Category: Minnesota T-Wolves Blog

The Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jerry Zgoda) reports: The Wolves lost eight of the first 13 times they led going into the fourth quarter this season. They now have won the past four games in which they led after three quarters and are 10-4 in that category since winning at Golden State on Jan. 21, the demarcation line in a season they started 5-34. “We’ve grown up,” Wolves center Al Jefferson said. They won seven games in March, are 14-19 since that Jan. 21 game, and Sunday’s victory was their second over the Jazz at home in five weeks. “We’re getting better and better,” Jefferson said. “To win like this two times in a row over them at home says a lot.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has requested waivers on center Theo Ratliff after reaching a contractual buyout agreement. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Several newspapers in Detroit have reported that Ratliff may sign with the Pistons.

“Theo indicated to us that he wasn’t sure of his plans in the future – whether he was going to play or not – and there was an indication that he would not re-sign with us if he did choose to continue playing,” said Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale. “This provides us an opportunity to play our younger post players – Craig Smith and Chris Richard – and give us more time to continue to evaluate them. I cannot say enough about Theo’s professionalism throughout the entire season and we wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Ratliff, in his first season with the Wolves, appeared in 10 games (six starts) for the Timberwolves this season, and posted averages of 6.3 points (.511 FG%), 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 21.4 minutes per game. He missed 45 games this year due to soreness in his right knee, and underwent arthroscopic surgery on Dec. 18. The 13-year NBA veteran has career averages of 8.0 points (.497 FG%), 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in 689 career NBA contests. The 6-10 center was acquired by Minnesota in a trade with Boston on July 31, 2007.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports: Wolves veteran Antoine Walker said today he’s open to a “workable buyout” of his contract, though he believes the odds of such a deal happening are slim.Walker said the next step in a season that’s turning more frustrating because of his limited role is to explore the possibility of a buyout. Any possible buyout would have to be completed before March 1 so Walker could be eligible to make a playoff roster with another team, said Walker’s agent, Mark Bartelstein. “It’s something we’ve thought about and are giving consideration to,” Bartelstein said. “If there’s something out there that would ultimately make sense, we’re open to it. I don’t know where it’s going to wind up yet.”Bartelstein declined to comment when asked if he has contacted the Wolves’ front office or owner Glen Taylor about a buyout.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press (Rick Alonzo) reports: The NBA trade deadline passes at 3 p.m. ET Thursday. It remains to be seen whether Antoine Walker and Gerald Green will still be on the Wolves’ roster. Both have expressed frustration with their lack of playing time, to the extent that they want to be traded. “He would love to be traded,” Walker’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said today. “He likes everything about the Wolves, the guys, the coaches. But they’re rebuilding, and he’s in the prime of his career here and wants to play. We understand there’s a divergence in the directions of where he’s going and where the Wolves are going.”