending 3-point contest champion scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting as a reserve to rally the Toronto Raptors to a 110-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Both teams were missing their big stars. Randy Foye had a career-high 33 points and eight rebounds for the Wolves, who played the first game of the rest of the season without center Al Jefferson. And that future looks grim. Jermaine O’Neal had 22 points and eight rebounds and Joey Graham scored 24 for the Raptors, who rallied from 13 down in the third quarter in their third straight game without All-Star forward Chris Bosh.

Al Jefferson tears ACL in right knee

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that center Al Jefferson will be out indefinitely after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) study done this morning revealed the extent of the injury, which occurred in Minnesota’s game last night at New Orleans. The date for surgery has yet to be determined.

“This is an unfortunate situation for Al and we wish him a quick recovery,” said Timberwolves head coach Kevin McHale. “Al has been playing at an all-star level all season and has been our go-to-guy on the court. Knowing Al, he will work hard in his rehab efforts to get back on the court as soon as possible. In the interim, I’m confident that the other players on our roster will step up and meet this challenge.”

Jefferson has appeared in all 50 games for the Timberwolves this season with averages of 23.1 ppg (7th in NBA), 11.0 rpg (6th in NBA), and 1.7 bpg. The fifth-year center is one of just three players in the NBA (Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan) to post at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. Jefferson also ranks fifth in the NBA with 30 double-doubles in 2008-09 and is shooting 49.7% from the field while averaging a career-best 73.8% from the free-throw line. In his five-year NBA career, Jefferson has posted averages of 14.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

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Butler scores 23, Hornets beat Timberwolves, 101-97

The AP reports: Sean Marks dunked with 7.8 seconds left to cap a career-high 18-point effort, and the short-handed Hornets overcame the ejection of David West in a 101-97 victory… Rasual Butler scored 23 and reserve guard Devin Brown 14 for New Orleans, which won its second straight while handing Minnesota its third-straight loss. Al Jefferson led Minnesota with 25 points and 14 rebounds, but had to be helped off the court inside the final 30 seconds with a right knee injury… New Orleans, already starting the game without All-Star Chris Paul (groin) and starting center Tyson Chandler (ankle), lost another All-Star when West was ejected late in the second quarter.

Yao, Alston lead Rockets past Wolves 107-90

The AP reports: The Houston Rockets keep saying they need to play better defense. That’s what it took to turn around their game with Minnesota on Saturday night. Yao Ming scored 30 points, Rafer Alston added 22 and the Rockets rallied from a 15-point deficit in the first half to beat the Timberwolves 107-90. Tracy McGrady added 15 points and Ron Artest 14 for the Rockets, who also overcame Al Jefferson’s 36 points to beat Minnesota for the sixth straight time. Jefferson matched a career high with 22 rebounds, but couldn’t keep the Timberwolves from losing for the fifth time in six games.