- R. Nelly
It came to me while watching Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser argue over why the Minnesota Timberwolves are so bad this season:
A deal needs to be made.
Let’s face it, the Wolves are not where they should be right now. They’re the team that almost beat the Shaq, Kobe and the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals last season!
But they’re also the team that lost to the 8-21 Bobcats today.
The NBA is done with its first trimester of the regular season, and the T-Wolves are clawing at the very last playoff spots in the West.
Spree and Sam I Am are now making the Timberwolves seem like British Shorthairs. Purrrr…
The problem is NOT the Big Ticket takin’ too many shots — dude averages 24 points on only 18 shots per game, and 50 percent shooting. The real problem is the players around him: Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell.
Spree and Sam I Am, the players that last season helped lead the Timberwolves overcome its seven years of playoff woes, are now making the Timberwolves seem like British Shorthairs. Purrrr…
This is all started at the beginning of the season. Spree and Sam whined and complained about their contracts. I don’t remember exactly what was said in the papers — I probably was still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor after the embarrassment at Athens — but it was pretty sad.
And now they’re just playing like washed up vets! I guess that, without their money, winning takes a back seat.
Obviously, nothing’s happening this year with the T-Wolves unless they can get rid of one or both of these babies. Minnesota needs someone who can compliment the intensity of Kevin Garnett — just like I Am and Spree did last year.
Apparently, it was “bigger contract intensity” that we saw last year. So here’s the deal:
Trade Sam Cassell to the Denver Nuggets for Andre Miller.
It’s a plain and simple deal that makes sense for both Northwest conference teams.
The Nuggets are in the midst of a mucky coaching change and have won only two games in their last 10.
The Nuggs have now found themselves with the fourth worst record in the Western conference. And this is following a trip to the playoffs last season and a largely successful summer, acquiring All-Star power forward Kenyon Martin.
For weeks now, Miller seems more and more like he’s on the outs in Denver. Dre did not return to the lineup after leaving the game with 8 minutes, 6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter during Denver's 102-98 loss to the Clippers.
An All-Star last year, Cassell is averaging almost five points less than last season and his shooting from the land of plenty has fallen from 39.8 percent to 25 percent.
A change of scenery would do both Miller and Cassell some good not to mention provide each team the boost it needs to make a run before the All-Star break.
Miller would provide the intensity that the Wolves are desperately needing. Cassell would provide the Nuggs with some veteran court leadership and a pair of hands they can trust with the ball in the fourth quarter.
This way, maybe Garnett won’t have to score as much as USC did in the Orange Bowl to win games anymore.
