The 2012-13 season was a tough year for any member of the Timberwolves. With injuries corroding the team, the Wolves hopeful playoff return came up short once again. The loss of Kevin Love in the front court poised as a huge problem for the team, but it was at the guard position where Minnesota struggled profusely. Ricky Rubio made his mid-season return from his ACL surgery and played fairly well averaging 10.7 points and 7.1 assists per game. Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea were up and down throughout the season and rookie Alexey Shved still has a lot to learn at the NBA level. Collectively as a team the Timberwolves were dead last in the league from behind the arc shooting a measly 31% – over 2% worse than the next worse team. The Timberwolves are in the market for a starting wing player capable of stretching the floor. Here are some potential players Flip Saunders, the new president of basketball operations, could try to acquire.

Kyle Korver

Entering unrestricted free agency, Kyle Korver just concluded his 10th season in the NBA as the Atlanta Hawks were grounded by the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs. Korver is a veteran who has always been consistent shooter throughout his career, especially from beyond the arc. Korver is a 42% 3-point shooter in his 9 years of experience, averaging 9.6 points per game. Korver is primarily a 3-point specialist and wouldn’t be an ideal fit as a starter, but he would be more than capable of adding depth to a much needed position.

Kyle could be a great fit for the Timberwolves organization because he can bring the shooting threat that Minnesota is hoping for. The Wolves need somebody to float around the 3-point line offensively and pull the trigger whenever passed the ball. Korver is coming off a three-year, $15 million contract with the Hawks.

odds of pursuing: 6/10

O.J. Mayo

Originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, O.J. Mayo was quickly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a package for Kevin Love. After playing 4 years in Memphis, Mayo signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks last season but has decided to opt out of the player option. Mayo, who would be receiving $4.2 million in Dallas next year, is the former #3 overall pick from the 2008 draft and is looking for a long term negotiation. The five-year veteran averaged 15.3 point per game last season and shot above 40% from behind the arc for the first time in his career.

Mayo has always been a good scorer since entering the league and can always be a threat from deep. However, Mayo struggled with some issues he and Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle had which would result in his opting out. Mayo is looking for a boost in his paycheck this off season meaning it would cost the Wolves a little more from their pocket – or at least a longer deal. Minnesota has already shown interest in Mayo and he could be a name to watch for in the offseason.

Odd for pursuing: 9/10

Andre Iguodala

Two years ago Andre Iguodala was involved in a blockbuster trade that sent him from his beloved 76er’s team to the mile high Denver Nuggets. Iguodala had a bit of a down year with the Nuggets this season averaging 13 points per game and shooting only 32% from the 3-point line. Iggy has already made his decision to opt out of the last year of his contract in search of a bigger deal in free agency. Iguodala, 29, doesn’t bring much of an outside threat but he has a dangerous ability to drive the lane and has been well known for his perimeter defense.

If the Timberwolves are looking for their 3-point threat then Iguodala probably won’t be the answer, but if they are looking to improve the position overall – both offensively and defensively – Iguodala is more than capable. The Wolves, in fact, were 23rd in the league in opponent 3-point percentage (37%) and defensively had problems along the perimeter. Iguodala was scheduled to make a hefty $16.1 million next season with Denver but claimed he was looking for a long term situation. In the Wolves case, Iguodala could be on the expensive side and would likely require the departure of Andrei Kirilenko.

Odds of pursuing: 5/10

Nick Young

Coming off of an injury filled season, Nick Young will be a free agent for the second straight year after a quick stint withe the 76er’s. Last offseason the Timberwolves expressed interest in Young but he would eventually make his way to Philadelphia. Inconsistency has always been an issue for the former 16th pick by the Wizards. Last year Young, 26, struggled shooting the ball connecting on only 41% of his shots and only 36% of his 3-point shots found the mark.

Nick Young could be a risky pick for the Wolves but nonetheless he could bring great athleticism and quickness to the franchise. Young doesn’t offer much more than shooting as he averaged only 1.9 rebounds and 1 assist per game in his career but that could be all that Minnesota needs. Young could be an affordable option for the Timberwolves who are in need of athletic wing players.

Odds of pursuing: 6/10

Kevin Martin

After being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, Kevin Martin was named a sixth man, coming off the bench for a talented Thunder team. Martin has earned his NBA right to start in the league and not be a bench player – much like he did with the Rockets. Martin will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and will most likely part ways with the Thunder who will not have the money or opportunities to offer him. Last year Martin was stroking the ball behind the 3-point line shooting 43% while averaging 14 points per game.

If Martin were to become a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves he would quickly find his name in the starting lineup. However, for the Wolves, Martin could potentially come with a big price tag; That price tag could drop due to Kevin Martin being a fan of Adelman’s system. Kevin Martin could be a great fit for Minnesota if the Wolves staff are able to negotiate a deal with him. His great long range shooting talents and ability to spread the floor could bring a lot to the Timberwolves both offensively and defensively.

Odd of pursuing: 8/10

J.R. Smith

It came with no surprise when J.R. Smith of the New York Knicks decided to opt out of the last year of his contract. The NBA six-man of the year is expected to make just under $3 million next season and it could be debated that Smith could see double that this summer. In his 9th year in the league, Smith averaged 18.1 points per game while shooting 42% from the field. J.R. is only an average perimeter shooter as he closed in on only 36% of his 3-point shots. One of the most dangerous pieces to Smith’s game is his driving ability. This past season, Smith showed NBA fans his intense athleticism and highlight play-making dunks.

What J.R. can bring to the Timberwolves roster is a fast-paced game and on-your-feet plays. As seen in recent years, Ricky Rubio tends to play best with big, long, athletic players and J.R. could be a perfect fit. Smith will be one of the premier players on the free agency board this offseason and will be seeing big payments flying his way.

Odds of pursuing: 5/10

The post Timberwolves Free Agent Guard Options appeared first on MinnesotaSNN.

The 2012 season had many high points for the Vikings as they defeated the Green Bay Packers to secure a Playoff berth in the final week of the regular season. Everything from Peterson’s freakish comeback from injury to making the playoffs for the first time since the Brett Favre era, the Vikings took the NFL by surprise. The Vikings finished the season on a four game winning streak as they inched their way into the playoffs. Improvements were made throughout the Vikings roster after suffering a 3-13 record in the 2011 season. Quarterback Christian Ponder suffered a roller-coaster type season as he remained inconsistent throughout the 2012 season. But it was Adrian Peterson who carried the team on his back and into the postseason. Peterson fought through a devastating ACL injury to finish the 2012 season just 9 yards short of breaking the single season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson.

Christian Ponder’s Production

The 2013 season will be a do-or-die season as quarterback Christian Ponder needs to prove himself as the future of the Minnesota Vikings if he wishes to remain the teams franchise quarterback. To credit Ponder, he did start every game for Minnesota in the regular season and lead them to a 10-6 record; In other words he didn’t lose the season for them. In his 2012 campaign, Ponder passed for 2,936 yards and 18 touchdowns while throwing 12 interceptions, finishing with a quarterback rating of 81.2. The rankings for Ponder are bleak as he ranked 21st in passer rating, 31st in yards per game, and 25th in total passing yards. Ponder didn’t even throw a touchdown in 5 of the 16 games played in the regular season.

Entering his third year in the league, second year as full-time starter, Ponder will need to be at minimum a consistent passer. Last year he missed to many open receivers and had inaccuracy hiccups, especially in the middle part of the season. He has shown his capability to preform at the professional level in big games, most specifically in a must win game against the Packers in week 17. In the final regular season game, Ponder showed up big as he passed for 234 yards, 3 touchdowns and most importantly, no interceptions.

Between the NFC North quarterbacks, Ponder was ranked 3rd in the NFC North in total passer rating at 81.2, ahead of only Mathew Stafford (79.8). Ponder will have a huge advantage heading into next season as the Vikings have added legitimate receivers via free agency and the draft. It will be the first time in Ponder’s short career he will have a down field threat. Percy Harvin seemed to be the only bright spot on a gaunt 2012 Vikings receiving core. With Adrian Peterson supporting him in the backfield, a top 10 offensive line, and an ameliorated receiving core, Ponder has no excuse not to execute the Vikings game plan week by week and establish himself as a legitimate starting NFL quarterback.

Peterson expectations

Nobody sets their goals and aspirations higher than MVP running back Adrian Peterson. After suffering a torn ACL on December 24th in the 2011 season, Peterson got back on his feet by nearly breaking the record for the most rushing yards in a single season, falling short by just 9 yards (2,097) to Erik Dickerson. Adrian claimed the MVP award for the first time in his career after putting together one of the greatest seasons ever by a running back.

Peterson has already set the bar for himself this season claiming he wishes to break 2,500 yards; A challenging feat for the best of the best. You may be scratching your head thinking that 2,500 yards in a single season is physically impossible, but impossible in the same sentence as Adrian Peterson doesn’t exist. It will all come down to if Adrian can get enough carries to allow him to break the 2,500 rushing yard goal.

“I want to try to set the ball higher than that,” Peterson said, via NFL Network “I want to make it the 2,500 club. It’s definitely out there. I feel like it’s definitely attainable. … Enjoy this last year because the record’s going down, with ease.”

Peterson also noted that it was his goal to raise the Lombardi trophy for the first time in Vikings history. After what NFL fans witnessed last year, it’s hard to doubt Peterson’s confidence and willingness when he takes the field, but 2,500 yard would be, well, record crushing. Now to say Adrian could make another run at the record is something to consider and should never be counted out.

Key losses

Percy Harvin: Christian Ponder didn’t have many talented receivers to target last year, but Percy Harvin established himself as one of the elite slot receivers in the league. His quick and elusive play-making ability showed us the impact he can make in the NFL. Percy was 8th in the league last year in yards after catch even after missing the last seven games of the season. He led the all Viking wide receivers in receptions (62), yards (667), and touchdowns (3). Other than Peterson, Harvin was the only offensive threat that Minnesota had to offer. Before Harvin injured his ankle he was a potential MVP candidate.

Unfortunately for Minnesota, relations between Harvin and the Vikings staff were colorless and the tension between the two parties grew. Once Percy realized he would never receive the big chips from the Vikings, he demanded a trade. The Vikings staff tried their best to convince Harvin to remain but as time grew longer so did his unsatisfaction. After long trade talks, Percy was officially named a member of the Seattle Seahawks organization. In return the Vikings received a first round and seventh round pick in the 2013 draft as well as a mid-round pick in the 2014 draft. It was a win-win scenario for all sides of the deal as the Seahawks got attained a proven and talented receiver, the Vikings acquired key draft picks, and Harvin signed himself to a 6 year – $60 million dollar deal.  It won’t be easy for Minnesota to replace the talents of Percy Harvin but the Vikings actually went 4-0 in the last four games while he was sidelined.

Antoine Winfield: It was a huge shock to hear that Antoine Winfield, a pivotal player in the Vikings secondary for the past nine years, had been released from the Vikings roster. The veteran out of Ohio State had been with the team since 2004 and has served in 3 Pro Bowls. Consistency is the name of the game for Winfield as he has always been a defensive nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Winfield led the Vikings last year in interceptions (3) and continued his fearless tackling ability as he recorded 72 solo tackles.

The move helped clear the Vikings of over $7 million in cap space as they sent Winfield packing. It wasn’t until after his release that the Vikings made efforts to negotiate a new deal, but it was too late. It was all said and done when Winfield decided to take his talents to Seattle and play for the Seahawks with Harvin.

Jasper Brinkley: One of the only Vikings to hit the free agency market this offseason was middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley. The Arizona Cardinals were the first to pull the trigger on Brinkley signing him to a 2-year $3.5 million deal. Brinkley, a solid run defender, is very efficient in executing open field tackles. Minnesota was 11th in the league in opponent rushing yards per game (105.8) in 2012 and were 3rd in the league in only allowing six rushes of 20+ yards.

Brinkley didn’t make significant impacts to the Vikings defensive, but it has been a question as to who is going to be his replacement. The move wasn’t overally surprising considering the Vikings linebackers had a so-so year. Minnesota selected linebacker Gerald Hodges out of Penn State with the 120th pick and also drafted his teammate Michael Mauti in the 7th round too.

Chris Kluwe: The last episode of the Chris Kluwe series in Minnesota has come to an end as the Minnesota Vikings announced his release on May 6th. Kluwe has always been a fan favorite in Minnesota but more than anything for his off field stints. From his World of Warcraft addiction to his twitter rants, Kluwe is well known across the league and will never be afraid to speak the truth. Sadly for both Kluwe and the Vikings, his production on the field was in certain decline. He yielded only 25% of his punts within the 20-yard line and a 45.0 yard average punt. He did yield his highest net punting average in his career at 39.7.

Kluwe was scheduled to make $1.4 million with the Vikings this year but thoughts arouse as to if he would return next season when Minnesota drafted punter Jeff Locke out of UCLA. Kluwe has been a Viking since 2005 and will always be a memory for any Minnesota fan.

Key additions

Greg Jennings: The Vikings made their pursuit to improve their depleted wide receivers beginning with the signing of Greg Jennings. Jennings, a long time Packer, thought it was time for a change of scenery when he picked Minnesota to be his new home. Jennings didn’t travel far but the change in offense will be an experiment. Coming from MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Packers to the young developing Christian Ponder will test Jennings flexibility as well as patience. Being that Adrian Peterson is the workhorse for the Minnesota offense, Jennings is likely to see a lot of man-to-man, one-on-one coverage.

Jennings signed a whopping 5-year $47.5 million ($17.4 guaranteed) contract that will just about conclude his NFL career. With his time in Green Bay, Jennings had 3 seasons of over 1,000 yards and totaled 54 touchdowns and has Super Bowl ring in his trophy case from the great 2010 Green Bay Playoff run. With the experience and talent that Jennings has to offer, the Vikings could establish the aerial attack they haven’t had since they signed Brett Favre throwing bombs to Sidney Rice.

Sharrif Floyd: It couldn’t have been a better 2013 draft for the Minnesota Vikings as they walked away with three first round picks. Beginning with the 23rd pick, the Vikings acquired a huge steal in Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, out of the University of Florida. Originally projected a top 5 pick, Floyd floated around the board and would eventually be the first Viking drafted. Critics may have been thinking that a defensive linemen was the least of Minnesota’s necessities in the draft and a linebacker would have been a better fit. It turns out, however, that the Vikings elite defensive line is simply aging. The Vikings staff thought it best to plan for the future as Kevin Williams and Jared Allen are both on the final year of their contract.

With his time as a Florida Gator, Floyd was a first team All-American in his senior year as he recorded 3 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Floyd is a large 6’3″ 303 pound run-stuffing beast and has the strength to shred through any offensive line. The Florida Gator’s had a top 5 defense in the FBS last year that was most visibly seen with their run defense. At the hands of Sharrif Floyd and the defensive line, the Gator’s were 4th in opponent rushing yards per game (94.92). Floyd’s stats are not much to show for but his leadership ability on the defensive line aided in establishing on of the best defense’s in college football.

Sharrif received a 94.2 draft grade from NFL.com with a 40-yard dash of 4.92 seconds. The only possibly reason Floyd could have fallen is due to his “short arms”. Fortunately the Vikings had the opportunity to grab him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2013 draft. Sharrif will have the opportunity to learn from Kevin Williams – one of the best defensive tackles the game has to offer.

Xavier Rhodes: Defensively the Vikings saw great improvement last season. Their secondary appeared as a problem going into 2012 but betterment was clearly seen compared to the previous season. Yet, the Vikings still were only 24th in opponent passing years per game at 244.2. With the 25th pick in the draft the Vikings took their chances on cornerback Xavier Rhodes out of the Florida State University. The Vikings need help on the outside with elite receivers like Jordy Nelson, Calvin Johnson, and Brandon Marshall in the division.

Listed at 6’1″, Rhodes has a great leaping ability with the athleticism to bat down most 50/50 balls. He is a big, strong, physical corner who isn’t afraid to get down and dirty. Rhodes, a top performer in the 40 yard dash with a time of 4.43 seconds, led all corners in the vertical jump (40.5″) and the long jump (11′). Clearly Rhodes displayed his intense athleticism and his leaping ability will support the Vikings as an intimidation factor to any opposing quarterback. Rhodes finished his FSU career with eight interceptions and was the only player from the ACC to be named a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award.

Cordarrelle Patterson: Minnesota’s deep threat last year wasn’t much of a threat at all, in fact you could probably word it as disgraceful. For the developing Christian Ponder it was essential to acquire pieces to help solve the puzzle at the wide receiver position. Signing Greg Jennings was a great start but the Vikings staff thought it was essential to add more depth. Minnesota’s third and final pick of the first round came when they traded up to the 29th pick in order to draft Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver, Tennessee. Patterson is a tall 6’3″ split end that has the potential to bring back the excitement of the Randy Moss age.

Patterson ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash and led all receivers in the vertical jump with a leap of 37 inches. Although he is a raw receiver, Patterson is a very talented athlete and will help fill the kick returning void that left with Percy Harvin. In his senior year Patterson totaled 671 yards on 25 kick return attempts. Patterson will need to soak up the offensive like a sponge as Greg Jennings will be mentoring him through his young career.

Projection

The Minnesota Vikings schedule will consist of a match up against the AFC North, NFC East, and of course the six games against division rivals in the NFC North.

This years schedule for the Vikings will consist of highs and lows with encounters against elite teams such as the Seahawks, Packers, and the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. Minnesota will have plenty of opportunity for success and they need to take full advantage against the struggling teams like the Lions, Browns, and Eagles. Out of the 13 teams that the Vikings will match up against in 2013, only five of them played in the postseason last year. The combined winning percentage of Minnesota’s opponents in 2012 was .509 with seven of the teams finishing at or below the .500 mark.

The Green Bay Packers still appear to be the favorite in the NFC North simply because of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the dangerous vertical attack. The Packers were one of the top rated offenses in 2012 and have to capability to pick apart any defensive alignment. They are, however, still a liability at offensive line and could struggle to keep Rodgers on his feet. Last season the Packers offensive gave up the second most opponent sacks in the NFL with 51. The Packers made sure to address their need at the running back position drafting Eddie Lacey of out Alabama as well as running back Johnathan Franklin out of UCLA.

Minnesota should be able to compete for the division title along side the Packers and could potentially give Green Bay a run for their money. With the Lions still finding themselves in a rebuilding stage and Chicago still in question with their offense, the Vikings will need to utilize their division games and try and get a leg up on the Pack. The two rival games against Green Bay this year could be the deciding factor on who pulls off the division banner. The Vikings bruising defensive line should have leverage over the Packers offensive line and could force Rodgers to make risky throws into the improved Minnesota secondary. If Adrian Peterson can continue to be the monster he is and Christian Ponder can make big throws to his receiving core, the division title could be up for grabs.

The post Where the Vikings rank in the NFC North appeared first on MinnesotaSNN.

In his second year as the Minnesota Vikings General Manager, Rick Spielman struck gold again in this years 2013 NFL draft. It was first-round madness for the Vikings franchise when they drafted defensive tackle Shariff Floyd and cornerback Xavier Rhodes with the 23rd and 25th picks. The Vikings draft party at Mall of America Field was thrilled by the new talent the Vikings had drafted. Most of the fans started filling out of the stadium expecting to be done drafting in the first round. But things got even better for Minnesota fans when management traded for the Patriots’ 29th pick. The pick resulted in Tennessee product Cordarrelle Patterson, a gifted and raw athlete.

Shortly after the draft the Vikings worked quickly, nabbing as many talented undrafted free agents as they could. Although most of these players will never play a down at the NFL level, these players should not be overlooked as many talented players have gone undrafted. Notable undrafted free agents that went on to make a name for themselves include: Arian Foster, Wes Welker, James Harrison, Antonio Gates, and the Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer John Randle. Here are five undrafted free agents to watch.

Rodney Smith: WR, Florida State

The Vikings added a lot of depth to the receiver core over the off-season with the signing of former Packer Greg Jennings and first-round pick Cordarrelle Patterson. Last year the Vikings posted one of the worst passing games in the league as the averaged only 171.9 receiving yards per game. Acting quickly to change that trend, the Vikings made major moves by trading Percy Harvin, releasing Michael Jenkins, and letting Devin Aromashodu walk.

With Greg Jennings, Jerome Simpson, Jarius Wright, and Cordarrelle Patterson likely to be locks to make the team, the Vikings will seek a maximum of two more roster spots for receivers. Rodney Smith brings to the table a big frame with speed; an important presence to any football organization. Listed at 6’4″ 225 pounds, Smith has the ability to be a deep threat in addition to being a red zone threat. Vikings lacked any sort of deep threat last year as they had only three passing plays go for more than 40 yards.

In his career at Florida State, Smith recorded a total of 10 touchdowns on 1,540 receiving yards. At the combine Smith preformed well with a 40-yard dash of 4.51 sec as well as quick times in the 20 and 60-yard shuffle where he finished in the top 10 among all wide receivers. Smith also has a great leaping ability as he posted a 10′ broad jump and a 34.5″ vertical.

Mark Jackson: OL, Glenville State

The Minnesota Vikings have secured their starting left and right tackles for years to come when they resigned Phil Loadholt in the offseason. But the Vikings might be looking for some guard help in the near future. The Vikings drafted two offensive lineman – Travis Bond and Jeff Baca – in the 6th and 7th rounds of the 2013 NFL draft to help beef up the offensive line. Charlie Johnson and Brandon Fusco both struggled at times during the 2012 season and an upgrade, or at least backup plan, seems like a good idea.

Jackson, a native of Columbus, Ohio, who had an offer from the Golden Gophers, left Illinois due to off-the-field issues. At 6’5″ and 328 pounds, Jackson is a monster that can play guard, center, and tackle. NFL.com graded Jackson a 61.0, which is a projected 5th or 6th round pick. He ultimately went undrafted and signed with the Vikings.

Although he underperformed in the speed categories posting a 40-yard dash time of 5.65 seconds, Jackson still has huge leverage with the potential to play any position on the offensive line. Coming out of high school he was ranked the 10th-best center. While at Glenville State, where he was a three year starter, Jackson was named captain and MVP in his final season.

Zach Line: FB/RB, Southern Methodist

It was a Pro Bowl season last year for the Minnesota Vikings starting fullback Jerome Felton as he plowed the way for Adrian Peterson. Running backs Toby Gerhart and Matt Asiata both had a minimal role in the 2012 season as they combined for a total of 53 carries and 178 yards (just over 3.3 yards per carry). None of these backs are legitimate third down backs and the Vikings are desperately trying to find a back that has good hands, can block, and can carry the ball if needed. Welcome Zach Line out of SMU. Zach’s strengths include his pass blocking ability, his ability to catch balls out of the backfield, and his north-south running style. In his senior year he carried the ball 277 times for 1278 yards and 13 touchdowns and also had 33 receptions for 229 yards.

Coming into a Vikings system that serves its attention around star running back Adrian Peterson will be a challenge for Line to overcome. If Line wishes to make the team he will need to prove himself as a third down back. Line has the size to play the fullback position as he is a sturdy 6’0″ and 230 pounds. Zach preformed well at the combine in several different areas finishing 6th among all running back in the bench press with 26 reps. Line has some quickness to his legs as he ran a 4.77 in the 40 yard dash and had a broad jump of 111″. Zach could be used as a fullback or running back, but will likely have to crack the team with his special teams play.

Adam Thielen: WR, Minnesota State Mankato

As the Vikings continue to gather the formula for their depleted wide receiving core of last year, they are even looking at the division-II level to find any hidden talent. Adam Thielen out of Minnesota State has the skills capable of being an NFL wide receiver. He was lights out in his senior year down in Mankato as he led the team in receptions (74),  receiving yards (1,176),  and receiving touchdowns (8). Thielen also made himself the primary punt returner, returning four kicks for touchdowns in his senior year.

Thielen has a size advantage against most defensive backs being 6’3″ 200 pounds. He has great hands in the deep field and is very skilled in winning most 50/50 jump ball situations. His speed and elusiveness have been proven with his 40-yard dash of 4.45 at a regional combine in March in Chicago. Being a D-II player, however, does serve as a disadvantage for Thielen being that he has never had to run routes or play against elite college talent. Adjustments will need to be made for Thielen if he wishes to wear horns on his helmet come week one of the regular season. It’ll be hard to imagine Thielen making the 53-man roster, but as a project he could likely be on the practice squad getting ready for the 2014 season. Needless to say it will be intriguing to monitor the progress of Adam this offseason.

Brandan Bishop: FS, North Carolina State

The Vikings defensive secondary has always been a question over the past few years and Rick Spielman and company are making strides improve the secondary every year. In the 2012 NFL draft Minnesota traded up to use the 29th pick on Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith. After a great rookie season that included highlight plays and deflected passes, Smith established himself as a starting safety. Mistral Raymond suffered an ankle injury that kept him out most of the season and Jamarca Sanford took over as the other starting safety.

Brandan Bishop is a very quick and intuitive safety who can use his height to bat passes as well as his big body to make bone-crunching tackles. Bishop is a great open field tackler and he led the NC State Wolverines in tackles each of his last two seasons. His great tackling ability shows his likeliness to be a great special teams player for the the Vikings. Bishop is a major threat for Andrew Sendejo’s special teams position. It was last year when Sendejo snuck his way into the Vikings 53-man roster after preforming to the best of his ability in training camp and the preseason. If Bishop were to make the team he primarily would play special teams but could log in some minutes at the safety position. Brandon finished his collegiate career with 9 interceptions and 240 total tackles.

The post 5 Vikings Undrafted Free Agents to Watch appeared first on MinnesotaSNN.

The Minnesota Vikings have officially released punter Chris Kluwe. The move doesn’t come as a surprise and was somewhat expected when the Vikings used their 5th-round draft pick to select punter Jeff Locke out of the UCLA. Kluwe, also a UCLA alumni, had been with the Vikings since 2005.

In recent years Kluwe has become more vocal off the field, particularly when it comes to marriage equality. His constant twitter rants and publicity stunts seem to be a distraction to both him and the franchise. Spielman has said publicly that any move has ‘nothing to do with Kluwe off the field.’

Kluwe had some terrible punts this season including a 20-yard punt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers resulting in a collection of boos at Mall of America Field. Kluwe, 31, had only 18 of 72 punts (25%) land inside the 20 yard line, his lowest percentage since his rookie year. To make matter worse, Kluwe  yielded only two touchbacks – 2.8% of his total punts – a stat that has declined in each of the past four seasons.

Kluwe, on the other hand, believes he is still the best punter in Vikings history.

“That’s the nature of the NFL,” he told the Star Tribune. “I have no idea what will happen. I’ve put my product out on the field. Statistically, I’m the best punter the Vikings have ever had. So we’ll see what happens.”

Kluwe was supposed to receive $1.4 million during the 2013 season, making him one of the top ten paid punters. The move frees the Vikings of around $1.45 million, an estimated $500,000 will then be used to sign rookie punter Jeff Locke, Kluwe’s replacement.

Jeff Locke, 23, was the first punter drafted in the 2013 NFL draft which came as a surprise as most experts didn’t rank Locke the top punter in the draft. In Locke’s time at UCLA he averaged 44.0 yards per punt, and in his senior year he totaled 22 punts inside the 20 yard line. One of the reasons the Vikings drafted Locke above any other punter was due to him being a left-footed punter. A left-footed punter creates a different spin on the ball, making it more difficult to catch for return specialists.

This isn’t the first time that Vikings general manger Rick Spielman has made a sudden but major change regarding special teams. Last season the Vikings ousted Ryan Longwell after drafting Blair Walsh. Walsh ended with a historic season, breaking the record for the most field goals of 50+ yards in a single season.

So long, Minnesota, and thanks for all the fish!

— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 6, 2013

The post Chris Kluwe released by Vikings appeared first on MinnesotaSNN.

The Minnesota Twins entered the 2013 season with with low expectations after dealing outfielders Denard Span and Ben Revere. Overall the Twins are off to an impressive start and have a bright future due to a revamped pitching staff. Pitching has been the greatest weakness for Minnesota over the last two season as the Twins finished below .500 in each season. Last season the Twins finished near the bottom of the American League in team ERA (earned run average) at 4.77. They were near the bottom in all major categories including: Strikeouts, Complete games, and opponent batting average.

New additions were made this offseason for the Minnesota Twins starting rotation as they warmly welcomed Vance Worley, Mike Pelfrey, and Kevin Correia. Minnesota felt it was necessary to add depth to the starting pitching staff as they took the punishment of shipping Denard Span to Washington in return for Worley. Sadly for the Twins, Worley has yet to record his first win in six total starts. He has a total ERA this year of 7.22 and is allowing an opponent batting average of .362. Worley, 25, is still a young pitcher with a lot of potential. In 2011 Worley finished with a record of 11-3 and has a 3.01 ERA, proving he can produce at the MLB level.

Mike Pelfrey, 29, doesn’t have the best stats as he is sporting a 2-3 record with a 7.66 ERA, but he gives the Twins a needed veteran presence. Granted the Twins offense have been given most of the credit in his two wins, Pelfrey still has shown some bright spots in his pitching. In two games against Detroit, who leads the AL in batting average, Pelfrey has pitched at total of 10 and 2/3 innings and has given up four earned runs. Pelfrey suffered a tough outing against the Kansas City Royals in Comerica Park where he gave up six runs (all earned), in 2 innings pitched. Pelfrey has shown deficiency against left handed hitters who are hitting .395 against him.

One of the biggest surprises to the Twins roster has been the emergence of Kevin Correia. In his six starts for the Twins, Correia is 3-2 with a team low ERA of 2.83. He has not been giving hitters the satisfaction of solid contact on the bat as he currently has a 1.14 WHIP, lower than his career average of 1.40. This was the first season in his 10-year career that Correia, 32, has played for an American League team. To start the season Correia is recording career highs in ERA, WHIP (walks per innings pitched), and opponent batting average.

The Twins bullpen has done a solid job all season keeping the Twins in games. Josh Roenicke, Jared Burton , and Anthony Swarzak all have an ERA of under 2.00 and are pitching phenomenally for the Twins. Former starter Glen Perkins now finds himself as the Twins closer and he has started the season 6 for 6 on save opportunities. As a whole the entire Minnesota putting staff is 6th in the AL in ERA with 3.92 but find themselves 14th in opponent batting average at .278. As opposed to last year the Twins have seen much improvement in the way they handle things around the pitching mound.

Minnesota made it clear this season that they were solely committed to attempt to bring the fans a pitching staff that could win games. After all pitching wins games – or so it’s said. The Twins as of right now are playing around .500 baseball which is great improvement from last year but not enough for postseason berth. Obviously the season is still young and no real determination on playoffs has started.

Here is a comparison of the Twins pitching staff from the 2012 season compared to the 2013 season. The only thing that has

The post Improved pitching helping Twins set foundation appeared first on MinnesotaSNN.

It was an exciting year for the Minnesota Wild beginning with the signing of premier wing Zach Parise and defensemen Ryan Suter. Both were expected to have immediate impacts on both the offensive and defensive zones. Parise led the way in both points (38) and goals (18) and Suter carried the team with 28 assists. Parise is not afraid to pull the trigger as he led the Western conference with 182 shots on goal. Mikko Koivu had yet another great Wild season trailing Parise in points by only one (37). The Minnesota bench core of Matt Cullen, Devin Setoguchi, Kyle Brodziak, and Dany Heatley (until injured) kept a consistent rotation throughout the season and were heavily relied on to keep a solid flow on the ice.

Early in the month of April, Minnesota made a blockbuster trade to bring Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville to the land of 10,000 lakes. It was around that time that the Wild found themselves competitively fighting atop of the division for the 3rd seed in the Western Conference. The Wild ultimately slipped into the postseason as the 8th seed with an exhilarating win against the Avalanche. They find themselves now in a tough series against the NHL’s best, the Chicago Blackhawks.

Wild Keys to the Series

Goaltending: Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom had another solid season under his belt as he tied with the most wins with Antti Niemi and Henrik Lundqvist with 24 wins each. Despite the solid number of wins, Backstrom was only 25th in the league in save percentage (91%) and 20th in goals against per game (2.48). Backstrom, 35, is a very versatile and quick goalie who is very skilled in keeping a firm body in front of the net, but has shown weakness in controlling his rebounds. The Chicago Blackhawks bring to the table one of the best offensive teams in the history of the NHL. The Hawks were the best team in the west in goals per game with 3.1 and 2nd in the west with 31.1 shots per game. It’ll be very important for the Wild to stay out of the penalty box and give Backstrom more opportunity for success.

Scoring first: One of the biggest struggles for the Minnesota Wild this season was getting off to a hot start and putting the puck in the net first. When the opponent scores first against the Wild there win percentage is only 32%. On the other hand, when scoring first the Wild’s win percentage shoots up to 78%. Especially against a fast-paced team such as Chicago, it is essential for the Wild to light the lamp first. When scoring first the Blackhawks had a leagues best win percentage of 90% and even when their opponent scored first they still managed to get the win 53% of the time – meaning no lead is safe against the Blackhawks. With insane stats like that it would be nearly impossible for the Wild to pull the series, let alone a game, out if the fail to come out fast with intensity and determination.

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off a record season after having the best start in NHL history setting the highest point streak at 24 games. When you have a roster with names such as Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, and Nick Leddy you have high expectations to live up to and the Hawks didn’t disappoint in the least. Patrick Kane led the Western Conference with 55 points and both Kane and Jonathan Toews tied second in the west with 23 goals. Toews is arguably the best leader in the NHL and brings unity to the Hawks offensive and defensive execution. Marion came off the 2nd line and contributed very well as he totaled 17 goals on the season in only 40 games played. This Blackhawks team may be one of the most dominant teams in history and they have no intention in cutting there playoff run short.

Blackhawks keys to the game

Power Play: It’s hard to believe that such a powerful offensive team could struggle on the power plat but that was the case for the Hawks this season. They were only 19th in the league in power play scoring percentage at 16.7%. They had only 150 total power play opportunities which fell to 23rd in the NHL. Not only did they struggle offensively on the power play but also defensively as they allowed a 28th worst five short-handed goals. The Wild were nothing special on the penalty kill this year with a success percentage of 80.7% for 18th in the league. Unfortunately for the Blackhawks the Wild did a very good job of staying out of the penalty box. Minnesota was 4th best in the league in penalty minutes with a low of 228:17. If Chicago can find a way to force Minnesota into the box they will need to capitalize on a sub-par penalty kill team.

Physicality: As physical as a sport the game of hockey is the Chicago Blackhawks are just about as clean as hockey can be played. They are dead last in the league in total hits with 840. It won’t be an incredibly physical series against these two teams as the Wild are also not a very physical team as they landed only 956. Hits obviously are not an extremely important stat but do serve a major purpose for battling for loose pucks and playing with a physical presence.

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The 2012-13 NBA season has officially concluded for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they defeated the San Antonio Spurs. It was yet again a disappointing end to another very hopeful Timberwolves season. Finishing with a 30-52 record, the Wolves found themselves at the bottom of the Northwest standings – an all to familiar spot. The Timberwolves franchise will have many important decisions to make during the offseason as to who comes back and who moves on, including current GM David Kahn. Here are predictions on which Timberwolves should return in the 2013-14 season.

Chase Budinger

The Wolves acquired the high-flying, 3-point shooting forward from the Houston Rockets after a swap for Minnesota’s 18th pick in last years draft. What appeared to a very safe decision turned out to be a huge misfortune after Budinger suffered a meniscus tear early in the year at Chicago. He did return late in the season but unfortunately it was much too late in the season after the Wolves had already dug a deep hole for themselves. In the games he’s played this year Budinger averaged 9.1 points per game on 41.1% shooting from the field. The Wolves brought in Bud to bring a 3-point threat on the bench and help space the floor. Teams all around the league are developing a system of having a 3-point specialist come off the bench to help spark the offense. Mike Miller (Miami Heat), Steve Novak (New York Knicks), and Kevin Martin (Oklahoma City Thunder) have all established these roles on their given teams. Chase Budinger still has great Potential to bring consistency to the Timberwolves offense and a off-season recovery should do much good for him. He is a restricted free agent and fills a need the Timberwolves have.

Verdict: Resign

Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson was singed late in the season from the D-league after the Wolves front court was decimated by injuries. After serving two 10-day contracts, Johnson finally was signed to the rest of the year and Lou Amundson was released. Johnson doesn’t produced eye-opening stats but he has a knack for highlight alley-oops, blocks, and hustle plays. He was productive on the court but saw limited minutes as Adleman, for some reason, didn’t find the intrigue to play him. Johnson brings to the table great athletic ability and could be a good fit for point guard Ricky Rubio.

Verdict: Resign

Andrei Kirilenko

Coming off an Bronze medal during the summer in the London Olympics for Russia, Andrei Kirilenko decided he would make his return to the NBA in a Wolves jersey. After playing 10 seasons for the Utah Jazz, AK-47 took his talents to Russia to play in the Euroleague where he went on to win MVP. In his return with the Wolves Andrei averaged 12.4 points per game on 50.4% shooting. He isn’t known for his offensive game, but is one of the better defenders and shot blockers in the NBA. In the 04-05′ NBA season Kirilenko won the defensive player of the year award as a member of the Jazz. This season was as efficient as he once was but he didn’t disappoint averaging 1 block and 1.5 steals per game. Entering the summer Kirilenko has an 1-year player option to resign with the team and he would receive just over $10 million if he chooses to do so.

Verdict: Signs option

Nikola Pekovic

The Montenegro native has been one of the very few bright spots in the 2012-13 season for the Wolves with career highs in both points and rebounds. His production on the court has earned him much more respect around the league. Pekovic’s rookie contract will be expiring on July 1st of this summer and he will become a restricted free agent. Pek is a huge piece to the Timberwolves both offensively and defensively and it will be the Wolves #1 offseason goal to make sure he returns next year. Sadly for the Wolves, Minnesota will not be the only franchise interested in signing the 6’11″ center. Nikola could be looking at yearly contracts as high as $15 million and the Wolves will have to match any offer Pek gets. When asked about resigning Pekovic, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor had this to say, per Pioneer Press:

“I want him to stay, and he has told me he wants to stay. It’s to our advantage to try and work something out with him. We know and he knows he’s able to test the market. When he tells me he wants to stay, I take him for his word, but agents play a big role in all of this.” Taylor also added that he would get personal will Nikola if it was necessary in reaching negotiations.

Verdict: Resigns

Rick Adelman

Two years ago Rick Adelman arrived from Houston to be the new future coach of the Wolves, but after two very upsetting season their is skepticism whether or not Coach Adelman will wish to return. Adelman also missed about 12 games in the midst of the season after his wife was unexpectedly admitted into the hospital after suffering a series of seizures. Adelman is expected to make his decision (at least public) in the coming weeks on if he plans to return for yet another season. It wouldn’t surprise most to see Coach Adelman hang up the towel after he earned his 1000th win this season, a milestone only six other coaches have achieved in NBA history. The Wolves have a lot of potential this coming season and Adelman may want to give it one more run for the playoffs.

Verdict: Will Return

Mickael Gelabale 

Mickael Gelabale was signed to a 10-day contract the same time as Chris Johnson and similarly he would eventually sign to finish the year as a member of the Timberwolves. In his time with the Wolves Gelebale averaged 5 points per game and shot 50% from the field. Gelebale was brought in to help space the floor and bring some sort of 3-point threat, but Gelebale struggled finding a consistent 3-ball as he shot 31% from beyond the arc. The Wolves struggled from deep this season finishing dead last in 3-point shooting percentage. This is a problem that the Wolves will need to address in the offseason and Gelebale will most likely not be apart of the system in the 13-14′ season.

Verdict: Not resigned

Derrick Williams

It’s hard to say that Williams had a breakout season this year but he did show significant development in his NBA game. D-Will averaged 12 points per game and improved his shooting from 41 to 43%. His 3-point shooting took a solid leap from 27 to 33%. Despite his improved shooting, to call 33% from behind the arc good in an overstatement. Williams was drafted 2nd overall in the in the 2011 draft out of Arizona and was yet another Timberwolves draft pick that appears to have gone wrong. Right from the get go Williams didn’t live up to expectations and Adelman didn’t see the fit. If Adelman is back next season it is hard to see Williams back too. Williams has already been floating around the trade market so it shouldn’t be a shocker if he is traded during the offseason.

Verdict: Traded

Luke Ridnour

Guard Luke Ridnour was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks three seasons ago to bring depth to the backcourt. He has quietly been a very consistent piece to the Wolves roster and has done his best to fill holes in the injury plagued team – He was the only player on the Timberwolves to start and play in every game. Luke did his job this season averaging 11.5 points per game on 45% shooting however he had a down year from behind the arc shooting only 31% – Some of that due to a back injury. Ridnour will receive just over $4 million over next season and will then become a free-agent the following year. Ridnour has good trade value and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get something out of him before he hits free agency. Late in his career Ridnour would be a likely candidate to join a championship team to try and retire with a ring under his belt.

Verdict: Traded

Brandon Roy

Brandon Roy was once an elite shooting guard in the NBA before his degenerative knee issues would eventually kick him out of the league. Roy had the same procedure done to his knees that Kobe Bryant once successfully did. Unfortunately for the Wolves it didn’t turn out very well. Roy played only  the first five games of the season before his knees quit on him again. Roy signed a 2-year contract with Minnesota worth over $10 million. It would be great to see Roy make an NBA comeback, but not at the expense of the team. Roy will receive over $5 million next season but the Timberwolves Management need to ask themselves if the reward is greater than the risk.

Verdict: Released

The post Which Timberwolves should return in 2013-14 appeared first on MinnesotaSNN.

It was a season of hype, a season of promise, and a season that was sure to see the Timberwolves reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Timberwolves management, lead by David Kahn, looked for any and all ways to bolster the 2012-13 roster. The offseason was highlighted by trades and free agent signings. In total the Wolves acquired Brandon Roy, Chase Budinger, Alexey Shved, Andrei Kirilenko, Greg Stiemsma, and Dante Cunningham.

Just weeks before the season was set to start Kevin Love suffered a fracture to his third and fourth metacarpal doing knuckle push-ups. The news wasn’t good, but Love was expected to miss roughly five weeks, allotting plenty of time for the Wolves to stay in the mix once Love returned. At no point did anyone imagine this would eventually be the culprit to end Love’s season.

The Wolves kept a steady start even without the help from Love and Ricky Rubio (ACL) going 5-3 until Love’s surprise return November 12th against the Denver Nuggets. With Kevin Love returning to the lineup the Wolves didn’t improve as Kevin Love struggled to find his shot – a shot that had made him a potential MVP candidate in the 2011-12 season. The Wolves finished a short stint with Love going 10-10 before Love re-fractured his hand on January 3rd, coincidentally against the Nuggets. During that stretch Love suffered a major drop-off in his offensive production shooting only 35.2% from the field topped off with a dismal 21.7% from beyond the arc. Despite his poor shooting Love still averaged 18.3 points per game and impressively collected 14.0 rebounds per game.

After suffering his second hand injury of the season, Love admitted to not making a full recovery from his first injury and it was painfully obvious to watch Love constantly grab his ailing hand. It wasn’t long until he would be scheduled to have surgery on his hand. Love’s season was in doubt, but optimism among fans, management, and Love himself expected him to return for the final weeks of the season, ending on a much needed positive note.

Failure to be cleared medically for his surgically repaired hand, it was becoming apparent Love would miss the remainder of the season. Any chance of his return was officially scratched when the Timberwolves announced Love would undergo knee surgery to remove scar tissue. After successfully undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee, Love has officially eliminated any chance of playing another game this season.

The idea has been floating around whether or not Kevin Love will be a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves next season and if he is, how long will he remain apart of the Timberwolves franchise. Impatient fans are tired of witnessing a losing NBA team continuously fail. Unfortunately the future is now and the Wolves have made little progress.

The simple truth is trading Kevin Love could send the Timberwolves franchise back into rebuilding mode, something the Timberwolves are desperate to get out of. Although both Rubio and Pekovic are important pieces, neither brings the winning value that comes along with Love. The Wolves need a player to stick around long-term and Love is vital for the Timberwolves both now and in the future.

Center Nikola Pekovic is a restricted free agent this summer and will most likely receive contract offers exceeding $10 million/year. To become a winning franchise the Timberwolves will likely need to keep Pek around for the long term, but also make sure they can lock Rubio with a max contract (or a rather large contract). However, Rubio alone can’t do it himself as he is primarily one to share the rock and he will need a centerpiece around him to capitalize on his highlight-reel dimes. Love is one of the most versatile players in the NBA with his ability to shoot from the post, mid-range, and beyond the arc – Yes, he does lack on man-to-man defense, but this is mostly made up with his exceptional rebounding. You don’t let a potential MVP candidate and your most important player in their prime leave at free will, unless he leaves during free agency.

Kevin Love is the focal point of the Timberwolves franchise. He was the first Wolves All Star since 2007, a former most improved player, and a top 10 player in the NBA when healthy. Instead of unloading Love, the Timberwolves need to load talent around him. This will be a huge offseason for multiple reasons: Will David Kahn be back as GM, Will the Timberwolves pay-up for Pekovic, How will Kahn (or whoever the GM is) fill the missing Shooting Guard void?

A healthy Love and this is a Playoff team. It’s mandatory to find an adequate shooter via the draft, trade, or free agency to help Rubio, Love and the rest of the Wolves. This team still needs pieces, but most importantly needs to remain healthy.

The post Should the Timberwolves trade Kevin Love? appeared first on MinnesotaSNN.

The Minnesota Wild made some big offseason acquisitions to establish what is the state of hockey. On July 4th, 2012, the Minnesota Wild inked former New Jersey Devil’s forward Zach Parise and Defensemen Ryan Suter from the Nashville Predators to bring back a playoff atmosphere to the land of 10,000 lakes. Most recently General Manager Chuck Fletcher continued to look for ways to improve an already much improved Wild roster. He combated the successful offseason by trading prospects Matt Hackett and John Larsson and several draft picks for forward and captain of the Buffalo Sabres, Jason Pominville.

The Wild completed a red hot month of March going 11-4 including a season-high 7 game win streak. But have since cooled down as they have won only one of their last four games. It’s currently a tight race atop of the Northwest Division. The Vancouver Canucks are the current leaders of the Northwest Division, playing one more game than the Wild and securing a four point cushion. Winning the division for the Minnesota Wild is essential if they wish to make a deep run in the postseason. Placing 2nd in the Northwest could result anywhere from a 5th to an 8th seed in the postseason thus removing home ice advantage.

The bottom of the playoffs is a tight battle with the Coyotes sitting in 9th with 40 points while Dallas, Edmonton, and Columbus sit in a tie with 39 points. The Wild have themselves stuck at 46 points and could be threatened by any team in the playoff race to fall in the standings and quite possibly lose their spot in the postseason.

As it stands, the Wild have 10 games remaining on the schedule, including games against the Blackhawks, Kings, Sharks, and Blues. Minnesota will need to take full advantage with contests vs. the Flames and Avalanche who are both at the bottom of the western conference standings.

In their past five games the Wild have been outscored 6 to 1 in the 1st period. The majority of the Minnesota offensive struggles can be seen with their inability to create good shots on the power play where the they are just 10th in the West at 17.3%. If the Wild can figure out their offensive struggles they could be a hazard to other Western  teams and more importantly try to pull ahead of the Vancouver Canucks for 1st in the Northwest. The Wild will need newcomer Jason Pominville to help step in for Danny Heatley who could be out for the rest of the season due to shoulder surgery.

The post Wild need strong finish to secure playoff berth appeared first on MinnesotaSNN.

A playoff atmosphere is making its way to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin Love is back, Andrei Kirilenko has been as advertised, Alexey Shved has been better than expected, and Ricky Rubio will return soon. The Wolves have a solid cast of Ricky Rubio, who should be returning to action soon, Andrei Kirilenko, Kevin Love, and Pekovic. That said, the Timberwolves are still missing a legitimate starting shooting guard. Brandon Roy was signed over the offseason to fill the shooting guard hole, but with his never ending knee injuries and contemplation of early retirement, Roy doesn’t seem to be living up to the “80% of what he was in Portland” expectations. The Wolves have been forced into mixing Malcolm Lee and Josh Howard into the stating lineup. Lee, a second-year guard out of UCLA, has been playing better as of recently but still lacks a true scoring mentality and is better served off the bench. There has been a lot of speculation regarding trading certain pieces in order to get a starting-caliber guard. Here are some possible options the Wolves could look at with ESPN trade machine showing the trades would work out financially.

Ben Gordon

Current Bobcat Ben Gordon is finding ways the pick apart defenses this year and is a terrific 3-point shooter. Gordon, a career 40% 3-point shooter is currently shooting an astonishing 47% from beyond the arc this season including shooting 8-12 against the Blazers and 7-10 against the Hawks. Gordon is getting paid big money with the 5 year $50 million deal he signed with the Pistons back in 2009. Gordon was traded in the offseason to the Bobcats and currently has 2 years remaining on his contract. For the Timberwolves to make a push for Gordon it would likely include Barea or Ridinour and Derrick Williams (mostly due to financial reasons). Gordon, 29, has been a bench player for the Bobcats this season, but has started over 260 NBA games in his career.

Ben Gordon Trade

J.J. Redick

Redick, 28, is a pure shooter and a good teammate. He is currently averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game in a mainly bench role. In his 6th season out of the Duke, Redick is a reliable guard that can stretch opposing defenses and create chances for his teammates. Redick, a career 39.5% 3-points shooter and 88% free throw shooter, has the shooting touch Minnesota needs. Although he isn’t the best defender, Redick is averaging a career high .6 steals per game, and has improved in scoring in each of the last five seasons. With Redick entering the last year of his deal he could more than likely be had for a player like Derrick Williams.

J.J. Redick Trade

Arron Afflalo

Recently acquired Guard/Forward Arron Afflalo is having one of his best individual season averaging 16.1 points per game with 2.6 assists. The Orlando Magic are struggling this season and are quickly loosing there spot in the division with the Heat taking control of the division, Atlanta having a good start, and the Bobcats surprising everyone floating around .500. Afflalo was involved in the huge Dwight Howard trade last year in which he was sent from Denver down to Orlando. Afflalo is tied with Glen Davis for the leading scorers on the Magic. Afflalo is a legitimate scoring threat that can play both guard and forward. If the Wolves are looking for a top-tear shooting guard that could possibly be had with a mix of draft picks and players, Afflalo could be the guy.

Arron Afflalo Trade

Marcus Thornton

Primarily as a bench player, Marcus Thorton has a lot of potential, especially if given the pieces around him. The Kings are loaded with guards and Thornton could be more than expendable come the trade deadline. They have sunk to the bottom of the conference and are in need of change.  Marcus would fit in well with the Timberwolves offensive system, especially once Rubio returns with his pass-first mentality. Thornton, 25, has seen regressions in both his minutes and points per game the last few seasons. Thronton is by no means a lights out shooter, but is capable of putting the ball in the basketball. Thornton is averaging 13.3 points, 1.4 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game with the Kings this season. In 2010’11 Thornton averaged 1.7 steals and 21.3 points per game as a starter.

Marcus Thornton trade

Anthony Morrow

Morrow isn’t exactly a starter that the Timberwolves are after, but Morrow has starter experience.. Morrow has never really had a stand out year throughout his NBA career, 13 points per game with the Warriors in 2009, but he excels from the 3-point and free throw lines. Morrow is a career 42.6% 3-point shooter and 89.5% free throw shooter. Timberwolves fans will probably remember when he dropped 42 points and shot 8-11 from 3-point range against the Timberwolves last season. Morrow would be a great option for a rotational guard, especially if Roy is unable to return to previous form. Morrow is currently averaging a career low 12.6 minutes per game and 5.6 points per game.

Anthony Morrow Trade

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